-Awesome Flower- By Chris Allen Johansen. Awesome Flower. Awesome Flowers. About the time of our earthquake. I met couple singing on streets. Omer Travers and wife Syen Had baby named Melody. They invited me to their studio. Valencia street, San Francisco. Near La Cumbre and Muddy Waters. Studio named Awesome Flower. Awesome Flower had couple's art. Their paintings were fantastic art. I then began filming their lives. Life painting and making music. Partners like Gauguin and Vincent. Awesome Flowers inspiring us. Inspiration for us people. Get out and sing and paint like us. Not live dull lives like most people. One life to live. Make a good life. Omer and Syen are unknown stars. Someday hope to show-tell their stories. Tell story of two great artists. Stars Omer Travers and Syen. Awesome Flowers is their story. These stars played down on the streets. On the streets of San Francisco. San Francisco, Mission District. Just as good and even better. Than most in acts at the Fillmore. Acts that cost the fans big money. Awesome Flowers flower power. Really rocked and rolled for awhile. Were inspiring to us artists. Omer and Syen were awesome. Syen is beautiful and great painter. Syen is great woman painter. Inspired Omer to paint great. But poverty and life on edge. Hangers on and baggage made. Difficult for couples and they split. Like Sonny and Cher and others. Like Vincent Van Gogh and Gauguin Life's difficult living on edge. Syen split for New York City. Omer was devestated with blues. Lost Awesome Flower Studio. Blues came around and Omer. Thirty years have passed since then. Was Omer's friend during these times. Omer Travers made great music. Omer Travers great paintings. Omer did eight concerts daily. Playing fantastic guitar songs. Have great films of Omer's Travers. Someday maybe make great movie. Thirty years later Omer's ending. Tobacco, nicotine and tar. Omer's time alive is ending. You'll be sorry if missed him. In the Mission. He''ll be missed. Omer Travers street music king. Mission District, San Francisco. By kaleidoscope fiery sky. Omer played in the doorways. As clouds go on rolling over. Over the hills humpty-dumpty. As tangerine sunsets on hills. Awesome music was happening. Mission District, San Francisco. Hope in the future to make film. Omer Travers awesome story. Was happening San Francisco. Awesome Flower-San Francisco. Copyright 2021 by. Chris Allen Johansen. World Rights Reserved. Google: "Omer Travers Music and Syen Music. Omer now living in Arizona. Omer Travers needs cheap housing in San Francisco. read more

OMER LIVES! Back on Valencia to keep SF weird in our hour of need. He says he's working on a Gofundme. Omer you are a flickering neon light in these dark times. read more

Omer Travers - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

I believe you guys are referring to Omer Traveres: http://www.streetnote.com/music/san-francisco/omer/ He's played Parkside before too. I'm always reminded of the feral boy with the metal boomerang from Road Warrior. read more

Omer Travers - Omer Traveres - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Omer's back! Frankly I thought he was dead, but went to the park the other day, and there he was! He seemed way more calm and less psychotic than I remember him being, too, so I'm guessing he's found a medication mix that works well for him? Very glad to see it. Welcome back to the Greatest City on Earth, Omer! read more

Omer is merely a sad reminder of San Francisco's gradual cultural decline on both its spectral ends. Nothing more. When I got to town 20 years ago, we had The Red Man, The White Lady, Carlos Guitarlos, the guy who looked and dressed like Barney Rubble, and a whole host of street performers and folks on the marginalized outskirts of city life far more interesting (and often times more talented) than what you see today. We also had a really happening singing duo called Cyen & Omer, performing tightly synced tunes on acoustic guitars prior to the wife walking out, and they were genuinely very good! Omer was already a bit eccentric then, prone to telling tall tales (he once told me he'd broken into Yoko Ono's apartment in the Dakota and that he was friends with Howard Stern), but he was nowhere near as GONE as he is now. Seeing him these days, raving and unable to carry a tune, not even bothering to tune his guitar, is nothing but depressing and not "cool" at all, except perhaps to Mission dilettantes too culturally bankrupt to know the difference. I give Omer two stars simply for old times' sake. read more

I probably heard this guys voice more than any other in the mission. Of course the reason for this is that he was stationed in front of our place during the days when I was at home. My other roomies have already spoke their respective pieces about him and have covered most everything but lemmie add a few things to his Omerness. Things about Omer you might not know: 1. He used to wrestle in high school (thus the lean profile) 2. He feels the pains of being underappreciated by his artistic peers. 3. He smokes some painful to inhale hand-rolled cigs, but will share willingly none the less. 4. He will take a dump in front of your house if he feels like it. (speculation but goddamn if it didn't make me crack up laughing when my roomies told me) 5. His laugh is very fun to try... decent stomach workout. Interesting guy, who does it his way... worth meeting...will get more interesting the second and third time... yet possibly a bit hard to take the 9th and 10th time. Meet him for yourself. read more

Where does this Land Of The Lost's Chaka in hand-me-down womens clothes get his 6-pack abs from? He must have a metabolism like Iggy Pop where he spazzes out enough to always be not just skinny, but cut. I mean his only exercise seems to be tuneless screaming and the punching of guitars. I know Omer has had a real tough go-around, but anyone who says he's a good musician when sober needs to have lived here more than 12 years. Just to have seen him sober I'm saying. Four unrelated Omer-memories: ~When Atom and Virgil from Dieselhed fished Omer off the corner to open their New Years Eve show at the Make-Out Room. Marty the owner sure wasn't happy about that. ~The time I walked into Aquarius and said to Byram, "I hate it when Bridge And Tunnel slummers pretend to groove on Omers music. It just encourages him!". And Byram said, "Yeah, but what's cool is when he kicks and turns on them." I had to agree. ~When my friend Allie got her CD wallet stolen from her car, the stealer took the Omer CDs out and left them on the seat. ~Oh, but the kicker was Summer of 2002. I was in England passing a street newsagent when I saw a copy of my FAVORITE music nerd magazine, MOJO. Bowie was on the cover, Alladin Sane-phase. I was thrilled to be buying my copy in the street, not from a Bolshie bookstore or Virgin. And Glam/Bowie? Bliss. MOJO's about $10 bucks stateside as an import and a bargain at half that in Blighty. Whee, bargains. I pay up, skitter off to the nearest cafe and open to an article on street musicians. Accompanied by a---choke---Picture. Of. Omer. Rocking Valencia Street. A world away from home, and in an instant I'm teleported a block from my house. By this little guy right here... read more

As Omer's neighbor, there was never a dull moment (he sat below me, Tak H, and Kev C's window spewing borderline hateful epitephs for the better part of a year, so I feel I've earned the right to call him 'neighbor'). I can probably write a book about my experiences with this guy, but here's a few bits about him.... Fashion: His eccentric clothing choices put any and all Buffalo Exchange shoppers to shame.... it's like the kind of clothes we'd all be wearing if the nukes did actually drop all those years ago. My current fave is the baby jack-o-lantern costume that he converted into a vest. The Elton John woman's sunglasses are a nice touch too. But don't worry, he's still rocking the zebra-striped, post-apocalyptic clothing. Enivoronmentally conscious (and unconcscious): He would sit and stare at the large tree on the corner of 23rd/San Jose for hours on end, for several months. He would often say that the tree thrived because he was the only one who took care of it... he would obsessive-compulsively clean the dirt out of the sidewalk cracks across the street from said tree... then after he finished his 64oz Jack in the Box cup of god-knows-what (with the straw and all), he would start with throwing dirt clods at parked BMWs and mess up the sidewalk he just cleaned...the next day, the process would repeat. "No one CARES ABOUT THE TREEEES...you know what I mean... OXYGEN!!!! Remember that!? MUHAHAHAHAAAAA!!" (he's got a very good supervillain laugh too... talk to him for about 30 seconds and you'll hear it.) He's a chameleon: He has four personalities that progress in this order throughout the day (someone should come out with a set of action figures..I'd buy em!) PHASE 1: Yoda Omer (aka The MacGyver) - Happy-go lucky, your best friend, loves the tree, says profound things about mankind PHASE 2: Spazzy Omer (aka That Kid from Road Warrior) - The more hostile appearing (but quite harmless) side. He'll choose a random socio-political topic and go off on a monologue directed at you... the dude just won't shut up. You nod, smile, and go inside, and he's still talking. PHASE 3: Working-man Omer (aka The Mick Jagger) - He's off to Valencia street where he slams furiously on his guitar, yelling/crooning,...will not respond to you if you try to talk to him PHASE 4: Cold-shoulder Omer (aka The William H Macy) - He's now so far gone, he just sits catatonic and doesn't feel like talking anymore...sad really...but you know Phase 1 is just around the corner so it's okay. Valencia just wouldn't be the same without him. Omer rules. read more

Always: loud and annoying Sometimes: violent (when he doesn't take his meds) Called MAP van for him multiple times when he's been screaming on our street corner about how he needed to go to the hospital (or methadone clinic). Glad this guy provides amusement for hipster tourons, but generally a nuisance and sometimes hazardous to those of us who live here. read more

You'll usually see him roaming down Valencia St, between 16th and 22nd. He's easy to spot. If he's not rambling with his crazy talk to passerbyers, he's strumming on his guitar. I usually don't understand what he's yapping about, but he can sure rock that guitar. Fun Fact: He broke into Yoko Ono's apartment in 1986 and was charged for burglary. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE6D6103EF933A15752C0A960948260 read more

If you hang out in the Mission enough, you have seen Omer Travers. He haunts the doorways of that candle place on the corner of 21st and Valencia, the fire hydrant by Janet Moyer, etc. He wears a zebra-print jacket and looks a bit like Bon Jovi might if he had a birds nest of a hairdo. And he plays the best damn street music anywhere in the city. A few months ago, I stopped and talked to him for a bit. He gave me his card. His card! His name is Omer Travers. His card says he does "interactive or background music for birthday parties, gallery openings, and special events. Bring your lyrics, I'll create the music." He's even more brilliant than I originally thought. I just Googled his name. This is what I found. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE6D6103EF933A15752C0A960948260 I'm not saying it's him. I'm just saying. read more

Back in the day I was walking to the 500 club by myself from 16th and mission Bart. I was hollered at by the local Rico suaves, followed by a crazy and now that I know who he is, this fucker threw popcorn at me! Not the smartest thing to do but, I was young, cute and didn't know better. read more

Now long gone but not yet forgotten by the many he's leapt upon like a mad dog in the middle of the night. read more

Omer Travers - How many time had Omer enraged baristae with his sudden, nocturnal onslaughts of roaring madness? - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

luv this cat. He used to hang out around our house when he' wasn't 'working' and got to know him alittle. We talked about a broad spectrum of topics including relationships, today's pop music and of course, Charlie Rose. He is well read and keeps up on current affairs. So, if you happen to catch him when he's not 'performing' chat a little, he might just give you the most sane advice you gonna get in this crazy city. Rock on man, rock on. BTW he's comfort food is Cheetos and cottage cheese. read more

Omer's awesome. It's funny to mess with this guy, it just takes a little imagination. I work at a cafe and he's constantly coming in to yell briefly and leave. All you gotta do is yell back at him. Usually i just yell, "DAD?!" and it smoothes things over with the ruffled customers and he gets embarassed and scampers off. Besides to be honest i like when he yells at people on the street. For the first year i was here in SF he kinda scared me so i always just came at him real aggressive and we didn't get along. I like how he messes with yuppies especially and today i had a shitty day and he yelled at me - "WHAT IS A COMPUTER!!!" Just made me laugh. I hear him late at night too cause i'm nearby where he hangs out and he doesn't bug me. He's been here longer than most of us and i once saw him get attacked by some bullies. He wrestled one of the guys to the ground and lay on top of him till the cops came and arrested the guy. Bad. Ass. So whatevs. He was here first too btw before there were a bunch of thrift store shopping Jr. Yuppies who annoy me way more than omer ever did. Pfff! Btw i'm gonna be him for Halloween. read more

This guy totally rocks and he doesn't give a shit if people think he's weird. Someone should do an interview with this guy. He's living the San Francisco dream, just a few decades too late and in the Mission instead of the Haight. They should do an American Idol show about street musicians, except without the sadistic elitism. Too hard for this country. Maybe a website would work. No, people would still be too cruel. read more

omer declared a hipster rather than a homeless: http://www.collegecandy.com/haha/5658 read more

Omer saw me walking hurriedly down Valencia street and said You're never going to Make it. With a creepy grin and then he repeated the phrase louder. He might of meant my immediate destination or my life's goals. In either case, he gave me a lot to think about. Thanks for keeping it real, Omer. read more

What can I say about Omer that hasn't already been said by law enforcement? He's a force of musical nature. Raw, touching, smelly, wasted, wearing a leopard duster, dark jeans, boots and sunglasses at night. I lived in the neighborhood on and off over 20 years. One day in 2008 I stopped to chat with Omer, and bought his 2 CD studio recording. Omer singing. Omer ranting. Omer screaming. So consistent. read more

My evening stroll just wouldn't be complete without walking past this dipsh*t in front of the social security building. When I first moved here, I actually thought he was sort of charming what with this oft apropos tunes and whatnot. But really the longer I live here the more he really just annoys me. read more

Dear aficionado followers of Travers, please go the extra mile and 'talk nice' to him at 2 AM-4 AM when he is on the sidewalk disturbing the peace for many innocent and kind hearted folk. Invite him to your home's sidewalk, or better yet your living room. Walk the talk. Feed him potatoes. Oh yeah, 'Peace'. read more

Omer, or "Poo Reed" as I lovingly like to call him, is fantastic if you actually take the time to talk to him. He is always willing to play his newest song for me and asks for my suggestions. Last time that I saw him he asked if he could buy me a burrito! Use potatoes as an ice breaker. They are his favorite food and he will tell you all the different ways that they can be prepared! read more

I agree with Blake E. I hear from people around the Mission that Omer is quite a good musician when sober. I would to see more of the sober Omer. read more

Okay so I just learned of this site and most of these comments are hilarious! I must say though when he was talking about Yoko Ono he wasn't lying. If you look in the archives of the NY time I am sure you will find it there. I believe it was some time in the late 80's. He may be weird and had way to many drugs over the years but he has a good heart as my grandma says. He knows what is going on in this world. He does have a home also...hard to believe I know. He believes he has a calling for music and will some day be discovered like all the others that aren't. We can all dream, right? I should know I am his niece read more

I had my own occurrence with Omer-SF Mission's infamous guitar man while walking with my two girlfriends along 21st and Bartlett. A placid smile, dirty brown mullet, I should have trusted my instincts and walk on the other side of the street. But as we passed by, he propped his guitar like a gun and air shot at us, "Bam, Bam, Bam!!!" I scurried away, laughing, but if I had never knew about this eccentric character, I would probably be running for my life! Beware... an "Only in San Francisco," experience. read more

I moved to the Mission in 1993 and he was already here. His playing and singing has not improved a lick. He has become a pretty good whistler though and he is the master of the non sequitur. read more

I love this guy! He scares tourists with his "singing". His white sunglasses are awesome. When lucid he's fun to talk to, and the rest of the time.. well, he's amusing. Once I passed him in front that workout gym near Herbivore, and he exclaimed loudly to nobody in particular, "Diet and exercise, America! HAHAHAHAHA!" read more

Omer has a long history of rocking, being nutty, and alternating oddly between making profound statements and making NO sense at all - on BOTH coasts! In addition to all the other tidbits, just wanted to let you know he had a moment in the sun as an early member of Howard Stern's Wack Pack. As a big John Lennon fan, Howard wanted to meet the weirdo who broke into Yoko's apartment. As you can imagine, Omer was more than Howard could have hoped for! Omer is a truly great spirit, although he seems to be getting closer to broken every time I see him. He's been through it on every level. Somehow, though, music still makes his heart happy... Oddly inspiring. read more

I moved out of the mission a while ago, got to thinking about Bum Jovi today. Is he still around? I saw a recent photo w a RIP on it, did he die? read more

yeah, but has he ever done a tune for you in japanese? he told me i was special.

THE KING OF VALENCIA!!!!! all neil before him. you know ive lived in san francisco for all 22 years of my life, and cant remember when the king wasnt there.insane or not he's got some good lyrics, and despite how messed up in the head he is, i've never seen him hurt anybody so i like you king, keep playing long into the moon light read more

I used to party with Omer and his girlfriend (wife) when he llived over the tatoo shop between 16th and 17th st. I worked at the oakland post office at that time, and we used to smoke weeeeeeed . His daughter now must be around 25 years old. I call him Guitar man, and yeah he is San Francisco, and I hope he gets a break and I see him on David Letterman. Peace in the East man. Craig C. read more