A podcast about history

That's not stuck in the past

Episode 144

One of the coolest things about Oakland’s DIY culture of the early 2000s is that we did so much with so little. With no corporate sponsorships or major funding, scrappy groups of artists and musicians were able to create a thriving scene built on creativity, resourcefulness (dumpster diving!), and the determined ambition to turn bizarre fantasies into tangible reality. This episode features two stories that exemplify the weird brilliance that made this era so special. 

The first segment is about how Jhon Benson bought a steel-plated AC Transit bus from an Oakland Police officer and turned it into a veggie oil-fueled party on wheels. Like a Gen X Ken Kesey, Benson loaded his bus up with a motley crew of pranksters (and some random strangers) who brought music, comedy, and myriad shenanigans to scenic vistas, highway underpasses and even cemeteries throughout the Bay Area and beyond.

The second segment is about Lobot, one of the largest and longest running live/work artist warehouses & DIY galleries of the early millennium. Former residents Sabrina Sierra and Ben Valis share stories of an Armageddon party, “the night of 1000 punks,” unexpected visits from the FBI, and how Lobot temporarily transformed into a free spa for sex workers. They also discuss several of the unglamorous aspects of living at Lobot, like how the space evolved politically amidst the gentrification of West Oakland and what it was like to share a shower with 15 people. Find the program via Apple, SoundCloud, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

The Oakland Underground miniseries was inspired by Jessalyn Aaland’s article in the Oakland Review of Books, “Please do not hang out in the street: Oakland DIY music spaces of the early 21st century.” If you missed part 1, you can find it here. 

East Bay Yesterday can’t survive without your donations. Please make a pledge to keep this show alive: www.patreon.com/eastbayyesterday. Don’t forget to follow East Bay Yesterday’s Substack newsletter to stay updated on upcoming tours, events, and other local history news.

The roof was a popular spot to chill during bus parties. There was also a basketball hoop attached to the rear. See more photos of the bus and flyers at Jhon Benson’s Flickr page.
Not everybody was a fan of Benson’s roving party. The bus was run out of several Southern towns. Listen to the whole story here. [Photo courtesy of Jhon Benson]
An article about the bus in Slingshot, a radical newsletter that has been published by a Berkeley-based collective since 1988.
Before Art Murmur was officially launched in 2006, Benson’s bus blocked off the intersection near the Rock, Paper, Scissors Collective and Mama Buzz cafe for unpermitted Friday night gatherings. [Photo courtesy of Jhon Benson]
Lobot residents circa 2015, mural by Jeff Cheung. The space ran from 2003 until 2016, when tenants were evicted amidst an atmosphere of intense gentrification. [Photo courtesy of Sabrina Sierra]
Besides about a dozen residents who lived at Lobot, artists could rent studio space for as little as $150 per month. [Photo courtesy of Sabrina Sierra]
Although Lobot has been gone for a decade, many of the flyers are still available to view online here. You can also find videos of Lobot shows on YouTube. Here, here, and here are a few examples.
Former roommates reunited: Ben Valis and Sabrina Sierra, 2026. [Photo: Liam O’Donoghue]

East Bay Yesterday can’t survive without your donations. Please make a pledge to keep this show alive: www.patreon.com/eastbayyesterday. Don’t forget to follow East Bay Yesterday’s Substack newsletter to stay updated on upcoming tours, events, and other local history news.

Topics: Arts & Culture, Housing, Music, Oakland

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