Monday, April 30, 2007

Things to Do: April 30, 2007

*I haven't verified that schedules haven't changed this week, but this is a loose version of this week's stuff:

Monday, April 30, 2007:
  • Tim Pyles Anti-Monday League: Demasiado, Arckid (Spacehog), The Gift/Curse, Pete Stewart & The Plastic Saviors @ Casbah
  • Sean O'Donnnell, Allison Gill @ Blarney Stone
  • Ghostface Killa, Wylde Bunch @ Belly Up

Brit Canceling?

Perez Hilton is reporting that Brit is canceling her "M+Ms" shows here and in Anaheim. Take your chances, but I highly recommend NOT buying tickets above face value. I mean, look at who we're talking about here. And sellers asking for more than face for this are shady.

Sunday Recap (pt.2): Regina Spektor & Only Son @ House of Blues

I got a call Friday from Lou's Records telling me that I was the winner of a pair of tickets to the sold out Regina Spektor show at the House of Blues on Sunday which also included a meet and greet. I tried to upgrade and get a photopass, too, but no such luck, so here's my "if a were a 5 year old" rendering of the stage.

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Only Son started off the show with his just a guitar, then played the rest of the set with his iPod playing backing instrumentals. I loved him, actually, and would like to see him at the Casbah on his own one of these days. He would fit well with Lou Barlow- remember when he busted out the the tape deck on his solo shows?

Regina Spektor is pretty crazy. The crowd was totally into her, making more than half her set sing alongs. She also has a fair share of clap along parts for additional audience participation. She seems to have invented her own variation on the jazz scat and does a lot of other random stuff with her vocals to accompany the piano, her mic tapping, her banging a drumstick against a wooden chair, and being joined by Only Son during the finale. After the show we met with Greg from the record label and got flats signed by Regina, though Lyn and I had more to talk about with Jack. Regina was super sweet to the six of us there, and she's this tiny girl who is all smiles, so it was a really good experience. During her show she gushed that San Diego has been her favorite city on tour. It was clear San Diego loves her right back.


ChickRawker covered this show quite well already, so just go there and check out her review and setlist.

Sunday Recap (pt.1): ArtWalk & The Ex-Friends

Sunday was family day for me as I headed to ArtWalk with my mom, sisters, and brother in law. After getting some food at Mona Lisa, we walked the festival a little, most taking in the outdoor art exhibitors and people watching. Eventually I made my way to the little fountain/amphitheater area where Matt Curreri and the Ex-Friends were gonna play. The gloom burned off and the sun was out and I met up with Andrea and we bumped into Adam, Trisha, Dylan, and Laura Jane. It was cool, too, because Kevin of the Ex-Friends is a teacher so a bunch of his students were there.

The band had enough material to cover all of their hour and fifteen minute set and a lot of festival goers came and went throughout their set.

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One elderly man in the crowd kept yelling for them to "keep going", even in between songs, also shouting out various songs by Zeppelin among others, like "'Gateway' to Heaven". I freaking love festival people.

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Of course, the heckling pales to the freak with missing teeth walking around with a "free hugs" sign, but it was worth mentioning. ArtWalk seemed better planned this year, though admittedly I avoided confined art spaces. The Little Italy improvements, like the fountains and benches, really do a lot to make the event more pedestrian friendly. After a few hours it was time to go on our merry ways and I prepped myself for a Sunday evening concert.

Saturday Recap (pt.4): Vinyl Radio @ Casbah

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Vinyl Radio finished up the show and brought the rock, also bringing a second wind on the people there who stayed until the start of their 12:15 settime. (I guess not everyone naps like I do).

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In Vinyl Radio's eternal drummer shuffle, Buddy Rose is back so that Dustin can focus on the his other project (also with Mark and Andrew of Cape May),
the Swedish Models.
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I stayed for their first few songs, but eventually dragged Andrea out because we were on a mission to buy beer for the possible after party. We made it to the Ken Club as Swim Party was breaking down their equipment, and while it was nice to see a bunch of friends there, I broke my own rule. Never leave where you're already having fun. I should've just stayed at the Casbah, until the end of the show since we missed the whole Ken Club thing anyway. Now I know. And hopefully my favorite local bands won't counter-book against each other anytime soon. One by one, friends called and nobody was up for driving (smart choice, I say) so instead Andrea and I got some Mexi food and called it a night. A good finish to a Sat night.

Saturday Recap (pt.3): Dynamite Walls @ Casbah

Before I continue on about the bands, a couple comments. First of all, I spent way more money that night than I should've because all drink prices have been increased 50 cents, and while that is not a big deal, it also appeared that bartenders had been pour tested or something because all the pours were very calculated and, let's be honest, they were weak. I ordered from all three bartenders and experienced the same thing from all of them. Boo Casbah. For one night, I felt like I was being served at the House of Blues.

My other complaint goes directly to Dynamite Walls. You guys are all great, so this isn't personal in any way, but that big obnoxious white sheet on stage for your projection images looks really cool when you're onstage, but it's actually the ugliest backdrop ever for the other bands who are forced to play in front of it. On your headlining nights, I say go for it. But on this night, it felt like thunder stealing. The Casbah is famous for the awesome black tufted naugahyde cushions along the back wall and when in pictures, that is replaced by a plain white sheet, it's just kinda lame. Maybe you can turn it somehow into a roman curtain that you can lower for just your set?? Or maybe some tiebacks?

So onto the show, which had Dynamite Walls in the dark with their projected visuals on them. So of course, I used flash to capture just a couple pictures.

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I'd be lying if I said I caught most of their set because in reality I spent most of it on the patio with the guys from Republic of Letters and Illinois and other friends just enjoying a great Casbah turnout for a Saturday Night. Our supportive local scene is thriving, people...we should all be proud to be a part of it in anyway.

Saturday Recap (pt.2): Republic of Letter @ Casbah

After Illinois played, it was time for Republic of Letters. It was their CD Release show and by the time they got onstage, the venue was packed. People were there that I would have expected to be at Coachella. There was something that made me so proud of my friends onstage. A guy who had asked me if the bands that night were any good was dancing his ass off while they played as were lots of other people in the crowd.

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During the 3rd to last song Chris and Adrian bumped guitars and went out of tune, so they struggled through one song, but it was actually kinda cool to watch them recover and the crowd support them anyway. I think the band is great, Chris is taking a real lead as a frontman, and by the crowd filled in the Casbah, I know other people feel the same.

Saturday Recap (pt.1): Illinois @ Casbah

I wish I could say Saturday was productive, but instead was completely lazy, starting with lunch with my sister's at Ponce's and fighting food coma the rest of the day. I did clean in prep for the chance that I would have an after party, but unfortuantely my landlord was still around, so I was both hoping I would and would've have people show up at my house at 2 am. Still I prepared for it, then headed down to the Casbah. I was bummed that by the time I arrived I only got to see two songs from Illinois. Those two songs were enough to blow me away and buy their 7 song ep. When I got there, Andrea was pushing me, "Hurry Up and take pictures~ Dude is rockin a banjo!" Later, when the singer Chris and I were talking, he laughed about that. He said us west coasters are so easily impressed. Maybe we are. Or maybe they just really rock.

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Throughout the night, we were chatting with the band and invited them to the after-party but they decided it was a smarter move to drive straight up to San Francisco through the night so they could catch a Giants game on Sunday before their tour took off with the Kooks. I am especially excited they will be returning to town soon with The Hold Steady, though I'm gonna have to plan the night to make it work that I can see them, part of The Hold Steady, then race to Beauty Bar for Great Northern's CD release.

Weekend Recap- Friday: ¡Society! @ Ken Club

After a long week, running errands, and a super long Friday nap to catch up on all the week's lost sleep, I decided to stick to the neighborhood on Friday. Sorry Firethorn, I promise I will come see you soon.

I was still high on my Arcade Fire experience, so mostly I went there to hang out with the other locals, but Amy convinced me to go watch ¡Society! next door, so I did for a while. The band was feeding back a lot and Joey wasn't happy about it, but they played on anyway with their brand of afro funk beats. After being overwhelmed by Arcade Fire, it amazed me that ¡Society! had two more people onstage than AF. How that is possible, I have no idea. There was a good crowd there, though I suppose I expected it to be packed after their recent 94/9 show at 4th & B. I watched some of their set and spent the rest of my time in the bar with friends.

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While hanging outside, there was some boy (yes, 22 is a boy) getting tossed from the bar for being too wasted. His friends (who he later told me had fake IDs) were bitches that pretended not to know him and left him. My friend and I were gonna hang out after bar closing anyway, so we brought Todd home with us and I let him crash on my living room floor. Hotel St. Rosey. So true, people need to watch their intake, but find friends who have your back. I'll be on the lookout for those chicks, too...them and their fake IDs. I dare them to try getting back in to that bar.

Silversun Pickups Added To X-Fest.

No story, just thought I'd mention it.

Welcome to San Diego, Britney

Yes, I was slow on the boat on this one, but Britney Spears will be appearing at our little House of Blues tomorrow, May 1. She is playing under the name "The M+M's" and the all ages tickets sold for $35. That is only two dollars more than the face value Arcade Fire tickets last week. A security friend of mine at the House of Blues said that security was not made aware of it until last week after they'd already seen rumors on E! Entertainment Network.

Brit, if you wanna get hammered, might I recommend Tuesday Night Ken Club Karaoke. Nobody there will care who you are. Seriously. 4078 Adams Avenue.

Friday, April 27, 2007

Things To Do: April 27-29, 2007

Friday, April 27, 2007:

  • Free Eric Volz Benefit Show: Truckee Brothers, Pete Stewart and His Plastic Saviors, Long Live Logos @ San Diego Sports Club. $10 Donation Requested.
  • Transfer, Sleeping People, Holy Rolling Empire, Patrol @ Casbah $10
  • Blonde Redhead, The Annuals @ Belly Up $18 (anyone have a comp ticket for me ??)
  • Explosions in the Sky, Eluvium @ Epicentre
  • Screamin Yeehaws, Compton SF, Big Vinnie and the Cattle Thieves @ Zombie
  • Bankhead Press, Genius Of Soul @ Whistle Stop
  • ¡Society!, Astra @ Ken Club
  • San Serac, Snoozer, Roybot @ Habitat House
  • Sven Erik Seaholm, Josh Damigo @ Vinbladh's
  • Diskonto, Doomsday Hour, Coacción, Basura @ Ché Café
  • Gabba Gabba Heys, Battalion of Saints, LA Slumlords, Pig Champion @ Brick By Brick
  • DJ Quik @ House of Blues (with full band)
  • Diego Roots, One Drop, Stone Senses @ Cane's
  • Johnny Different, The Black Market Hearts, Zombie Surf Camp, Firethorn @ O'Connell's
  • A Beautiful Noise @ Beauty Bar
  • Donnis Trio @ Twiggs/Mueller College
  • The Sess, Chaz, The Pixel Panda, History of Premature Burial @ Scolari's
  • Jenn Grinels, Lisa Sanders, Southern Graffiti @ Lestat's
  • Josh Blue (comedy) @ 4th & B
  • Homeless Sexuals, The Pullouts, Birdzilla @ Chaser's
  • K23 Orchestra, Delta Nove @ 710 Beach Club
  • The Wagon, Oliver Reigns, Lexington, plus comedians @ Winston's

Saturday, April 28, 2007:

  • Free! Art Walk San Diego in Little Italy 12p-6p (Music by Anna Troy, The Shambles, The Grams and more)
  • Free Scoop Day @ all Baskin Robbins
  • Vinyl Radio, Dynamite Walls, Republic of Letters (CD Release), Illinois @ Casbah
  • Swim Party, Kite Flying Society, Secret Apollo @ Ken Club (after party at my house)
  • Goodbye Blue Monday @ Beauty Bar (hosted Han Vodka 9:30-10:30pm)
  • The Palominos, Danny Dean And The Homewreckers, Johnny Wadd & The Stiff Sheets @ Zombie
  • Dan Mangan, Matt Berube, Matt Haeck @ Vinbladh's
  • Rufus Wainwright, Teddy Thompson @ Belly Up
  • Cumbia Allstars @ House of Blues
  • Blackout Party, Annie Dru, Melissa Vaughan @ Lestat's
  • Screamin YeeHaws, The Whiskey Dicks, 12 Cent @ Alibi
  • The Vision of a Dying World, The Pixel Panda, Vaginals, Pen & Ink @ Tower Bar
  • Fashion Whore @ San Diego Sports Club
  • Hell Yeah, The Postals @ Chaser's
  • Yesterday's Papers, Liquid Image, SplitFinger @ 710 Beach Club
  • The Bigfellas @ Surf N Saddle
  • Mean Streaks USA, The Touchers, Mosquito Bandito, Fascination @ Scolari's

Sunday, April 29, 2007:

  • Free! Art Walk San Diego in Little Italy 12p-6p
  • Regina Specktor, Only Son @ House of Blues (Don't miss Only Son!)
  • John Hull, Kirsten Holly, Vanja James @ Lestat's
  • The Spares, Social Concern, The Experiments @ Zombie Lounge
  • Mono, World's End Girlfriend, The Drift @ Casbah

Coachella: Suckas!!

Welcome to Coachella. Don't mind that it's 94º and climbing. It's a dry heat.
(I'm here to pretend I don't care one bit about Coachella)

You Can't Be A Pimp and A Prostitute, Too

I just thought I'd throw a line from Icky Thump up for no particular reason.

Baby Heisman and Cat Dirt Sez have both commented on the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau's (ConVis) recently announced promotion of San Diego as a destination for our indie music scene. The Union Trib has an article on it. My Google alerts sent me to the website. Even my friend who works for the Chula Vista Convention and Visitors Bureau sent me a link. So yeah, I wasn't gonna blog about it. But here I am and it's on my brain, so let me pitch in my two cents.

First of all, I agree with CatDirt...who are the people commenting on "the scene"? Then again, I am not in music promotion, so maybe they really are a big deal and know their shit, but seems to me a lot of people writing about music these days or talking about music (on the radio) or promoting shows don't go out. They might know how to use 6 adjectives in a sentence to tell you exactly how a band sounds on CD but they aren't going to shows. I know. I go to shows. They are not there. One show a month doesn't count. Shit, four shows a month don't count if they are at any combination of the Sports Arena*, Coors Amphitheater, and House of Blues. Try the Tower Bar every once in a while. Or Over the Border. Or Scolari's. Or Surf n Saddle.

Apparently $1.1 Million dollars will be spent on marketing San Diego, including this Indie initiative. I say great. If we're gonna have commercials in Chicago and billboards in Atlanta, and radio spots in New York tellin people to come to San Diego anyway, better to promote our thriving music scene rather than just stick to Shamu, the Zoo, Legoland, our outlet centers, or leather skinned chicks sunbathing on La Jolla Shores. Yes, Tourists! Come to San Diego! Come check out our amazing bands! Send me an e-mail, tell me what you wanna hear, I'll tell you where to go. Unlike some people, I welcome you. I mean "Shamu" isn't even really named Shamu. Get over it. Come see our bands instead!

So everyone is bitching about the music selected. It's not cool enough. Not indie enough. Who are those people/bands anyway? They should've had (insert favorite local band here). I say good for the bands on there for having their name out enough that people completely out of touch with San Diego music were able to find them. Or maybe they're not outta touch but just have different methods in finding music (podcasts, for example). Good for you Adam Gimbel and Rookie Card. Good for the guys in A Weeks Worth, you know I love you. And good for you Bart Mendoza and The Shambles.

Newspapers and weeklies can say blogs are irrelevant; in return we bloggers can call them out of touch...the truth is we have similar goals. Yeah, they might be slow in reporting news. Yeah, we may not fact check. The fact that it's all out there and available should be praised. If "the man" wants to promote our city and use our musicians to do it, go with it. Few bands want to stay unknown and underground forever. Brooklyn has their scene, Portland has theirs, it's about freaking time people started paying attention to ours.

* By the way, apparently iPayOne stopped paying the bills for their naming rights, so we can happily go back to calling the Sports Arena the Sports Arena and remind people that it's called the Sports Arena because it was built for sports. It never was and never will be a worthwhile music venue despite that awesome scene in Almost Famous.

Arcade Fire @ Spreckels 4/26/07

Words are not enough. Arcade Fire gave an amazing performance to a sold out crowd at Spreckels, and despite the fact that I know there were a lot of out of towners around, it didn't spoil our fun.

I skipped the Mute Math in-store, deciding that AF was all the music I wanted and needed for a day. Or a week. Or forever. I arrived at Spreckels, found myself princess parking, and headed into the venue. I bumped into some friends and we decided it was beer o'clock and went to Horton Sports Bar (?). More people joined us and somehow 7 became 8 and 8 became 8:45 and we had completely missed Cass McCombs. Instead we went to the venue, arriving just as the house lights went dark and the yells and cheering filled the venue. I passed off my camera to Nick Montes, a friend of mine with waaay better seats than me, and went up to my balcony.

We found our seats (which actually weren't bad) and got lost in the show. That venue is amazing and while not a church, has that quality that only old theatres and churches have. As the band went into Wake Up (4th song?) we realized the crazies dancing on the side of our balcony were friends, so we bailed our seats and stood there for the majority of the show.

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photo by Nick Montes

After an hour and a good sampling of both Funeral and Neon Bible, I was sure the show was winding down and was trying to get my camera back but Nick was ignoring his phone song after song. We watched from the balcony as 4 awesome people jumped the barricade to dance and two guys jumped on stage. We watched the barricaded area fill up with tons of people and Win jumping into the crowd. We watched tons of people flood toward the front of the stage. I wanted my camera. So I raced down to the floor, made my way to my friends, got my camera, and watched the rest of the show from the floor.

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photo by Nick Montes

Part of the awesome part of the whole show was that it was a Tim Mays/Casbah event, so all the guys from the Casbah were the main security...so Porter walking through the crowd saying "clear the aisle" was more for going through the motions than to actually evacuate those of us down there without the right tickets. The ushers were nowhere to be found, so that was cool, too.

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photo by Nick Montes

There's just something about the whole show that was kinda overwhelming. That many people singing along, on their feet most of the show, clapping along, everything. Alex of Swim Party said the show was a religious experience and probably broke up a lot of bands who feel they couldn't live up to the example set. The bar was set high for sure.

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photo by Nick Montes

Win got a little mad about some feedback, but I didn't really notice. 9 people onstage with 8000 instruments and amps and mics, I can't imagine there not being some feedback at times. I had hoped that the band would encore in the foyer as they had in London and NY, but instead they gave us a double encore. The night ended with Neon Bible, as pages of a bible were rhythmically torn out one by one. The whole night was simply amazing.

There was no making it to the Rapture as the show ended closer to 11. And really, how could that have even compared? Instead a whole slew of friends headed to Dobsons for late night cocktails as we recapped the night. I feel lucky to have gotten tickets, I feel lucky to have witnessed such an amazing show, I feel lucky to have been surrounded by so many friends, and I especially feel lucky to have been backstage during the soundcheck earlier in the day. Now that it's gone, I need to find something new to look forward to.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

ARCADE FIRE TONIGHT!!

I cannot wait. I just got to go into Spreckels from backstage and got to watch and listen to Wake Up and The Well and The Lighthouse during soundcheck. Fucking A-MA-ZING. I almost busted out my camera but that would be cheating and would've gotten me tossed in two seconds flat, so I left Andrea's ticket at will call, hung out in the back with Porter and Pyles for a few. I am a total dork but jesus was that awesome. The sound in there is gonna be killer. I'm shaking like those women in the old Elvis concert videos.

Also, if you're going to the show, I understand that cameras will be allowed, but no flash after the third song. See you tonight!!!

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Things To Do: April 26, 2007

Thursday, April 26, 2007:

  • Arcade Fire, Cass McCombs @ Spreckel's Theatre
  • Free! Mute Math in-store @ M-Theory 6:30 pm
  • Mute Math, Cinematics, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin @ House of Blues
  • The Rapture @ Beauty Bar (must have a ticket for entry- dj sets and full band set around 10:30 pm)
  • The Continental Kings, EcoSave @ San Diego Sports Club
  • Trigger, Renegade, Jet Fuel @ Chaser's
  • Visual Underground with The Transit War @ Casbah
  • A Touch of Class (NYC) @ Modus
  • Kareya, Gasoline, chicken, Sand Dollar @ 710 Beach Club
  • Bobby Lee Rodgers and the CodeTalkers @ Winston's

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego Issues Press Release

The Hard Rock Hotel San Diego will be opening its doors this fall. You can find the really stuffy press release here. A whole lot of blah, blah, blah about movers and shakers and being the "it" spot and the exquisite features (300 count sheets! bfd.) I was hoping there would be something more about the music venue, but alas, it is just an afterthought. As far as I know, the current downtown Hard Rock will close it's doors when the hotel opens, so I was hoping for more info. But here's all you get:

"The hotel also boasts a spectacular 5,000-square-foot entertainment venue for
concerts, celebrity DJs, movie premieres, corporate gigs and non/traditional
weddings."

Neat-o. I bet it will be San Diego's number one hot spot. I for one hope that one day I am rich and famous just so I can stay in the Rock Star suite that is being designed by Black Eyed Peas. It's a normal room but the bed has pee stains. (I. am. so. hilarious.)

Internet Radio Equality

A few weeks ago, I posted a letter from Tim Westergren of Pandora urging people to sign a petition urging Congress to repeal the new outrageous roylaty paying scale that was recently passed that would place an unreasonable cost burden on websites and basically wipe out all internet radio as we know it.

Well, we did well, but we have to act again.

Hi, Tim again,

First, I wanted to thank you again for the support last week. It was absolutely overwhelming. More than 200,000 Pandora listeners contacted their congressional representatives! The entire fax infrastructure on Capitol Hill ground to a halt. We had to deliver faxes manually - literally boxes full of them were delivered to every office in the Capitol building.

The result has been swift and dramatic: more than a million people have already joined the cause! There is now a bill just being introduced called the "Internet Radio Equality Act" to fix the problem and save Internet radio -and Pandora- from obliteration.

I'd like to ask you to do one more thing which is to call and ask your Congressperson, Susan A. Davis, to co-sponsor the Internet Radio Equality Act:

Susan A. Davis's phone number: (202)225-2040

This fight for our life is not over, but there has been a marked shift in momentum. Thanks to your efforts, this vital channel for musical diversity has a hope of finally being treated fairly and being allowed to grow and nurture a newly empowered class of independent musicians.

Your opinion matters to your representatives - so please take just a minute to call.
For anyone "shy", know that the person answering your call is likely an intern half your age who sits with a clipboard and tallies the topic of the calls he/she receives on behalf of Susan Davis. Let her know this is something we care about.

Wednesday Night Recap: The Roman Spring, Health, AM Vibe, Autolux

After 3 straight nights without seeing bands, it was time to get out of the house or be stuck at home watching a two hour American Idol barf-fest.

First stop of the night was to see my good friends in The Roman Spring at everyone's favorite bar, the San Diego Sports Club. Rodney is back from his tour as one half of Trentalange so it was good to see him again. If you ever go to SDSC, take a heavy sweater. I'm one of those people who prefers cold to hot, but that is just a nipple fest in there. Better than being hot at a show, but still...

Anyway, The Roman Spring played about a half hour set. Andrea and I were getting some Franz Ferdinand vibes from the older stuff. They treated us to two new tracks at the end of their set that showed lyrical maturity and the development of their own cohesive style.

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From SDSC, we headed to the Casbah, just missing Japanese Sunday on the mainstage and AM Vibe's first set in the Atari lounge. We were in time, however, to catch the onstage insanity that is Health. Or more like unstable mental Health. Crashing and thrashing and kneeling with mics to their amps to play with feedback, the music was driven by heavy rhythmic drums. Andy called it Math Metal. I'll go with that. They're outta LA and I wanna see them at the Ken Club after I've consumed exactly 4 vodka tonics and two red-headed sluts. And I want a tambourine or something to bang on.

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During the set change, AM Vibe played in the Atari Lounge. Apparently they had a rough first set but I wouldn't know it. They played great and it's great to see Lisa is doing well after her back surgery and her voice is unaffected. She brings to my mind early 90s bands like Belly or the Sundays, so it feels comfortable and familiar. Mostly I'm glad they're playing again.

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After their short set, it was time for the Autolux. The sold out venue was crowded and eager and somehow I found Andrea at the side of the stage, so I worked my way up to meet her. Autolux delivered in every way. Another band that I seemed to have completely missed the boat on in the past, but will go out of my way to see in the future. And for the record, I have always been partial to male vocalists, and was kinda psyching myself out from going to the show, but Carla sang from behind the kit and with the vocals alternating, I actually really liked the whole band as a package.

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New(ish) Venue: Vinbladh's

You might notice in my "Things to Do" section a venue that I haven't posted before. A friend of mine posted about a show happening at a place called Vinbladh's, so after a little inquiry, I decided to finally post about it.

Vinbladh's is a little café in University Heights, across the street from El Zarape and equidistant between Mueller's Massage school and Lancer's, in the little green cottage. They have a calendar with some strong bookings, a lot of stuff you might've expected at Twiggs but can't see there anymore because of their lease issues (though they've been booking at Mueller's). I will be adding them on a regular basis to my Things to Do list so keep an eye out. The café itself specializes in Swedish delights and has a small food menu mostly focused on desserts. Jennifer "Damn" Barnes is working there full time (formerly of Ken Cinema and Claire De Lune) so stop by and say hi.

Vega4 launches contest

This is edited straight from a press release, but since I love this band and believe in the cause, I am reposting.

...Vega4 is hosting a contest in an effort to raise awareness about global climate change issues. Fans are invited to use the band’s single, “Life Is Beautiful,” as the soundtrack to videos or slideshows addressing environmental concerns. Entrants can upload their submissions to the Vega4 YouTube group starting now, until May 31st. The band will then select their favorite video and award the winner two tickets to the Live Earth concert on July 7, which will be held at Giant’s Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. The contest officially kicks off this week in a tribute to Earth Day, as “Life Is Beautiful” is the featured iTunes Single of the Week...

...More information on the competition is available on the band’s MySpace page, and official website. Vega4’s album, You and Others, is currently available on iTunes and will be officially released in mid-June on Original Signal Recordings/Epic Records.

Arcade Fire: Opening Act & Set Times for Tonight

I'm reposting this info for all those last minute Googles I'm getting....


I just got word that the set times are as follows:
Cass McCombs 7:30
Arcade Fire 9:00
I hope my source is wrong, but he's working the show, so he should know.

Also, if you are a friend of mine (or you are just really nice) and you have extra tickets for tonight that you plan on selling, please consider trading with me for my crap balcony seats and then you can sell those. There is no incentive to do this other than one friend helping another, but I would be forever grateful.

Thank you.

Also, here is my blog from yesterday:

The opening act for The Arcade Fire at Spreckels tomorrow is
Cass McCombs.
Check out this blog for some insight.

Dntel- (To get you through the morning)

Jimmy Tamborello, or Dntel, is the non Gibbard half of Postal Service. His new album is "thick with Tamborello's signature electronic washes and genius beat placement" and features various vocalists such as Jenny Lewis and Conor Oberst among many others.
Dumb Luck

Download "Dumb Luck" (mp3)
from "Dumb Luck"
by
Dntel Sub Pop

More On This Album

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Jesus & Mary Chain On The Radio

The Jesus and Mary Chain will be on Indie 103.1 at "twelve bells" (that's noon to you) this Thursday (tomorrow) making an appearance on Jonesy's Jukebox before they head to Pomona for their show at the Glasshouse with Scarlett Johansson. Stream it live here. (Thursday at noon)

Arcade Fire's Opening Act- San Diego, April 26, Spreckels

The opening act for The Arcade Fire at Spreckels tomorrow is Cass McCombs. Check out this blog for some insight.

Things To Do: April 25, 2007

If you're not going to Coachella (like me) don't fret....there's still plenty going on locally and really, do you wanna sit in the desert with expected temps exceeding 92º? If you're feeling sad and upset about not going, just remember these four little words and get over it. red. hot. chili. peppers. (ok, I know it's gonna be amazing, but I'm not going and I'm not gonna pout about it.)

Wednesday, April 25, 2007:

  • Autolux, Health, Japanese Sunday & AM Vibe (two sets) in the Atari Lounge@ Casbah
  • The Strangers Six, Spell Toronto @ Beauty Bar
  • Sean Lennon, Women And Children, Kamila Thompson @ Belly Up
  • Stephen Marley @ House of Blues
  • MC Lars, MC Frontalot, Optimus Rhyme @ Epicentre
  • Pussywhipped, Someday Assassin, The Roman Spring @ San Diego Sports Club for Pussy Galore
  • Laura Jane's Combo Platter with MC Flow & Lauren DeRose @ Rubber Rose $10
  • Floater, Aaron Cuandra, Kemistry, Muzzle @ Brick By Brick
  • Mower @ 710 Beach Club (free- MTV Video shoot)

VMix Guest Blogger- ME!

A couple weeks ago, I was invited to write a guest blog for VMix, a site where you can create picture slideshows, upload music and video, create an online profile and check out other people's content, too. The company is based in San Diego and has a particularly strong interest in our music scene so I highly recommend checking it out.

I wrote this "essay" last Tuesday, after finding myself a punching bag on the punk board and a day before the Reader published it's "Cool San Diego" issue, though I suppose this fits right in that theme, too. Go check out my guest blog here.

Greg Laswell + Mandy Moore?

I hate that I love gossip, but apparently Mandy Moore and Greg Laswell andan juntos; but go to Opening Band for the scoop. Of all the Hollywood ladies, she seems like someone I'd wanna drink beers with at the Ould Sod, so I give this my completely meaningless stamp of approval.

Music. Mostly new. All good.

I'm lazy. Here are some bands I like, some bands with new stuff, some bands coming to San Diego soon, and some bands that I like that have new stuff that are coming to San Diego soon.


"The Drop to the Top" Only Son (formerly of the Moldy Peaches, appearing at the House of Blues Apr 29, in support of Regina Spektor)

"Unbeast the Leash" - Videohippos (Ché Café June 17)

"Blood on the Slacks"-Golden Smog- Click the link to preview tracks on Lost Highway.

"Trading Twilight For Daylight" Great Northern (Beauty Bar June 1)
download an MP3 of "The Middle"
here. The CD will be released 5/15.

"Ode to Ochrasy" Mando Diao (Casbah, May 21) (you can hear the full album on their MySpace page)

Finally, if you're a regular at my site, you've noticed the new banner at the top of the page and you also know I love me some
Aqualung. Somehow this translates to a contest for you.

For your chance to win the following prize pack:

- Aqualung hoodie
- Aqualung t-shirt
- a copy of his latest cd Memory Man
- and a hard-copy of Ragged


I'm gonna make you dig through this site a little. I have seen Aqualung 3 times in San Diego. Name one of the venues where I've seen him. I will select a winner at random from any entries I get by the end of the day on Thursday. E-mail your answers to divebarchick AT gmail DOT com. Include name, address, tele. I promise I won't give your info out or tp your house.

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that's all for now.

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Hey San Diego-

My best friend/neighbor is moving downtown, leaving the apartment upstairs from me vacant. It will be available mid-May. Please let me know if you have any interest, as I would hope that someone I know would take the spot...

1 bedroom, 1 bath $950
New carpet in living room/bedroom (to be installed next week)
Walk-in closet
Tiled bathroom/kitchen
Gas stove
Shared yard

Off street parking
On premises laundry
No pets

The apartment is probably in the neighborhood of 650 sq feet. When I moved in downstairs, 3 girls shared the upstairs, so while small, it can be done. It's an old building, so no modern things like dishwasher or a/c, but it's in the heart of Kensington, a block and a half from the Ken Club. The lot is shared with 2 one bedrooom apartments (mine and the vacant one), one two bedroom apartment (mostly vacant throughout the year), and two businesses (a salon and an interior designer's office).

The neighborhood is mostly quiet except for occasional noise at the gas station, and my late night after parties/tv watching/insomnia. The walls are thin, so you and I will probably hear things we would prefer not to from each other, but we do and we get over it.


We also have the digital cable + HBO & internet split at the moment, so if that's a service you want, we can continute to share it (payable to me monthly on the 10th) or you can sign up on your own.

If anyone is interested in this apartment, please let me know ASAP, and I'll forward my landlord's info to you.

Won't you be my neighbor??

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Things To Do: April 24, 2007

If you're not going to Coachella (like me) don't fret....there's still plenty going on locally and really, do you wanna sit in the desert with expected temps exceeding 92º? If you're feeling sad and upset about not going, just remember these four little words and get over it. red. hot. chili. peppers.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007:

  • (correction: Free Eric Volz Benefit @ SDSC is on FRIDAY)
  • Nautical Disaster, Grin's Edge, Perfect Blue @ O'Connell's
  • Ice Cube, WC @ Cane's
  • The North Atlantic, Kingdom of Magic, The Fuusa @ Zombie Lounge
  • Between the Lines @ Longboard's (PB)
  • The Lovely Disaster, Buddy Akai, The Pussywhips @ Casbah
  • Guitar Hero Night @ Kadan
  • Ken Club Karaoke
  • Competitive Eating Competition @ The Tower Bar Tonight's Food: Meatballs!!!

CD Release : Republic Of Letters

I have all kinds of CDs I should be reviewing, MP3s to be posting, and contests to announce, but things have been pretty chaotic for me. First, there's that whole day job thing getting in the way of my real life, then there's my dinosaur of a computer that makes every task take 80 times longer than it should, and then there's my asshole mailman who pussed out the one time my dog was outside, so my mail has been on hold for two weeks already until the boxes are moved outside the property, which apparently isn't as simple as it sounds. drama. All of that said, there are some things I've been paying attention to, so I'll start with one and hopefully gradually increase my mini posts.

Republic of Letters: It's no secret that I love Republic of Letters...the guys are all good friends of mine and I am a fan of their music. In fact, I was a fan before we were friends, so my bias is allowed. I've always compared their music to early U2 or my favorite local band of the early 90's, Blacksmith Union. They worked long and hard recording their EP in LA and it's finally being released at a CD Release show this Saturday. You can listen to their appearance on The Local Pyle by clicking here and scrolling down to The Local Pyle dated 4/22 or check out their MySpace for some of the new tracks. They will be joined by two other Dialed In favorites, Vinyl Radio and Dynamite Walls. Also on the bill is touring band Illinois who are taking a break from touring with The Kooks (presumably while the Kooks play Coachella) and who will be touring later with The Hold Steady (including their stop in SD on June 1). The show is a mere $8 and so worth it.

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Tuesday Newsy Bits

I've been outta the loop, so sorry if this is all already old news.

First off, congrats to Cat Dirt Sez for huge mentions on NME, LAist, Stereogum and MTV among others. When CatDirt Sez he has inside info, believe him. He broke that Scarlett Johannsen will be performing with the Jesus and Mary Chain at the Glasshouse on Thursday for a pre-Coachella show. He also broke that the Jesus and Mary Chain were playing the glasshouse in Pomona in the first place. Pay attention. He knows whats up.

*****
Guess where I won't be on August 18, 2007? 311 and Matisyahu will be playing at Coors Amphitheater in Chula Vista. I don't think you could pay me to go to that show, but I know I stand alone on my distaste for both bands, so if you're into it,
register for pre-sale here.
*****
Shows you might catch me at... Feist and Grizzly Bear at Belly Up on June 30; The Faint are playing Soma on June 8. Also,
Electric Soft Parade is coming back to the Casbah on May 22, the first night of their tour with The Clientele and Beach House. You can click here for an MP3 download. Here's a YouTube of Electric Soft Parade:


*****
I've added more pics to the weekend recap below, including video of the Fishtank Ensemble. Scroll down.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Things To Do: April 23, 2007

This will be a rough and incomplete listing for the week. Check back for updates. Send updates to divebarchick AT gmail DOT com.
Monday, April 23, 2007:

  • Anti Monday League: This Holiday Life, Buckfast Superbee, Long Live Logos, Madison County @ Casbah
  • Grant Lee Phillips, Patrick Park @ Belly Up
  • Love Songs and Monster Songs, French Quarter, Lilith Velkorn @ Scolari's
  • Lady Dottie and the Diamonds @ Tower Bar

Weekend Recap (Bad Case of the Mondays)

I'm sorry I've not posted today just got a bad case of the Mondays and Jack In The Box is no longer my friend, I guess. The weekend was great so I'll recap the highlights and save you the novel.

1. Friday Night- I missed the Corvinas but did see the Widows and The Last of The Bad Men. Jake was on sound and the crowd was solid. Good, fast punk to get people moving and drinking. One chick was trying to start a pit but was eventually tossed out. No guy was gonna jump in with her and knock her out, so I don't know why she thought she was such a badass.

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The Widows

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The Last of the BadMen

After the show, some people came over and we drank beers till 4:30 or so while everyone made fun of my music selection. We settled on Ganggreen, but that was only after they made fun of my other music. Such is life.

2. Saturday morning: Me and my pretend boyfriend met for Ponce's to absorb the alcohol from the night before and then headed to the House of Blues for The Bloody Hollies playing at 94/9's Big Day Out. Apparently I missed the blogger introduction but no big deal, I had fun listening to the Hollies because it was the first time I've ever seen them and been able to actually hear them. Garrett, Pyles and Owen were all there and it was cool to see so many people out that early in the day. I can't believe I didn't enter the raffle for 3 day Coachella passes. Stupid. Anyway, it was a good time until pretend boyfriend was cut off at the bar (I know how to pick em) so I ditched him and headed up to the Adams Ave Roots fest.

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3. I rode my bike down Adams, locked it up, and ran into Adam Gimbel, Trishia, and 3 year old Emma, who promptly grabbed my hand and escorted me around the fair. We made our way to the park stage for Los Fabulocos from LA, a chicano group much like Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, playing tejano/tex mex/banda and the like. Emma and I danced. We also got our groove on to the next band, The Fishtank Ensemble. They had such an interesting sound, sometimes playing famous symphonies, sometimes original compositions, and my favorite of their stuff, the Eastern European gypsy music all with a heavy gypsy/flamenco vibe. I mean, the singer played a saw. Does it get more unique than that? They also had stand up bass, violin, accordion, a shamisen (a 3 stringed instrument from northern Japan plucked with what looks like a paint spackle), and guitar. After their set in the park, they joined Gregory Paige and Erika Davies, and Los Californios for a song swap.

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Gregory & Erika


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I left the street fair by 4:30, with the intent of getting ready for the free 94/9 show with ¡Society! and Silversun Pickups @ 4th and B, but I was so tired. My short nap turned into 2 hours, and I psyched myself out of going. Then Andrea text messaged me that I still had time, ¡Society! were still playing and there wasn't an insane line like I expected, so I sucked it up and headed downtown.

4. I got there before Silversun Pickups even started and had no problem breezing my way up to the front railing. I had been told that the band isn't big on pictures, and maybe that's why for most of their set, they were only lit from the rear stage lighting and very infrequently did the front stage lights even come on. Lame, but whatever...They played a great set, this was the perfect sized venue for them. HoB sidestage is too small, Belly Up is too small, 4th and B was just right.


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After the set, Garrett and Owen gave away 3 more 3 day Coachella passes with camping passes, and I think 2 3 day Coachella passes with VIP writstbands and hotel. My name was still not in that box, dammit! Anyway, it was a really cool event...the whole day out was successful and had it not been on a weekend with so many other things going on, I probably would've gone up to the Belly Up, too. Garrett hooked me up with the setlist but as I'm sick and lazy, you'll have to wait for all of that.

After the show I decided that I needed a night of pajamas and HBO on demand, so I stayed in.

5. That didn't stop me from sleeping in and only waking when my mom called to tell me she was on her way to take me to the Earth Day Earth Fair.

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We met up with my sister, my brother in law, and our friend Nickie and hung out between the World Beat Center and the Centro Cultural de la Raza, where there was an LA band called
Mili Mili World Music playing predominantly Brazilian music in a trailer doubling as a stage. They were fun and lots of people were dancing, lots of families were chillin on blankets, and lots of herb was being smoked all around. The announcers had to keep reminding people that it was a family event, so there should be no smoking, cigarettes or otherwise, in the area.

After the band, we went to eat but the vendors at Earth Day SUCK. Local festivals should have local vendors, not those same damn corporate vendors that do the Del Mar Fair and shit to serve you $7 plates of Chinese food you could get at a 99 cent Chinese spot. Disappointed with our choices, we called it a day and decided to eat at El Zarape then roll to the Roots Fest again. By the time we arrived back at Roots, the day was winding down, the last bands were finishing up, and the vendors were about to break down, so we did a quick walk through all the vendors and the day was done.

After all of that, I met Sandra and some friends at the Tower for Miggs' b-day, but he'd already left. Big P tried to call Josh Mosh and Derek to come meet me there, but only got voice mails, I suppose.

Anyway, it was a good weekend but today I just didn't feel right. I have issues with insomnia, and sometimes when I do sleep, my dreams are as real as having actually lived them, so I can be more tired after waking than I was before falling asleep and it's really exhausting. I will get it together on Tuesday and post more pics from the weekend, a youtube video of the Fishtank Ensemble, and the set lists from the Bloody Hollies and Silversun Pickups. Till then, I'm gonna go crawl under a rock and hide for the night, if that's ok to do every once in a while.

Good job to anyone involved in planning any of the weekend events... 94/9's event was rad, Roots Fest was impressive, and Earth Day, aside from those whack food vendors, was a good time.