Things To Do In San Diego: February 27- March 1, 2009

Friday, February 27, 2009:

• X1Fm presents Open Door Session feat. The Players Touch @ X1Fm studios (all ages, no cover, 7pm- or stream live on X1TV.com
• Swim Party + Writer (Split 7" Release Party), Joel P West @ Whistle Stop
• Sirhan Sirhan, Gusto (ex - Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, blast!), Hostile Combover, The Bloodflowers @ Casbah
• Syndicate, the Drowning Men, True Widow @ Ken Club
• Happy Hour with Candye Kane @ Belly Up (5:30 pm)
• The English Beat, RiceRokit @ Belly Up
• The Underground Railroad To Candyland, Shang-A-Lang @ Bar Pink
• Electric Feel vs. Ladies Love Cool Techno, Loud Noises, Turbo Teen, Paul Najera, Colour Vision @ Beauty Bar
• Critical Mass Official After Party @ Ruby Room
• Feel The Noise DJ’s Gabe Vega & Saul Q, Rocket @ U-31
• Steel Foundation, The Riders, Locked Out Of Eden, Bobby Pena @ Spaghetteria (Little Italy)
• Shat(NY), Homeless Sexuals, Jesus Christ Vs The world, Heavy Cessna @ Radio Room
• Faded Chroniclez, The Concrete Project, Red Llama Dog @ 710 Beach Club
• Kaotic Ways Entertainment presents Bionic Jive, Sator Square, Baby Mouse, Da Rude Boyz @ Brick By Brick
• Endoxi, Guava Belly @ Winston's
• Eclipse: Dance Party @ The Loft, UCSD
• Tape Deck Mountain, Daysleeper, Knesset @ Soda Bar
• Sycuan Presents Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Joan Jones (Sun 60) @ House of Blues
• Bushwalla, Josh Damigo, Murrugun the Mystic @ Lestat's
• Jon Mclaughlin, Blue In The Face, Plus Guest @ Soma
• Skirt Alert @ Dizzy's (San Diego Wine & Culinary Center)
• Guerilla Radio (Rage Against the Machine Tribute), Geezer (Old Man Weezer) & Pantera'd (Pantera Tribute) @ Cane's
• San Diego Indie Fest Preview feat. IndieFest Preview Show feat. DJ Prana & Ujjayi Sound System, Bitter/Sober, Danielle LoPresti & The Masses, Social Green, Bad Science Fiction, Nomis @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge
• Local Showcase feat. Young Goodman @ Epicentre
• Raphael Saadiq @ 4th & B
• Bobby Hutchison @ Anthology (Early Show 7:30pm)
• Late Night Live feat. Neon Trees, Buddy Akai @ Anthology (Late Show 9:30 pm)
• Lucy Kaplansky @ Acoustic Music San Diego
• The Gulag Carnies, The Variety Show, Kris Kraft, Freezing Vinyl @ Channel Twelve 25
• Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2: A Jacobs' Masterworks Concert @ Copley Symphony Hall

Saturday, February 28, 2009:

• Sight & Sound feat. Jamuel Saxon, Swim Party, Joanie Mendenhall, art, performers, and more. Hosted by ME! @ Planet Rooth Gallery, Ray Street, $5 includes 1 drink.
• Seth Combs B-day Party, BBQ, and anti Prop 8 Benefit extravaganza! Featuring: Transfer, Crocodiles, MC Flow, Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra, DJ Jimmy Lavalle @ Ruby Room
• Kool Keith as Dr. Dooom with DJ Kutmasta Kurt, Hopsin, DJ's Richy the Kid, Artistic @ Casbah
• Fing, SoulAblaze : IronLungCircuit, BrokenDreams, The Higherarchs & J.Phatts, DJsAntBo,DopeShoes @ Beauty Bar
• Restiform Bodies, EGADZ!, (N1nth) Cloud @ Kava Lounge
• The English Beat, The Lifters @ Belly Up
• Bombs Over North Park with DJ’s Corey Biggs & Adam Salter @ U-31
• Tyvek, The Pant Hoots @ Bar Pink
• Club Dead Line feat. Nightmare Hides, DJ Adamnation @ Radio Room
• Third Borough, Destructo Bunny, D. Dove, Grey Matter @ 710 Beach Club
• Burn Institute Presents Raphael Saadiq @ House of Blues
• Alexis Allan (CD Release) @ Lestat's (6pm)
• Lindsey Yung, Kim Divine, Brenda Xu @ Lestat's
• Ditch (CD release), Eternal, Early The MC, Oceola Dubois, B Dat, Da Limelight Boyz @ Brick By Brick
• Psydecar, The Cool & The Deadly @ Winston's
• White Manna, Ojos Rojos, Heavy Water Experiment @ Soda Bar
• The Pandora Effect @ Epicentre
• DJ Claire's Happy Hour @ Whistle Stop (5pm)
• Booty Bassment feat. Dmitri D 7 rob Moran @ Whistle Stop
• Mike Pinto, Evil Petting Zoo, Bucket Of Fish, Grim Luck, The Mayors Of Sexytown @ Soma
• SHP & NSD Present - Chasing Claymores, Full Volume, Jodi V & Ayshia @ Cane's
• Loft Out Loud @ The Loft, UCSD
• Gilbert Castellanos @ Dizzy's (San Diego Wine & Culinary Center)
• Rockola @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge
• Thunder Road (tribute to Bruce Springsteen) @ Anthology (Early Show 7:30pm, Late Show 9:30 pm)
• The Duhks @ Acoustic Music San Diego
• Noose, Blacklight Bitches, Surburban Boredom, Petersamsandthemurdercityirregulars, Whole Hearted-commitment@ Channel Twelve 25
• Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2: A Jacobs' Masterworks Concert @ Copley Symphony Hall

Sunday, March 1, 2009:

• Portugal.The Man, Boomsnake@ Casbah
• Fever Sleeves, Extra Life, Vaginals, The Dabbers @ Radio Room
• Ra Ra Riot, Cut Off Your Hands, Telekinesis @ The Loft, UCSD
• Gator By the Bay presents the Bayou Brothers Zydeco Matinee @ Belly Up (4pm)
• Salsa Sunday feat. Orquesto Primo @ Belly Up
• Tribe Of Kings/Reggae Vibes @ U-31
• Zappa Plays Zappa @ House of Blues
• Jose Sinatra's OB-o-ke@ Winston's
• Ghosts to Falco (pdx) @ Soda Bar
• 2 Sticks & A DJ (Knitting) @ Whistle Stop (3pm)
• Too Many Creeps @ Whistle Stop (10pm)
• Mellotones @ Dizzy's (San Diego Wine & Culinary Center)
• Willovealot @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (11a-1:30p)
• Jason Weber @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (8pm)

Don't Forget: Sight & Sound, Planet Rooth, 2.28.09

Since it's over by midnight, you'll still have time to get to Ruby Room for Seth's Birthday and Transfer's set.

NEKO CASE TO PLAY A FREE MYSPACE SECRET SHOW ON TUESDAY AT CASBAH

MySpace Secret Shows has announced their next FREE secret show, and I'm pleased to announce that it is with one Neko Case at the Casbah on Tuesday, March 3.

PRESENTED BY TURBOTAX FEDERAL FREE EDITION



TUESDAY
MARCH 3, 2009
FREE! 21 AND UP!
Doors @ 7:00 PM

DETAILS BELOW

@ The Casbah
2501 Kettner Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92101

PLEASE NOTE: This show is first come, first served, so get there early and stay in line.

In addition, if you are one of the first 15 people with a print out showing TurboTax in your top friends, you will be guaranteed entrance to the show

Transfer @ AVicious from Belly Up to Spaceland

AVicious (VJ/Projection Crew), got together with Transfer for two shows this week (with a third on Saturday). One at the Belly Up & another at Spaceland as headline support for Dead Confederate. If you were lucky enough to get a ticket in time for the sold out 94.9 show at the Belly Up then you saw one heck of a show. If you weren't, well here is a little teaser in hyperspeed. AVicious will see you at the Ruby Room this Saturday.
VIDEO BLOG: AVicious 2.26.09 from AVicious VJs on Vimeo.

Things To Do In San Diego: February 26, 2009

Thursday, February 26, 2009:

• Sycuan presents Kinky with Mexican Dubweiser and Chico Sonido @ House of Blues (E-mail me for tickets)
• N.A.S.A. and guests @ Casbah
• Tori Roze, Julia Jordan, Jacqueline Grace, Marie Haddad @ Spaghetteria (Little Italy)
• 91X Loudspeaker presents Crash Encore, Publicists, The New Archaic @ Belly Up
• U4Rik thursdays @ Beauty Bar
• Theme: Collide! Fashion vs. Art, 2 Runway shows @ Ruby Room
• 80’s and 90’s Hip Hop with DJ Artistic & Cros 1 @ U-31
• Monsters From Mars, The Bugs @ Bar Pink
• Club Purple @ Radio Room
• Dave's (Club Owner) Birthday Bash @ 710 Beach Club
• Karaoke @ O'Connell's
• Telecasters, Mad Traffic, Aces & 8's, Mountaintop Prayer Healers @ Brick By Brick
• Kristen Price, Drop Joy @ Winston's
• Spotlight Junkies, Heavy Glow @ Soda Bar
• Richard Romero, Justin Mills, Patricia Mueller @ Portugalia
• Alyssa Suede, Matt Commerce, Alyssa Jacey, Cyderobin @ Lestat's
• Rhythm & the Method @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge
• Rockin Johnny White Presents - Iron Works, Red Ivy Suspects, Fuzz Huzzi, Vacscene @ Cane's
• Pigeon John, Luckyiam @ The Loft, UCSD
• Bobby Hutchison @ Anthology (Early Show 7:30pm)
• San Diego Benefit Performance of Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monolugues" @ Birch North Park Theatre
• Boombox Thursdays feat. SJ Edgartronic @ A/C Lounge
• Dvořák's Serenade For Strings: A Symphony Exposed Concert @ Copley Symphony Hall

What Music Industry?

Last week, in the total US, a population of 305,899,239, sold just 62,000 units last week. Units are a fancy term that big record label execs use to make their shit sound more important and a term that the Nielsen Soundscan uses to make themselves relevant. Well news flash dudes, the music industry isn't that important anymore. The chart-topper goes to Taylor Swift, whose Fearless has become a fixture at the top. The Swift record finish is the fourth-lowest number one since Soundscan started in 1991. Year-to-date, cumulative album sales are down 12 percent to 57 million.

So those are the facts. Now the question is, what the hell is the music "industry" suppose to do about it? Answer? Nothing. Every major label/major label band is absolutely freaking out, "Oh my god, what the hell are we going to do?" It has been a known fact that any CD sales don't get you money. "THEN WHY ARE WE A BAND?!?!?!?!?" asks the synthesizer, neon wearing 18 year old kid. Well Timmy, to make music not money for one, but also to TOUR!

Touring costs money, yes. But if you are signed to a label, scratch that. But if you are signed to a industry conscious label, it should be no problem. I am only 21 years old and have no experience in the music industry aside from my endeavors into radio, but what I AM is a music loving, buying, downloading, supporting, show going, money forker outter for good music, and an all around fan. Shouldn't my opinion and thoughts matter over a big 50 year old label exec?

Things To Do In San Diego: February 25, 2009

Wednesday, February 25, 2009:

• AC Newman (featuring Carl Newman from The New Pornographers), Dent May @ Casbah
• Commune Wednesday feat Bunky @ Whistle Stop
• Live Wednesday’s Presents: Chimney Fish, Robin Lore, Acoustic set by Brian Holwerda (Blackout Party) @ U-31
• Candice Graham, Clay Colton, Kurt Hunter@ Belly Up
• Beauty Call w/ DJs Schugar, Dibo & special guest, Live art Sean Dietrich, Kiska242 Beauty Bar (No Cover)
• Ded Pigeons, Ninja Love, Farewell Flight (PA) @ Ruby Room
• Shelley Short and Alexis Gideon @ Bar Pink
• Tori Roze, Pickup Girl, The Clever Thief @ Portugalia
• Sycuan presents The Guitar Generation featuring Paul Gilbert with George Lynch & Richie Kotzen @ House of Blues
• Turtle Project, Haroula, Tim Mudd @ Lestat's
• Pop Levi @ The Loft, UCSD
• Cash Only Fest feat. Mark Merrill & Friends, Coco & Lafe,Citizen Band, Joe Rathburn, Old Devil, The Troubleweeds, Peter Hall, Joey Harris, 7th day Buskers, Chuck Schiele, Cowboy Jack, Tornado Magnets, Country Rockin Rebels, Sara Petite, Rose @ O'Connell's
• Double Standard, Avitia, The Prism @ Brick By Brick
• Local Red, Strike Twelve @ 710 Beach Club
• Deaf Zero, Uproot, Likewize @ Winston's
• Kipper's Karaoke @ Soda Bar
• Che Cafe presents Ceremony, Cruel Hand, Crucified, Streetwalkers @ Music Trader (PB)
• Shane Dwight @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge
• Through the Roots, Kanari, The Knowz, Steel Foundation @ Cane's
• Anthology House Band @ Anthology

L.A. Tonight: Dead Confederate, Transfer, Heavy Young Heathens @ Spaceland

For those of us lucky enough to catch Dead Confederate and Transfer at the Belly Up last night (sorry, was there too late for Heavy Young Heathens), we know it probably isn't very likely that we'll get to see them for a mere $6 ever again, but as they continue on the road playing similar radio shows, tonight is a great opportunity to catch them once again in a small, intimate venue. Our Transfer boys are headed up to LA to perform with Dead Confederate at Spaceland for "Club NME". If you have the freedom to roll up to LA for the night, I highly recommend that you do. If not, help spread the word, tell your friends that this is a show not to be missed.



Here's some video from my friend in case you missed the show:

Dead Confederate "The Rat"

Overdue Recap: Joshua James, Casbah, 2.6.09

It recently occurred to me that I haven't been doing so much in the way of show reviews and that has certainly got to change because I haven't been going to any fewer shows than before. That said, I'll go all the way back to the beginning of the month, when I posted video from Joshua James' performance at the Casbah.

He had a full band once again, and once again, I was blown away, and for at least the first few songs of the set, I think the rest of the crowd was impressed, too. Then, of course, they hit the bar and got chatty, but it still wasn't enough to suck the life out of the performance. The show was sold out with Greg Laswell as the headliner and Jesca Hoop performing as well. However, since the show was sold out, I was asked to return to sell Casbah merch. I agreed on the condition that I could watch Joshua's set.

The truth is that watching him was a little exhausting. As I said before, I have to remind myself to breathe when I watch because he puts so much into his performances. He played a couple new tunes and the new album will be released in April which I am really looking forward to hearing.

After the set, I spent the remainder of the night in the Atari Lounge (since it rained that night) with Joe, the bassist for Joshua, and Jesca for a bit after her set, where I learned her name is actually pronounced "Hope", and where she was aggressively pursued by some very drunk French guys. Her set was solo and as such I didn't hear much from the back room, but I have her previous album and know she's an incredible performer. Of course, Greg was brilliant as usual and I was able to watch pieces of his set from the smoking patio while Jesca manned the booth. It was a lovely night, my only regret being that I didn't even remember to buy a shirt from Joshua. Next time around, I suppose.

Things To Do In San Diego: February 24, 2009

Tuesday, February 24, 2009:

• FM 94/9 About The Music presents Dead Confederate, Transfer, Heavy Young Heathens @ Belly Up (SOLD OUT)
• Inberst, Audrye Sessions, Red Cortez, The Shys @ Casbah
• Off the Wagon feat. River City, Desert Diamonds @ Beauty Bar (No Cover)
• Matt Wertz, The Alternate Routes @ Anthology (Early Show 7:30pm)
• Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras @ Gaslamp Quarter
• Hank Williams III, Those Poor Bastards @ 4th & B
• Nathan James & Band @ Hensley's Flying Elephant
• Too Cool for karaoke: What Up, G? (ABC’s of Karaoke) Pants guest hosts @ Ruby Room
• Mechanical Bull Riding, DJ Mission @ U-31
• Tiki Tuesday with the Craig Prior @ Bar Pink
• Karaoke @ O'Connell's
• Jefferson Jay's Open Mic @ Portugalia
• Ken Club Karaoke @ Ken Club
• Mardi Gras @ House of Blues
• Comedy Night @ Lestat's
• Ishmael & The Peacemakers, OB3, DJ Cool Breeze @ Winston's
• DJ Red October, Wizard Wolves @ Soda Bar
• Game Night @ 710 Beach Club
• Friends Chill Game Night @ Whistle Stop
• 145th Street Blues @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge

Things To Do In San Diego: February 23, 2009

Monday, February 2, 2009:

• Anti-Monday League Presents French Kicks, The Broken West, Army Navy and DJ SkullcRusheR @ Casbah
• Sycuan Presents Danzig with Winds of Plague, Revolution Mother, and Last House on the Left @ House of Blues
• Musical Pursuit- Adam Gimbel's Trivia Night @ Whistle Stop
• Stewed, Screwed, and Tatooed Industry Night feat. DJ EddieKon @ Ruby Room (No Cover, $3 Sailor Jerry)
• Lady Dottie & The Diamonds @ U-31
• The Whore Moans, Batar-Zan @ Bar Pink
• Blues Jam Hosted By Mystery Train @ O'Connell's
• Electric Waste Band @ Winston's
• Open Mic Night @ Lestat's
• Movie Night- Midnight Madness @ Soda Bar
• Club Israel @ The Loft, UCSD
• Robin Henkel @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge

SD Takes on SXSW

San Diego can once again be proud of all the talent coming from our city. As the SXSW festival gets closer, it has been brought to my attention that there hasn't been much effort made to share resources, exchange schedules, and to encourage San Diego bands to get out there and support each other. That said, this is more a request than anything. If your band is heading to South By Southwest, officially or unofficially, please shoot me an email and I'll add you to the list.
Here are bands that I know will be in Austin this March:

Bushwalla
AJ Croce
Crash Encore
Delta Spirit
The Donkeys
Earthless
Lady Dottie & The Diamonds
Like A Bird
Anya Marina
Rafter
Drew Andrews & Spectral Cities
Wild Weekend
Transfer
Writer
Apes of Wrath
Lights On

Check out this killer lineup from our friends over at Obscure Magpie.

Our Little Anya Marina is All Growed Up!

Anya Marina's "Slow & Steady Seduction: Phase II" is Amazon.com's Deal of the Day today. Buy the full digital album for $3.99 by clicking here.

Produced by Spoon's Britt Daniel and Louis XIV's Brian Karscig, "Slow & Steady" is a tightly honed collection of winking pop gems and slyly sexy rock 'n' roll, an ideal showcase for Los Angeles-based Anya's deft melodic sensibility and striking vocal stylings. After featuring Anya's music on Grey's Anatomy, its taste-making supervisor Alexandra Patsavas (of Chop Shop Music Supervision), offered to release "Slow & Steady," which Anya had originally planned to put out herself after giving up hope of getting a record deal.

Anya will be hitting the road with former San Diegan Greg Laswell and Jay Nash, making some showcase appearances at South By Southwest, and finishing up with a couple solo dates, including one on home turf at the Casbah on April 3rd.

Save The Date: Sight & Sound, February 28, 2009

I'm a fan of the Sight & Sound events put on by Jon & Adam of Walk the Walk Presents that happen monthly at Planet Rooth and this month, I not only love the lineup, but I've been asked to host the event. If you've ever wanna seen me make an ass of myself on a microphone, this is your chance.

New Video: The Bronx "Past Lives"

Kenny told me he'd blog from the road as The Bronx takes on Europe. That has yet to happen, but at least I can post their new video and say that I cannot wait for their show at the Casbah on March 25. Get your tickets in advance because it will certainly sell out.

The Bronx "Past Lives"

Video: "The B Side of a Life" by The Paddle Boat

Single Screen Records artist The Paddle Boat has a new music video and Jackson was kind enough to share it.


"B Side of a Life" - The Paddle Boat from Single Screen Records on Vimeo.

Things To Do In San Diego: February 20-22, 2009

Friday, February 20, 2009:

• X1FM The Open Door Sessions feat Buddy Akai @ X1FM Studios (FREE. All Ages. 2434 Southport Way Ste. A 7PM. Or watch it LIVE @ http://www.x1tv.com/)
• Gram Rabbit, Mr. Tube and the Flying Objects, Black Hondo, Bartenders Bible @ Casbah
• International Pop Overthrow (7:30 Jed, 8:00 Wendy Bailey, 8:30 The Tearaways, 9:00 The Shake-Ups, 9:30 Suite 100, 10:00 The Cherry Bluestorms, 10:30 Sven-Erik Seaholm, 11:00 Four Eyes) @ O'Connell's
• Silent Armada, Firethorn, Plane Without a Pilot @ Ruby Room
• The Screamin Yeehaws, Flexxbronco(SF), Die Sabotage @ Radio Room
• Super Diamond, Urban Gypsys @ Belly Up
• "After Party" feat. The Modlins, Secret Apollo @ The Loft, UCSD (10pm)
• The Mar Dels @ Belly Up (Happy Hour, 5:30 pm)
• Silence Betrayed, Aizen, One Theory, Man Made Man, and Despite the Wolves @ Brick By Brick
• Elecric Feel w/ DJs Andrew Decade, Carnivorexic, Groundfloor @ Beauty Bar
• Sycuan Presents Gin Blossoms, Tonic @ House of Blues
• Feel The Noise feat. DJs Gabe Vega & Saul Q @ U-31
• Candye Kane @ Tio Leo's
• The Heartaches, Thin Man @ Bar Pink
• Rhythm & The Method, The Chimney Fish, Tori Roze, The Greens Of Mind @ Portugalia
• Chuck Cannon, Gregory Page @ Lestat's
• Stranger, Audible Mainframe @ 710 Beach Club
• Nation Beat, Jangada @ Winston's
• One Drop, Tribal Theory, Revival, Maitland Roots Sound System DJ Rude Roots & Bobby Dread @ Cane's
• Transmography, Unruly Bangs, Lights On @ Soda Bar
• She Said Sever(CD Release!), Process For Enigma, Murder On The Dancefloor, Deadbeat Nightlife, The Cost Of Salvation, Adestria @ Soma
• Bankhead Press & Guests @ Whistle Stop
• Small Pox Mountain @ Hensley's Flying Elephant
• Architecture + Cinema presents "the cook, the thief, his wife and her lover" @ The Loft, UCSD
• John Coltrane/McCoy Turner Tribute feat. Brian Levy (tenor sax), Mikan Zlatkovich (piano), Bob Weller (drums), & Dave Marr (bass), Gilbert Castellanos (trumpet) @ Dizzy's (San Diego Wine & Culinary Center)
• Mystique @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (5-7pm)
• Detroit Underground @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (9p)
• Judy Collins @ Anthology (Early Show 7pm, Late Show 10:30 pm)
• Mayors of Sexytown, Without Papers, Useless Idols, Bedpost Buzzards, PK Fats @ Channel Twelve 25
• Talk Cute, Tan Sister Radio @ Epicentre
• Munich Symphony: Presented by the La Jolla Music Society @ Copley Symphony Hall

Saturday, February 21, 2009:

• Carnivale @ Little Italy/India & Fir, 5-10pm
• Brazil Carnival @ 4th & B
• Eleni Mandell CD Release (free MP3)with special guests @ Casbah (Early Show, 7pm)
• Scarlet Symphony CD Release Show with Apes of Wrath, Zodiac Death Valley, Drug Wars @ Casbah
• Dante's Boneyard, Deaf Zero, Arimathea, The Dapper Dans @ 710 Beach Club
• Get Back Loretta, Cuckoo Chaos, Gray Ghosts, Leisuresuit @ Ruby Room
• International Pop Overthrow (7:30 Blackout 101, 8:00 Windsor, 8:30 The Minor Keys, 9:00 We Should Be Dead, 9:30 Roxy Monoxide, 10:00 Cindy Lee Berryhill, 11:00 The Loons) @ O'Connell's
• Agua Dulce, The Fabulous Hips Replacement @ Winston's
• Cash'd Out, Sara Petite, Pushin Rope, DJ Gonzo @ Belly Up
• Wendy Darling, Ed Vallence, DJs Killa Jewel, Skoosha, Ant Bo @ Beauty Bar
• The Cured, DJs Kipper & Gary Shuffler @ U-31
• Sycuan presents Reverend Horton Heat, Manic Hispanic @ House of Blues
• Neon Beat feat DJs Junior & Atari @ Bar Pink
• Otis Owens and Lorna Doone Hamilton Tribute feat. Candye Kane @ Brick By Brick
• Knives!, Desert Diamonds @ Radio Room
• The Stone Foxes, The Anna Troy Band, The Idyllists @ Lestat's
• Rob Deez, EPJ, One Bad Landing, The Predicates @ The Marquee (835 25th, Golden Hill)
• MG3 @ Hensley's Flying Elephant
• Maria La Cochina's B-day Bash @ Soda Bar
• Fischerspooner @ On Broadway
• After Midnight Project, Goodnight Caulfield, Good Morning Milo, WestFire, Bitter Sober @ Soma
• transport 80s vs 90s, Vega vs Saul @ Whistle Stop
• Midcity Independent Throwdown @ Epicentre
• Pocket @ Portugalia
• Open Mic Night @ The Loft, UCSD
• Souls Of Mischief, The Concrete Project, After School Special @ Cane's
• Tribute Louis Armstrong/Ella Fitzgerald duets featuring vocalists Leonard Patton & Rebecca Jade, Derek Cannon (trumpet), Ed Kornhauser (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Duncan Moore (drums) @ Dizzy's (San Diego Wine & Culinary Center)
• Viva Sattelite @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge
• Pete Escovedo @ Anthology (Early Show 7:30pm, Late Show 9:30 pm)
• Pensive, Yttrium, The Sequence, and others @ Channel Twelve 25
• Meatwagon, The Blobs @ Chico's Club (La Mesa, Free, 9pm)
• La Jolla Music Society presents Itzhak Perlman @ Copley Symphony Hall

Sunday, February 22, 2009:

• Grails, James Blackshaw, joshua emery blatchley @ Casbah
• Sunnyside, Madison Bloodbath, Pretty Boy Thorson and the Fallen Angels @ Soda Bar (Early Show, 6pm)
• Mental Health Systems presents "Laugh for Recovery" with Alonzo Bodden, Paul Ogata and Chip Franklin - with host Bob Murphy @ Belly Up
• Huge Bachelorette Party (all ladies invited)@ Beauty Bar
• Coreador, Vaginals, Alexandra Hope @ Ruby Room
• Tribe of Kings/Reggae Vibes @ U-31
• The Tighten-Ups @ Bar Pink
• Koppojutsu, Number 2 (Tokyo) @ Radio Room
• International Pop Overthrow (4:30 Baby Scream, 5:00 The Bigfellas, 5:30 The Bobbleheads, 6:00 The Dave Humphries Band, 6:30 The Anna Troy Band, 7:00 The Shamey Jays, 7:30 The Modlins, 8:00 The Shambles) @ O'Connell's
• We Should Be Dead (Ireland) @ Soda Bar
• Katie Leigh, Turtle B, Alicia Lockhart @ Lestat's
• Rick Ortiz Presents The Best Of Tributes Night @ House of Blues
• Jose Sinatra's OB-oke@ Winston's
• Sweet Polemic, War Stories @ The Office
• Old timey session @ Hensley's Flying Elephant
• Dropjoy @ Portugalia
• Citizen Video Matinee "Naked Kiss" @ Whistle Stop
• Too Many Creeps feat Mario O@ Whistle Stop
• Charles McPherson @ The Loft, UCSD
• Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing Orchestra, Candye Kane & her band, Laura Jane & Wendy Dewitt (Proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Fund in memory of songwriter Janell Rock) @ Dizzy's (San Diego Wine & Culinary Center)
• Reggie Smith @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (11a-3p, 5:30 pm, 8pm)

Thoughts from a Homebrewer

Yes, this post has been a long time coming. I have sort of been busy drinking beer. Sorry :). Well, not just drinking but brewing, pouring, studying and traveling for beer. It has become a passion and over the last few years I have been immersed in the San Diego beer culture. Hopefully, I can keep you guys informed on the local happenings.

Last night I attended Sea Rocket Bistro Lightning night with Jim Crute, Michael and Joe from Lightning Brewery in Poway, CA. The 4-course dinner paired four beers with a group of 18ish people. The complete menu is posted here but it doesn't really detail palate sensations I experienced last night. At 50$ a head it wasn't cheap but opportunity to sit with the brewers and talk about beer is always tantalizing to me. I recommend stopping by Lightning and sampling their selection of delicate beers.

From time to time I will update the beer happenings in San Diego to help guide you through this beer gold mine we call home. This list is short right now but check back for updates!

• February 28, 2009 : Lost Abbey Releases 2009 Angel's Share.


• February 28, 2009 : Lost Abbey's 2nd Annual Carnevale Masquerade Ball


• March 28t, 2009: 2009 Belgian Beer Festival at Pizza Port

The Killers, Coldplay, Bono, Take That @ The O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire 2.18.09

I've tried to stay level-headed about the things that happen while I'm traveling with the Killers. It's a mixture of wanting to hide my age, appear more cool than I am, and not let any of it go to my head.

But, seriously, last night was pretty freakin' rad.

After the Brit Awards, the War Child Benefit was held at Shepherd's Bush Empire in West London. The Killers and Coldplay were scheduled to play mini-sets and it seems they brought the best out of each other. The Killers played like I've never seen them play before, so full of energy, like fighters trying to knock their opponent out in the first round. Watching Coldplay was exciting for me, as it seemed to be playing in the background all through my high school and college years. Chris Martin's spastic energy was in full effect, every gyration impeccably timed, every witticism perfectly executed to encourage maximum rapport with the crowd.

At the end of the night, the two bands merged to play "All These Things That I've Done" with the king himself, Bono, gracing us with his voice as well as Gary Barlow from Take That (Britain's Backstreet Boys). I hurried to take over the keyboard part from Brandon on Chris Martin's piano, seconds after thinking that I was going to be looking like quite the asshole standing around onstage with these megastars. I can't wait to see the YouTube footage, the whole night being such a welcome thrill.




Coldplay

Backstage Rehearsing









Afterwards, all of U2 was hanging around, Ian McCulloch from Echo & the Bunnymen, Natalie Imbruglia, and a very, very tall, very, very beautiful Gwyneth Paltrow. I still don't know what to do in those situations, besides drink, but I toasted to Dublin with Bono and that's one step enough away from typical social awkwardness for one night.

Dublin today, about to go for a walk around town. Guinness Brewery? Jameson Distillery? MAGNER'S DISTILLERY?

Things To Do In San Diego: February 18-19, 2009

Wednesday, February 18, 2009:

• Annuals, Jessica Lea Mayfield, What Laura Says Thinks and Feels @ Casbah
• X1FM presents Local Gold ft. The Burning of Rome, Lands on Fire, Better Class of Flying Man, Tan Sister Radio @ Ruby Room
• Joshua Radin, Meiko, Jesse Harris @ Belly Up
• Beauty Call w/ DJs Schugar, Dibo & special guest, Live art Sean Dietrich, Kiska242 @ Beauty Bar
• Kyle Van Band, The Buzzbombs @ 710 Beach Club
• Rockstar Taste of Chaos featuring Thursday, Four Year Strong, Bring Me The Horizon, Pierce the Veil, Cancer Bats @ House of Blues
• Live Music Video Mix w/ VJ Mark Thrasher @ U-31
• Red Hot Wednesday with Robin and DJ Edgartronic @ Bar Pink
• DJ Heather Hardcore @ Radio Room
• Trevor Davis, Aaron Bowen @ Lestat's
• Live Music Showcase @ O'Connell's
• Seaswallow, Luce, Translation: Audio, and Van Buren Boys @ Brick By Brick
• From The Depths (ex- Requiem and Catharsis), Seven Generations, Ghostlimb, Maladie (Tijuana) and Cathect @ Music Trader Sports Arena, 8pm
• Ten Mile Tide, Izabella @ Winston's
• Kipper's Karaoke Night @ Soda Bar
• Rhythm & The Method @ Portugalia
• Guitar Shorty @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge
• Never Say Die Presents - Macnificent, Hershel Abram, Eye'z & Heat Rok @ Cane's
• Duncan Sheik, Lauren Pritchard @ Anthology (Early Show 7:30pm)

Thursday, February 19, 2009:

• Murder By Death, The Builders and the Butchers, Fake Problems @ Casbah
• Music for Animals, Wallpaper, Disc-O, AD, Office Twins, Hi Ball Kids @ Beauty Bar (No Cover)
• Gunplay Maxwell, Billy Midnight @ Bar Pink
• Donavon Frankenreiter @ Belly Up (Sold Out)
• Theme: Talent show feat. Los Hollywood @ Ruby Room
• Hip Hop w/. DJs Artistic & Cros 1 @ U-31
• Mayhem & Miracles, Street of Little Girls, Day Of Anome @ Radio Room
• Karaoke @ O'Connell's
• Dan Torrelli feat. Jim Soldi & Victor Gross, Damian Israel, Courtney Ariel @ Lestat's
• Sycuan Presents The Game, Clyde Carson, Nipsey Hussle @ House of Blues
• Chimney Fish, Lou Evans Jr., Chris Zach @ Portugalia
• Raiz Music, Dubby Conquerors @ Winston's
• Lil Dap of group Home@ 710 Beach Club
• Black Carl, Brendan B and The Breaks @ Soda Bar
• Team Noise, Sledd, Uncle Junkie @ Brick By Brick
• Dust N Bones, Strike the Design, King Washington, Heretic @ Cane's
• Caboose Funk & Disco Dance Party feat. DJ Trail-Mix-A-Lot @ Whistle Stop
• Millionaires, Cash Cash, I Set My Friends On Fire, Watchout! There's Ghosts @ Soma
• Ruby & The Red Hots @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge

Tell Me What I Already Know

There's an opinion piece in today's New York Times that was brought to my attention via Twitter, and I thought I'd post because I've been in an especially "I love San Diego" kinda mood lately. As I said in the title, tell me what I already know, Mr. Brooks. The piece looks at a recent Pew Research Center study about where Americans would like to live and what sort of lifestyle they would like to have.

The researchers at Pew asked Americans what metro areas they would like to
live in. Seven of the top 10 were in the West: Denver, San Diego, Seattle, San
Francisco, Phoenix, Portland and Sacramento...
...If you jumble together the five most popular American metro areas —
Denver, San Diego, Seattle, Orlando and Tampa — you get an image of the American
Dream circa 2009. These are places where you can imagine yourself with a stuffed
garage — filled with skis, kayaks, soccer equipment, hiking boots and boating
equipment. These are places you can imagine yourself leading an active outdoor
lifestyle.
...These places are car-dependent and spread out, but they also have strong
cultural identities and pedestrian meeting places. They offer at least the
promise of friendlier neighborhoods, slower lifestyles and service-sector
employment. They are neither traditional urban centers nor atomized suburban
sprawl.

He failed to mention the incredible San Diego music scene, but I'll let him slide on that one. Even in these tough times with people struggling and our city, county, state and country all facing dire economic times that compound one another, I've never felt stronger about the place I've been lucky to call home.

Full article here.

Show Recap: Devotchka, Crooked Fingers, Eric Corne @ Belly Up, 2.4.09

I can hardly believe that my last time at the Belly Up was all the way back in September when I went to see Okkervil River. But a couple weeks ago I finally made the trek up to catch the phenomenal eastern European influenced Devotchka and had to remind myself to pick my jaw off the floor throughout their amazing set. Click 'keep on reading' for the recap and photos.





(Sorry for the jumbo pictures, I used the new uploader from photobucket and it didn't size down the photos like the old one does. Lesson learned but too much time to reload them all again)

Starting off the night was Denver musician Eric Corne and his band. Strong vocals on the Americana side with some violin and harmonica thrown in, and I remembered why I love seeing this kind of band in the wood-rich environment of the Belly Up. The sound was crisp and it was fun to play around with the lighting. I couldn't take my eyes of the keyboardist because he was so commanding in his performance. Unfortunately he was relegated to the edge of the stage out of the lights so no pics but I was actually wondering if he has his own project because he was phenomenal.











Let me be a total girl here for a second and say that the only reason I took this picture was because there is nothing sexier, especially in these times of skinny jeans and rail thin pretty boys, to see a sexy man in good ol 501's. It was worth the picture.


Crooked Fingers was up second and Eric Bachmann is notorious for wanting very low lights, so not as much fun to photograph but as usual they sounded great, even with his ever-evolving cast of backup musicians. He's got this great drummer who is also awesome to watch because he plays with his entire body and gives every song every ounce of energy he has.



Then there's Devotchka.

Comprised of individuals with origins spanning the globe, each ingrained with particular cultural pasts, DeVotchka's live show is an absolute spectacle. Using instruments to that effect, (a determined and eclectic United Nation-al junkyard of sousaphones, accordions, and bouzoukis), this diverse ensemble successfully blends a multifaceted folk sound, thus designing an ethnicity of old and new all its own.

Pretty much says it all, though even that doesn't shed light on how amazing the live show is. It's a rare nigth that I don't take a break outside, run to the restroom, or hit the bar a few times, but on this night I stayed right where I was as I did not want to lose my spot.
First the setlist:



This was my third time seeing the band live and it's one of those things where you know they're great, you're expecting an great performance, and even with those high expectations, the band over-delivers. The emotion of every song, every note, mixed with the lighting was dramatic- at times solemn, at times uplifting, and at times exhuberant, the performance feels like watching an opera, all the while walking away wanting to tell everyone that they have to see it.













The really incredible thing was that the band played for nearly two hours, which was unexpected but very much appreciated since the last time they played was at Street Scene which of course meant an abbreviated set.

After the show I was hoping for a setlist but everyone grabbed them. I kinda hung around hoping there were more by the drumkit or near the back of the stage that I could get. A soundtech picked one up and then handed it to the person next to me and I was a little bummed. But then the trumpet player came out from the backstage area and handed me a setlist, saying he could see that I was looking for one. His name, as I came to find out after the show, is Chris Barron, and he gets my hero of the night award for being so kind, putting the seal on a perfect night of music.

Guitar Center Session: An Evening With Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 2.18.09

Guitar Center is presenting the next of their GC Sessions with An Evening of Dialogue and Insight with Grammy nominated blues/rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

The Session is scheduled for Wednesday, February 18 at the Guitar Center in Pasadena, CA. The evening will focus on Kenny as he shares career highlights, the secrets behind his technique, songwriting, tone and talks in depth about his new Fender Signature Series Stratocaster, designed exclusively by KWS. The evening, co-presented by Fender® Musical Instruments, is free and open to the public.

About Kenny:

Renowned blues/rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd stormed onto the music scene as a teenager with a fiery style and virtuosity seldom seen before. Since then he has had a string of No. 1 mainstream rock singles and holds the record for the longest running album on the Billboard Blues Charts with "Trouble Is....".
Shepherd has been nominated for four Grammy awards, received two Billboard Music Awards, two Orville H. Gibson awards, the Blues Foundation's Keeping
The Blues Alive Award, and a Blues Music Award among many other accolades. He has sold millions of albums and his most recent release is a truly unique DVD/CD project entitled 10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads, which documents Kenny as he travels the country to jam with and interview the last of the authentic blues musicians.

Wednesday, February 18 @ 7 pm
Guitar Center Pasadena
2660 E. Colorado Blvd.
(626) 535-0108

Free to the public. Limited capacity

Things To Do In San Diego: February 17, 2009

Tuesday, February 17, 2009:

• Gil Mantera's Party Dream, The Dabbers, Jamuel Saxon @ Casbah
• Tamarama, Stripes and Lines (featuring Jay Lyon from MTV's "The City")@ Belly Up
• Meith Kilgaten’s Magical Mystery Tuesday w/ The Fascination, French Kiss Koma, Crescendo @ Beauty Bar
• Innerpartysystem, Endless Hallway, White Apple Tree, The City Hype @ Soma
• Too Cool For Karaoke: Love Stinks post-Valentine’s Dayfest @ Ruby Room
• Mechanical Bull Riding, DJ Kid Wonder @ U-31
• Tiki Tuesday with Exotiki @ Bar Pink
• "Pressure Drop" feat. DJs Jeff Graves & Skarina @ Radio Room
• Karaoke @ O'Connell's
• Game Night @ 710 Beach Club
• Comedy Night @ Lestat's
• Adalitas Ways @ House of Blues, Voodoo Stage
• Jefferson Jay's Open Mic @ Portugalia
• Ishmael & The Peacemakers, Megan Combs, DJ Cool Breeze @ Winston's
• DJ Jesus de Jesus @ Soda Bar
• Friends Chill Game Night @ Whistle Stop
• An Evening with Journalist Jay Allison @ The Loft, UCSD
• Mimi Blais @ Dizzy's (San Diego Wine & Culinary Center)
• 52nd Street- Tribute to Billy Joel @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge
• Anthology House Band @ Anthology (Early Show 7:30pm)

New Release: Audrye Sessions Out Today

The debut full-length album from Audrye Sessions was released today. Insound says "This self-titled debut on Black Seal is packed with polished, propulsive rock songs and gentle, stripped-down tunes with the kind of ear-grabbing melodies that instantly hard-wire themselves into your brain." The band will be in San Diego next Tuesday, February 24, at the Casbah and I've got an extra copy of the debut album. E-mail sddialedin AT gmail with the subject "Sessions" and I'll pick a winner by Friday.
Download an MP3, too!

Things To Do In San Diego: February 16, 2009

Monday, February 16, 2009

• Get Back Loretta, Inspired Flight, The Illuminauts, Louis XIV @ Casbah
• Nothingful @ Soda Bar
• The Blokes @ Hensley’s Flying Elephant
• Lady Dottie & The Diamonds @ U-31
• Kipper's Pop Culture Trivia @ Whistle Stop
• Donavon Frankenreiter, Gary Jules, Jasso and Garcia @ Belly Up (Sold Out)
• Grown Folk Music with The Husky Boy All-Stars(DJs Buddha & Duse) @ Bar Pink
• Electric Waste Band@ Winston's
• Blues Jam hosted by Mystery Train @ O'Connell's
• Open Mic @ Lestat's
• Chet Cannon's bluie Monday Blues Party @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge
• Stewed, Screwed, and Tatooed Industry Night @ Ruby Room ($3 Sailor Jerry, No Cover)

Meet Paula "The Cosmetics Cop" Begoun Tonight

This event is a little out of the ordinary for SD:Dialed In, but I'm always down with trying something new around here. Paula Begoun, "The Cosmetics Cop" and author of Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me will be at Warwick's Books in La Jolla tonight signing her book, giving free samples of her newest products, and giving a free presentation on Skincare Mythbusting. For my readers, I've got a copy of the book available to one winner. E-mail me your name & address with the subject "cosmetics" and the book will be sent directly to one lucky winner. Contest will close Wednesday morning.

Date: Monday, February 16, 2009

Time: 7:30-9:30pm

Location: Warwick's Bookstore

Street: 7812 Girard Avenue

City/Town: La Jolla, CA

About Paula:

With more than 25 years of extensive experience in the beauty industry, Paula Begoun shakes up the cosmetics industry and leads thousands of women toward a smarter way of looking beautiful. Her books have sold more than 2 million copies, she has been on numerous radio shows and has made repeat television appearances on ABC's Primetime, The Today Show, Oprah, The View, and Dateline NBC. She is also a syndicated columnist for Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service and her "Dear Paula" column appears in newspapers throughout North America. Her research uncovers everything the cosmetics industry doesn't want people to know and she shows women how to look beautiful without spending a fortune.

Devon & Her In-Laws Tour 09

I fell in love with Virginia on Valentine's Day. Driving back to Charlottesville on Route 20 and 15 after a week of shows with Devon Sproule & Her In-Laws in Richmond, Arlington, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore was the cleansing experience I was craving between Killers tours. The colors of the bare trees and rolling hills in the central Virginian country were enough to make me a believer and a lover.

Devon Sproule, if you don't already know, is Matt Curreri's sister-in-law through Paul Curreri. Based in Charlottesville, their combined musical talent is enough to overwhelm any aspiring musician into skipping the playing bit and resigning to just listen to their records til the end of time.





The Killers played in Fairfax, Virginia not too long ago, at the Patriot Center at George Mason University. But, not surprisingly, trekking around New England in a tiny, overstuffed Corolla will make you see things differently than in a bus. You tend to meet the nicest people that way too. A few people were thinking I was crazy for not taking advantage of my ten days off between tours and going home to San Diego to relax on the beach and see my friends. But, I feel so lucky to have been able to finally play our batch of covers and originals with Devon and Matt for a week, I am again assured of my good decision making. Being in one place for more than a two days was wonderful, and to have spent it with such hospitable and talented folks made it that much more rejuvenating.

Twenty-four little hours after playing our last show as the In-Laws in Charlottesville, I'm in London, getting ready for the next leg of the Killers' massive European tour, starting at Shepherd's Bush Empire where we'll be sharing the stage with Coldplay. Time to charge the old camera battery.

Practicing at Home



Iota Club, Arlington



Living Room, NYC



Chillaxin with my 45



Bibim boppin'



Gravity Lounge, Charlottesville

Writer @ X1FM studio 02/06/09

Two fridays ago, I made my way down south to National City to see Writer play at the X1FM studio. I am sure you have heard of X1FM.com, but if you haven't, they are an online radio station that has video feed, as well as an online chat room. Also, every Friday they have a session starting at 7pm called Open Door Sessions, they have a local band play for an hour and broadcast it live. It is free for all that want to come down and watch as well. So after a long friday at work, I hit the road and made it down to the back of the studio, where the stage is, just as they started.

It was great to see a lot of friends there and Writer was sounding great. They chopped it up with the internet folk, but I guess that was more of a one way conversation. They had a lot of fun playing it, especially because they have video screens displaying them while their playing (not your usual gig). Even better, was when the light guy had the strobe lights going for a little while, if you know Writer's music, you know that strobe lights is the last thing you'd expect. Strobe lights make every show ROCK! Writer played my favorite song "Lesson Number Four" it's the best sing along of all time.

After Writer finished up, DJ Edgartronic took over the sound waves, and Daye and I had a little dance party. Daye brought it and I can't compete with that. The host of the X1FM Open Door Sessions, Andrew, took me around the studio, it is pretty awesome. It has so many twists and turns, I told him to make it a haunted house for Halloween, we'll see. It was a great Friday night, and we hung around the station til were kindly told that some of the studio guys couldn't leave til we did. Anyways, make sure to check out the Open Door Sessions on Fridays at 7pm. You can watch from your computer at x1tv.com or drive down to 2434 Southport Way ste. A, San Diego, CA 91950. Always Free and All Ages.

Catch Louis XIV (v2.0) At The Casbah This Monday!

Tim Pyles has put together one fine Anti-Monday League for our listening pleasure. The lineup includes Get Back Loretta, Inspired Flight, illuminauts and Louis XIV. Yes, Louis XIV will be playing promptly at 9:15. Their performance will be a sort of practice run with their new lineup before they go to Europe in support of The Killers. Funny how Ray played with Louis and now he's with The Killers, right? Anyhow, Jason and Brian have enlisted Shaun Cornell (Transfer, Dirty Sweet) and Andy on drums (Silent Comedy, Fono) to fill after the departure of Mark and James and you get to see it first. The really amazing thing is that the show is still as cheap as the regular Anti-Monday League shows: Six Bucks! Don't miss it and don't be late.

Blind Lady Alehouse Open in Normal Heights

I started this review over a week ago, so I'm sorry I'm just barely getting back to it, but Blind Lady Alehouse on Adams Avenue is open. It has been now for a couple weeks and I've already been back 3 times. Ir's right next to Rosie O'Grady's and fortunate for me, is just a brisk walk from Kensington. I suppose I could drive, but with a beer selection that easily rivals Hamilton's or Toronado, and considering none of my visits there has been under three hours, I'll walk, thank you very much. The food is amazing, too. They have pizzas that are made with all organic and locally grown products. I can't decide which is my favorite, but the sausage (Salsicca) and the four cheese (Cuattro Formaggio) so far seem to be our 'go to' pizzas. But on an especially adventurous and hungry afternoon, we split the salami pizza and the pizza topped with bacon and a cracked egg among other delicious toppings. And we devoured them. Besides the food and the great beer, the staff is courteous and friendly and so far every time I've gone I run into friends from the neighborhood. Kris, who lives upstairs from the restaurant had this to say about it:

Awesome, awesome place! How awesome you ask.... Well, for those of you who don't know it used to be A La Francaise, a breakfast and lunch nook, which was not all that. Petro and I live right above it so from 7am and on you would hear people talking, dogs barking which is not what you want to hear on a Saturday or Sunday morning. The Blind Lady opens up at 11:30am on the weekends so YAY for that! If you haven't checked this place out you MUST....it's a cool, hip place that serves delicious bar type pizza...thin crust and very yummy crafted beers! For those beer lovers out there you have a pretty big selection and good ones at that! I love the whole vibe of this place...you have two lines, one to order your food and the other to order your beer. No waiting for waiters or waitresses coming to your table you get up and do it yourself. That's right, don't be lazy! The owners redid the whole inside and it looks 10 times better then it used to. They have hardwood floor panels up on a portion of the wall, a huge painting of beers and brick walls! This place is just amazing so go check it out for yourself!

Here are some photos of our visits there:

Digital Conversion Underway

Despite the fact that congress approved the postponement of digital conversion, many stations are still flipping this month. My Godfather sent me this video to help explain how simple the transition will be for all those who still use rabbit ears...

Things To Do In San Diego: February 14-15, 2009

Saturday, February 14, 2009:

• North Park Nights @ 30th & University, Ray Street, etc.
• Kill Me Tomorrow, Crocodiles, and Booty Basement DJ's @ Casbah
• Rockabilly Shakeout feat. Hexxers, The Atomic 3, DJs Stack-Aly, and Juliancito @ Beauty Bar
• Ded Pigeons & Friends @ O’Connell’s
• The Sleeping, Emarosa, This Is Hell, and Hello Marquee @ Soma
• Sprung Monkey, Buckfast Superbee, and October Burning, Dave The Butcher @ Winstons
• Lisa Sanders & Friends @ Lestat's
• Tim Raldo & the Filthy Fuks, Rich White Males, Fuckloardz, and Pass The Axe @ Radio Room
• Arm The Angels, Counter Launch, Brandy Alexander, and War Like Party @ Channel Twelve 25
• Valentine's Day Ball feat. B-Side Players, and Booogaloo Assassins @ Belly Up
• Bombs Over North Park feat. DJs Corey Biggs & Adam Salter @ U-31
• Tribe of Kings presents Lover's Rock @ Ken Club
• Swingers Ball with Northstar @ 710 Beach Club
• Greg Gibson, Erika Davies @ Ruby Room
• Styx @ House of Blues
• Hell On Heels Burlesque @ Brick By Brick
• North Park Nights After Party feat. DJs Mikey Face & A-OK @ Bar Pink
• DJ Andrew Decade @ Soda Bar
• One Nation Under A Groove @ Whistle Stop
• Bollywood DJ/Dancing @ Cane's
• Warren Hill @ 4th & B
• Savoy Brown feat. Kim Simmonds @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge
• Valentine's Day at the Pops: A Winter Pops Special Event @ Symphony Hall
• Anthology House Band Motown Review @ Anthology (4 course Prix-fixe dinner: Early seating 5:30, late seating 9:30)

Sunday, February 15, 2009:

• Paleo, The Gift Machine, and Si, Claro! @ Habitat House, 7pm, 21+, BYOB. 1008 21st Street.
• Drag The River, Joey Cape of Lagwagon, Chris Shifflet of Foo Fighters @ Casbah (Early Show, 7 pm)
• Andrew Bird, Loney Dear @ Soma
• Yo Majesty, Natalie The Floecist Stewart, MC Flow @ Casbah (Late show, 10pm)
• The Style Tones @ Bar Pink
• The Robin Henkel Band @ Lestat's
• Wonk Unit (UK), Golden Red, The Flowerthief, and Aaron Mannino @ O’Connell’s
• Tribe Of Kings/Reggae Vibes @ U-31
• The Dabbers, Bobby Fantasy, Conf. of a Corn Silo, and The Street of Little Girls @ Ruby Room
• VV Morgue, Secret Society, Sonic Six, and Gurtrudenstein @ Radio Room
• The Lyon Crowns @ The Office
• Susan Tedeschi, James Hunter @ Belly Up
• Rugby Tournament Afterparty @ 4th & B
• Victory Nightlife presents Club Massive @ House of Blues
• Magic 92.5 Love Jam featuring Atlantic Starr, Heatwave, Peaches & Herb, G.Q., Evelyn Champagne King, The Delfonics, The Originals, Barbara Lewis, Daniel J Tucker & The Love Potion, @ Cox Arena
• Jose Sinatra's OB-o-ke @ Winston's
• Broken Mic Night with Teddy Fantastico @ Soda Bar
• Too Many Creeps hosted by Mario O & friends @ Whistle Stop
• Reggie Smith @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (11a)
• President's Day Jazz Festival @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (6pm)
• Bill Caballero Orquesta Binacional de Mambo @ Anthology
• Gary Lefebvre Big Band Birthday Celebration @ Dizzy's (San Diego Wine & Culinary Center)
• San Diego Youth Symphony - Showcase @ Symphony Hall (4pm)

The Status of Things

Just a quick update. My computer died. I had to buy a new one with money I couldn't afford to spend, but the important thing is that I finally get to work through the past 3 days worth of email and eventually get my posts up about last week's Devotchka show, this week's Airborne Toxic Event show, an overdue post about Blind Lady Alehouse and more, but since it's Friday and the real world is heading into a three day weekend, here are some things I love to pass the time.

Fuck You, Penguin

F My Life (thanks, Evan!)

This is Why You're Fat

And, on a cold day, I think I might crawl back under my covers and find something good on Hulu.

Things To Do In San Diego: February 13, 2009

Friday, February 13, 2009:

• Deadbolt, The Postals, The Bugs, and The Northern Towns @ Ken Club
• The Dogs, Wild Weekend, The Anasazis, and Vaginals @ Casbah
• Paddle Boat, Black Mamba @ Ken Cinema (11:30, all ages, 11:30 pm)
• Inhale, Circus Junkies, Dedicated Minds, and Steel Truckin @ O’Connell’s
• The Creepy Creeps @ Bar Pink
• Atomic Groove @ Belly Up (Happy Hour, 5:30)
• So Long Davey, Valencia, and Artist Vs Poet @ House of Blues (5th Avenue Sidestage)
• Common Sense, Dynamite Walls @ Belly Up
• Club Pussy Galore feat. Anna Troy, Hello Sunshine @ Whistlestop
• Jon LaJoie @ House of Blues (Delta Room)
• Rob Deez CD Release & Birthday Bash @ Lestat's
• San Diego Rocks (Bands TBA) @ House of Blues
• Casino Madrid, The Victory Of Reason, Theleventhour, Five More Days, A Sky Like April, And Ends In Agony @ Soma
• Feel The Noise Presents Bloodflowers @ U-31
• Electro Shock feat. DMT, Jonathan Brae, The Gardner, Sean Pyerz @ Ruby Room
• Bombay Status, Flight to Athena, and Long Live Logos @ 710 Beach Club
• DJ Groundfloor, Qu’est-ce Que c’est, and Maystar @ Soda Bar
• DJs Turbo Teen, Andrew Decade, Colour Vision, DPC @ Beauty Bar
• DJ Boogie Blind, Out of Order, Madd Joker @ Brick By Brick
• Bill Cardinal, Ryan Blue, Aaron Mannino, and River City @ Radio Room
• Mayhem & Miracles, Cherry Bomb Trolly Squad, Bewilderness, and Save Point @ Channel Twelve 25
• Atomic Punks (Van Halen Tribute), Damage Inc. (Metallica Tribute) & Monsters of Rock @ Cane's
• Pass the Axe, Bomb Pops, Die Sabotage, and Quang Duc Method @ Royal Dive
• Endoxi, and Dave Booda @ PB Bar & Grill
• Cactus Twang Whyte Grano & Nash, Eve Selis performs "Back To The Garden" CSN&Y Tribute @ Anthology (Early Show, 7:30p)
• Cactus Twang Whyte Grano & Nash, Eve Selis, Albert Lee performs "Crossroads" Clapton Tribute @ Anthology (Late Show, 9:30p)
• Novamenco @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (7pm)
• Rising Star @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (9pm)

Things To Do In San Diego: February 10-12, 2009

My computer died. I'm at the library for these postings. Fingers crossed that the repairs are minor or I'll be out of commission for some time.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009:

• Russo Family Benefit Show Jason Mraz with Unwritten Law, Switchfoot, and Timmy Curran @ House of Blues
• Irradio, Jezebel, Braaiins, Napes and Snakes @ Casbah
• Free Moral Agents, Ray Barbee Meets the Mattson, and The Illuminauts @ Beauty Bar
• The Mighty Diamonds, Yellow Dub Squad, DJ Carlos Culture @ Belly Up
• The Cheap Leis @ Bar Pink
• Mechanical Bull Riding @ U-31
• Black Ambulance, Dissolution, and Man Destroys Himself @ Radio Room
• Too Cool For Karaoke: Rednecks, White Trash & Blue Ribbons @ Ruby Room
• Game Night @ 710 Beach Club
• Karaoke @ O'Connell's
• Comedy Night @ Lestat's
• Ken Club Karaoke @ Ken Club
• The Bridge, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey @ Winston's
• DJ Red October, Francis Bacon @ Soda Bar
• Songwriters Showcase @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge
• Anthology House Band @ Anthology
• Trumpets R Us @ Dizzy's (San Diego Wine & Culinary Center)

Wednesday, February 11, 2009:

• The Airborne Toxic Event with The Henry Clay People & Rademacher @ House of Blues (Delta Room)
• Lisa Hannigan, Gavin Glass @ House of Blues (5th Avenue Sidestage)
• The Appleseed Cast , Japanese Sunday, and SayVinyl @ Casbah
• The Drowning Men, Arm the Angels, and The Surrender @ Belly Up
• Sycuan Presents Elefante with Kanari, Cantua @ House of Blues
• Zac Brown Band, Good Man Down, and Josh Damigo @ Brick By Brick
• Blizzard, Los Hollwood, and Melupus @ U-31
• Belly Dancing with the music of Middle Earth Ensemble @ Lestat's
• Flight or Fight, Unknown Motive, and RDG & CoPilot @ Canes
• Moontucky Rising, and Bluespring @ 710 Beach Club
• Beauty Call w/ DJs Schugar, Dibo @ Beauty Bar
• All Things End, Funks G @ Radio Room
• Red Hot Wednesday feat DJs Robin & Clare@ Bar Pink
• Science Fiction, Cole Moldy @ Ruby Room
• Jimmy Dean & Friends @ O'Connell's
• Zac Brown Band, Good Man Down, Josh Damigo @ Brick By Brick
• Ivan Neville's Dumstaphunk @ Winston's
• Kipper's Karaoke Night @ Soda Bar
• Donovan Frankenreiter, Gary Jules @ The Loft, UCSD (Sold Out)
• The Soul Persuaders @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge
• Charles McPherson @ Anthology

Thursday, February 12, 2009:

• Open Door Sessions feat. CircaNow @ X1FM studios (*Free and all ages or watch online at http://www.x1tv.com/, 7pm)
• Don Caballero, dd/mm/yyyy, and guests @ Casbah
• Vitro, and H is for Hellgate @ Bar Pink
• Screamin Yeehaws, Bexar County Bastards, Dirty Callahans, and Ramblin Outlaw @ Radio Room
• Animal Liberation Orchestra, Big Light @ Belly Up
• Iration with Tribal Seeds, The B Foundation, and Tomorrow's Bad Seeds @ House of Blues
• Long Live Logos, The Jakes, Mod Amish, Juna, and Dimitri Dickinson @ Beauty Bar
• Levator, Roxy Jones, Doves & Desparados, and Origami Ghosts@ Soda Bar
• DJ Artistic & Cros 1 @ U-31
• Karaoke @ O'Connell's
• Andy McKee, Kev @ Lestat's
• Grindhouse (Techno/DJs/Art/Performance) @ Ruby Room
• Feet Feet Feet Parachute, We Shot the Moon, Johnny Whiteside, and Big Surrender @ Brick By Brick
• Hot Buttered Rum String Band @ Winston's
• Citizen Video: Make Up or Break Up @ Whistle Stop
• The Akademix, and Mad Martigan @ 710 Beach Club
• XIV, The Stove, Heavy Glow, and Grizzly Circus @ Cane's
• Blue Rockit @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge
• Kenny Neal Band @ Anthology

YouTube: Morrissey "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris"

It's a little funny to me to get a press release about Morrissey because, well, he's Morrissey. But I got one and I decided it was worth posting because I really like the new song. His ninth solo album is being released next Tuesday via Staunch/Lost Highway. Morrissey is hitting the road, but unfortunately the closest he'll be getting to San Diego will be his Coachella performance, but we know he likes to keep his fans south of the border happy, so perhaps he'll hit the San Diego or Tijuana region later this year. He'll be on the cover of the latest issue of Filter Magazine so make sure to pick one up. Judging by the song titles, I am going to LOVE this album. Too bad it won't be out before Valentine's Day.

Morrissey "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris"




Track list of Years of Refusal:

1. Something Is Squeezing My Skull
2. Mama Lay Softly On The Riverbed
3. Black Cloud
4. I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris
5. All You Need Is Me
6. When Last I Spoke to Carol
7. That’s How People Grow Up
8. One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell
9. It’s Not Your Birthday Anymore
10. You Were Good In Your Time
11. Sorry Doesn’t Help
12. I’m OK By Myself