Friday, June 29, 2012

Things To Do In San Diego: June 29-July 1, 2012

I realize that my posts this week have just been listings but some of my videos and photos are taking longer to get to than planned and then this terrible cold knocked me on my ass for a couple days. Hopefully the worst of that is over because I've got way too much to do this weekend to be laying in bed. Hopefully you find some things that tickle your fancy, too. Weekend archives are after the jump.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Things To Do In San Diego: June 26-28, 2012

I don't know about you but I have been so lazy these past couple days. Maybe I wore myself ragged with the three shows on Thursday, or the four bar night I did on Friday, or maybe it was all the traffic to the OB Street Fair and then working at Soda Bar that night, or even the two shows I went to on Sunday, but I feel wiped out. I think I'll take it easy tonight and maybe get back into it later this week. In the meantime, your listings are here. Thanks to everyone who has sent me updates for these, too, those are always super helpful. Tuesday through Thursday archives are after the jump.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Jeff's Weekly Pick: 2:54, Widowspeak @ The Casbah Wednesday June 27, 2012


As someone who attends live music shows on a regular basis in San Diego, it is quite common to hear people (incl. yours truly) lamenting that this band or that artist has decided to not play our fair city. Granted, those comments seem to be less prevalent than in the past. One reason for the decline is the growing number of worthy venues and those responsible for booking these locales. The ability to maintain and even grow the number of quality touring bands making San Diego a regular tour stop is primarily based on the quantity of fans that attend shows. I mention this as a roundabout way of leading up to a show featuring two emerging bands slated to play the Casbah this Wednesday. Headlining is the British band 2:54, comprised of sisters Colette and Hannah Thurlow along with a bass player and drummer. These siblings have been on the radar for almost a year now, with their eponymous album being released back in May. This is music of a dreamy nature, pulling the listener in and carrying him (or her) along for the ride. The songs are easy to like and and the band will surely translate this connection in the live setting. San Diego is the last stop of the current tour.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention the opener, Widowspeak, a Brooklyn three piece also touring in support of a self titled album released last August. This music is much darker yet equally as captivating on the whole.

I cannot stress how vital it is to show support to bands on the path to bigger and better things. Filling the intimate space this Wednesday at the Casbah is truly the best way to do this. A satisfying sonic and visual experience awaits those who attend this show.

Watch a video of Scarlet below.




Saturday, June 23, 2012

Things To Do In San Diego: June 23-25, 2012

It's a gorgeous day in San Diego so I'm about to head to OB and hopefully the parking gods will be with us. This week was just awesome and last night was a blast hopping around from Lincoln Room to the Propagandist and that super fun show with Quintron and Ms Pussycat at the Casbah. I'm working at the Soda Bar tonight, so say hi. I would especially like to invite the troll, SD Music Lover, to come say what you wrote to my face. Anonymous insults don't get published on this site, so step up. Archives from the weekend are after the jump.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Things To Do In San Diego: June 21-July 22, 2012

This is a bit of an experiment. For the first time in a long time (ever?), I'm going to give you all of the listings through next weekend, July 1. Jeff had already done Monday through Thursday, and I figured if I was going to stay up all night working, I might as well try to knock out two weekends at the same time. This was educational because now that I have apps on the brain a little bit, I wanted to see if I would make my own site obsolete were I to partner with a more automated listings system, and in the end, I think of how many sites I check weekly (40-60) and all of the different formats in which they come, and throw in the street fairs and one-off shows, and an app isn't going to be more comprehensive without a human making it so. Also that humans enter the shows on their sites, so trying to create these listings beyond July 1 is just a waste of time. It's also an experiment because part of the reason I stopped posting these a little further out was because other sites would just grab and reuse them, so I guess I'll see if someone snakes my work. I've had a mobile format for awhile now, but since these are better formatted for mobile devices, I can keep them less cluttered. So there's that. Archives for Thursday and Friday are after the jump.

Rosey's Diary: Being personal, Telemagica, Mom, and freedom from Trolls.







Last night I dreamt that I was fired from my job. I was so soundly asleep, actually, that it took me a couple hours once I was awake to come back to reality to fully realize that the job from which I was fired didn't even exist. I don't really know what the company was, but it wasn't anywhere I ever actually worked nor were the people anyone I've ever worked with, and now, hours later, I don't remember quite the details as I did when I was first waking, but it was funny because I remember being completely blindsided in my dream (as the whole office escorted me out of the building), but also completely liberated. I'm hoping it's a sign of endings, beginnings, and a wide open slate. Or maybe I was happy to sleep in after my crazy adventures yesterday.

After I wrote last week's diary post, I got a lot of really positive feedback, so thanks to all of you who reached out and commented, but there's a reason I don't get that personal on a regular basis. Do you know how weird it is to have strangers come up to me when I'm doing merch and talk about some private detail of my life? Or not hearing from my parents for a week because they already know everything I've been up to as they're now regular readers of my blog and social media feeds? And do you realize that everything is then so magnified when I actually spend time with my mom? "Did you have to use the F word? You're smarter than that. Use your words."

I was writing these diaries a lot in the early part of this year and then I stopped, but I'll rehash the past couple weeks if you're interested...after the jump.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Things To Do In San Diego: June 20, 2012

It seems that every time I look at the calendar and I suggest it will be a "mellow week", I end up being completely wrong. I mean with all of those Monday announcements like FM 94/9 Independence Jam, the Del Mar Concert Series, and FYF, it was a busy day online. Yesterday I decided to take it offline. I was approached by an app developer and I'm sure I'll be telling you all about that in the near future, but he took me to lunch to tell me about his project and afterward, I decided to give him a mini-tour/pub crawl/educational tour of some of San Diego's hot spots. We started at Zensei Sushi, then stopped at The Station, The Whistle Stop, Bar Pink, West Coast Tavern, URBN, U-31, Til Two Club, Tower Bar, Soda Bar, and then got some burgers at In N Out. Obviously we didn't even get to the more westerly venues like the Casbah, Griffin, Propagandist, Tin Can, HoB and certainly will have to make North County rounds, too, but after a 9 hour journey, it was time to call it a night. I have to say that was a pretty amazing Tuesday, and I'll loop you all in if end up moving forward with his company.

Wednesday archives are after the jump.

The Temper Trap w/ Crocodiles @ House Of Blues- 06.13.12

A week ago, the House of Blues was host to a sold out show with Aussie headliners, The Temper Trap, and locally originated band, The Crocodiles, who were openers for the entire tour. This was my third or fourth time seeing The Temper Trap and I don't know what to say about them. Seeing them is like a soft-serve ice cream cone- not the most amazing or epic thing you've ever had in your life, your life isn't going to change because of it, but it's pleasurable and enjoyable while you have it. The sold out venue of screaming girls and head bobbing bros probably feel otherwise. The show felt way oversold (which seems to happen when the capacity of the Delta Room is included in the ticket count), so I spent most of the show in the Delta Room on a couch. My friend Scott wrote a pretty on-point review on his site, though I disagree that The Temper Trap is the "Australian Snow Patrol" but that's just because I'm defensive about Snow Patrol. I had a photo pass that night, but my photos are just horrendous, so instead, here are Nate VanDerMeulen's, though I will post one of my photos of the setlist just so you can see what they played (albeit blurry, too). I will say that "Need Your Love", the lead single of their self-titled sophomore album, is a pretty great song and being in the photo pit, I really got to appreciate how amazing the guitarist and bassist are in the big picture. The video is at the bottom of this post. The rest of Nate's photos after the jump.




Monday, June 18, 2012

FYF Announces 2012 Lineup

And this, my friends, is how a festival is done. I was talking to a friend over the weekend who lamented that San Diego doesn't have it's own festival. He's not a native so I kinda gave him the full back story and ultimate downfall of Street Scene and how our city makes throwing a festival, even a small one, nearly impossible, which is why we're heavily dependent on our radio stations putting together solid lineups and there are upwards of two dozen street fairs, but not a true festival to be found. FYF (originally Fuck Yeah Fest) had it's share of growing pains but it has grown in community support and my, my, my, look at this amazing lineup they're offering this year.





FYF FEST
Sept 1 & 2, 2012 - Labor Day Weekend


TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, JUNE 22

via TICKETFLY.COM at 5:00pm PST. Tickets will also available at over a dozen record stores and select Chilli Beans Sunglasses locations.

Sponsors: Chilli Beans, Adult Swim, The Hundreds, Incase, LA Weekly and our partners, Goldenvoice.



For more information visit www.fyffest.com

Del Mar Race Track Announces Summer Concert Series

It feels like the San Diego County Fair just kicked off, but as soon as it wraps up on July 4, it is time to usher in the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's 2012 racing season. This also means that the Del Mar Summer Concert Series will be back and this year with 12 different shows, more concerts than they've ever had before in one season. Here are the goods for this year's bro-heavy series:

7/20: Wavves
7/27: Dashboard Confessional
7/29: Tucanes De Tijuana
8/3: Steel Pulse
8/4: Cake
8/10: The Offspring
8/17: Michael Franti & Spearhead
8/18: Ben Harper
8/24: Jimmy Cliff
8/31: Ozomatli
9/1: REGGAE FESTIVAL FEATURING ZIGGY MARLEY PLUS BEER FEST
9/5: Party in the Paddock w/ TBD

All concerts will be held at the Seaside Stage. The improved venue offers better sight lines, the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop and better access to concert-goer services and amenities.


All 12 performances of the Del Mar Summer Concert Series are free for fans attending the races. The Seaside Stage is a non-smoking venue. For Friday shows, as is the case with attending the races, patrons under 18-years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Following the last race, concert prices are $20. No reserved seats, standing room only so get here early. Concert starts after the races.

FM94/9 Announces Independence Jam

Today FM 94/9 revealed the lineup for this year's Independence Jam: Coastal Invasion 2012. Not to be confused with the recent Sandy Parts Festival, also held at the beautiful ocean-adjacent Oceanside Amphitheatre and Pier, this event is their big summer show. It will be held September 16 at 3pm with two stages and is an all ages event.

Main Stage:

Casbah Stage:

Tickets are $45 ($55 day of) and go onsale Friday at 10am, but if you're an Insider, there will be a presale on Thursday so keep an eye out for an email in your inbox.


Things To Do In San Diego: June 18-19, 2012

I don't know about you, but I had a great weekend. On Friday night I did merch for Rhett Miller who played nearly a two hour set and was just awesome, and The Spring Standards who were so great, they should definitely be on your radar. On Saturday, I spent the gorgeous day at The San Diego County Fair and I was impressed by all of the entrants at Musicpalooza, plus I met Andrew of AMD Entertainment (and AMD Photography) who is doing great things around town as he finds his footing in the local scene. He had me cracking up all day long as we judged the bands and did some people watching along with Mookie and Bart Mendoza. On Saturday night, Japandroids absolutely killed, and I can't remember the last time I saw a more enthusiastic crowd at the Casbah that was not only singing along and respectfully moshing, but crowd surfing, too. I had a mellow Sunday, spent some time with my family as we discovered that the pool at Paradise Point Resort is quite easy to infiltrate. This week looks like it will be relatively mellow, but there are some cool shows happening, too, so as always, try to get out and support live music. Monday and Tuesday archives are after the jump.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

San Diego Music Award Nominees Announced

Last week, the San Diego Music Academy was called upon to submit nominations for the 2012 San Diego Music Awards. I know that the process seems mysterious, but the truth is that the Academy members basically get a blank ballot and a list of albums released in the designated calendar year (June 16, 2011-June 15, 2012) and are asked to nominate. I cannot tell you how difficult this process is- imagine having to reach into the rolodex in your brain to think about all of these categories and local bands and where they belong. It personally took me three hours to go through the full nominations, and I still feel like I forgot some bands. I don't know if there is a better way to do it to be honest, and I don't know how all of these get compiled, but every year there are certainly worthy bands who unfortunately get forgotten, there are bands and albums that fall into the wrong categories, and there are categories that I personally just think should be deleted altogether (tribute bands). Voting will start this week. The general public will vote on the genre-based categories and the Academy votes on the albums and songs. I'll add the link when it's live. Congratulations to all of the nominees, and to all of the  performers, artists, and bands that make our scene so vibrant that it makes this such a difficult process. I'd say that is a good problem to have. See the full list after the jump.

Sunday Night: The Casbah Presents The Jesus & Mary Chain

The Casbah presents The Jesus & Mary Chain
Sunday, June 17, 2012
at the House of Blues

Did you know that the Jesus and Mary Chain have a show tonight at the House of Blues? The band that has influenced so many bands of today is coming to town to show the newbies how it's done.

There are still tickets available for the show. ($32.50 + fees)
You can buy them in advance here, but I'm pretty sure you can take your chances and save a few bucks on service charges if you just hold off and buy from the box office tonight.

The show is ALL AGES. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm (with Cold Cave and DJ Mario Orduno kicking things off).

The band has a feature story in this week's CityBeat that you should check out here.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Things To Do In San Diego: June 14-17, 2012

What a week! I worked at the sold out Pinback show on Monday then came home and decided to tackle Game of Thrones. I pretty much hid in my cave to get through Season 1, but then last night was the sold out Temper Trap show followed by John Doe at Soda Bar and I haven't gotten back into it. Looks like I'll have to wait to tackle Season 2 because there's way too much going home for me to stay home with a series marathon. Tonight I'm going to a movie screening, and if you take a look at Friday listings, there is SO.MUCH.GOING.ON. I'll be hitting The Heavy Guilt at the Propagandist and Rhett Miller at the Casbah, but Western Scene (Tom from Dynamite Walls) is making their debut at Kitty Diamond and there's a whole bunch of other goodness around town. Remember that if you're at the Fair on Saturday, pop over to the Paddock to say hi to me, Bart, and Tim Pyles as we judge Musicpalooza. Archives after the jump.

Garett Michaels Exits FM 94/9




Garett Michaels, program director at FM 94/9 for the past 10 years, is no longer with the station. "My departure from FM 94/9 is bittersweet. Although the last three years have been particularly challenging, I’m incredibly proud of the brand we created and the legacy we built over the last 10 years ago." You can read Garett's full statement on All Access. I will update as more information becomes available.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Wednesday Night: Crocodiles at House of Blues

A few months ago, Crocodiles performed at the Casbah. I was supposed to do an on-camera interview for SoundDiego TV, but since their latest release, Endless Summer, wasn't released until June 5, their publicist thought it would be a better idea to wait until the album was out. About a week after the show, I was at the back bar at the Casbah, over-enjoying an evening with Bulleit Rye and ginger ale, and Charles Rowell and Brandon Welchez were hanging around. I somehow convinced Chuck to do an interview that night on my handheld camera, but mostly it ended up just some saucy rambling and the two of them kinda jabbing at me, answering questions with questions, and frankly it just isn't worth sharing. Truth be told, it's probably about 10 minutes long and I can't get past watching the first three, so I can only imagine it got worse.

That said, I think they're cool guys and I dig their new record (or at least until it gets to the fuzzy noise loops at the end), and they're on tour with Temper Trap with a stop set at the House of Blues tonight.

"If only Endless Flowers were as infinite as its sound is blissful."
- FILTER

"...Crocodiles have lightened up, embracing everything from grrrl-group alt-pop ("My Surfing Lucifer") to deliciously spacey new wave ("Bubblegum Trash"). Talk about letting the sun shine in the most brilliant of ways."
- Alternative Press
Crocodiles' third LP Endless Flowers arrived in stores (June 5) via Frenchkiss Records. Recorded in Berlin last summer, it is the first album to feature the band's full five-piece line up, which has evolved from their 2008 genesis as the core duo of singer/guitarist Brandon Welchez and guitarist Charles Rowell to now include keyboardist Robin Eisenberg, bassist Marco Gonzalez, and drummer Anna Schulte. Endless Flowers has been earning Crocodiles great coverage from the media, including Alternative Press, BlackBook, Filter, This Is Fake DIY ("The album contains a perfect mix of pop immediacy, punky sneer and shoegaze whimsy"), and Under The Radar, among others.

The San Diego County Fair Is Here!!

You may have noticed from the recent additions to the listings that the San Diego County Fair is back! It opened on June 8 and runs through July 4 (closed Mondays except 7/2). This year's theme is Out Of This World, exploring "the wonder of the universe" and the fun of science fiction. A couple weeks ago, I got to tag along with Tim Pyles for a media preview night, where we got to sample free food from many of the food vendors and some of the fair entertainment. The Caveman Leg was not part of our sampling, but I'm not sure I really need a two pound turkey leg wrapped in a full pound of bacon. We did sample the corn (delicious), lobster (delicious, but duh), chocolate dipped frozen cheesecake (my longtime favorite), cinnamon rolls, Hot Dog On A Stick (try their new cream cheese on a stick), Icees, Tasti Chips with cheese, and ice cream. I skipped out on Chicken Charlie's because deep fried Trix and chicken kebabs just aren't my thing, but I do regret not trying the shrimp over rice in a carved out pineapple.

 This year, Tim, Bart Mendoza, and I will be judging the Musicpalooza contest, which takes place this Saturday at the Paddock Stage from Noon-3pm. Come on out and support local music and say hi!

2012 Finalists
(in performance order):
Pleasure Fix
So Long Davey
Pullman Standard
Hestyn
Trouble in the Wind

Prizes:
First place: $5,000.00
Second place: $2,500.00
Third place: $1,000.00
All three places will receive a Taylor SolidBody electric guitar, donated by Taylor Guitars.



 See a map of all the food vendors here.

Here's a rundown of this year's new food vendors.

Get on up to Del Mar and enjoy the tradition or make a new one. (Unless you're vegan in which case you might wanna stay really, really far away from the fair.)  Check out THIS PAGE for fair discounts and promotions.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Mogwai w/ Chad Van Gaalen @ Belly Up- 06.03.12


Guitar-driven rock, pedal distortion and a healthy dose of volume were in abundance a week ago Sunday at the Belly Up as Chad Van Gaalen and his three-piece indie rock act played opener for Scottish post-rock dynamo Mogwai.  More words and photos below.

Robin Roth Named Music Director at 91X


Robin, me, Chase at "I Love This City"


I got this little piece of news in my inbox today and I am so happy for my dear friend, Robin. Congratulations to her and to 91X for making such a solid choice.

Effective immediately, Robin Roth will take over as Music Director at heritage alternative rock station 91X.
Roth is currently the midday on-air jock on the X, and has been a staple with the station beginning in 1986 until 2005, and returned full time on-air on 91X again in 2010.
“I am so looking forward to what’s ahead!” said Roth. “Plus, the opportunity to work closely with Christy is an added bonus.”
“The search to fill the position was long and filled with great candidates, but Robin knows the 91X brand and really understands what music works in San Diego,” said 91X Program Director Christy Taylor. “Robin is stoked, and we’re all excited to take 91X to a higher level.”
On top of her roles at 91X, Roth is also a contributor for SoundDiego and has DJ residencies at several San Diego clubs on the weekends.

Things To Do In San Diego: June 12-13, 2012

There is a chance that I'm going to regret that last post, but as my neighbors decide to bump some hardcore rap at 3:38 in the morning, I really can't go back. Maybe I'll see you at the Casbah tonight; Tuesday and Wednesday archives are after the jump.

Rosey's Diary: New Home, New Outlook, and The Boyfriend I Forgot

This is a post I've been meaning to write for sometime but I could just never get my head in the right mode to get it all out. I'm presently at the Casbah selling merch for Pinback, which is kinda funny because they play into this story. This will probably be quite long-winded, so I'll put it all out there after the jump, but I also hope to get it all out of my system so I don't ever have to mention my move again. It's just some self-therapy that I need to finally close the chapter and move forward. If you care, or if you dare, there's more after the jump.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Recap: I Love This City Festival @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, 5.27.2012

A few weeks ago Chase, who has been contributing to this site as SD at 140bpm, convinced me that since I wasn't asked to cover Lightning In A Bottle this year, that I should at least participate in the "I Love This City" tour. I'm down to go the extra mile for this site and if that means an afternoon of DJs at a festival, well, after IDentity and Coachella, I can say while you're not gonna catch me rolling or sporting a tutu, or even fist pumping when the bass drops (no matter how many beers you pour down my throat), I'll still do my best to cover events and make every effort to have a good time while doing it. Read more after the jump. (note: I started this post the day after the show, but life got in the way. Sometimes that happens.)



Blitzen Trapper @ Pappy and Harriet's, 6.6.12




Last week was a busy one. I went to Santa Ana to see The Head and The Heart on Monday, Yucca Valley to see Blitzen Trapper at Pappy and Harriet's on Wednesday, and Jacumba on Saturday. I'll get around to posting photos from Telemagica, but first I wanted to post videos from Blitzen Trapper.

I already told you how we totally got lost on our way there so I'll spare you that story, but it wasn't nearly as far as I expected it to be. As we arrived, we ran into Marty and caught up with him for a few before going in and ordering dinner. The food was great (lots of BBQ and such on the menu) and we had great seats right up front. (Or, they were great until the guys from Palm Springs decided to stand right in front of me). The venue was just as cool as everyone said it was but since we got there when the opener was already onstage, we didn't have much chance to explore.

What I'm really excited about is that I get to announce that The Head and The Heart and Blitzen Trapper are touring together this fall (with Brian John Appleby opening) and they have a show at Spreckels on October 3. Tickets go onsale on Friday at 10 am. This is a Casbah presents show and is only $30. Save this Ticketmaster Link or save some dough by avoiding service charges if you buy tickets at the Spreckels box office.

Below is the playlist from Wednesday night. Most of the set is here.

Friday, June 15: 5th Annual Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Festival at Balboa Park

I came across this little festival happening on Friday night and thought I'd share it with you. Click on the flyer to get to the ticketing page. You can hit up the Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Festival, then follow it with a free show by The Heavy Guilt at the Propagandist.

Things To Do In San Diego: June 11, 2012

It's Monday and I'm happy that this week feels moderately peaceful because I still have so much to catch up on. I was at the Casbah on Saturday night and the guys from Dead Feather Moon were there and I was reminded that I never even got a final post up about CBC- which was what- April? Yikes. There are some cool shows this week so be sure to check the rundown. It had been a while since I checked GoldStar events, but they have half-priced Oysterfest tickets, which means you can see The Silent Comedy and Little Hurricane for just $12.50. Thanks to everyone who shares this site with friends and your various social networks, even when I'm a slacker and don't update as much as I should. Monday archives are after the jump.

Photos: FM 94/9 SPF 2012 @ Oceanside Pier, 6.3.2012

Last week, we piled in the a friend's car and headed up to the Oceanside Pier for the Sandy Parts Festival. The show happened to be the same day as X-Fest, but FM 94/9 hooked me up and frankly, bribery works for me. The bands were all great: Santigold, The Naked and Famous, Imagine Dragons, Electric Guest and the FM 94/9 house band, The Federal Reserve of Consumption, and the Oceanside Pier is the most scenic outdoor concert spaces in the county. I posted these on Facebook last week, but thought I should probably post them here, too. FM 94/9 will be hosting their Independence Jam in September (I'm hearing just announced: September 16th) at the same location.

Friday, June 08, 2012

TECTONIC TEMPLE AT TELEMAGICA GALAXIA 2012

I would love to tell you a million reasons why you should go to the Telemagica Festival this weekend, however since it is still in it's infancy at three years, I can't claim to know. I will attempt to head out tomorrow so we'll see how it goes, but since it's a street-festival-lite weekend, what do you have to lose?

TECTONIC TEMPLE AT TELEMAGICA GALAXIA 2012

Local San Diego Musician of Pilots, Joe Mousey, Organizes DIY Summer Desert Art/Music Festival

Mirroring the triangular petroglyphs etched in a cave overlooking the Jacumba festival site, the Tectonic Temple at TeleMagica Galaxia 2012 will feature 15 groundbreaking bands in a twenty-foot-tall pyramid illuminated by liquid light innovators Operation:Mindblow and projection-mapped visuals by techno-zephyr Wind Spirit.“I have a tremendous appreciation for the forces of the Earth,” says Tectonic organizer Joe Mousey, “The way mountains and high deserts are formed from land that used to be at the bottom of the ocean echoes, the fact that nothing can be created in a void, and the notion that all art exists in potential. "Tectonic reverberates with this sentiment in that, as a community, we have a blank slate and through collaboration we can generate a whole new approach to materializing grassroots events.”

For their third annual Tectonic (CLIMAXING JUNE 9), the collective is teaming up with the nearly decade-running Telemagica festival in Outback City at the enigmatic Institute of Perception JUNE 8-10, where last year’s Tectonic peaked in a storm of future beats and dry lighting.

Tectonic Temple at TeleMagica Galaxia 2012 line-up after the jump.

Things To Do In San Diego: June 8-10, 2012

How is it already 6 o'clock?! I'm working at the Casbah tonight, so come down and say hi while you enjoy some tongue-in-cheek psychobilly with Unknown Hinson. I better get ready!! Archives of Friday through Sunday after the jump.

Less Than 3 Days To Help "I Am Not A Hipster"

I've told you all about I Am Not A Hipster in the past six months or so, and maybe you even had the chance to see one of the screenings of the film. The guys behind the film are trying to raise money for distribution and all the legal and behind the scenes stuff to make a film available to the masses. And they're REALLY close to reaching their goal. At the time of this post, they are less than $800 away. I recommend donating at the $25 level, because you get two albums worth of music and the DVD when it's available, which to me exceeds the $25 value anyway. Contribute to their Kickstarter HERE.

Thursday, June 07, 2012

Things To Do In San Diego: June 7, 2012

As I was gathering these listings for the week, the fact that it is already JUNE just kinda sunk in. I really don't know where the time goes sometimes. Thanks to Chase and Jeff for actually compiling these listings because I don't know when I would've found the time. That's not to say it hasn't been fun...I saw some great shows this week as always...but the longer I stare at these unpacked boxes around me and see my inbox swell to over 1000 messages, I just don't know when I'm going to force myself to stay home and get this stuff done, and before I know it, Comic-Con will be here! Craziness. . I know I saw some events on Facebook that might've been missed here, so leave me comments and I'll incorporate additions as I can. If you know me and if you love me, please do me a favor and don't send me e-mail! Also, if any manly men want to come over with power tools to mount some wall things for me, maybe I can start crawling out of these boxes that make this place feel like a storage closet. It's almost 6 am. I need sleep. Thursday archives after the jump)

Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Crystal Fighters Tonight @ Porters Pub

Tonight, Wednesday June 6 at Porter's Pub performing are one of my favorite new bands from the UK Crystal Fighters.  Crystal Fighters released Star of Love in the US on April 24th after receiving great reviews across the seas by publications such as BBC Radio1, NME, and The Guardian.  The album is based off an unfinished opera discovered within the diary of original singer Laure's grandfather in his Basque country home, also where the album was conceived and recording  Their innovative style is a melding of techno, punk, electronic and dubstep with Basque country folklore and native Spanish instruments.  Show is at 8:00pm 15 dollars at the door or you can save a dollar and buy your tickets here.

Listen to their new single before and make sure to come to the show tonight  Crystal Fighters - Earth Island

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Things To Do In San Diego: June 5-7, 2012


Today I took a walk back to Kensington and it felt so different- like it is no longer my home. I know that sounds dramatic and I'm probably less than a mile from my old place, but it was a good short jaunt of walking errands, stopping by 7-Eleven's co-op ATM and a Slurpee, picking up stamps at Vons, depositing a check at Chase and getting a cashier's check for rent, voting in my old polling place, then stopping off at Lestat's on the way home. Now I'm off to a dinner, then Hard Rock, then Casbah, and tomorrow is gonna be nutso, but here are the listings through Thursday. Chase and Jeff already got the weekend and next week's listings done, but I'll have to post them when I get home later tonight. Heads up to San Diego bands- San Diego Music Award nominations are being solicited by the Academy, so you might think about reaching out to these people for consideration.  Wednesday & Thursday listings are after the jump.

Tuesday June 5, 2012:
  • Filter Magazine & Hard Rock Hotel Present Soundcheck w/ The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, Violens @ Hard Rock Hotel 207
  • A Place To Bury Strangers and This Will Destroy You, Dusted @ Casbah
  • Interrobang, Satellite Run, guest @ Soda Bar
  • BFD Comedy Show w/ Erik Rivera @ Belly Up
  • The Marrow, Kelsea Rae Little, Rosewood @ Tin Can
  • The Dead Winter Carpenters @ Winston's
  • Tiki Tuesday feat. Bongo Tony @ Bar Pink
  • Local Brews Local Grooves feat. Sister Speak, Diego Grey, Nikki Wilkins, Plane Without A Pilot @ House of Blues Voodoo Stage
  • Anthology House Band @ Anthology
  • Gondwana @ House of Blues
  • Westside Inflection @ Riviera Supper Club 7 pm
  • Darkwave Garden @ Club Kadan
  • Yeah Buddy Tuesdays @ Eleven
  • Burnsville Band @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
  • Train of Thought @ Queen Bee's
  • Comedy Night @ Lestat's
  • Trent Hancock @ Tiki House
  • Tomcat Courtney @ La Gran Tapa
  • Friends Chill @ Whistle Stop
  • Steph Johnson @ Croce's
  • Tommy Price & The Stilettos @ Henry's Pub
  • Doug Allen @ The Kraken
  • Open Mic @ Patrick's Gaslamp Pub
  • The Mighty Untouchables @ Valley View Casino
  • Karaoke @ Kensington Club

The Head And The Heart at The Observatory, 6.4.2012

Last night, Jeff, Nate and I took a little roadtrip up to Santa Ana where The Head And The Heart, The Moondoggies, and Husky were performing at the Observatory. I told you last time that except for the crappy parking situation there, I really love this venue, and this time around was even better because we went back to the side of the stage where we were for Silversun Pickups, only this time I was literally sitting on a small partition wall with my feet on the stage. The digital lights still never read well on my camera, but I shot the whole show which you can watch below.

This is now my fifth time seeing the band (Casbah, House of Blues, Balboa Theatre, Coachella, Observatory) and they are really just phenomenal live.  There's something about 'Rivers and Roads' live that will make the hair on your neck just stand up and give you chills. At the end of high school, I remember there was this big slide show with all of these end of the year/coming of age/endless possibility songs like "These Are The Days" by 10,000 Maniacs. This song takes me back to that feeling, and by the crowd response after every time I've seen it performed, I'm definitely not the only one. Anyway, all of the videos are below in order of the setlist.


Filter & Hard Rock present Soundcheck Live with The Pains of Being Pure at Heart & Violens

It's a free show at the Hard Rock Hotel with The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Violens! Click the flyer to RSVP.


Sunday, June 03, 2012

More SPF 94/9 Photos

Here are some more photos from my Blackberry. I used my other camera, too, but really, who knows when I'll get around to posting those.

SPF 94/9 Photos

I'm loving today's show at the Oceanside Amphitheatre, so I thought I'd share some camera pics as it is still happening. Imagine Dragons are onstage, Electric Guest and Federal Republic of Consumption, the FM 94/9 station band, was on before that. Here ya go.

Saturday, June 02, 2012

Things To Do In San Diego: June 2-4, 2012

I most likely won't be updating these listings again until Monday, so you should know that Sonic-Con has been canceled, and as of now, there are 24 tickets left to the Supersuckers show at the Casbah on Saturday night, and we decided to offer a special Casbah deal for Sunday. If you show up with a ticket stub (or wristband or stamp or whatever) from X-Fest or SPF 94/9, you can get in free to the Deer Tracks show. They'll probably hit the stage around 10 or so, but Pal & Drome will follow and you can get your drink on or whatever. I'm hoping I'll catch up with all of these bloggy things I want to post sometime next week, but we'll see how life goes since I'll be heading to Orange County on Monday night for The Head and the Heart and then to Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneertown on Wednesday for Blitzen Trapper. So much musical goodness, I just can't even keep up. Saturday through Monday archives are after the jump.