Things To Do in San Diego: October 31-November 1, 2007

Wednesday, October 31, 2007:

• Blakes @ M-Theory Instore. 6pm
• Grand Ole Party, The Glossines, The Muslims, The Sess @ Casbah
• Sirhan Sirhan, Prize Country, Hostile Combover @ Black Box Studio
• Nautical Disaster, Inigo @ San Diego Sports Club
• Kill Me Tomorrow, The Nightmares + Costume Contest @ Whistle Stop
• Book of Martyrs @ Beauty Bar
• Halloween Party feat. The Fascination, The Blakes, Love Campaign @ Zombie
• Enanitos Verdes @ House of Blues
• Rockabilly Halloween Party - Cathouse Thumpers, The Handsome Devils, Married by Elvis, Screamin Yeehaws @ Cane's
• The Skunk Apes, CDM, The Postals @ O'Connell's
• "Howlin Halloween" @ House of Blues (Benefits Humane Society)
• Halloween Party feat. 80's Heat, Society! @ Belly Up
• The Loaded @ Lestat's
• Parker Theory @ Qualcomm Stadium- Halloween Party in Parking Lot presented by Mission Valley Christian Fellowship, Free, Food, Carnival, etc. All ages. 6-9pm
• Strive Roots @ 710 Beach Club
• Cattle Decapitation,Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza, Arsonist, Get All The Girls, Pallida Mors @ Soma
• Gadfly Halloween Bash @ Winston's

Thursday, November 1, 2007:

• TNT: Thursday Night Thing feat Qu'est-ce Que C'est and Wild Weekend@ Museum of Contemporary Art (Black & White Masquerade- BYO Mask or make one at the museum)
• Polyphonic Spree, Rooney, The Redwalls @ Belly Up
• Low Vs. Diamond, Something for Rockets, Steve Goldberg and the Archenemys @ Casbah
• Jim Bianco, Anya Marina @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge
• Wendy Baily, Pick-Up Girl, Perfect Blue @ San Diego Sports Club
• Staring At Strange, Broke on Friday, Every Thirteen Days, Feeling of Hate @ Cane's
• The Few, Heliphino @ Lestat's
• Phantom Rockers, The Strikers, No Dice @ Zombie
• Molly Jensen, Kemistry @ Anthology, 7:30 early show
• The Detroit Underground @ Anthology, 10 pm late show
• DB3, The Bankhead Press @ Winston's

Monday Recap: Swim Party, Frightened Rabbit, Quasi

Last of the catching up posts...

Monday night I went to the Casbah for Swim Party, Frightened Rabbits, and Quasi. Unlike usual Mondays in San Diego, there was a lot to choose from around town. Battles were playing at the Epicentre and Final Fantasy was at the Beauty Bar among a few other options. With that in mind, I guess I wasn't too surprised that the Casbah wasn't very crowded. For that, all I can say is that I'm sorry to anyone who wasn't there, because Swim Party absolutely blew the lid off the place. They sounded so clean and so good that my friend and I were trying to figure out how we can get Barsuk to pay attention. I was so into the music, I didn't even pull out my camera and let Natalie go to town. Check her site for those pics in a couple days.

Frightened Rabbit was up next. They're a 3 piece from Scotland and, well, let's face it, what girl isn't just a little groupified by a band with accents? Even more so when that band is so good?













I loved the vocals, and maybe it's because I'm so into the band's countrymen, My Latest Novel, but I was into them from the get go. The whole band was great, but the drummer stole the show. Watching him beat the skins, all the while singing along, and even at one point playing harmonica while he played was nothing short of a spectacle. I try not to turn into groupie fan when watching a band, and no disrespect to his girlfriend, but those faces he made were sex faces...I feel like we all watched him having sex because he was just on another plane than all of us.

Quasi was up last and played a really long set. I found it funny that all three bands of the evening were 3 piece bands. I liked some of Quasi's more melodic songs, but sometimes the dissonant hammering on the keyboard got to me...just not my thing. The room was more crowded that it had been earlier in the night and people were really into Quasi, but it was getting late and I had to go make my contribution to the Leukemia/Lymphoma benefit so I took off a little after 12. Natalie took pics of Quasi, too, so keep a look out for her to post. Tonight I'll be at Black Box and possibly the Casbah too. One great thing about my new job is I start at a normal time: 9 am, and not the 7:30 I was used to at my old job. Hope to see y'all out...

My Day At Salon Tonic

I am trying to pump out the posts today, while I can. I wanted to go more into my new haircut because it was a great experience. My friend Jamie works at the salon and called me a few weeks ago to ask if I wanted to be a "hair model" for one of the stylists there. "Hair model" does not imply I'm a model or that pictures would be taken for any professional use, just that I was donating my hair to the stylist to practice a new haircut on a real head of hair.



Salon Tonic is located in Little Italy, right next to Indigo Grill on India St. between Beech and Cedar. I had no idea how big it was going to be on the inside. The salon is normally closed on Mondays, but this was an exception for the stylists to practice a razor cut bob that they were learning from a DVD from the Bumble & Bumble Institute in New York. Not only were the stylists and owners of the salon there, but a rep from Bumble & Bumble was present, too. As I waited in the lobby, I was offered a beverage...beer, wine, soda, tea. I was a little nervous and went with the beer.






Lesli, my stylist for the day, introduced herself and we did a consultation. What did I want? I told her she could pretty much do anything she wanted. I was just hoping to look better leaving than I did when I arrived, and with the mop of hair I had, that wasn't going to too hard to accomplish.

I got my hair shampooed and my head massaged before I was reseated to get my haircut underway. Since it was a learning/teaching environment, there were a lot of people touching my hair and observing my hair and my "squirrelly" hairline and whatnot, but it was ok. Lesli was great with the straight razor. This haircut was all razor, no scissors. It meant a lot of hair removal; thinning and cutting along the way. She cut a lot of hair.

I was at the salon a little over two hours, but that includes a lot of people watching and learning from each other while studying all the different girls getting cuts around the room. This is just before she blow dried my hair out. I don't know how many times I have to mention that I'm not much for salons and girly things, but Lesli kinda laughed when I told her the last time my hair was blowdried was when I got my hair done before my best friend's wedding in the summer of 2006. I don't even own a blowdryer.


Still, she blow dried my hair to show the razor cut, then we tossled it back up, sprayed heavily with some tonic and had the final result.



I had a little bounce in my step as I left with my hair shorter and feeling a lot lighter. Lesli has a magic touch. I highly recommend getting in touch with her.

Salon Tonic is located at 1532 India Street. The phone number is 619.234.9432.

Sunday Recap: The Visual Underground at the Casbah

Sunday was a lazy relaxing day at home. I cooked some, cleaned some, and caught up on some of my shows that I missed over the 24 hour news cycles of fire coverage. In case you weren't aware, ABC, CBS, and MTV all have full episodes of many of their shows online. NBC and Fox probably do, too, though there's not really anything I watch on those networks.

Later in the eve, I made my way to the Casbah. Somehow, even though I was there by 7:30, all the free food was gone. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that in the 5 years of that Visual Underground has been around, I had never been to one in the past. There always seems to have been something else going on.

I was really impressed with the set up. The patio was already pretty full, the pool tables were turned into a full on gallery with beautiful art. Pyles was in the back area and after chatting, that's when he put me on air to plug my blog, my CityBeat column, and my one year "blogiversary". Jake, Malinda and I were hungry, so we left to get some Bronx pizza. When we I watched a couple of the short films, but the sound was so piercing, I couldn't last long in the main room. There also seemed to be some tension in the bar between the Visual guys and the bar staff which made for awkwardness I've never really experienced there. Still, I stuck around. I wanted to see the costume contest because there were some great costumes. It was disappointing then to discover that only three contestants were chosen for the contest. Everyone I knew was rooting for Nate's He-Man costume, but the winner was a pregnant Wonder Woman (with a store bought costume). Boo. From that point I was a little bored...it was already 11 before Operator X was even close to hitting the stage. As much as I wanted to see them, I decided to head home and get some shuteye. Visual Underground has been an institution in the local music community, and I wish I could say I was sad to see it go, but after this night, maybe it is better that the event comes to a close. We'll just have to see other events and promoters rise to the top.

Saturday: Halloween Craziness

Saturday night found me back at the Boat & Ski Club where I was helping out. There was a huge party and the club had intended to have an ATM machine, but since it didn't come, I was posted up at the credit swiper to get people cash. Since I already posted the pics, I'll just say I had no idea how huge the party was going to be. I would estimate there were a ton of people, all dancing and drinking the night away between the front room, the main bar area, and the outdoor grass and tented area.

In the room I was in, the first DJ was playing some electro/techno stuff. Basically the equivalent of waterboarding, if you ask me. Hey DJ, can you play that one song that goes, "nn-cha. nn-cha. nn-cha"? Oh, no, not that one. The other one... I was happy when the music switched to actual songs with lyrics, even if they did flash me back to high school years at Mr. Crown's and The House in Tijuana. Black Sheep, Cypress Hill...I can roll with that.

My post ran smoothly, I had a couple 19 year old guys helping me out so I never actually had to touch cash which I preferred. Most of the people were really cool, but it was funny watching people on the dance floor, and just from a psych 101 perspective. There were the girls, pulling out $20 at a time, then the guys who were there to chill with friends, also pulling out only $20 or $40 to cover their own drinks. Then there were the dudes that you knew were "ballers" or at least trying to be, pulling out $100, $160, or $200 at a time, presumably buying drinks for any hot chick they could get near.

Everyone was really nice to me although it was definitely not my kinda crowd and not my kinda music. And frankly, at times, I just felt a lot older than the party people in the house. I do have to give a shout out to the guy whose card wasn't scanning because of an encryption error who was so grateful when his card finally scanned that he bought me a drink. Since the bar was in the other room, I had my 19 year old security sidekick watch me. "If I start getting loopy, really chatty, or my clothes start coming off, then that guy might've roofied me. Just keep an eye out." My drink was splendid and I was most certainly not roofied, so to you guy, thanks for the beverage. You were awesome.

I doled out a lot of cash and my line eventually dwindled so we closed up my area. I watched the costume contest, walked around the outdoor area snapping some pics, and eventually headed back to the hood. I have to give a huge thank you to Lynn, Troy, Josh and all the others who made me feel at home in an environment where I might've felt less so had you not been there.

When I made it back to Kensington, the Creepy Creeps were wrapping up and I hung out with my costumed friends to close the night. Personally, I've never been that big on Halloween, but it was fun to see everyone's costumes over the last few days. After tonight, however, I'm looking forward to the end of costumes and the annual transformation of the Ken Club to a warm and fuzzy space chock full of Christmas ornamentaion.

Friday Recap: Red Feathers & The Vision Of A Dying World

On Friday night I returned to the hood a little later than I'd planned. Then I made a Ken Club mistake and ordered a margarita. And then another. And so on. Don't get me wrong, the margs are delicious, but they catch up to you pretty darn quick. That said, it's best I just post some pics of the night. I mean, how many times can I write that I love Red Feathers and The Vision of A Dying World? Awesome music to accompany margarita bliss...

The Red Feathers










The Vision of a Dying World








It was a lovely evening and I was happy to be stumbling distance from home around good friends.

As a side note, as I'm celebrating the one year of writing this blog, it has also been one year since Action Jackson has been in the promoting game, putting together great local bands at great venues like the Che, The Ken, The Casbah, and Scolari's among others. Congrats to Jackson on a great year and here's to the next year of supporting the local scene.

Happy Halloween from our little Kielbasa

A few weeks ago my sister and I took a day trip to San Francisco. On the trip, she bought my niece her first halloween costume; this little hot dog suit.

Friday Recap: The Game

Long overdue post. I stayed home on Thursday night which unfortunately meant I missed Thee Corsairs CD Release show. By Friday I was ready for the weekend with all the craziness of the fires behind us.

Lynn called from the Boat & Ski Club. They had turned the facility into an evacuee shelter and there was still one evacuee who needed information on where to go and what to do. I couldn't get the wi-fi working, so made a couple calls and he, his dog and I went the The Rock Church, which I mentioned here. After getting some info we needed, we went back to the club and I was in time to catch the music and "The Game."

First on the stage was a set by acoustic artist Nathan James. He played some originals and also did a cover of the Ryan Adams version of Oasis' "Wonderwall", "9 Crimes" by Damien Rice, "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" by the Flaming Lips, and an acoustic and sweet version of N'Sync's "Bye Bye Bye."



If you're a fan of acoustic music and delicious steak dinner, I'd recommend checking out the Listen Local events. Especially when Cathryn is hosting and Lynn is behind the bar.



The Grass Gypsys played second. They're a couple from Boston, made up of Colleen and Justin, and they live in a van and travel around the country playing music. Justin plays guitar with passion while Colleen tells the songs stories with her sweet voice and vivid hand gesturing. They, too, played originals and covers, and their version of "What a Wonderful World" was a standout.



After their set, "The Game" began. A handful of artists wrote songs, all with the title selected for the week, "To Make A Killing." Some artists stood out for their powerful voices, some for their powerful musicianship, and some just stood out for being a little out there. One of those gems that was great to see was Isaac Hayden, who we sadly learned would be leaving San Diego back to his home town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming after finding it too hard to break into music here. He's someone worth checking out if you're into musicians like Amos Lee...acoustic but with a lot of soul. Oh, Isaac, I hardly knew you.



After "The Game" wrapped up, Isaac came back onstage for a full acoustic set, but it was getting late and I had plans elsewhere, so I was on my way. It was a really fun night and I'm gonna try to make a point to head back in the future. And next time I'm all over that $10 steak dinner...

The Next Chapter: I Said Yes

Before I was laid off in August, I got a call from an old co-worker. She'd seen the article about me in the Union Trib and called to congratulate me and catch up. When I asked about the office, she told me they'd moved from Sorrento Valley to Fashion Valley and were doing well. She told me the office was expanding.

That got my wheels turning and I informally met with the office to see if they might have room for me again. "Maybe" was the answer I got back then.

Shortly after that, I was laid off and sent them an e-mail to let them know that I was 100% available, but nothing panned out.

This week, I got a call asking about my situation and they asked me to come in yesterday. I was so excited. Unfortunately, the salary wasn't quite where I thought it would be. The wind was definitely knocked out of my sail. I felt defeated and in a quandary- if they offered the job, should I take it? The pros being I worked there 7 years, that it's the biz I wanna be in, that I'd be working with people I already know and love, the big con being that I work for less than the salary I was making at my last job. My family urged me that getting back into the industry was important, though I think they picture me sitting on my butt at home and were concerned.

Today I got the call- they were able to bring the pay up closer to what I was making, they've got great benefits, and I'll be coming in as a 7 year employee, which matters in seniority as well as the amount of vacation time I'll be getting.

So there it is. I accepted the job. I start tomorrow.

I guess the party is over. I'll still be out, and will still be covering the local scene, but there won't be any daytime blogging, except possibly before work or on lunchbreaks. I still wish I could find a way for this site to be my primary focus and generate income, but at this time that is just not happening.

I'm rejoining the productive members of society. Wish me luck.

Oh, and with my new spiff haircut:

Halloween 2007

I still have some catching up to do, but in honor of the eve of Halloween, I'd like to post some pics. These were taken at the Ken Club on Friday and Saturday, at the Mission Bay Boat & Ski Club on Saturday, and at the Casbah on Sunday. Who would've thought when we were kids that Halloween really is all about adults?

Things To Do In San Diego: Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Tuesday, October 30, 2007:

• Sirhan Sirhan, Prize Country, Demasiado @ Zombie Lounge
• Di Nigunim @ Beauty Bar
• Tegan & Sara @ Spreckels
• Louis XIV (with $1000 Costume Contest) @ House of Blues
• Gwen Stefani, Sean Kingston @ Cox Arena
• Holy Shit, Rich White Males, Circle Jerks Cover Band @ Scolari's
• Tristeza, Aqueduct @ Casbah
• Ceu, Adama @ Belly Up
• "Tiki Tuesday" @ Bar Pink Elephant
• Catalina, Kennedy's Curse, Brave Monster, My Laughing Face @ O'Connell's
• Six Reasons, Discord @ Winston's

Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, October 29, 2007

Monday, October 29, 2007:

• Quasi, Frightened Rabbits, Swim Party @ Casbah
• Battles, Sayvinyl @ Epicentre
• Final Fantasy, Cadence Weapon @ Beauty Bar
• Benefit for Leukemia/Lymphoma @ Ken Club
• "Corpse Paint" contest @ Zombie Lounge (best "Corpse" wins $50)
• Lady Dottie and The Diamonds, Society @ Tower Bar
• Federico Aubele, Jesse Johnson @ Brick By Brick
• Listen Local Showcase: Veronica May, Kyle Van, Kurt Vatland, Jeremy Condon, Rufus Coaltrain, Astra Kelly, Cathryn Beeks @ Dublin Square

Just a note-

Hi Everyone-

I've got a ton of stuff to post from the weekend...Friday night at the Boat & Ski Club for "The Game", some pics of The Vision of A Dying World at the Ken Club, pics of the Halloween party I helped at on Saturday, and some pics taken at the final Visual Underground at the Casbah.

I also hope to get my things to do list posted this afternoon, but in the event that doesn't happen, do yourself a favor and go to the Casbah for the Anti-Monday League with Quasi and Swim Party, and stop by the Ken Club to drop off a couple bucks for the Leukemia/Lymphoma benefit. Buy some raffle tickets because they get a lot of good prizes.

Last, I am going to meet with my old media company tomorrow and may have a jay oh bee soon, so keep your fingers crossed for me.

Love you all,
rosemary

SD:Dialed In Goes Radio

Did you all catch it? I was at the Casbah tonight (still not early enough for the free food! boo) and Mr. Tim Pyles had me on air. It was really short, basically we plugged the blog and the one year anniversary show as well as the Locals Only column that I write for CityBeat. I was just sitting with him actually, listening through the headphones. I do not have a radio voice at all, so I was caught off guard a little, but whatever, it was fun. I'm gonna see if I can get an aircheck of it.

Anyway, here's the flyer again...also, if anyone has band news, I'm looking for material for this week's CB. Email me.

Why I don't do downtown

Halloween Party!
Z-90!
Aubergine!

Bottles of Skyy Vodka- Only $200!!!

Are you freaking kidding me? What world do you people think you're living in? Maybe I should be glad that you people stick to your disgusting hellholes of narcissism, vanity, and materialism and our worlds rarely intersect. I just wish I didn't have to read about it on MySpace...

Things To Do In San Diego: October 28, 2007

Sunday, October 28, 2007:

• The Local 94/9 presents The Visual Underground Halloween Extravaganza with Scarlet Symphony, Operator X, Electrocrypt PLUS films & art - Free food from El Zarape - free admission 7pm-8pm+live radio broadcast w/ Tim Pyles from 8pm-10pm - COSTUME CONTEST @ Casbah
• Sick Of It All, Madball, Viva Hate, Sinking Ships @ House of Blues
• Tower Tattoo 5 yr Anniversary @ Tower Bar
• The Wallflowers @ Pala Casino
• Colbie Caillat @ Belly Up (Sold Out)
• Someday Assassin, Sigmund, Death On Mars, Wendi Bailey @ Zombie Lounge
• Jeff Tuohy, Anna Troy, David Murphy @ Lestat’s

San Diego Fires: It's Raining!!!

It rarely rains in San Diego and when it does, it is always welcome because we're in a constant battle with drought, but after the week we had here, nothing could be better news than seeing raindrops outside my window. I think they dropped for only about 2 minutes, but the fact that the relative humidity is up enough even if for just a few drops is great news.

In a postscript on the the major damages from the fires, everyone has been moved out of Qualcomm stadium and the Chargers game will happen as scheduled. Last night I helped get some information for someone who had been staying at the Boat & Ski Club. We headed to The Rock Church (as an atheist, massive million dollar facility churches frighten me in a big way) where we found out that most people were gone and that shelter was closing up shop at midnight so they could be ready for Sunday mass. We met a woman who was helpful in trying to satisfy immediated needs, but we still didn't find the answer to our question: what help is available for uninsured renters?

Instead, we sat outside and fired up the laptop with The Rock Church's wi-fi. Basically we found that his rental is probably still standing and the landlord might be trying to dick him around. Weird shit. We went back to the boat and ski club with some dog food for his puppy and he was on his way to stay with friends until he find out more about the condition of his place. In the meantime, I'm still looking for answers. Even the Red Cross didn't know what help is available to uninsured renters. Anyone with info, please send it my way.

Things To Do In San Diego: October 26-27, 2007

Friday, October 26, 2007:

• The Pogues, Ollin, William Elliott Whitmore @ 4th & B
• Red Feathers, The Vision of A Dying World, Barrett Johnson, Saything @ Ken Club
• House Party feat. Bunky, MC Flow, Phil Beaumont, Michelle Mulholland, Seamus, Lauren DeRose @ 663 21st St
• The Muslims, AM @ Tower Bar
• Qui, Model/Actress, Sabertooth, Earthless, The Long and Short of It (Atari Lounge) @ Casbah
• Canceled! Deadbolt, Roses on Her Grave @ SD Harley Davidson
• The Pipettes @ House of Blues Delta Room
• Revolt in Style Presents “BooFest” feat Stranger’s Six, Roses on Her Grave @ 710 Beach Club
• Mex, The Infants, Old Devils @ Zombie Lounge
• The Atoms @ The Pink Elephant
• Clup Pop Noir Halloween Party@ Static Lounge
• Bankhead Press (CD Release) @ Whistle Stop
• White Rabbits, The Drowning Men @ Beauty Bar
• Micromanics, The Smart Brothers, THE GAME (everyone is invited to participate, just write a songto the title MAKE A KILLING), The Grass Gypsys, Nathan James @ Mission Bay Boat & Ski Club
• Canceled! Peter Frampton @ House of Blues
• Karaoke, Halloween Costume Contest @ Scolari’s
• The Robin Henkel Band @ Lestat’s
• Common Sense, Split Finger @ Belly Up
• The Good Life, Johnathan Rice, Art in Manila and guests @ Epicentre
• Arroyo, TIgersharks, Johnny Different @ O’Connell’s
• Screamin Yeehaws, In Perfect Agony, The Wastrels, Pleasure Devices @ Winston’s
• MC Chris, Bad Credit, DJ Ketchup, Apes In English @ Soma
• Rehab, Lexington @ Brick By Brick
• “Indie By Design” feat. Steve Gouveia,Steph Johnson, Danielle Lo Presti, Band of Goodmen, Mary Grasso, Veronica May @ Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge

Saturday, October 27, 2007:

• Halloween Party feat. The Creepy Creeps, The Widows, Batarzan @ Ken Club
• Desert Diamonds, Swedish Models, Roses On Her Grave @ Tower Bar
• Pinback, riverberb @ Belly Up (Sold Out)
• Get Back Loretta, The Austin James Band @ Lestat’s
• Halloween Booty Bassment Party @ Whistle Stop
• MC Flow & Halloween Dance Party @ Static Lounge
• Billy Midnight @ Alibi
• Club Fashion Whore @ Brass Rail
• Vox Hall Broadcast @ Beauty Bar
• Child Abuse, Upsilon Acrux, Fever Sleeves @ Scolari’s
• Ghost Down Deputies, Slaves of the Son King, Red Light Runner @ Zombie Lounge
• Southern Culture on the Skids, Hilstomp, Shortstack (Atari Lounge) @ Casbah
• Longstay @ Epicentre
• (Halloween Party) Dead Man’s Party, Manganista @ Cane’s
• The Shamey Jays @ O’Connell’s
• Cubensis @ Winston’s
• Deadbirds On Wax Halloween Party @ San Diego Sports Club
• Job For A Cowboy, Behemoth @ Soma
• 40 Oz to Freedom @ 710 Beach Club
• “Bound At the Stake” Halloween Party feat David Starfire, Janaka Selekta, 20 Meat:6Fry @ Brick By Brick

Save The Date: SD:Dialed In One Year Anniversary

San Diego Fires: Where do the ininsured turn?

I'm on a mad research kick now because even though it was all happy and shiny to see San Diegans come together over the last few days, there are still a lot of things that are going to need to happen to make things whole again. I understand that many people donated time and money to the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, and I know FEMA and other agencies are in town to help people out, but here's my question.

Does anyone know of resources, agencies and charities specifically designed to help the uninsured? Many homeowners are going to find that their policies don't cover certain damage, but many apartments and mobile homes were lost and for the uninsured, this could be a devastating loss. If anyone has info, please send it my way. We have a project in the works to specifically aid the uninsured fire victims but if we don't need to recreate the wheel, we will glady take suggestions for other organizations who already have their hands in similar work.

San Diego Fires: Lost Animals

I just got some comments that I thought were worth reposting; as evacuees have filtered back home, at least those who have homes to get back to, there are many animals who are lost. If anybody has information about reuniting animals with their families, please let me know so I can repost the information here.

In the meantime, here's the message:

Is Del Mar Fairground taking found cats? My orange and white domestic long hair cat (Skittles) was lost in Carmel Valley near Torrey Pines High school during fires. Please email evemessages@yahoo.com if found...Reward

I'm gonna start making some calls, but if anybody has information, please send it my way, particularly if you were a volunteer at any of the shelters that were taking in animals.

Addendum: Things To Do

I just wanted to highlight a couple things I missed on my Things to Do list this week, or highlight some of the shows there...


First, if you are going to The Pogues show tonight, be sure to catch the opener, William Elliott Whitmore. He is an amazing musician who has toured with Lucero and Rocky Votolato among others. Not to mention to the ladies, he's drop dead sexy. I wish I had pics, but the last time I saw him was when I still had my other blog so no such luck. He plays this really soulful bluesy folk music and is usually onstage alone with his banjo and his heavy heeled stomping shoes. I imagine for this tour he might have a full band or at least have others from the headliner join him onstage for a couple tunes, but I have no idea. Still, make sure you check him out.

Saturday night there are a ton of Halloweenie related things happening, but if you're in the vicinity of OB, check out Newport Nights...an art/shop walk in OB. My friends over at Infectious Threads will be showing some art.

Here is some info on the artists:

Selina Calvo was born and raised in Sacramento, California. She has shown in such venues like the Voz Alta Gallery, Centro Cultural de la Raza, and Chicano Perk Café. She is also featured on the website ABLA (Art By Latina Artist) here.

Chikle was born and raised in San Diego, California by a pair of brave and beautiful Mexican Immigrants, he began screen-printing in 1995. Chikle has exhibited his work at the ICE Gallery, the San Diego Art Institute, the VozAlta Project, Centro Cultural de la Raza en San Diego, 24K Gallery.

Ricardo Islas was born in 1970 in Calexico, California. Ricardo has been painting for 7 years with themes dealing mostly with Mexican and/or Chicano Culture and Experience, Ricardo has participated in over 40 shows in San Diego County as well as exhibiting in other parts of the country.

Also showing is Sonia Chavez… I couldn’t get a bio from her in time…

On the same night I'll be helping out at a private Halloween party at the San Diego Mission Bay Boat & Ski Club, but since I'm workin', if anyone would like to attend, feel free to contact me and I'll make sure you're on the list. I can only get a small few in, but hit me up and I'll do my best to hook it up. The party is on Saturday night and I'll be there from about 7:30 to at least 10:30 and might ended up hanging out the remainder of the night depending on how things go.

Last, I don't usually get into events beyond Sunday, but if you have the time on Monday, please, please, please come to the Ken Club. It's the annual benefit for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society and Pete is hosting again. For anyone who doesn't know, Pete lost his father to Leukemia and the charity is obviously close to him. He'll be bartending, there will be raffles and drinks and music and good times. Even if you can only bring a couple bucks and hang for a short time, every donation makes a difference.

Things To Do: October 25, 2007

Ahhhh...back to the music. Fires are still raging but most evacuees are returning home, temperatures have cooled, and now, for the most part is time for cleanup and recovery.

Thursday, October 25, 2007:

• Thee Corsairs (CD Release Party) @ The Pink Elephant
• Music Trivia (Benefit for Fire Evacuees) @ Whistle Stop
• Postponed: Melvins, Big Business @ Casbah
• Diablo Dimes & The Bloodhounds, New York Station @ Tower Bar
• The Knux (James Norton’s Bday Bash) @ Beauty Bar
• The Predicates, The Beautiful View, Miggity Giggs @ Portugalia
• Birds And Batteries, The Shake Ups, River City @ Scolari’s
• Haustorium @ Epicentre
• Anavan, The Vaginals, Casey And Brick @ San Diego Sports Club
• Jokes n Jambalaya Comedy feat Sebastian @ House of Blues Sidestage
• Postponed: Sin City Revue II Celebrating the Music of Gram Parsons: Sin City All Stars, Mike Stinson, The Slidewinders and Eve Selis @ Belly Up
• Damion Wolfe, Jen Knight, Alyssa Jacey @ Lestat’s
• Madina Lake, Mayday Parade, Powerspace, Meriwether, Young Goodman @ Soma
• SO3, Audition Lab @ 710 Beach Club
• Electric Mistress, Eric Macfadden Trio, A Conscious Few @ Brick By Brick
• Canobliss, In Every Breath, WFO, Twelve Twenty @ Cane’s
• Popa Chubby, San Pedro Slim
• Buick Wilson Band @ Humphrey’s

San Diego Fires: List of Destroyed Homes

This will be my last fire post for a while.

A more thorough list of destoyed homes has been released. Click here for info.

Hope the fact that stations are back to regular programming is a positive sign and hopefully the remaining 500 evacuees at the Q can go home or be sheltered in indoor spaces soon.

signing out...
be safe, be well,
rosemary

San Diego Fires: Witch Creek Fire Photos

A fellow blogger has posted several pictures and his story of the Witch Creek Fire getting within 50 feet of his home. Read the full story here.

San Diego Fires: Idiot Patrol Part 8: Is Rod Luck Nutso?

Dude, isn't he such a close talker? And the hair? And the glasses? Is that a choker? wtf?? He's creeping me out and I'm not even anywhere near him.

San Diego Fires: Legal Advice

I love my married couple/lawyer friends, CatDirt and CDW (CatDirtWife). To people who do not regularly read my site, CatDirt is a defense lawyer (represented Peregrine official with jury deadlocked favoring acquittal) and CDW is a corporate lawyer(?) represents a water district or something? Anyway, CatDirt has a blog called CatDirtSez where he is known for his tell-it-like-it-is commentary about, well, pretty much everything: music, radio, books, capitalism, law, and now, the fires. He's been covering the fires all week and chances are if you landed here, it might've been through his site because he's getting some mad traffic over on his site.

But now, people seem to be less concerned about the actual fires, since many areas have been allowed to 'repopulate' and most of the fires have moved away from most homes (not necessarily true for Palomar Mountain, Jamul, Rancho San Diego and more) and are now more concerned with the questions of "where do we go from here?"

Well, CatDirt is your man. I'm sure he just considers it a posting, but I'm telling you, he's dispensing free legal advice to people who lost their homes in his posts about insurance companies. Do not be fooled. State Farm is not like a good neighbor. You are not in good hands with Allstate. Insurance companies are there to make money and to stiff policy holders. If you've ever been in a car accident, you know that is true with auto insurance as well.
I highly recommend following his posts, if you haven't been already, because he will surely be going through all the hoops as he and CDW assist her parents in getting dinero for their lost home in Escondido.

San Diego Fires: Sheriff Update 8:30 a.m.

Bill Kolender:

• 2 looters were arrested just north of the border taking items out of a burned residence attempting to cross back into Mexico
• 2 bodies discovered in a burnt out home in Poway
• Brings number to 8 fire fatalities: 3 directly from the fire, 5 indirectly related to fire (death in transport, etc.)

San Diego Fires: New Vocabulary: Megafires!!!

"We always knew this day would come. This is the day of reckoning."

I'm a proud liberal, but the global warming fear mongering is not helping anything. I have a strong stance against Absolute Fire Suppression, something I studied under Professor Bainbridge at USIU in the 90's, but really, your report doesn't help as you warn us about MEGA-FIRES! (Use the "Giant Used Car Sale Voice" as you read that.) Maybe a better, more graspable term for our generation is Xtreme-Fires!

Real news would be more helpful is all I'm saying.

San Diego Fires: Opinion about Qualcomm 'Takers'

Apparently people were at Qualcomm Stadium who were not evacuees. When an announcement was made last night at the Q that only evacuees were allowed at the stadium, about 1000 people left. Many were allegedly transients and 'people trying to take advantage of the free donations.' "Half of the people were not evacuees." Only about 500 legitimate evacuees are left at the stadium.

Might I suggest that while there might be people who were 'taking advantage', you know, those bastard (sarcasm) homeless people (who we've neglected in the city since the eighties), whatever...some of them might have actually been volunteers? The whole week the city officials have commented that at times there were more volunteers than evacuees and there is evidence that not all people who were volunteering registered as such because it took too long to do so when there was work to be done. I talked to three people tonight alone who went down to the Q, saw a need, and just started working...all without the little red wristband or whatever. Shouldn't they be welcome to the grub and water, too?

I dunno, I just feel like there's some people quick to judge. It reminds me of yesterday when there were suspected "looters" in Rancho Bernardo and the newscasters sat there talking shit while the chopper zoomed in, only to find out that the truck with a trailer was a friend of a resident taking them back to their house to collect their personal belongings.

Let's chill on the shit talking about civilians and direct it at the Darrell Iss-holes of the community. The focus on looters far exceeds the number of arrests of said looters. (I think there are only 7 arrests at this time, and two of them were busted for snagging beer from a fridge.)

San Diego Fires: Darrell Issa

Darrell Issa gives me the yucks.

"We should pat ourselves on the back."

Is it fair to compare Katrina with our situation?

"It's fair to compare size and scope... Differences were that when people were told to evacuate they did... Looting is near non-existent... People have to continued to be patient."

"San Diego is full of net givers, we're just asking for reciprocation."
This is to point out that we have enormous wealth that gets dispersed among lower income regions?

I can't even listen to this douchebag. Please read my friend Cullen's post here about Darrell Issa and here about Katrina comparisons.

I wanna barf and it's not because I haven't slept since my brief nap last night.

San Diego Fires: Idiot Patrol Part 7

I normally love LaDanian Tomlinson (as do most San Diegans), but when asked about his home being saved from the fires, he said, "Thank God all the houses around mine burned down, but mine is still standing. I can only thank God."

I understand what he meant to say, but still just have to note how awful it came off on TV. We know he's not glad all the houses around his burned down (including David Justice's house), but thinking before one speaks goes a long way.

San Diego Fires: David Justice lost home

From Transworld News:

David Justice, ex-husband of Halle Berry, has suffered the loss of his home after it was burned to the ground by San Diego wildfires. The former Atlanta Braves baseball player was neighbors with Chargers star LaDainian Tomlinson and former Padres athlete Phil Nevin.

Nevin and Tomlinson’s homes were not touched by the fire, according to a San Diego newspaper. Nevin says he is just glad his family is safe. “The house across the street was engulfed in flames. It burned down in like an hour. I’m safe. My family's safe,” he said.

San Diego Fires: Back On It

So here's what has happened overnight:

Partial list of destroyed homes in unincorporated areas here.

From SD County Emergency:

• On the Witch Fire, Escondido Police Dept. has advised CAL FIRE of reports of a flare up at the intersection of Via Valante and Purer Rd. TB1149G2. Update from Jamul: Roads remain closed in the Jamul area and there are some hot spots around the Lyons Peak. Changing winds in this area are of concern.
• Proctor Valley - Fire holding but potential to flare up in case of increased winds.
• Deerhorn Valley/Honey Springs - Monitoring fire. If wind increases fire may move NE and could trigger evacuations.
• E Lake Barrett - Hot spots remain, monitoring any movement NE into heavy brush.
• Several strike teams of San Diego Fire crews working thru the night and fresh crews working tomorrow in the two closed areas in Rancho Bernardo; Westwood and Bernardo Trails.
• Red Cross shelter being established this evening at Harris Rincon Pavilion; 777 Harris Rincon Way , Valley Center , 92082. There are 400 reservation evacuees.
  

CAL FIRE provided the following updates on fires(7:30 pm, 10/24):

• Harris Fire
  75,000 acres
  10% contained
  Full containment expected on the 28th and full control on Nov. 4th.
  1,341 firefighters assigned and 7 injuries to firefighters.
  Cost to date to fight the fires is $3,400,000.
  155 homes destroyed
  250 homes damaged
  2 commercial properties and 17 outbuildings destroyed.
  The returning onshore flow has moved the fire to the northeast threatening structures along Highway 94 from Jamul to the east, Lyons Valley to the north. The regional communications equipment on Lyons Peak was damaged by fire, cutting off power and destroying the back-up generator. Crews installed a portable repeater to support fire communications. The fire progressed north in the Barrett Lake area, consuming old, heavy fuels.
• Witch Fire
  196,240 acres
  20% contained
  No estimated containment or control, but little fire spread.
  2,331 firefighters assigned to this fire
  Cost to date to fight the fires is $5 million
  Fire progression has slowed to the west, southwest, and northwest due to improvement in weather and resources assigned to the fire. Conditions in these areas have improved to the point of evaluating the return of some residents. Winds in the fire area are still variable with coastal influence returning to valleys. Warm, dry and unstable conditions still exist at the higher elevations and the eastern areas of the fire. The Poomacha Fire continues to burn close to the north flank of the Witch Incident, they have NOT joined.
• Rice Fire
  9,000 acres
  20% contained
  Full containment expected on the 28th, with full control expected November 5th
  1,095 firefighters assigned
  Cost to date to fight the fires is $1,283,133
• Poomacha Fire
  35,000 acres
  10 percent contained
  719 firefighters assigned.
  12 injuries to firefighters.
  Expansion of incident in a north easterly direction due to wind shifts. Fire increased in size due to extreme fire behavior, lack of resources and wind shifts. Perimeter control has been initiated and structure protection is still in place. Evacuation centers continue to be staffed and occupied.
• Cost to date to fight the fires is $750,000.

Wed Recap: Rocky Votolato @ The Casbah

After what can be called nothing less than a shitty week for my home town, I was so happy that Rocky Votolato was still playing the Casbah.

OK, here's the thing about Rocky for me. I feel I have to explain because every guy friend I've ever known thinks that I am in love with Rocky, and I can honestly say, that is not even close to why I 'love' Rocky's music. I should rewind and say that the very first time I heard one of his songs, I was instantly a fan. This was all post Waxwing, but when he released "Burning My Travels Clean". Shortly after hearing "Without Eyes Still Seeing" (2003?), I bought his album and was hooked. I've seen him play in really random places in San Diego since, and also many times at the Casbah with various bands, sometimes headlining, somtimes supporting other bands (like Lucero or Murder By Death).

The thing is, it's not love, but just being a pure fan. Or maybe not even that. There are the words and then there's the delivery and I can't figure which cuts me more. His songs speak to my relationships in the past and the way I hope they'll be in the future. I mean, if some guy told me "I knew you before you were born" or "there's nowhere I'd rather be than on my way home to you tonight," I'd be his forever. And I guess that's where I stand with Rocky's music. He reminds me of shitty relationships in the past, the things I've learned from said relationships, all the while giving hope that "love is the only answer". This doesn't even include the songs that I relate to on completely different levels, like "Tennessee Train Tracks" which begins "Come dry me out 'cause I've been drinking all night. Before I pass out I need your ghost to tell me this bloodless voice is as meaningless as it sounds" or songs like Suicide Medicine that even Cullen admitted raised the hair on his neck, or songs that remind me of road trips or depression or family or whatever. Rocky covers it all. So while I love Rocky Votolato as a musician, and think he's a cool guy in as much as I know him, the truth is I've never found a musician that speaks to me personally more than he does. For that I'm grateful, but it's not even close to real love or even a crush, I really, truly, deeply just love the music.








Rocky had his brother come help out on White Daisy Passing, to which Chad commented (jokingly) that he was 'stealing his thunder'.



Chad (from Drag The River) is still playing with Rocky

After the show there was the usual drinking and hanging. Here is Cullen, Abraham and Rocky.

And Rocky and Josh from Slender Means

And I did catch a pic of Jesse Sykes with Matt (The Long and Short Of It)

Matt and Cullen


Anyway, it was another great Rocky performance, and most of the show I was up front singing right along (and I think I even dropped a tear or two, which I quickly attempted to disguise. Must be the smoke in the air.) There really was no real chance for post-Casbah partying. Rocky's wife April is on tour with them and they all seemed ready to call it a night and the other ones who wanted to party wanted to go someplace I won't go. Oh, and there was a staggering Rocky fan who could not drive home. So I ended up driving her home in her car and Abraham followed and dropped me back at my car so I could get home. Still, it was a beautiful night and a beautiful escape. So, Rocky, if you ever read this, thank you.

Rocky Votolato Setlist, Casbah, 10/24/07

note, for the encore, he only played Mixtapes/Cellmates. I think everything else is accurate.