Jeff's Weekly Pick: The Autumn Defense @ Anthology Thursday February 3, 2011

Photo by Mae Moreno,
Courtesy Yep Roc

I am a firm believer in the old adage that the cream rises to the top. In the less publicized world of indie music, such is the case when one listens to The Autumn Defense, a group formed in 1999 by Wilco bassist John Stirratt and multi instrumentalist and producer Pat Sansone. The group has released four full lengths to date, the latest being Once Around on Yep Roc last November. As of 2004, Sansone has also become a full fledged member of the much more popular band Wilco. If one word could best describe the music of this low key spin off group it would be pleasant. It is very evident to notice the influence the 60s and 70s have on their music. Some might say that the sound is too steeped in the past, while I believe it has enough originality to bring it to the current era. The production on all the albums is top notch, reflecting Sansone's talent as a producer.

Sometimes music is at its best when the listener is swept away in more subtle ways rather than a tidal wave. Such is the case in point: The Autumn Defense consistently produce instantly accessible quality music. Come see (and listen) for yourself this Thursday when the group makes a rare San Diego appearance at downtown's beautiful supper club Anthology. Even if you have not heard the music before, it will seem like reaquainting yourself with a friend you lost touch with years ago.

Jonathan Wilson sets the stage.

Watch a video of Bluebirds Fall below.

San Diego Opera Presents Turandot

Turandot – San Diego Opera presents Puccini’s Turandot.
January/February, 2011. Photo © Ken Howard

On Saturday night, I had the great pleasure of attending the opening of Turandot to kick off the 2011 season of the San Diego Opera. I hadn't been to an opera since probably junior high, when local schools would be invited for dress rehearsals and me and my rebellious friends would sneak out during the first act and sneak back in by the third, opting to run around downtown in our fancy clothes for a couple hours. So for all intents and purposes, this was my first time watching an entire performance from beginning to end and I gotta tell ya, it was pretty incredible.

From the press desk:

San Diego Opera’s 46th International Season opens Saturday, January 29, 2011 with Giacomo Puccini’s grand opera, Turandot and the exciting Company debut of American soprano Lise Lindstrom in the title role. Of Lise’s house debut as Turandot at the Metropolitan Opera The New York Times reported, “she sang with chilling power and nailed the top notes. Her sound was impressively focused, with a vibrant vibrato on sustained tones and no wobble. The youthful shimmer of her singing was balanced by rich emotional maturity.” These performances also mark the return of Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho as the slave girl Liù and the return of San Diego favorite, the Uruguayan tenor Carlo Ventre as Calàf. Rounding out the cast is German bass Reinhard Hagen as Timur, American baritone Jeff Mattsey as Ping, American tenor Joel Sorensen as Pang, Taiwanese tenor Joseph Hu as Pong, American bass baritone Scott Sikon as a Mandarin and American tenor Joseph Frank as Emperor Altoum. Persian stage director Lotfi Mansouri continues his long history with the Company, and Italian conductor Edoardo Müller brings his mastery of the Italian repertory to the podium.

As a total rookie, I'm not really sure how to "review" the show. Though I see live music nearly every night of my life, I have no basis of comparison to comment on the skill of the vocalists. Do I comment on the simple story by reviewing Puccini? Not really sure that's the point, either. However, for the sake of my readers who think the opera isn't for you, I'll just go with this in terms we can understand. And not to diminish the art of the opera, because all of it really was spectacular, my breakdown/synopsis of the show is after the jump (I don't need to give spoiler alerts for an opera written in the 1920s, do I?).

Before you get to the jump, while the first two shows sold out, limited tickets are available for Tuesday, Friday, and the Sunday matinee. Click here to buy.

The first act kicks off with a proclamation to the people of Peking. They're like, "the Emporer's light is gonna fade if his daughter isn't married. Anyone wanting to marry the Princess has to solve three riddles." A bunch of dudes had tried but they all failed, and the Prince of Persia is the 13th to fail, so he's beheaded that very evening. In all the madness of the crowd awaiting the execution, this slave chick Liu rolls up and sees the unnamed Prince. Turns out she found his long lost pops, Timur, in the forest or something. The dad tells the Prince that Liu was the only one faithful to him, and when the prince asked why she was so loyal she's like, "well, you smiled at me once". Obviously crushing on him, the Prince is kinda this dense emo-boy and once he saw the Princess he was all whooped and never for a second considered escaping with the slave girl. At the end of the act, the Prince declares that he will attempt to solve the riddles to win Turandot's love.

During the second act, there's mostly hysteria, with the Emporer's ministers Ping, Pang and Pong lamenting over the Prince's decision and wondering how they got to this place in their lives that it's all death, death, death all of the time. Eventually they snap out of it and there's a slow build to the actual solving the riddle part. At this point the Emperor is like, "yo, you sure ya wanna do this?" and the Prince is relentless, even after Turandot reveals why she's such a bitchy ice-queen, saying how her ancestor was kidnapped and killed by a Prince, blah blah, so now's she's all man-hating and cold and she's never gonna give it up to him or anyone else.

Anyway, she gives him the 3 riddles: "What is born each night and dies at dawn?" "Hope", the Prince answers correctly. "What flickers red and warm like a flame, yet is not a flame?" He correctly answers "blood". So then she's like going for the impossible question with "What is like ice but burns?" and he finally answers "Turandot!" and the crowd goes crazy, but then she's still a biatch and is like "Daddy, don't sell me out! Don't make me marry him!" At this point, the Prince turns the tables, and is like, "If you can find out my name by dawn, I'll forfeit my life." Like I said, he's super emo.

By Act III we're taken through the night as people try to find out the Prince's name, with Turandot demanding that at the risk of death, nobody sleep until they find out his name so she can avoid marrying him. Ping, Pang and Pong try to get him to bounce the city and some other dudes rough him up a bit to no avail. Then townspeople drag in Liu and the prince's dad, Timur, and threaten their lives unless they reveal his name. The Prince makes a kinda weak-ass attempt for them to be set free until Liu stands up and is like, "No way. I'm not giving it up. You can torture me, but I'm only flesh and my love is more powerful than that. I will die with this secret before I unzip these lips." This is when she sings this amazing suicide aria, by the way. Turandot is like, "Really? You'll die for this dude? What's the secret of your courage and selflessness?" Liu replies, "Love" and finishes by stabbing her own chest with a dagger. The crowd is like, "Dude, that chick's ghost is gonna mess with us unless we give her a proper burial," so they carry her off and Turandot, hidden under a veil, stays to talk with the Prince after everyone else is gone. After some back and forth where he's like "why can't you love me like she did?" and Turandot is still like, "Whatever. I'm dead inside. I can't love," until he aggressively kisses her and she gets all misty and feels emotion for the first time in her life. Seeing he's winning her over, he's like "I'm Calaf".

Then it's all drama-drama where they get all gowned up in the celebratory red robes and Turandot reveals to her dad that she knows his name. "It is Love" and the people all cheer about the power of love and the final curtain is drawn.

As I said, the performances to me, an opera rookie, were pretty amazing, and the standing ovation probably meant avid opera-goers were equally as pleased. For such a simple story, the power of the music was definitely heavily emotional. For me, the whole night was an incredible experience and I look forward to the rest of the season. For information about upcoming performance, click here.

Things To Do In San Diego: January 31, 2011

Another week, more great music. Please note that the Darwin Deez show tonight has been canceled due to the band's van breaking down. Basically they had to leave it up north, use a rental, and it just coincides with them having to get back to pick up the vehicle after it is repaired. The Loft is trying to get a reschedule, but for now, you have to just call 858.534.8497 for refunds.

Monday January 31, 2011:

• Anti-Monday League Presents: Cattle Decapitation, Rats Eyes, Kill The Capulets, Secret Fun Club, DJ Bonk Joyner @ Casbah
• Motorhead, Clutch, Valient Thorr @ House of Blues
• Das Racist @ Porter's Pub
• CANCELED: Darwin Deez, Jamuel Saxon @ The Loft
• Medicine For Madison, Astra Kelly, Vandersteeze @ Soda Bar
• Make Believe Monday w/ Stevie & The Hi-Stax @ Bar Pink
• San Deviants, Neverland Ranch Hands, Distress OC, Solution For Ignorance, Under15seconds @ Ruby Room
• The Road Dogs @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
• Open Mic @ Lestat's
• Club MAW @ Henry's Pub
• Doug Allen, Suzy Bongo @ The Kraken
• Chet Cannon & The Committee @ Patrick's II
• Three Chord Justice @ Bar Leucadian
• Electric Waste Band @ Winston's
• Pro-Invitational Blues Jam Hosted by Mystery Train @ O'Connell's
• The Get Down @ Club Kadan
• Dave Scott @ Croce's
• Karaoke @ Coyote Bar & Grill

KPRI Presents: One eskimO at The Loft, 1.28.2011

Here's a little story. Chris Cantore called me earlier this week and said that KPRI had an opportunity for a last minute private listener concert with a huge international band and if I had any ideas where they could play. They were thinking Lestat's, Claire de Lune and a couple other venues. When he told me it was One eskimO, I told him I would help call around and see what was available. Unfortunately, certain venues aren't known for their speedy replies, so though we had a couple backup plans, the station contacted Liz at The Loft and made it happen. As usual, I went early to make sure I shot photos and videos, and it was also arranged that I'd meet the band before the show. I thought I'd have either Bob Hughes from KPRI or Chris Cantore on behalf of the station and SoundDiego do the interview and just film. I was on a day full of meetings and three hours of sleep. Generally a cameraphobe anyway, I did not want to be on camera or behind it doing another disastrous interview.

Kristian was sick, but Adam, Jamie, and Pete convinced me that we should do an interview and volunteered to interview themselves, which to me was the best 10 minutes of video I've probably ever shot.



Bob ended up showing up, as did Marc Balanky, who shoots video for SoundDiego, so the need for my interview for NBC or KPRI dissolved, so I decided to post it as is, raw and uncut. Because Kristian was sick, you can tell that Pete and Jaime were incredibly nervous, so they're both pretty vocally quiet in most of these videos, but as it was probably something that won't happen again, here are all of the videos. Click the right and left buttons to navigate through the playlist. Take the time to watch them in HD.



Huge thanks to Liz at The Loft, Bob, Chris, Haley, Magi, and Christina at KPRI, Marc, and especially to Pete, Jaime, and Adam for being such great sports. Hope you feel better soon, Kristian! (Check SoundDiego.com next week for more of my photos. I'm like my own little multimedia channel and shot photos with my right hand as I filmed with my left. )

Things To Do In San Diego: January 28-30, 2010

I could've sworn that I posted last night, but I guess it's better that I didn't. Weekend listings are after the jump, as always. Have a great weekend! I'm still looking for a date to the opera tomorrow, if anyone is interested. Seriously. Don't make me go alone.

Friday, January 28, 2011:

• Sleeping in the Aviary, Shapes of Future Frames, Llightmusic, d/wolves @ Soda Bar
• The Dragons, Deadbolt, The Front, DJ Wendy O'Rourke, Dark Globe @ Casbah
• The New Regime, Helen Earth Band, Fever Sleeves @ Ruby Room
• The Crossroads Skateboard Tradeshow afterparty feat. The Kabbs, The Paragraphs, guest DJ @ The Saloon (Encinitas)
• Michael Rose, The Devastators, DJ Carlos Culture @ Belly Up
• Bonkers! with Junior theDISCOpunk & Vaughn @ Bar Pink
• Cuckoo Chaos, Twin Brother @ Whistle Stop
• Jacqueline Becker, John Torres, Josh Damigo, Summer Mencher @ Lestat's
• Electric Frankenstein, The Bourbon Saints, Dead Engines @ The Shakedown
• Intense Individuals pre-party feat. Rafter, Jamuel Saxon @ Tin Can
• The Very Band, Semi Sweet @ Til Two Club
• Carlos Olmeda @ Mueller College
• Wendy Bailey and the True Stories, The Heart Beat Trail, The Processors @ Eleven
• Terremoto, Ghetto Blaster, Dusted Angel, DJ Migglesworth @ Tower Bar
• Feel The Noise Electro Dance w/DJs Gabe Vega & Friends @ U-31
• The Petty Breakers, Wild Mountain Honey, DJ Mancat @ O'Connell's
• Tainted Love @ House of Blues
• Authority Zero, Lionize, Flatfoot 56 @ Soundwave
• Silverset Divide, The Calefaction, guests @ The Epicentre
• Circus Junkies, Cribwall Prison, Raise The Guns @ Brick By Brick
• Roots Covenant, Guest DJ @ Winston's
• Scorched Muffin @ South Park Abbey
• 4 Minutes Til Midnight @ 710 Beach Club
• Adestria, City Delivered, Colossal, To Each His Own, For The Legends, Thy Kingdom Come, Forever Ends Now, To Build and Empire @ Soma
• The ESP Quintet @ Dizzy's (San Diego Wine & Culinary Center)
• Atomic Groove @ Belly Up (Happy Hour, 5:30 pm)
• The Steely Damned @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (7:30 & 9:45)
• Eve Selis @ Donovan's Circle of Fifths
• Jessy J @ Anthology (Early Show 7:30pm)
• Asher Roth, Wreckinyze @ Hard Rock Hotel
• Damaged Goods, 923 @ The Stage
• Radio Latina Fiest with Manny Cepeda @ Anthology (Late Show 9:30 pm)
• DJ Seize, Muzik Junkiez @ Onyx/Thin
• Robin Wilbanks @ Portugalia
• Los Sindicate, DJ R2 @ Gallagher's
• DJ Mo @ El Cajon Grand
• John Foltz @ The Marble Room
• D Ramirez, Anthony Ross @ Voyeur
• Zenbu Fridays with DJ Leif @ Zenbu Cardiff
• Marvski, Grandmasta Rats, Charlie Rock @ El Dorado
• DJ Reflex @ Fluxx
• DJ Swamp, Jason & Peligro @ Kava Lounge

Saturday, January 29, 2011:

• Crocodiles, Tamaryn, Raw Moans, Coleen Green, DJ Mario Orduno @ Casbah
• Amos Lee, Vusi Mahlasela @ House of Blues
• REVO San Diego event to benefit Haiti's Plant With A Purpose feat. New Mexico, Burning Bushes, art + drinks @ Sunset Ballroom, Claire de Lune
• Grand Tarantula, Fatigo, Red Pony Clock @ Soda Bar
• Mod vs Rockers feat. Dan Padilla, The Rocking Scoundrels, The Front + super top secret guest band, X meet and greet @ Riviera Supper Club (6pm)
• The Cured, INXS-ive, Murmur @ Belly Up
• Ghetto Blaster @ Bar Pink
• Bill Cardinal, Emily Bonn, Trouble In The Wind @ Tin Can
• Black Hondo, Stevie & The Hi-Stazx, Old Tiger @ Eleven
• Hot Rod Havoc 4 Premier Night feat. The Moonlight Trio, The Palominos, The Sugar Daddies @ The Shakedown
• Gematria: Eddie Turbo & Prince Zohar @ Whistle Stop
• Bad Medicine, circus debauchery @ Ruby Room
• Dance Party with Saul Q and Friends @ U-31
• Zapf Dingbats @ Templar's Hall, Old Poway Park (7 pm)
• The Roots Factory 1 Year Anniversary feat. Agua Dulce, Cumbia Machine, Ikah Love, Solrak, art show, clothing release @ Soundwave
• Marshall Tucker Band, Sickstring Outlaws, West Coast Bandits @ Ramona Mainstage
• MDK, Hammerfist, World Of Pain @ The Epicentre
• Melodramatix, Yung Truth + Twomps, MTO, Two Face, Stalker, Marlon Dane, Reason, Kamzilla, Howlin Jupiters @ O'Connell's
• Cardiac Kidz, The Answers @ Lestat's
• Blues Jam @ South Park Abbey
• The Intense Individual Party @ Brick By Brick
• Osal8, Holden, Cool Breeze, Artofficial, The Cuban, CML @ Winston's
• Stranger @ 710 Beach Club
• Underoath, Thursday, A Skylit Drive, Animals As Leaders @ Soma
• Free Energy, The Postelles @ The Loft, UCSD
• David Borgo three ways: Initial Conditions, Kronomorphic, KaiBorg @ Dizzy's (San Diego Wine & Culinary Center)
• Taryn Donath @ Marble Room
• Cold Shower @ El Cajon Grand
• Green Light @ Donovan's Circle of Fifths (5:30-8:30 pm)
• Lady Dottie and the Diamonds @ Donovan's Circle of Fifths (9pm)
• Todd Johnson Clinic @ Bass San Diego (6255 Ferris Square, 6-9pm)
• Silvergate Elementary Fundraiser @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (2-8pm)
• Crossfire @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (9:30 pm)
• NSD Productions Presents Local Rock Showcase feat. Awaiting Samsara, Monkeys In Space, Bankers Hill, Inberst, Theleventhhour, A Cadillac Murder @ 4th & B
• Leo Kottke @ Anthology (Early Show 7:30pm)
• MOFO Party @ Anthology (Late Show 9:30 pm)
• Urban Lounge feat. Professor CC & Brother Darkness @ Gaslamp Strip Club
• The Leperkhanz, DJ Chelu @ Gallaher's
• Iza Moon Dance Collective @ Portugalia
• Sabbat feat. DJs Robin Roth, Atom, Liquid Grey @ The Flame
• Cosmic Kids, Saul Q, Kid Wonder @ El Dorado
• Ying Yang Twins @ On Broadway
• Burns @ Voyeur
• The Disco Pimps, Glacier Skies @ The Stage
• DJ Rags @ Onyx/Thin
• Rico DeLargo @ Fluxx
• Art- Primal Forces: Pattern and Pathos Artist Reception @ L Street Fine Art (628 L St, Omni Hotel, 6-9pm, benefit for ARTS- A Reason To Survive)
• Machine Funk feat. Dr. Indulgent, Monchis Machino, Luis Martel @ Kava Lounge
• San Diego Opera Presents Turandot @ San Diego Civic Theatre
• C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters @ Balboa Theatre (4 & 8 pm. Both shows are sold out)

Sunday, January 30, 2011:

• FM 94/9/The Local Pyle present an evening of Cave Punk/Cave Metal Records feat. The Archons (CD release), Spider Fever, Widows @ Casbah (Free show, doors at 7pm, live broadcast with Tim Pyles, free food from Gaglione Brothers)
• Owl and Bear Presents: Tristen, Owl Eyes, The Displaced @ Soda Bar
• An Acoustic evening with moe. @ Belly Up
• Trivia Night with Robert Pouder @ Eleven
• Karaoke @ South Park Abbey
• Mike's Haulin, Barbara Nesbitt Band, Citizen Band, Deadline Friday, Sweettooth, Cathryn Beeks & Matt Silvia, Christopher Dale, Podunk Nowhere, Berkley Hart @ O'Connell's
• The Cactus Jacks and Friends @ Winston's (6-9pm)
• Lord Juggernaut, The Lion's Mouth @ Lestat's
• Raven, Ruthless, Infinitum, Obscure @ Brick By Brick
• The Toasters (30th Anniversary Tour), The Skains, The Fabulous Rudies, Neveready, Oceanside Soundsystem @ Soma
• DBR & DJ Scientific @ The Loft, UCSD
• Jose Sinatra's OB-O-ke @ Winston's
• Tribe of Kings/Reggae Vibes @ U-31
• Tripp Sprague @ Dizzy's (Culy Warehose, 338 7th Avenue)
• Hank Easton @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge Brunch (10a-2p)
• Patrick Yandall @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (8pm)
• Blues at the Crossroads feat. Big Head Todd & The Monsters, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Hubert Sumlin, Cedric Burnside, Lightnin Malcolm @ Anthology (Early Show 7:30pm, Late Show 9:30 pm)
• Mark E Quark, Pavlick, Lechien @ El Dorado
• Liberation Posse @ The Stage
• Gypsy Rebel Rouge Presents Orkastra Mustachio, Bren-ton, Wolfgang Von Cope, Redrusski @ Kava Lounge
• San Diego Opera Presents Turandot @ San Diego Civic Theatre

Things To Do In San Diego: January 27, 2011

This week has been insane. Shit, this whole month has been kicking my ass in both bad and good ways. Here are your weekend listings. I got tired of digging around broken websites, so if anyone has any info on Che Cafe, Epicentre, Ramona Mainstage, Spin, or any of the other usuals that I list, feel free to leave a comment and I'll update. I've also heard that Dreamstreet has closed, but I haven't tried to verify that information, so if anyone knows the scoop, lemme know. See you tonight at West Coast Tavern for Jesse LaMonaca and some kick ass beverages.

Thursday January 27, 2011:

• Jesse LaMonaca @ West Coast Tavern
• Fu Manchu, Dusted Angel @ Casbah
• Jel, Odd Nosdam, Grammatical B, Microphone Mike @ Bar Pink
• Cardiac Kidz, The Humpers, The last Internationale @ Eleven
• Luis Miguel @ Viejas Arena
• Electric Frankenstein, The Bourbon Saints, Dead Engines @ The Shakedown
• K-THE-I???, APOC, Brendan B, Shark vs. Ninja DJs @ Soda Bar
• Disaro Presents: Gatekeeper, Terminal Twilight, DJ Robert Disaro @ Tin Can
• Jazz West @ Riviera Supper Club
• Infected Mushroom, Stircrazy, Gunslinger, Mikey Lion @ Fluxx
• Johnny Swim, Kenny En, Kelly McFarling @ Lestat's
• Audios, Kevin Colemen & Bones, Destructo Bunny, ID & Dusty Nix, Adder, MC Nepol @ Winston's
• Bill Magee Blues Band @ Patrick's II
• NSD Presents: Rough & Steady, more @ 4th & B
• Hazmatt @ Coyote Bar & Grill
• Mark Stuart @ Tiki House
• Tara Brooks, los Drumz @ The Office
• Knockout Bell, Centerlight Pop, Vinyl Film, DJ Gonzo @ Ruby Room
• Lizz Wright @ Anthology
• Gilbert Castellanos @ Croce's
• Lady Dottie and The Diamonds @ El Dorado
• Mickey Avalon @ On Broadway
• L.E.D. Presents: Jakwob, Peace Treaty, Turijo @ Voyeur
• Scott Wilson and The Contradictions, The Lovebirds, Podunk Nowhere, Sweettooth @ Claire de Lune
• Moonlight Serenade Orchestra @ The Lucky Star Restaurant (54th & University)
• Adrian Legg @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
• Vamp @ Whistle Stop
• The Flock of 80's @ Henry's Pub
• Missy Andersen @ Marble Room
• Club 80's @ Club Kadan
• Karaoke @ O'Connell's
• Liquid Blue @ Queen Bee's
• The Heroes @ Valley View Casino
• Sand Section @ Gallagher's
• Live Band Karaoke @ 710 Beach Club
• Tommy & Tina @ McP's Irish Pub
• Therapy w/ Serhat & Shane, Federico @ Kava Lounge
• Fish Out Of Water @ Davina's Cabo Grill
• Boom Snap @ RT's Longboard Grill
• Hazmatt, League of Liars, Blue Moonies @ Boar Cross'n
• Electric Frankenstein, Pharmacy, The Bourbon Saints @ Shakedown Bar
• Dave Booda @ The Tipsy Crow
• Wicked Garden, Smack This, Project Jimi @ Second Wind Santee
• Jesus Christ vs The World, Ruines ov Abbbadon, Helsott @ Second Wind Navajo
• The High Society Jazz Band @ Tango Del Rey

San Diego Music Newsy Stuffs

That last post was supposed to be this post, but when you're inspired to write, you just gotta go with it. This is another photo from yesterday, up on a bluff above OB.

I do have some news to share with you, however, so now that all that other stuff is off the brain, here goes.

First, the great CityBeat Demo Review issue is coming up and MONDAY is the final deadline for submissions. That means you have FOUR DAYS to find a friend with protools and get your shit on a CD for Peter Holslin and the CityBeat crew who will either gush and love you or chew you up and spit you out. Both are great PR for your future EPKs, so just do it already! All the details are here, and here's a little writeup I did to remind you how to properly package your goods.

Lately a lot of bands have been dropping new music online, and while I've already told you about d/wolves having free downloads available, more have trickled my way. Make sure you get new stuff from Lesands and Vegetarian Werewolf. I know that more have crossed my path, but I'm kinda spacing right now. If your band has free downloads, let me know and I'll get them posted.

I've been doing a lot of housekeeping and been talking to a lot of people to try and reorganize a bit here. Some things on the site and in my social networks might get upgraded soonish, though it won't be anything too drastic. Sorry, you're still gonna have my little white font on the black background. One thing I'd like to do is update the San Diego band links. Many of the bands in my list no longer exist or have better links than their old rotting MySpace pages, so if your band is listed, check the link and make sure it is accurate. If you're not listed and would like to be, please just leave a comment and I'll sort them all out soon. Please don't send an email as I get hundreds a day and I really can't keep them all straight at the moment, even now that I've got my little Blackberry. Sometimes it's just too much.

I mentioned last week that we have started meeting for the 15th annual North Park Festival of Arts. (For shits and giggles, you can snicker at that URL). I appreciate all of the submissions and EPKs, but at this point I have a pretty good idea of who I'll be booking, though nothing is solidified just yet. I'll be in touch with some of you, and to the others, I have plenty of booking opportunities throughout the year, so having your submissions is very valuable to me.

Last but not least, I've been following the MIDEM conference that took place in Cannes, France this week. Though a lot of twitter is just loud chatter, it can also be a wealth of information if you know how to look for it. I was following the #MIDEM tweets on Tweetdeck, but you should check them out for a lot of news on startups, labels, and emerging technologies, and general music business information. I already found a couple really cool sites, like get-ctrl, which lets bands create free sites to connect to fans or Discovr, which delivers music information to iPads. (There were countless others, but I can't do all the work for you! Pay special attention to the award winners mentioned in countless tweets.)
You should also take the time to read Deloitte's "Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Predictions: 2011" for a wealth of information.

I'm sure I'm forgetting about 20 other things, but that's all for now, kiddos.
Don't forget to leave your band links in the comments.

All In A Day's Work

What an incredible day I had. It started with our weekly Casbah meeting, so I have a whole bunch of shows to update this week. Be sure to check the site for the "recently added" shows in the pulldown menu. I'll try to update by Friday.

What you should know, however, is that the Lucero show on February 20 is about 50 tickets shy of sellout, so don't wait to buy tickets. They always sell the place out, and with Blackout Party and Low Volts on the bill, it's gonna be a helluva time. You might wanna take a personal day on the 21st if you don't already get it off for Presidents' Day.

From the Casbah, Mr. Pyles and I headed to OB and had lunch with Tom from Dynamite Walls at South Coast. Turns out I'm probably heading to SXSW with the band for my first time ever, so expect lots of blogging from the road. If you wanna help sponsor my trip, click here to donate any amount. Shameless, I know, but you know how you always tell me "Hey, Rosey...I wanna buy you a drink"? Well, this is way better for my liver. I will tweet, facebook, and blog nice things about you. I promise.

From South Coast, we walked over to Hodad's, where Cage the Elephant was playing a free acoustic show. Initially we were going to try and maneuver our way in, with the owner even telling us we could get in through the back door, but it ended up being more fun hanging out with people and listening from outside. We were joined by Jesse LaMonaca, and after our trip to NAMM, I guess now's as good a time as any to mention that I will be managing Jesse LaMonaca and the Dime Novels. We have some exciting stuff down the pipeline and you better believe I will be gushing about it all here as I do with all of the things that I love, whether its my family, my friends, or fantastic new music. (Not to worry, Ladies. This is purely professional and Jesse is still on the market, just to be clear.) Jesse's site is being rebuilt at the moment, but you can check it out in its current form here. I'll share all of his bookings as we go along, but you can come see him tonight at West Coast Tavern, and plan on seeing him open for Rocky Votolato on February 24. We'll announce more when we can.


At Hodad's, we ran into Omar, who took us on a crazy adventure through OB and took us to the top of a hill to some lookout point. The dude is seriously one of the funniest people I've ever met, and though it was just a 30 minute or so detour, it was hilarious.

We headed back to the pier to catch that lovely sunset above and went our separate ways. The night didn't end, however, and Tommy picked me up on his motorcycle and we went to a really fun show at the House of Blues with The Get Up Kids, Steel Train, and River City Extension (not to be confused with locals River City) who totally blew me away. I'll post those pictures in a separate post as well as posting them on SoundDiego.com later this week or next.

So yeah. I might be broke as a joke and I might be tethered to the internet 22 hours a day, but sometimes things are just really, really good. I'm excited about what the year holds and as always, I'll be here sharing it with all of you.

This Saturday: Meet Some Intense Individuals at Brick By Brick

[The event, photos, video and writeup below were provided by my friend Greg Gibson. Anything to help you achieve your maximum intensity.- rosey]

When was the last time you saw Colonel Sanders waltz on stage with a bucket of KFC's best and dance the sweet dance of victory with Boy George and Simone from Pee-Wee's Playhouse, while two unassuming Mormon Sister-Wives watched in disgust? I'm guessing never. This is the kind of thing that happens at The Intense Individual Party, an annual costume party for charity thrown by San Diego writer and producer, Lisa Comrie. Every year, more than two hundred people show up - in costume, in character, and INTENSE.
Since it's inception in 2002, the party has seen everything from Bob Ross painting enormous happy trees on canvas to an entire cloister of nuns arriving in a limo to The Abbey in Banker's Hill and chanting from the balcony. Every year, people seem to take their costumes, their in-character performances, and most importantly, their creativity, to the next level for this unbelievable night.

At face value, The Intense Individual Party could be described as an outrageously fun party where you can dress and act like the intensely awesome celebrity, politician, character, or friend who you've been admiring and/or imitating for years. Honestly, though, it's so much more than that. At its core, this night is really about giving people a chance to express their individuality and creativity in a way they might not be able to otherwise. Lisa Comrie started blogging about intense individuals in 2005 as a way to document the intensity she saw happening everywhere around her. Intense Individuals is about looking at the world through a different lens, finding the intensity in both extraordinary and everyday events and people. Last, but certainly not least, proceeds from The Intense Individual Party go to the L.A. chapter of Dave Eggers' wonderful nonprofit tutoring, writing, and publishing organization, 826, whose goal is to assist students ages six to eighteen with their writing skills, and to help teachers get their classes excited about writing. Rad!!



The Intense Individual Party takes place at Brick by Brick this Saturday (01/29) at 8PM. Tickets are $20 at the door. So get your costumes ready, click the flyer for the event below to RSVP on Pingg, and make sure to watch the INTENSE video invite for this year's party featuring a very special guest! Visit http://www.intenseindividuals.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/intenseindividuals for more info.

Things To Do In San Diego: January 25-26, 2011

I had such a fun time last night, so thanks to everyone who was at the Casbah that made for such a great night. I'll have some videos up soon, and I'm going to do my best to catch up with posting some older videos and posts that I've been neglecting. Wednesday through Thursday listings are after the jump. Maybe I'll see you at a show tonight, or maybe I'll take a night off with some cozy pajamas and count on you representing for me...then again, with Soda Bar just around the corner, I just might wander out of the house.

Tuesday January 25, 2011:

• Kinch, The Californian, Echo Revolution @ Soda Bar
• Swore, In The Red, Roadside Affair, Dirty Legs @ Casbah
• Sundropelectric, Misspent Warhead Premise, Sir Splendid @ Tin Can
• Science Fiction, Squirming Coils @ Winston's
• April Ventura and The Magnolias @ Riviera Supper Club
• Tiki Tuesday w/ Craig Prior @ Bar Pink
• Ursula Rucker, Miki Vale, Succint, Naomi Soulfly, Mateo @ Kava Lounge
• Red Fox Tails @ El Dorado
• OkayOkay, Uncle Lucius, The Lions Mouth @ Ruby Room
• Local Brews Local Grooves: Deeper Than the Ocean, Ephraim Sommers, Dusty and the Love Notes, Scott West Band, Christy Bruneau @ House of Blues
• Tommy Price & The Stilettos @ Henry's Pub
• Darkwave Garden @ Club Kadan
• Anthology House Band @ Anthology
• 52nd Street (Billy Joel tribute) @ Humphreys Backstage Live
• Train of Thought @ Queen Bee's
• Tim and The 23s @ Stage Saloon
• Comedy Night @ Lestat's
• Smokestaxx @ Patrick's ll
• Dave Booda Acoustic @ Tiki House
• Marshall Hawkins, Gilbert Castellanos, Mikan Zlatkovich, Charles McPherson @ Croce's
• Tomcat Courtney @ La Gran Tapa
• Friends Chill @ Whistle Stop
• Doug Allen, Suzy Bongo @ The Kraken
• Karaoke @ Cafe La Maze
• Jaimie Muehlhausen @ Hennessey's Vista
• Buzz Campbell & Hot Rod Lincoln @ Valley View Casino
• Jackson & Jesus @ McP's Irish Pub
• Corey Cottrell @ RT's Longboard Grill
• Safety Orange @ Hennessey's Gaslamp
• Mike Gardner @ Cheers (Ramona)

Wednesday January 26, 2011:

• Wallpaper, The Dance Party, K. Flay @ Casbah
• Marcy Playground, Universal Trap, Save Amos, Someday Assassin, The Tyler Beach Project @ Brick By Brick
• The Get Up Kids, Steel Train, River City Extension @ House of Blues
• Tropical Depression, Neat Beats/Phen Swan, Crmnl, DJ Wank Chops @ Tin Can
• David Lindley, Roy Ruiz Clayton @ Belly Up
• Death On Mars, Oh Air Night, Mangled Bohemians @ Soda Bar
• Jesse LaMonaca @ Hennessey's PB
• Gary Morris Solo Tour @ Anthology
• Zodiac Death Valley, Doves and Desperados @ Analog Bar
• Where I'm Calling From @ The Loft
• Lady Dottie and The Diamonds @ Gallagher's
• Kastle, Mr. Biggs, Headshake, Austin Speed @ El Dorado
• Tribe Of Kings, No Sucker DJs @ Ruby Room
• Wreck Shop Wednesdays w/ Rock Paper Tiger @ The Office
• 66 Ohm @ Riviera Supper Club
• Jessica Lerner, Chris Carpenter, Paulina, The Yes Team @ Lestat's
• Asha Sukumar @ Cafe Libertalia
• Safety Orange @ Hennessey's Gaslamp
• The Heroine, The Grey, Joker Face, Uce Box @ O'Connell's
• Jimmy Lewis @ Tiki House
• The Soul Persuaders @ Humphreys Backstage Live
• Club Kingston w/ Piracy and The South Bay Wailers, Pegasus, High Power, Milintica, DJ Carlos Culture @ Winston's
• Missy Andersen @ Patrick's II
• Acoustic Fooks @ Dublin Square
• Live Comedy @ Eleven
• Battle of the Bands @ Coyote Bar & Grill
• Gilbert Castellanos w/ The New Latin Jazz Quintet @ El Camino
• Sweet Joyce Ann @ Portugalia
• Commune Wednesday feat. The Slpwlkrs, DJ Shakehips, trunk show/art/more @ Whistle Stop
• Wednesday Night Shakedown @ Henry's Pub
• Jeff Moore & The Witch Doctors @ The Kraken
• Rob Thorsen @ Donovan's Circle of 5ths
• Knight Vision @ Club Kadan
• Gene Perry's Afro Rumba Latin Salsa @ Croce's
• Smoke And Feathers @ The Saloon (Encinitas)
• Firehouse Swing Night @ Queen Bee's
• Karaoke @ Chico Club
• Sister Speak @ PB Bar & Grill
• 2 Guys Will Move You @ McP's Irish Pub

Fake Problems "Soulless"

I'm gonna post some photos and talk about tonight's show after I get some sleep and tend to some other things I have to work on, but since this video already uploaded, I thought I'd share. This was the first single released from their latest, Real Ghosts Caught On Tape. I'll probably get some photos from the night up on SoundDiego at some point this week, too, so check back here and there.For the best view, make sure you choose the HD version.



Seriously. So good. Follow them on twitter @fakeproblems or check out their site. One more reason I hope this whole SXSW plan comes through.

Little White Teeth, The Hot Moon, The Album Leaf @ Casbah- 01.18.11

The Album Leaf came back through town again last Tuesday night, supported by Little White Teeth and The Hot Moon. Click below for the write up and more pix.


Little White Teeth opened up to a crowd ready for an evening of some great stare-at-your-shoes-and-enjoy music. Front man Phil Beaumont, his drummer wife Yuko Sugiyama, sometimes Pinback, sometimes The Black Heart Procession bassist Dmitri Dziensuwski and The Album Leaf violin virtuoso/ multi-instrumentalist Matt Resovich warmed things up with a set of their 'hmmmm?' music, giving the rapidly growing crowd something to groove to in anticipation of the headliners. Indie-Neo R&B rockers (according to The Reader) The Hot Moon set up next featuring keyboard playing, top-hat wearing Sasha Pfau, The Album Leaf trumpet player/ multi-instrumentalist Brad Lee, formerly Grand Ole Party saxophonist/ guitarist John Paul Labno, Jovi Butz on bass and Jason Hooper on drums. Both bands played to a darker than usual Casbah which was great for the mood, but not so much for flash-less photography.

After the openers finished their sets, The Album Leaf took the stage with San Diego-based singer/ songwriter Jimmy LaValle on guitar/ keyboard/ effects and James McAlister on drums joining Resovich and Lee with their mosaic of projected visual art serving as backdrop. The last time these guys came through town at The Tin Can, they were joined by a mini-orchestra of string musicians. The difference between the two set-ups was evident but did nothing to detract from what developed into an excellent show. All four members split time on different instruments, mostly with Jimmy taking the singing and guitar duties, Lee on trumpet and bass, Resovich providing his amazing violin work and McAlister's impressive kit skills. Over the course of the set they covered material from all of their five+ studio albums, strolling through an inspired hour and a half of their wistful, reflective dream pop. Though the audience (for the most part) might not have been fists in the air raucous during the show, guaranteed everyone in attendance left fully satisfied at what was a blissful evening.

Little White Teeth:


The Hot Moon:


The Album Leaf:

For more from the evening click here, and the rest of my concert photography click here.
_______________________
All Images copyright © Nate Vandermeulen, All Rights Reserved.
Please ask for permission before downloading or linking to them.

Passengers, Moyindau, Slumgum at Kava Lounge, 1/4/11

The Kava Lounge brought in some avant-jazz a few weeks ago.

Passengers:





More after the jump.

Moyindau:



Slumgum:



For more, check out my blog post on the show.

------------
All Images Copyright © Michael Klayman 2008-2011, All Rights Reserved.
Please ask for permission before downloading or linking to them.

Peter Wolf Crier at Habitat House 1.23.2011

Last night while I was at the Guster show at the House of Blues, Peter Wolf Crier was up at the Loft at UCSD opening for Retribution Gospel Choir. Apparently the duo saw The Tree Ring video that was posted all over the place and they reached out to the Habitat House to do a little session of their own. I got an email and I'm sorry I couldn't blab about it, but it was smallish. They didn't show up until pretty late, so it was already past one am when they performed four quick songs in the attic, but it was pretty special. Enjoy the videos below, and keep an eye out for official videos on Sezio...and by "official" I mean multiple cameras, editing, and mixing and generally better quality than my camera in my lap. Click the right and left arrows on the videos to get to the others.

Things To Do In San Diego: January 24, 2011

I love Fake Problems. First of all, the band name just sorta resonates, because isn't that all we have in the big picture? But also because I love this band. The first time I saw them at the Casbah, I was impressed by their swagger and stage presence and as I've seen them over the past couple years on their few trips out to San Diego, even doing an awful interview with the band at Warped Tour last year (you can try and find it on your own, I'm that lame), they've only gotten better. Actually that interview was pretty funny, because I watched the band perform one of the first sets of the day, then spent much of the rest of the day tracking them down along with Jon Pebsworth of Side One Dummy records, and I ended up hanging out with them drinking warm cans of beer in the trailer as I and several other people came back to get interviews. They're a cool bunch of guys and it was a pleasure getting to hang out with them and I think that if they're not enough reason to come out to an Anti-Monday League at the Casbah, Dynamite Walls will be playing, too, and those guys are some of my favorite people around.

Monday January 24, 2011 :

• Anti-Monday League Presents: Fake Problems, Dynamite Walls, The Tender Box @ Casbah
• Art Fag & CS Touring Present: Weekend, Mrs. Magician, Plateaus, DJ Mario Orduno @ Soda Bar
• Railroad Earth, Great American Taxi @ Belly Up
• Make Believe Monday w/ Stevie & The Hi-Stax @ Bar Pink
• Kenny Eng @ Eleven
• Capitalist Casualties, Blood Stained Reality, Captain Planet, Death Crisis @ Ruby Room
• Michele Lundeen @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
• Lofty Mondays @ The Loft
• Sonia Olivas @ Athanaeum Music & Arts Library, noon
• Open Mic @ Lestat's
• Club MAW @ Henry's Pub
• Doug Allen, Suzy Bongo @ The Kraken
• Will Street Blues Band @ Patrick's II
• Three Chord Justice @ Bar Leucadian
• Electric Waste Band @ Winston's
• Pro-Invitational Blues Jam Hosted by Mystery Train @ O'Connell's
• The Get Down @ Club Kadan
• Peter Sprague, Bob Magnusson @ Croce's
• Corey Cottrell @ Hennessey's Gaslamp
• Karaoke @ Coyote Bar & Grill

Things To Do In San Diego: January 23, 2011

Sunday, January 23, 2011:

• Guster, Good Old War @ House of Blues
• Royal Bangs, Hotel St. George, Italian Japanese @ Casbah
• School of Rock Tribute To San Diego @ San Diego Woman's Club (6pm)
• Salsa Sunday with Orquesta Primo @ Belly Up
• The Bertos, Gone Baybe Gone, International Dipshits @ Eleven
• Cactus Jacks and Friends @ Winston's (6-9pm)
• Soul Brunch feat Lady Dottie & The Diamonds @ Donovan's Circle of Fifths (11:30am-3pm)
• The Robin Henkel Band @ Lestat's
• Peter Wolf Crier, The Retribution Gospel Choir @ The Loft, UCSD
• Jose Sinatra's OB-O-ke @ Winston's
• "Femdition:Acoustic Alliance" @ Brick by Brick
• Typhoon, AgesandAges, Brainstorm @ Soda Bar
• Tribe of Kings/Reggae Vibes @ U-31
• The Bi-National Mambo Orchestra @ Dizzy's (Culy Warehouse, 338 7th Ave.)
• Nils @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge Brunch (10a-2p)
• Nils @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (8pm)
• Bill Charlap @ Anthology (Early Show 7:30pm)
• A Ninja Night of Music (Lyme Disease Benefit) @ Kava Lounge
• Bohemian Rhapsody (Open Mic Rap) @ Kadan
• Tom Paxton @ AMSD (Acoustic Music San Diego)
• Carnival of the Animal @ Copley Symphony Hall (2pm)
• Tango Buenos Aires @ Copley Symphony Hall (7:30 pm)

Bob Bennett Beats Cancer

It feels like I've been reporting nothing but bad news lately, so it feels really great to be able to share some good news for a change. Bob Bennett (pictured on the right with Albert Preciado), one of the Casbah owners whom we all know and love as "Uncle Bob", has fought his cancer, and at this point it looks like he's won. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year while he was also recovering from a knee injury after slipping down his stairs. It looked pretty rough for a while, but after 9 weeks of radiation at a grueling 5 days a week, Bob's cancer numbers went from 12.5 to 2. He has been cleared by his doctors and won't have to return for a checkup for six months. Bob attributes his health and success to early detection. And of course, as Bob does, he made a joke about masturbation. "They gave me the choice of cutting or radiation. When they cut, you're not allowed to, you know, but with radiation it is encouraged." Congratulations to Uncle Bob. You are so loved and we look forward to many more years of your dirty humor.

KPRI Presents Old 97s at The Abbey

Tuesday night was another amazing evening with KPRI for a private show with the Old 97s. The band performed a killer set in a beautiful setting and wowed all the attendees. Big thanks to Chris Cantore for hosting, KPRI for always giving their listeners amazing opportunities, and Steve Covault for saving me a seat up front. Sorry for the glare of the stray yellow light and for my jittery camera. I'll eventually go back and title all of the songs and get them in the proper order, but for now, here's the playlist. Click the right or left arrows to get to the rest of the videos.

Things To Do In San Diego: January 22, 2011

I have no idea when I plan on catching up on anything because I'm completely backlogged and things have a way of spinning out of control with no end in sight, but that's a really good problem to have. Thanks for everyone who came out to the Casbah last night and made a really trying time feel so amazing. The footprint of Justin's life is so remarkable and he was an incredible soul, evident in every single person that was a part of his life. The rest of the weekend listings are below. See you tonight at the School of Rock show at Kava and UJBOD at Casbah. I'm gonna try to hit the pub crawl, too, but that might be a little ambitious and really, my liver and my crying eyes need a break.

Saturday, January 22, 2011:

• Uncle Joe's Big Ol Driver, Furious IV, Big Tension @ Casbah
• School of Rock Tribute To San Diego @ Kava Lounge 7pm
• Ozomatli, Cuevo @ Belly Up (Sold Out)
• David J Record Release & Signing, DJ Darwin @ Bar Pink
• Ray Argyle, Kata, Bantam Feather @ Tin Can
• Operation Mindblow presents Winter's Womb feat Red Octopus, VonVeederVeld, Carlton Melton, Joy, Sugarrush Railroad Inc, The Kabbs, Trap Gold, Brainticket DJs @ Til Two Club
• Schitzophonics, Flexx Bronco, Chinese Rocks @ Eleven
• Tiltwheel, Madison Bloodbath, Magdalene @ The Shakedown
• DJ Claire's End of Month Happy Hour @ Whistle Stop (5-8pm)
• Booty Bassment @ Whistle Stop
• Condemned, Ruines ov Abaddon, Hordes of Sirens, Within The Swarm, Indiscretion @ Ruby Room
• The Downs Family @ Riviera
• San Diego Experimental Guitar Show 2011 @ Soda Bar
• Liquid Foundation: Hard Fall Hearts, Splitfinger, Death on Wednesday, Slower @ Soundwave
• Dashboard Confessional Swiss Army Romance 10 year Anniversary tour, Chris Conley (Saves The Day), Lady Danville @ House of Blues
• Clepto, Ramekaga, The Talk @ Lestat's
• Stand Up Comedy Competition @ Queen Bee's
• Fuck Cancer Benefit feat. Downspell, The Strikers, Behind The Wagon, DPI, Jonny Castle, Old Devil, Cactus Jacks, Los Seafinks (All proceeds benefit the family of Madeline Morris and her fight against childhood Leukemia) @ Brick By Brick
• Clay Davis Trio @ Marble Room
• Bigfellas @ Winston's (4-8pm)
• SuperUnloader, Deadline Friday @ Winston's
• Anson with Heavy Rotation, Concrete Project, Boombox Renaissance @ 710 Beach Club
• Bleeding Through, Oceano, For The Fallen Dreams, Upon a Body Burning, The Great Commission, I The Breather @ Soma
• Ellis Paul @ AMSD (Acoustic Music San Diego)
• Bermuda Trap, Sweet Sweet Revenge, Silent Vice, The Maul Shoppe, Arise To Glory, Wooly Mammal, Rapscallion @ Epicentre
• red fish blue fish reunion @ The Loft, UCSD
• Green Light feat. Maria de la Paz @ Donovan's Circle of Fifths (5:30-8:30pm)
• Lady Dottie and the Diamonds @ Donovan's Circle of Fifths (9pm)
• BLUSD send off Party @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (5-7pm)
• Walter Trout @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (9pm)
• Guitar Masters feat. Eric Johnson, Andy McKee, Peppino d'Augustino @ 4th & B (7pm)
• Guitar Masters After Party feat. Lynch Mob, George Lynce, Oni Logan, Wild Mick Brown (of Dokken), Robbie Crane (of RATT) @ 4th and B (10:30pm)
• Thunder Road @ Anthology (Early Show 7:30pm, late show 9:30pm)
• An Evening With George Winston @ Birch North Park Theatre
• Lexington Field, DJ Chelu @ Gallaher's
• Jah Starr, South Bay Wailers, Krystal Dyer @ Portugalia
• Cassian, Bubblegum Sci-Fi, Adam Salter @ El Dorado
• Le Castle Vania, Erick Diaz @ Voyeur
• Illfonix @ Kadan
• Relentless Productions present Fusion @ Kava Lounge
• Sid Vicious Saturdays with Ricky Rocks @ Fluxx
• IceBox @ The Stage
• LA Guns, Skipjack, Negative Void @ Ramona Mainstage
• Judy Garland in Concert (A Multimedia + Symphony Experience) @ Copley Symphony Hall
• Styx @ Pechanga Theatre

Jeff's Weekly Pick: Amos Lee @ House of Blues Saturday January 29, 2011

Philadelphia native Amos Lee will be bringing his acoustic folk style music to San Diego's premier downtown venue this Saturday. A relative newcomer on the singer songwriter scene, Lee will be releasing his fourth full length Mission Bell on January 25. The album features many musical guests (fans) including Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Sam Bream (Iron & Wine), Calexico and others. What separates this talented musician from the rest of the pack is the sincere vocal delivery which mixes several musical styles such as jazz, soul and funk. Making the decision to pursue a musical career instead of teaching has turned out to be the right choice for Amos Lee. It was good fortune that brought Norah Jones to perform on Lee's eponymous first album in 2005. He has also opened for her on a previous tour. His popularity is growing with each album and extended radio play is helping grow his fan base. It will be a joy to see him and his backing band take those in attendance on his musical journey this weekend.

Vusi Mahlasela sets the stage.

Watch a video of Arms of A Woman below.

Things To Do In San Diego: January 21, 2011

So maybe last night was a little too fun? Thanks to all of you sinners and suckers and bad influences that bought me drinks, it was definitely I night for the record books. That means I didn't stay up all night working on listings, which is why you're getting them at 2 in the afternoon. The Casbah and Soma are both sold out tonight, but follow my tweets if you wanna come to the after party at 11:30 (if there's space to let people in), which is $5 and all proceeds will go to cover expenses for Justin Jay's family. Every time I type his name it hurts, but tonight we celebrate the awesome human being that he was. Saturday and Sunday listings are after the jump.

Friday, January 21, 2011:

• Transfer, New Mexico, D/Wolves, DJ Claire: A Memorial and Celebration for Justin Jay @ Casbah (Sold Out: This is an early show. Doors at 7:30 pm. After the show ends around 11:30, admission is $5 for a dance party, with proceeds going to Justin Jay's family expenses)
• An Evening with Ozomatli, DJ AMMO @ Belly Up
• Of Sons and Ghosts, Bella Novela, Bangladesh @ Soda Bar
• The Price of Dope @ Bar Pink
• Jesse LaMonaca and the Dime Novels @ Hennessey's PB
• DJ Rob Moran @ Whistle Stop
• Diatribe, Systematic Abuse, Solis, Ad Seg @ The Shakedown
• Young Prisms, Melted Toys, Heavy Hawaii, DJ Mario Orduno @ Tin Can
• The Nashville Ramblers (Trains 45 Release), DJ Tony The Tyger @ Til Two Club
• Best Coast, Wavves, No Joy @ Soma (Sold Out)
• The Fire Eaters @ Rosie O'Grady's
• Children of Nova, The Suicide Chords, Syndicate, One I Red @ Ruby Room
• 7th Day Buskers, Mark Stuart & The Bastard Son, The Shantyannes @ Eleven
• Old Skool New Skool show feat. Joey Harris and the Mentals, Red Wizard, the nformals, Wincester Friendlies, Pandemonium, Gnarly Whals @ Queen Bees (7pm, all ages)
• Improvisational Chamber Ensemble feat. Mary Oliver, Jane Rigler, Pat O'Keefe, Jason Stanyek, Scott Walton, Glen Whitehead @ The Loft, UCSD
• Feel The Noise Electro Dance w/DJs Gabe Vega & Friends @ U-31
• The Burnsville Band @ House of Blues (Salvation Alley, free)
• Heiroglyphics 20th Anniversary, APlus, Casual, Del Domino, Opio, Pep Love, Phesto, Tajai, DJ Toure @ Soundwave
• Jon Ji, Aaron Bowen, Katie Quick @ Lestat's
• The Palominos @ Riviera
• Interim Divine, Desolace, Eukaryst, Angstrom @ Brick By Brick
• Tommy Dubs, High Tide @ Winston's
• Hi Roots, Subliminal Trip, Sandollar @ 710 Beach Club
• Eranetik, Uncommon Value, Justin Toyosato, Shiny & Delinquent, Albert Posis, Charmaigne J, Kevin Fang @ Epicentre
• West Coaster Launch Party @ South Park Abbey
• Temple of the Dad @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (5-7pm)
• Sirens Crush @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (9pm)
• The Mar Dels @ Belly Up (Happy Hour 5:30 pm)
• The Sidekicks Duo @ Donovan's Circle of Fifths (5:30-8:30)
• The Mighty Untouchables @ Donovan's Circle of Fifths (9pm)
• Rick Ortiz presents Industry Night feat. Wild Rumour, War Admirals, Meluplus, Project Out of Bounds @ 4th & B
• Arturo Sandoval, Monica Mancini @ Anthology (Early Show 7:30pm)
• Carl Verheyen Band @ Anthology (Late Show 9:30 pm)
• Dead Technology feat DJs Delano, Ghost MD, Animate, D Fab, Esh One @ Kava Lounge
• Moonshake with Mark E Quark @ Kadan
• TRC Soundsystems @ Portugalia
• Boom Culture, DJ R2 @ Gallagher's
• Taryn Donath @ The Marble Room
• Victor Dinaire, Cowboy Mike, Michael Carter @ Voyeur
• Zenbu Fridays with DJ Leif @ Zenbu Cardiff
• North Park Invades Gaslamp feat. The Donut Fresh Crew, Turbo Teen, Joaquin Suarez (Qenoe), Pablo Stanley, Office Twins, hosted by The Mixster @ Red Circle
• Crossroads @ The Stage
• Kanye Asada, Jay Dread, Saul Q, Kid Wonder @ El Dorado
• DJ Cobra @ Fluxx
• Judy Garland in Concert (A Multimedia + Symphony Experience) @ Copley Symphony Hall

School of Rock presents San Diego Legends

[I've been chatting with my friend Tyler a lot this week about a couple of School of Rock shows coming up this weekend. The kids are super talented and under the direction of Tyler and Chris are obviously in very good hands when it comes to training and guidance. Below is Tyler's plug for some shows this weekend. It would be awesome if the music community rallied around the shows this weekend, and even cooler if bands that are being covered would come check out the kids performing their music. Below is from Tyler Ward, General Manager and Music Director of the School of Rock, San Diego.- rosey]

I don't like being "that guy" who always blabs about my job, but if you've seen me lately, I can't talk about anything else. The School of Rock is putting on a San Diego themed show and I couldn't be more excited. In case you don't know about the school, it's a music program for kids that not only teaches lessons, but puts on themed concerts. This time around, it's a love-letter to our village and the kids are playing songs by: Rocket From The Crypt, Three Mile Pilot, Pinback, Drive Like Jehu, Buck-O-Nine, Heavy Vegetable, Unwritten Law, Louis XIV, The Zeros, Unbroken, Black Heart Procession, Beat Farmers, fluf, and more.

The shows are taking place at the historic SD venues, The Kava Lounge (old Casbah) and the SD Women's Club, and we may have some very special guests play with the kids. The Kava is so small that it will sell out, but the Women's Club has plenty of room. Both shows start early enough that you can still go out afterward.

Saturday, January 22nd @7pm
Kava Lounge
2812 Kettner Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92101-1223

Sunday, January 23rd @6pm
San Diego Women's Club
2557 3rd Avenue
San Diego, CA 92103-6570

The Tree Ring release video for "Wore It Deep"

I've long been a supporter of Joel P West not only because we share a birthday (though I'm YEARS older), but because everything he does is approached with a complete project and plan in motion. He doesn't record willy-nilly, he takes his band to Idyllwyld to hide out and create. He doesn't just have a show, he creates an environment. He doesn't do all of this alone, of course, but even from his early records, like the Dust Jacket Project, which offered a free download if you submitted some form of creative art, he is much more than just a musician, even deciding to drop his own name for the complete package of his full band, The Tree Ring. The band released a music video this week and it's absolutely beautiful (though I've found it slow to load...be patient).

Wore It Deep (The Tree Ring) from Destin Cretton on Vimeo.

The Tree Ring will have their official record release party on February 12th at the San Diego Woman's Club. Tickets can be purchased here. The show is an all ages seated show. Tickets are $12, or $20 which includes a copy of the vinyl.

Things To Do In San Diego: January 20, 2011

We're just a couple of hours away from our big SoundDiego Live party at Double Deuce, so I hope to see you all there and meet some of you in person if I haven't already. I will have to wait until late tonight to get the weekend listings posted, so it's gonna be a long night, but in the meantime, here are your Thursday listings.

Thursday January 20, 2011:

• SoundDiego Live feat. River City, Hotel St. George. Hosted Ketel One vodka from 7-8pm. @ Double Deuce (Free and open to 21+, but please RSVP here)
• XIV @ West Coast Tavern
• Sezio Presents: Jamuel Saxon, Lesands, TV Girl, Dirty Gold @ Casbah
• The Nervous Wreckords, The Danvilles, Kyle Nicolades @ Eleven
• Kimya Dawson, Defiance, Ohio, Theo Zumm, Jehovas Fitness @ Che Cafe
• Bone Thugs-n-Harmony @ House of Blues
• The Memorials, Just Like Vinyl, BrainDeadBurockracy, Hundred Caliber @ Soda Bar
• Tori Roze and The Hot Mess, Case Conrad, Thea Tochihara @ Tin Can
• Living Room Live feat. Crush Effect @ W Hotel
• Comeback Kid, Madball, Cruel Hand, Globe & Beast, Capsize @ Soma
• Cowboy Mouth, Dash Rip Rock @ Belly Up
• Riviera Jazz Jam @ Riviera Supper Club
• DF & Live Nation pres: Creme [De La] Creme feat Betatraxx w/ Bubblegum Sci Fi, Ladlesmith, Tre, Dr. Schlongo @ House of Blues Delta Room
• Johnny Swim, Lakin, Rebecca Pidgeon @ Lestat's
• CityBeat Trivia Night @ El Take It Easy
• Bateki Beat @ Winston's
• Ian Power @ Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, UCSD
• Michele Lundeen @ Patrick's II
• The Brokers Band, Stone Senses @ Coyote Bar & Grill
• Pete Johnson @ Tiki House
• Turbo Teen @ The Office
• Hit The Switch, Bankers Hill, Holding Onto Sound, Roadside Affair, Among The Enemy, News From The Front, Nods to Nothing @ Ruby Room
• Arturo Sandoval @ Anthology
• Soul Jazz @ Croce's
• All Things Rad Presents: Profile & Irons @ El Dorado
• L.E.D. Presents: Classixx, Round Table Knights @ Voyeur
• Moonlight Serenade Orchestra @ The Lucky Star Restaurant (54th & University)
• Rockola @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
• Makeout Weird w/ Patrick Hadley, Bill Wesley and Colony, DJ Miss Lady D & Monsterpussy @ Whistle Stop
• The Flock of 80's @ Henry's Pub
• Missy Andersen @ Marble Room
• Club 80's @ Club Kadan
• Lip Lock feat. Cosmic Dan, Kid Wonder, Colour Vision, hosted by Saul Q & Maystar @ AC Lounge
• Karaoke @ O'Connell's
• Scott West, Lenny Morris, more @ Queen Bee's
• The Fabulous Pelicans @ Valley View Casino
• Shoreline Rootz @ Gallagher's
• Live Band Karaoke @ 710 Beach Club
• Harmony Road @ McP's Irish Pub
• Deverb @ Hennessey's Carlsbad
• Take, Illuminauts, Misk, DJ Pound & Sleeve @ Kava Lounge
• Malaki @ Second Wind Santee
• Corrupt Society @ Second Wind Navajo
• She's My Cassette @ Davina's Cabo Grill

Coachella 2011 Playlists by NightTimeVIP

Things are moving at lightning speed around here these days as I hustle to never have to work in an office again, so I have lots of exciting things in the pipeline. One of those things is a little bit of cross promotion with my friends over at NightTimeVIP. How they worked their magic so quickly, I have no idea except they must have 40 unemployed Christmas elves working as interns, but they've created 3 mixtapes featuring every artist playing at Coachella 2011. They are embedded by day below, but make sure you check out their site as more news and information rolls out.







Paste Magazine also published a great preliminary guide to Coachella, which you can read here. Though the mag is no longer in print, they're still doing great things over there and you should support their efforts for being a reliable and snark-free music resource by subscribing to their Paste Lifeline newsletter.

Gregory Page at Lestats, 1/1/11

I don't shoot a lot of acoustic acts, but it's a new year so let's try something different.







Check my blog post on the show for more.

Things To Do In San Diego: January 19, 2011

Wednesday January 19, 2011:

• Old 97's, Langhorne Slim @ Belly Up
• White Sea, White Apple Tree, Gun Runner @ Casbah
• Jagermeister Music Tour feat. Buckcherry, Hellyeah, All That Remains, The Damned Things @ 4th & B
• Occult Blood, Hing, Ivens, Zsa Zsa Gabor, DJ 10shun @ Soda Bar
• Robby Krieger Jazz Band @ Anthology
• Lady Dottie and The Diamonds @ Gallagher's
• L.E.D. Presents: Le Castle Vania @ Voyeur
• Jesse LaMonaca @ Hennessey's PB
• Suite Sioux @ Analog
• Salt Of The Earth Prents Brutal Truth @ Ruby Room
• Wreck Shop Wednesdays @ The Office
• El Monte Slim @ Riviera Supper Club
• The Nards @ The Harp
• Dan Bern @ Lestat's
• Elliott Levin & The Seesaw Ensemble, Ogd_S(11) Translation Has Failed @ Tin Can
• Safety Orange @ Hennessey's Gaslamp
• The Soul Persuaders @ Humphreys Backstage Live
• Club Kingston w/ Makka, DJ Carlos Culture @ Winston's
• Rhythm Jacks @ Patrick's II
• Acoustic Fooks @ Dublin Square
• Live Comedy @ Eleven
• Northstar @ Coyote Bar & Grill
• Gilbert Castellanos w/ The New Latin Jazz Quintet @ El Camino
• Now.Hear.This! w/ DJs Rafter Roberts & Timothy Hines @ Whistle Stop
• Sadistik, Sarx, D Dove, Rick Scales, Blest Brando @ Kava Lounge
• Wednesday Night Shakedown @ Henry's Pub
• Frankie-Dee & Funk-Natra @ The Kraken
• Knight Vision @ Club Kadan
• Dig The Scene feat. jazz by Prof. David Borgo, Bob Long and guests. Spoken word by Professor Stephen Potts, Ted Washington, Chris Vannoy, Cassidy Curl and more @ UCSD Price Center
• Sue Palmer @ Croce's
• Simply Dynamite Wednesdays feat. DJ Claire @ Starlite
• Firehouse Swing Night @ Queen Bee's
• Karaoke @ Chico Club
• Gene Warren @ McP's Irish Pub
• Southern Storm @ Second Wind Navajo
• Thirty/30 & Draind @ Second Wind Santee

NAMM 2011: Taj Mahal Live

I keep talking about NAMM and I still have a whole bunch to write about. I feel like whenever there's an event, there's a bit of a post-event depression that kicks in. I think bands experience it when they tour just as soldiers feel it after they get home from battle. It's the inexplicable feeling of camaraderie that you don't really experience in daily life and after NAMM, even squeezing into a room and sleeping on the floor and not having any privacy ever and living on too little sleep and completely aching after walking all day and night and drinking too much and not eating enough...after all of that, you can't wait till the next big thing, which is why I'm so looking forward to possibly heading out to Coachella and SXSW this year. This tribal bonding stuff is quite addictive.

After Jesse did a demo at Luna Guitars, we went downstairs to Schoen, but Keith Urban was playing, so we watched him for a few minutes until he took off, turned a corner, and there's multiple GRAMMY award winning blues legend Taj Mahal. At the moment I walked up, there were two people watching him, but as he really got going, a small crowd formed. NAMM is pretty funny, because there really aren't schedules generally posted anywhere, it's all about happening on things and being in the right place at the right time. People talk about the old days of NAMM when it was very closed to music industry buyers only but thankfully it has opened up and getting to see legends geeking out on gear or other musicians was really spectacular and inspiring. It's also funny because unless you happen upon something, you're completely oblivious, like the jerk in one of the videos sampling the Irish flute in the adjacent booth. You wanna smack them and make them get a clue.

Here are three songs that Taj Mahal performed in the booth.
To see more of my photos, you can check out my two different galleries on FaceBook and at SoundDiego.

Microphone Mike, Grammatical B at Casbah, 12/23/10

Wow, has it been a month since this show? I've been slacking on posting shows here, I guess. Grammatical B helped Microphone Mike retire the character.



After Grammatical B's set, Microphone Mike went out with a bang and a bike.



For more, check out my blog post on the show.

Coachella 2011 Lineup Released (I think)

This is the lineup as released on Pitchfork today. I usually type it all out, but I'm a little tied up at the moment so you're gonna have to use your google thumbs and find it for yourself if you're reading via RSS. Here's what I've learned about Coachella...if you like music festivals, you will have the best weekend of your life. If you hate people, crowds, heat, waiting in line, or are fenerally sucky and cranky at life, you'll hate it.

SoundDiego Live Presents River City & Hotel St. George

This Thursday night, SoundDiego is back with another free show featuring some great local bands and hosted appetizers and Ketel One vodka from 7-8pm. It is recommended that you RSVP if you wanna take part in the hosted part of the evening as it is limited to 200 people, but the show is free with River City and Hotel St. George providing most of the entertainment for the evening, though I almost feel obligated to ride that mechanical bull and make a complete burro of myself, which should be quite entertaining in and of itself. There will also be a DJ set by T Loper of Owl and Bear and the evening will be hosted by Chris Cantore.

Double Deuce (528 F Street)

Thursday, January 20

7-10:30 pm

FREE!!!

Hi-Speed Soul In Search of Interns

Just got this email from Eric Howarth of Hi-Speed Soul records/management (and Daydream Nation Presents). Eric is super talented, driven, and has years of experience in the music business after playing in bands, owning and operating M-Theory Records, and setting up his label and management company as well as his promotions wing of Daydream Nation. Anyone looking for an "in" into the music scene would be hard pressed to find a better mentor.

Hi-Speed Soul is looking for an intern or two and will be interviewing soon. Applicants must be self-motivated, be in tune with the kind of music we release, and be looking to get hands on experience with the inner workings of a label/mgmt company. HTML/Web experience is a big plus. Interested parties can contact eric@hispeedsoul.com.

Hi-Speed Soul (Record Label/Mgmt Company/TV & Film Licensing/Consulting)

Record Label:
Swervedriver "Raise" & "Mezcal Head" 180gr LPs- #d and Ltd to 500 copies - 2/1/11
Afghan Whigs "Gentlemen" 180gr LP Reissue- 1/25/11

Hyena (LP w/MP3s)
Film School (Fission Out Now)

The Nervous Wreckords (Louis XIV/ Cornershop)
Nada Surf

Representing:
The Black Heart Procession

Pall Jenkins of BHP/Three Mile Pilot/Myth/Mr Tube & the Flying Objects

Things To Do In San Diego: January 18, 2011

I generally don't mind winter and the cold, foggy, San Diego version of winter, but I have to say, the sunshine this week has felt really great and I feel invigorated. Maybe it's the Vitamin D, maybe I'm still coming of the high of NAMM, but I feel like things are cooking and I'm excited about all the great things that are in the works. Do you know that on Sunday we had the temperature high in the country? Our poor friends across the country are certainly envious. See you at the Album Leaf tonight!

Tuesday January 18, 2011:

• The Album Leaf, The Hot Moon, Little White Teeth @ Casbah
• Midnite, Stranger, DJ Carlos Culture @ Belly Up
• Kinch, The Paragraphs, Le Ra @ Soda Bar
• Uli Jon Roth, Brett Ellis, Taz Taylor @ Brick By Brick
• The Infamous Stringdusters @ Winston's
• April Ventura and The Magnolias @ Riviera Supper Club
• Muriel Anderson, Tierra Negra @ Dizzy's
• The China Clippers @ Eleven
• Rare Monk, tba @ Ruby Room
• Tim and The 23s @ The Stage Saloon
  Local Brews Local Grooves: Mark Miller, Lenny Morris, Colin Clyne, Mind Over Matter, Urban De Falla @ House of Blues Voodoo Stage
• Tommy Price & The Stilettos @ Henry's Pub
• Darkwave Garden @ Club Kadan
• Anthology House Band @ Anthology
• Bozzani Brothers @ Humphreys Backstage Live
• Train of Thought @ Queen Bee's
• Drop The Lime, Style of Eye, Frankie Chan, Gina Turner, Kid Wonder @ El Dorado
• Comedy Night @ Lestat's
• Althea & Co w/ Danny Dicarlo @ Patrick's ll
• You (Open Mic) @ The Loft
• Dave Booda Acoustic @ Tiki House
• Tomcat Courtney @ La Gran Tapa
• Friends Chill @ Whistle Stop
• Doug Allen, Suzy Bongo @ The Kraken
• Danielle Tucker @ Valley View Casino
• Karaoke @ Cafe La Maze
• Jaimie Muehlhausen @ Hennessey's Vista
• Laguna @ McP's Irish Pub
• Safety Orange @ Hennessey's Gaslamp
• Mike Gardner @ Cheers (Ramona)

NBC SoundDiego Session: Nortec Collective presents Bostich + Fussible

Last night I had the pleasure of hosting Nortec Collective's Bostich + Fussible in the NBC studios to film a couple songs for our SoundDiego Live collection. They were an incredibly friendly group of guys and it was certainly a cool thing to see them in a room with just a few camera guys and Tristan from Owl & Bear running sound. We shot two songs, but here's the first one released, called "Do It". Stay tuned for the follow up video which we'll roll out in a couple weeks.

Michael McGraw/ El Monte Slim/ The Black Swans @ Soda Bar- 01.13.11

After a prolonged trip back East for the holidays, it was good to return to SD for what is shaping up to be a great start to the live music scene in 2011. This year's show calendar started with a trip over to Soda Bar for a mellow evening with local acts Michael McGraw and El Monte Slim and a shorthanded The Black Swans, who were working their way west from their home base in Columbus, Ohio.

Singer/ songwriter Michael McGraw kicked off the evening joined by Chris Decatur on drums/ vox and Mark Lane on bass. Their set of what was apparently a mix of older and soon-to-be released tunes set the tone for the evening music-wise, though most of the sparse crowd made their way out the door after the openers finished up.

El Monte Slim followed up with their special brand of self-described 'wannabe country'. I had seen this duo open up for The White Buffalo a while back but unfortunately walked in about a song and a half before their night was over. This time around I was able to witness a full set and was not disappointed. Ian Trumbull's soothing vocals worked in perfect harmony with his guitar and Joe Camacho's pedal steel as they made their way through a proper set. The pedal steel did lend a certain 'good ol' boy' feel, but without the overbearing twang all too prominent in the majority of country music.

The Black Swans took the stage as a pared-down duo of Jerry DiCicca on vocals/ acoustic guitar/ harmonica and Tyler Evans on guitar/ banjo/electric lap steel. Touring as a follow up to last autumn's split 45" album they released with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, the duo eased into their set with DiCacca's distinct delivery, Evans' impressive skill set, tales of crossing the AZ/CA border checkpoint and a pseudo-reunion with a fellow midwesterner who turned out to be a friend of a friend of a friend of the band. Small world. Though the floor was all but empty at this point and I had free reign to wander as I pleased, The Black Swans' music lends itself much more to sitting at a table by yourself as you ruminate on a bad break up, think of your sick grandmother or cycle through life's intricacies while staring blankly into another empty beer bottle. It takes a special talent to generate that type of emotional reaction and they do it with impressive ease.

Michael McGraw:

El Monte Slim:

The Black Swans:

For more from the evening click here, and for the rest of my concert photography click here.

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All Images copyright © Nate Vandermeulen, All Rights Reserved.
Please ask for permission before downloading or linking to them.