Things To Do In San Diego: Tuesday, March 19-Monday, March 25, 2019

I had such a different kinda week last week. After I stupidly lost my phone on Sunday I was in a bit of a funk- feeling like an idiot and being angry and embarrassed at the same time. So when Monday came around, I was happy to have the task of live-tweeting the Music Awards so I could focus my attention elsewhere. By Tuesday, my new phone arrived and I spent most of the day setting up all my apps and stuff. The rest of the week stayed pretty low key. On Wednesday, I took Nova to her school's talent show, on Thursday I took an awesome photography class at Mission Trails and went to Darren's soccer game, and Friday, we went to Flinn Springs County Park to hike around and explore with the dog on the hunt for Painted Ladies, which seem to be everywhere but impossible to photograph. On Saturday I sold merch for Rhett Miller at Soda Bar, and on Sunday, Nova and I ran around, still on our hunt for butterflies, and ended up walking around the pond at Hendrix Park in Scripps Ranch and then Lake Miramar. That night, Darren and I went to the Casbah to see Moon Hooch and had a blast, and on Monday we went to see the seals in La Jolla while Nova was at soccer. This week should be pretty chill, too, though I guess I've taken myself off restriction so you might catch me out and about. Full listings through Monday are after the jump.

Birch Aquarium Announces 2019 Green Flash Season Lineup

Earlier this week, Birch Aquarium announced their summer Green Flash concert lineup. I haven't been to a show there in a few years, but it is undoubtedly one of the most stunning places to see a show. They set up a stage literally on top of the outdoor tipepools as the crowd filters around the space overlooking the Pacific. Pro tip: the parking is not super close, so save your heels for a special occasion and dress like you'll be standing outside at a concert for at least a couple hours, plus hiking up or downhill, depending on how early you arrive. This year's lineup includes Tommy Castro and the Painkillers, Wild Child, Pine Mountain Logs & Venice, The Mother Hips, and Venice. The full press release and ticket details are after the jump.

Photos: Sharon Van Etten at Observatory, 2.28.2019

I wrote about an old Sharon Van Etten experience at Habitat House for SoundDiego and then had the super pleasure of seeing her at the Observatory on February 28th. Life happens, so unfortunately I wasn't able to catch the opener and I really wanted Darren there, but he had a soccer game at the same time. So it was just me, flying solo, loving the show. At the beginning of the year, she dropped her first record since 2014, Remind Me Tomorrow, and mixed up a handful of new cuts with her old favorites. Additionally, she'll return to her role as Rachel on Netflix's The OA when the second season comes back on March 22nd. Lots of photos after the jump.  

San Diego Music Awards 2019: Winners

I had the pleasure of attending the 2019 San Diego Music Awards on Monday night. I also had the pleasure of live-tweeting the whole thing for SoundDiego, which in retrospect, maybe I should've done as a thread? At any rate, I didn't have a chance to post much of anything yesterday, but I promised I'd share this year's winners.

You can also find the list at the official site, but I decided to post them in the order they were announced instead. When you look at it from this perspective, it makes it interesting, because while many of the performers found themselves winning the award announced immediately after their performances, it wasn't the case with everyone. So, for example, Veronica May and Casey Hensley both performed and won their categories, but the rest of the performers did not--but they're still winners in our book!!

I didn't get to schmooze nearly as much as I would've liked as I was confined to my Chromebook the whole night, but the performances were pretty great, starting with Ariel Levine and closing with Planet B, and Veronica May, Shane Hall, Casey Hensley, Vokab Company, and the Redwoods Revue all getting stage time. Of course, the event sold out with the promise of a Jason Mraz performance, which was actually some Java Joe All-Stars who wrote a special tribute to Jave Joe Flammini, with lots of allusions to smoking weed in the parking lot behind Java Joe's and the years the venue was a staple in its various locations. It was definitely a fun night and the after party at the Casbah was raging, too, but this old lady was tuckered and had to call it an early night. Full winners below and list of original nominees are after the jump.


Winners (in order of presentation)


Best Indie/Alternative – Aviator Stash
Best New Artist – The Havnauts
Best Local Recording - The Havnauts- Go For It! 
Best Country or Americana – Blind Mountain Holler
Best Pop Album - Veronica May-Teaser
Best World Music Album – The Amalgamated– Premium Quality 
Best Jazz – Euphoria Brass Band
Best Blues Album - Whitney Shay- A Woman Rules The World
Best Singer/Songwriter – Evan Diamond
Best Rock Album – Electric Mud– Highway Refugees 
Best Country or Americana Album - Berkley Hart- While the Night is Still Young
Best World Music – B-Side Players
Best Blues – Casey Hensley
Best Jazz Album - Mattson 2- A Love Supreme

 Lifetime Achievement Award – “Java” Joe Flammini

Best Rock - Schizophonics
Best Indie/Alternative Album - The Frights- hypochondriac
Best Hip Hop/Rap – Parker Meridien
Best Live Performer - Schizophonics
Best Pop – Mittens
Best Hip Hop or Rap Album - Parker Meridien– Twenty First Street Sessions
Song of the Year - Hot Snakes– Six Wave Hold Down
Artist of the Year – Whitney Shay
Album of the Year –Hot Snakes– Jericho Sirens 

Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, March 11-Monday, March 18, 2019

I feel like a little bit of an overachiever, but over the weekend I realized I'd be spending Sunday between the Casbah for the comedy of Kate Berlant and the Music Box for Better Obliovion Community Center and then all evening on Monday at the San Diego Music Awards, so I spent my Saturday night watching Leaving Neverland and working on this week's listings. So today, you get them on Monday. You're welcome. Truthfully, I'm not really an overachiever...I still have a few shows worth of photos to post and such, but I'll get them up sooner or later. Last week was a good one...I caught Beirut on Monday, Metric on Tuesday, and worked for Mudhoney on Friday. Full listings from Monday to Monday are after the jump.

Rosey's Read & Watch List

Last weekend, we checked out the San Diego Bird Festival, presented by the Audobon. The wild parrots made an appearance and made me envious of the multiple-thousand dollar lenses being showcased just inside the exhibit hall. Here are some of the things I've been watching and reading the past ccouple weeks, after the jump.

Things To Do In San Diego: Tuesday, March 5-Monday, March 11, 2019

We had such a good week. As I mentioned, my favorite uncle was in town so we had a lot of nice family time and dinners out, and convinced him to stretch his stay through Friday, just to get a little more time with him. It was also Darren's birthday which, like most guys, he didn't really want to celebrate but there was still lots of cake. I love cake. I got to check out Sharon Van Etten on Thursday, and Darren and I went to Men I Trust on Friday. On Saturday, Nova and I ran around town, hit up the Audobon's Bird Festival in Marina Village, cruised around Fiesta Island then we were invited to see the San Diego Seals Lacrosse game at Pechanga Arena, which was a blast. Loud AF, but really fun. On Sunday, we took the dog back to Fiesta Island to take advantage of how awesome and green it is right now, then we worked at the Irenic for Waxahatchee which was a another great show to close the weekend, then saw Beirut at the Observatory. This week I'll be catching Metric at OAT, Mudhoney at the Casbah, and the SDMA's at the Casbah. I'll probably sprinkle a couple extra shows to fill out the week. Listings through Monday are after the jump. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Tuesday, February 26-Monday, March 4, 2019

Man, it was so frustrating to get so much local snow at such low elevations and just not have the opportunity to go play in it. But it was a good week overall. My uncle drove from Indiana, so we've been getting some family time together. On Thursday, I went to SoundDiego Live to catch SeaBase and Alex Lilly, but cut out early because I didn't want to miss Houses, who kicked off their first tour in six years at Soda Bar. Totally worth it though still always sad to miss Kolars. On Friday, I got to shoot Kingsbury, Talos, and Aurora at the Observatory, then met up with Darren to go to the Casbah but only arrived for King Tuff's final song of the night. Some people wish headliners started earlier; I'm bummed when they go on before 11. On Saturday Nova had her end of the year soccer party so we laid low that night and Sunday was a TV and pajamas kind of day as we watched the Oscars. Nova's new soccer team has started practicing, so it looks like we'll get back into a more regular routine again. This week, I'm hoping to catch Sharon Van Etten, Men I Trust, Transfer, and I'll work at the Waxahatchee show. Then Monday, if I can stay on goal, I'll get to see Beirut at Observatory. Listings through Monday are after the jump. I'll try to update CRSSD if they breakdown their days without having to download their app.

Balboa Park Update: Plaza De Panama Jacobs' Plan is Dead!!

I've been working and compiling and digging through photos for this one for a week, so I'm obviously not reporting breaking news, but last week was a momentous week for San Diego. The Jacobs Plan ("Plaza de Panama Plan")--which included cutting into the Cabrillo Bridge and creating a bypass bridge to a to-be-constructed parking garage--was declared dead. Technically, there was a whole bunch of hemming and hawing that it's on hiatus, that fundraising has ceased, that the major donors had pulled out, that construction expenses exploded, that SOHO and other lawsuits were to blame. The way I see it, SOHO should take credit. Balboa Park Heritage Association and Balboa Park lovers like David Lundin should take credit. Everyone who attended Council meetings, planning meetings, took to social media, called their Councilmembers, wrote Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor at all the local rags against this horrific plan-- we should all be CELEBRATING and TAKING CREDIT. 

There were so many things wrong with the plan, not least of all adding a PAID PARKING GARAGE to Balboa Park. Did you think they'd leave all the remaining spots free? People cringe at the mention of Bob Filner, but he was fundamental in getting rid of the Museum of Art lot, throwing down some paint and bollards and patio furniture, and it changed the park for the better. But in addition to this Jacobs plan already manipulating our reps and the aforementioned reasons, it would've removed the Alcazar lot and which is critical for disabled parking and the archery range, dozens of 100 year old trees, and there was all kind of not-quite-as-published information like allowing sponsored naming rights throughout the park and the fact that the City limited their input to $49 million dollars in bonds because any more would require a City-wide vote. Anyway, all that is dead. What a relief. What isn't dead is that the park still has an estimated $80-$120 million in DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. Where's that generosity of Mr. Jacobs and the Plaza de Panama Committee for that??   

Anyway, this is all good news for all of us. If you love the park, consider volunteering or donating or even just following the actions of Balboa Park Heritage Association, who are trying to prevent proposals like this by setting goals like changing the City Charter to ban paid parking in the park FOREVER and get a chunk of TOT (so-called Hotel Taxes) dedicated to all the deferred maintenance. You can also support Save Our Heritage Organisation, whose preservationists were instrumental in saving this beloved gem.

Here are a few of the articles that ran last week:

Voice of San Diego: The Plaza de Panama Plan Is on Hiatus

KPBS: Bids To Remake The Plaza De Panama Are $20M Higher Than Expected

KPBS: Halt To Plaza De Panama Revamp Frees Up $10 Million For Balboa Park

U-T: Balboa Park's no-car project is a no-go

CityBeat: The Plaza de Panama revamp is dead. Let’s keep it dead.

More after the jump.

Photos: Aurora, Talos, and Kingsbury at The Observatory, 2.23.2019

With San Diego's music scene constantly thriving, there are hundreds of shows I have to miss every year, but I also get the privilege to go to so many--and as it has it, sometimes more than one on any given night--and sometimes I get to go to shows that weren't necessarily on my radar, but I get nudged or turned on to it by a friend and after the show realizing how bummed I would have been to have missed it. Such was the case on Friday night when I went to the Observatory to see Aurora, Talos, and Kingsbury. It was such a mesmerizing show from start to finish, so much so I couldn't be pulled away when it went past 11pm and I knew I'd be missing King Tuff at the Casbah (though we made it in time for 1-1/2 songs and plenty of after show bevvies.

Friday started with Kingsbury, a "synth-pop princess" from LA, whose powerful voice had me thinking about powerful '80s women like Terri Nunn of Berlin or more currently, the sisters of Haim. She's super rad and made a pretty strong impression for the crowd of people filtering in during her set.

I had listened to Talos' latest record one time through before this show, and I was excited they turned out to be a 5-piece because one could imagine the sound being more synthesized or made with fewer players and more pre-tracked sounds. Instead, we got the fury of a full band, though heavily cloaked in hazers and complete backlight.

Headlining the night was Norway's Aurora. She came out in a layered chiffon dress that bounced around and itself was part of the show as she athletically jumped and twirled and made use of the entire stage given to her, after awhile kicking off her shoes and even later, pulling off her socks so she could be completely free. Her voice is stunning when she sings and super sweet when she's graciously thanking the crowd or explaining the context of a song. You should definitely watch her KEXP session and if she ever comes back this way, make it a priority to catch her live.  I'm a bit out of practice with the Canon, but check out some more pics after the jump.

Spring 2019 CRSSD Fest Schedule

I mentioned that I'd update the listings when CRSSD Festival gave the Saturday and Sunday performer breakdowns, and sure enough, I posted listings at 6am and a couple hours later, CRSSD posted to Instagram. Ask and you shall receive. And it's good to know some of you are still reading this site so thanks for bringing the posts to my attention. CRSSD Festival happens twice a year at Waterfront park and sells out super fast every time, so sign up for their newsletter (scroll to the bottom of the page) because it is almost certain that as soon as this one passes, they'll be posting dates and on sales for the next one, which I suspect will be September 28-29th.

PSA: Wildflower Season May Bring Beautiful Blooms––and Crowds––to State Parks

The following is the full press release from California State Parks regarding "The Big Bloom" or "Superbloom,"expected this spring in places like Anza-Borrego State Park, Ocotillo Wells, and Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve. Be familiar and do yourself a favor and do your research. The traffic dropping into A-B on the weekends gets insane.
Or, if TL;dr: Obey the signs, check the weather, your phone won't work in remote areas, be prepared with adequate provisions and gas for your vehicle, leave no trace, and don't be an entitled asshole (my words, not theirs.) And learn from our mistakes: leave your dog at home. Full press release and tips are after the jump.

Anza-Borrego in 2017 - End of the Bloom

Things To Do In San Diego: Wednesday, February 20-Monday, February 25, 2019

Laura Gibson through the rain and the flames

I'm trying to make more of an effort to post news and thoughts and my ramblings here rather than Facebook, but I realized I failed because I never posted this year's San Diego Music Award nominees and voting has now ended and is only open to the San Diego Music Academy (of which I'm a member), so I guess at this point I'll just wait until Awards night to post all of the winners. Today's listings are brought to you by "Lorena" on Amazon Prime, which kept my fingers typing and my eyes wide open while I worked all night. Definitely a must watch. Last week was some intense San Diego weather, but we braved it to catch Laura Gibson at Grand Ole BBQ and Asado Flinn Springs followed by Broncho at the Casbah. On Friday, I worked The Marias show and followed with Louis XIV at Casbah and closed the night at Black Cat, and Saturday worked the Pedro The Lion show. I was sad to have missed Ron Gallo on Sunday, but family time prevailed. On Monday I spent the day at Casa Beach to see the harbor seals and then my uncle arrived in town so we spent the rest of the night with him. This week is going to be pretty chill, Nova starts soccer again, we've got the SoundDiego live event at Casbah (though I might have to scoot out to catch Houses for a bit), and then I'll have to make some choices for the weekend pending some photo passes coming through. All around looking forward to a good week. Listings through Monday are after the jump.