Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, September 18-Sunday, September, 24, 2017

It was a pretty great weekend for sure. On Friday night, I stayed close to home and went to the Ken Club for The Downs Family album release party. On Saturday, we coached our second soccer game and the Blue Dragons won! We got our first win which felt especially great because one of the reasons we decided to coach was because Nova's team was shutout every game last season. Winning isn't everything and all that, but always losing hurts a lot, so we felt a little vindication. After the game, the Juvenile Dollinquents roller derby team had a game versus Southwest (a team of LA and Arizona players) and though Nova is a rostered player, she's still the smallest and youngest on her team and doesn't get a lot of time on the track, but she pulled through in a few jams at the end and the girls held their lead and won. My cousin was down for the weekend, so we all went to my parents' house and just hung out for the night. On Sunday, we went to San Diego Zoo and finally got to check out the awesome new bridge from the treehouse to Elephant Odyssey, and also checked out Africa Rocks, which is open from the bottom with the enclosures open for the African penguins, the fossa, the lemurs, and the honey badger. It's pretty amazing and if you haven't been in awhile, you should definitely check it out. This week has a ton of great shows. Not sure what I'll be at, but The Heavy Guilt, Fleet Foxes, Zola Jesus, and The xx are all in my sights. I'll also be working at Swervedriver and Dan Croll. Plus soccer practices, family visits, and whatever wrenches get thrown at me this week. Tuesday through Sunday listings are after the jump.

Monday, September 18, 2017:

• The Heavy Guilt, Elise Trouw, Aviator Stash @ Casbah 
• Underground Lounge, Thread The Lariat, The Thieves About @ Soda Bar
• Lil Yachty @ The Observatory
• Unsung Genius: Trivia & Karaoke @ The Merrow
• Motown On Monday @ Bar Pink
• Makossa Mondays with DJ Tah Rei @ Seven Grand
• Tashaki Miyaki, Shine//A//Light, Soft Lions, DJ Jon Blaj @ Blonde
• LEFT HAND PATH (All Metal, All Vinyl, All Night) w/ DJ Handsome Skeleton & guests @ Space
• Kerry-Oke Pizza Party @ The Holding Company 1502
• 80s with Junior theDISCOpunk @ The Brass Rail
• Movie Night with Beau @ Pour House (Oceanside)
• Blue Largo @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
• Devan M @ De Oro Mining Co
• Electric Relaxation @ Whistle Stop
• Real Live Monday with Shane Hall @ El Dorado
• Trivia with Shantih @ The Bancroft
• Wheels of the Industry @ Live Wire
• Open Mic @ Lestat's
• Electric Waste Band @ Winston's
• Music Monday @ Martini's Above Fourth
• Acoustic Night/Industry Night @ Henry's Pub
• Salsa Dancing @ Tio Leo's
• Party on A Monday @ U-31
• Game Night @ 710 Beach Club

Things To Do In San Diego: Friday, September 15-Sunday, September 17, 2017

Some weeks just don't go according to plan. At the beginning of the week I had plans for Quicksand, Ottmar Liebert, and Manchester Orchestra. I went to none of these. Monday I was at home buried in work. On Tuesday I got invited to see Benny & Joon The Musical with Tim Pyles and I try to never pass on shows at the Globe when they're offered to me. On Wednesday, I was on my way to the Observatory and started feeling dizzy and nauseous and couldn't imagine pulling off a three band show so I had to call that one off, too. Then I thought I'd make up for my lack of music with a show on Thursday and we got a desperate call from my mom that my dad wasn't doing well and wanted all of the kids and grandkids to come over to visit, just in case it was time. Fortunately, we all made it (except my brother who is out to sea with the Navy) and even more fortunate, he made it through an is feeling much better today. So I'm getting ready to work the very insane and sold out Cigarettes After Sex show at The Irenic, and tomorrow is stacked with derby practice then coaching a soccer game then a derby bout, so I'm not sure what shows I'll be hitting if any, but I couldn't be more glad that the weekend is finally here. To everyone at KAABOO, have a great time. Maybe one day I'll make it up there. Friday through Sunday archives are after the jump.

SDPD Crashes Through Tower Bar

On Saturday night, Tower Bar had a show including Whining Pussys, Idiot Bombs!, Ghost Town Gamblers, and Hyperactive Slackers. While mid-set and with Davey Quinn (aka Davey Tiltwheel) guesting on drums at approximately 1:20am, an SDPD cruiser was allegedly hit-and-run by a drunk driver who side-swiped the police car, launching it through the wall.

Davey posted to Facebook, "I keep feeling the impact on my back-- like an upright body slam," while Antonio Talamantes posted, "Didn't really sleep at all last night. It was a really close call. I keep thinking about the string of events that happened all week which ultimately put Davey in that location on stage at that time. But he's ok. We're all ok." Later, Davey posted that he did eventually go to a doctor for X-rays and evaluation and while in pain, he is okay.
(Images used are from Davey and Antonio's Facebook pages)

As most people know, a car famously crashed into the Tower Bar in 1964, killing a patron and injuring 7 others. Owners Mick Rossler and Dannielle Cobb were not present at the time of the crash but commented, "Bummer. Cuz we don't have enough going on right now.....Fu**!!," and in explainging the incident,"Someone sideswiped the cop. Pushed him to crash through the bar. Luckily nobody was hurt but our friend was playing drums with his back to that wall when it happened. Luckily he's ok. It's fucked!!"

Like most people in this music community, I love Davey and wish him the best and a speedy recovery. Obviously this could have been far worse and I don't know what we'd do without him around as much for contributions to the scene, but for his sense of humor, and his tech skills that has saved my ass a dozen times. Apparently there will be a gofundme set up to help him cover expenses and lost wages while he heals and recovers. I will post the link as soon as it is made available.

From the San Diego Union Tribune, April 26th, 1964

Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, September 11-Thursday, September 14, 2017

It was a pretty intense week of news with Harvey in Houston, Irma off the Atlantic, and 45 continuing his Reign of Horror, but it was pretty great in San Diego. My weeks are occupied with soccer because our two hour practices take nearly four with the commute, setting up, hanging around waiting for all the girls to be picked up but it's been super fun. On Wednesday, Darren and I were able to escape to catch Springtime Carnivore at the Casbah, but I was beat on Thursday after soccer and didn't make it to see Kolars at Blonde. Friday we were running errands all over town to clear for Saturday with derby and our first soccer game (our girls lost 0-3 but played amazingly with only one sub). We had a nice afternoon at the beach after the game with my sister and nieces, and on Saturday night, we caught VÉRITÉ at Soda Bar and Vallis Alps at Space, and then had a nice afternoon on Sunday exploiting the Balboa Park drinking loophole with friends. This week is crazy busy, even without KAABOO in the equations. Monday is Quicksand at Belly Up, Tuesday is Ottmar Liebert at Music Box , Wednesday is Manchester Orchestra, Thursday is James Supercave, and Friday I'll be working at the Irenic for Cigarettes After Sex (and sadly missing Patton Oswalt at KAABOO), and Saturday is Against Me! Yikes. I'm not sure I'll make 'em all but I'm gonna try. Monday through Thursday archives are after the jump.

91X Announces Wrex The Halls 2017

91X Presents

WREX The Halls 2017

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Valley View Casino Center

Featuring:

The Lumineers

Vance Joy

Dreamcar

The War on Drugs

Arkells

Ticket and Pre-Sale Information

Pre-Sale: Wednesday, September 6 at 10am- Thursday September 7 at 10pm

Get Presale Tickets Here (code: 91X)

General Onsale: Friday, September 8 at 11am

Things To Do In San Diego: Tuesday, September 5-Sunday, September 10, 2017

Did I mention we cancelled our cable last week? I've never in my life not had cable so it's a bit of an adjustment for me, but I'm working through old series' on streaming services and looking for new ebooks from the library to read. This week has some really great shows. If you haven't heard Springtime Carnivore, check her music out and don't miss her show at the Casbah on Wednesday. Aside from that, we've got Minus The Bear, Kolars, Indie Jam and more. Archives are after the jump.

Things To Do in San Diego: Monday, September 4

It's hot and muggy and I'm miserable. Actually, not miserable because we have air conditioning in our living room and bedroom, but miserable because I have no motivation to leave the house for any reason. It was a pretty good week, I'm finding myself really looking forward to coaching soccer practices and having fun with the girls. Darren joined an adult indoor league which seems to make him pretty happy. I worked at San Cisco on Wednesday which was a super great show, Friday we went to SDSU to watch women's soccer play USD which was really fun (and free, besides a few bucks for parking), and on Saturday Nova had a birthday party at Waterfront Park while we had tickets to the Taco, Tequila and Beer Festival. The harbor was such a total cluster with the Festival of Sail at the Maritime Museum, US Sand Sculpting Challenge on the entire Broadway Pier, the TTB fest at Lane Field, and construction on nearly every block, we basically drove around, stopped at the Casbah to drop off my things for later, drove back to the birthday party, stayed until 5, then walked to TTB fest just to see The Silent Comedy (the tequila, taco, and beer portion of the event was over) while an Elvis cover act blared from the pier drowning the sound. When a DJ kicked into the mix at Carnitas Snack Shack (really? You couldn't wait for the live music to end?), it was time to go, I was cranky, sweaty, exhausted, and irritated that nothing seemed to work out as I envisioned. And not one drop of beer or tequila. Fortunately, Elliott did come through for me and sold merch at the Casbah because I probably would've clocked someone with my attitude. All that to say, it's still hot and muggy and I have no motivation, so I'm giving you Labor Day listings and will do the rest of the week when I get around to it.

Singing Serpent Takes Over

Tucked away in the heart of Kensington lies one of San Diego’s best kept secrets, Singing Serpent Studios.

Singing Serpent is a recording studio that doesn’t necessarily focus on making albums (though it does boast a very impressive list), but rather specializes in crafting original music and sound design for commercials. Their extensive list of clientele includes brands such as Google, Nike, SafeAuto, Jack Daniels, Volkswagen, and many others. In addition to the San Diego location, Singing Serpent also has branches in Manhattan, New York and Richmond, Virginia.

Whether it was during halftime at the Super Bowl, before watching the newest viral Youtube video or in between songs on your favorite Spotify playlist, odds are you’ve probably heard Singing Serpent’s work before. The team of composers at Singing Serpent (made up of local musicians) work day and night to create work that is original and authentic. The Singing Serpent team does not just view music as their nine-to-five––it’s just their life. Even when they're not on the clock, the staff at Singing Serpent are working on writing music and performing around the world. The crew at Singing Serpent consistently work hard to create music that they love, which is why they are so successful at their jobs. While many music houses opt to create a library of songs that companies can pick and choose from, Singing Serpent prefers to have a back-and-forth mentality with clients. This means that every track is unique, thought-out, and specifically crafted for clients’ wants.  

In the past few months, Singing Serpent has been especially busy. Outside of working on records for bands such as Hot Snakes and Tera Melos, Singing Serpent has taken ample action to expand as a company and brand.

They recently unveiled their brand new website, designed by Dizzy Spells Productions, which allows visitors to view Singing Serpent’s past work, learn about the team of composers, and take a virtual tour of the San Diego and New York studios. Following the website’s launch, Singing Serpent opened a brand new branch in Richmond, Virginia, headed by industry veteran, Jon Spencer.

Spencer has been playing music since he was a teenager and has fronted and recorded with renowned bands such as Spitfire and Scarlet. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Virginia Commonwealth University, Spencer served as the Executive Producer and Creative Director for 30th Century Masters, and later as the Executive Producer and Head of Sales for Black Iris Music. During his time at Black Iris, Spencer oversaw many successful ventures such as the Toyota’s “Swagger Wagon” and Geico’s “Hike” ad with Aaron Takahashi. Because of his extensive background and diligence, Spencer has the liberty to work on pieces that go beyond the expectation of a typical commercial. Whether he’s dabbling in comedic Kenny G-esque saxophone slow jams or writing parental raps about minivans, Spencer’s work is consistently striking and always well-received.

If you want to keep up to date with Singing Serpent’s always exciting timeline, follow them on Instagram, like them on Facebook, and check out their new website. Whether it be the debut of work, in-depth interviews with bands, or clips of staff members melodizing and jamming, there is something for everybody on Singing Serpent’s social medias.

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, August 28-Sunday, September 3, 2017

I know I've been quiet around here lately but there's only so much time in a day, and I've just been running out of it. Soccer coaching is keeping us pretty busy, and Nova's derby is quite a time commitment, too. My dad was released from the hospital on Tuesday and seems to be doing okay at home. On Friday night, we went to Kate Sessions for the Lego Batman Movie in the Park and since Nova ditched us for a slumber party, we had a great time dropping in at the Casbah for Chill Clinton and Chugboat. On Saturday night we all went to see Sylvan Esso and it was as awesome as expected despite some guestlist issues at the beginning that were eventually worked out. Sunday is always my work day, but I got done early enough to get some time at dog beach before sunset. This week will be a good (and hot) one, with Pearl Jam Under Cover, more soccer, working at the Irenic on Wednesday, and the Taco & Tequila fest on Saturday. Tuesday through Sunday listings are after the jump. I totally blew it and should've included Monday, but I'll try to get around to adding Labor Day before the week is up.

Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, August 21-Sunday, August 27, 2017

I had a physically and emotionally exhausting week and weekend so I think I'm gonna hide from the internet on Monday, enjoy the eclipse, a day of rest, Nova's piano, and a nice grilled dinner at home. My dad is doing okay and is anticipating being released on Tuesday though I'm watching my Z kids again and coaching soccer so I'm not really sure how we can help if he is, in fact, released. Over the weekend we did go to see Dead Cross (you can see how dirty my camera is, but financially there's nothing I can do about that for the time being, so it is what it is). Afterward we went to the Casbah but I didn't last long because I was wiped. On Sunday, we had lunch with my sister and fam, then visited my dad for a bit, then went to Casa Beach to see the seals. Unfortunately I didn't account for the assholes of humanity who've decided their swimming there is more important than the colony, so besides four seals on a rock, there were none on the beach. Sometimes I really hate people. We quickly left and instead jumped around the rocks of Windnsea before I came home to get all of this work done and watch Game Of Thrones. There are some great shows this week, though I'm not sure I'll be out much besides Sylvan Esso on Saturday night, but ya never know if I change my mind. Monday through Sunday archives are after the jump.

Things To Do In San Diego: Friday, August 18-Sunday, August 20, 2017

So this week has been more manic than most. Nova's back in the full swing of school. On Tuesday, I shot Royal Blood at the Observatory, then caught The Alarm at the Casbah, then closed the night out at Blonde.  On Wednesday I checked in with my parents and my dad was having heart problems, and by the time I was working at the Casbah  for Matthew Sweet, they told me he was being taken by paramedics to the new Kaiser Hospital. Thursday I spent a fair amount of the day with him at the hospital, went to Nova's Back To School Night while Darren ran soccer practice with the kids. Today has been a whole lot of running around, too, but Dad seems stable for now and we'll be on standby this weekend while also checking out Nova's Fall Roller Derby Preview (Doors at 5pm, Tickets & Info Here) , Dead Cross, and Dead Feather Moon. Friday through Sunday archives are after the jump.

91X Announces Ye Scallywag! 2017

I went to Ye Scallywag last year and have to say it was pretty awesome. Late October should promise signature San Diego sunshine. But if you want the beer fest part, make sure you get there early, because the tastings end at 4pm when full size beer goes on sale among the vendors. 91X released this information late Sunday night, but what can I say? I lag. Presale starts on Wednesday and regular tickets go on sale Friday. Info below, or check out the page on 91X.com 

91X Presents

YE SCALLYWAG

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Waterfront Park

21+ Event

91X presents ‘Ye Scallywag’! Craft beer, food, and music festival... Just over 100 craft beers and unlimited tastings until 4pm!

Live Music on the Main Stage:

Pennywise

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

The Vandals

Lagwagon

Strung Out

The Adolescents

Western Settings

Pre-sale Info:

Starts Wednesday, August 16 at 10am

Ends Thursday, August 17 at 10pm

General Onsale Friday, August 18 at 10am

For Tickets & Information, CLICK HERE