Sunday, August 31, 2014

Things To Do In San Diego: August 31-September 3, 2014

I'm trying to get listings out for this week because today is going to be a busy day and frankly I'd rather not have to work the remainder of this weekend. It feels rare to have any time off lately, between four jobs and weekdays with Nova, I just am not staying out or staying up quite as late as I used to, and when I am out, that's usually part of my work, too. So I stayed home this Saturday night to get listings done and realized I haven't shamed any venues lately. Obviously Monday is a holiday and it is also a new month, so I'm sorry I don't have more detailed listings for Gallagher's, The Hideout, FLUXX, The Shakedown, Sycamore Den, and Whistle Stop, but they're just not posted yet. I may or may not find the time to add them in if and when they're posted, but don't hold your breath. Monday through Thursday listings are after the jump. And in case I forget, Casbah and The North Park Theatre both have pretty awesome show announcements on Tuesday, so if you don't get the newsletters, let me know and I can add you to both. Leave a comment with your email, or tweet/Facebook me. Sunday through Wednesday archives after the jump.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Things To Do In San Diego: August 29-31, 2014

This week has fully taken it out of me. No complaints, of course, because the weather was excruciating but it made for a day at a local hotel pool and three straight beach days, but I'm definitely looking forward to sleeping in a lot this weekend. There's so much going on this weekend since we've all accepted that Labor Day is the unofficial end to summer, so don't miss out on all the great events this weekend, including Awesome Fest, Bacon Fest, SoundDiego Live, and a shit-ton of great shows. Weekend archives are after the jump.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Wednesday Night: Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra @ The North Park Theatre

When I was a little kid, my dad did all the grocery shopping for our household. He was a coupon cutter, and would send my sister and I on missions around the grocery store to find the sale items, bragging that a box of cereal was 80 cents after double coupons, or that box of granola bars was free. Into adulthood, I was also quite the coupon cutter, and sometimes thought I should be a personal grocery shopper for people who couldn't do it for themselves, my profit would be the difference between full price and what I would save with coupons and club cards.

So when I realized people at the theatre (and every venue I work for) didn't particularly enjoy shopping for band riders, I volunteered. I am maybe the only demented person that thinks grocery shopping is relaxing. So today I shopped for my first band rider and I got to set up the hospitality area. Maybe not everyone's dream job, but I couldn't be happier.

I'll probably spend the afternoon at the beach (surf's up!) and come back later for the show, but I'm really looking forward to seeing Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra tonight at The North Park Theatre. If you haven't bought tickets, you can grab them at the box office tonight. It's "An Evening With Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra", so there's no opener and there will be an intermission between sets. It's a 21+, general admission, seated show. It makes me proud that the theatre is stepping up for these kinds of acts who were somewhat displaced when Anthology closed. While I don't expect my indie rock friends to flock to this one, I know a lot of people who can appreciate the amazing guitar skills and will be there tonight.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Things To Do In San Diego: August 25-28, 2014

What a nice and chill weekend I had. I actually sat through the entire VMAs with my sister and nieces which was incredibly entertaining.This week is much more mellow than last week so I feel like I can breathe a little. Still, there are a lot of good shows this week, so you'll definitely see me out and about. For many, this is the last week of summer, so enjoy the gifts that living in San Diego provides. Tuesday through Friday listings are after the jump.

Monday, August 25, 2014:
  • Jacuzzi Boys, Devon Williams, Shady Francos @ Casbah
  • Soda Bar presents The Murder City Devils, Constant Lovers, Corey J Brewer @ The Irenic
  • Broncho, Low Litas, Flaggs @ Soda Bar
  • The San Diego Jazz Orchestra @ Dizzy's
  • Keyshia Cole- Point of no return, Adrian Marcel @ House of Blues
  • The Tin Can Country Club Showcase @ Tin Can
  • Soultry Monday with Tori Roze & The Hot Mess @ Bar Pink
  • The Xception al Tribute to LA @ Belly Up
  • Gorilla Ent presents Progress @ The Hideout
  • Macho Macho @ Tower Bar
  • Velvet Cafe @ Alexander's (30th & Upas)
  • Christian Hastings Band @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
  • Wheels of the Industry @ Live Wire
  • Open Mic hosted by Chad Taggert @ Lestat's
  • Electric Waste Band @ Winston's
  • Dub Dynamite @ The Office
  • Kinetic Soul with Antonio Aguilera, Joey Jimenez, Jonny Tarr @ Henry's Pub
  • Karaoke @ Til Two Club
  • Karaoke @ Coyote Bar & Grill
  • Industry Night with DJ Qenoe @ U-31
  • Trivia Night @ Whistle Stop
  • Battle of the Bands @ 710 Beach Club

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Things To Do In San Diego: August 23-24, 2014

I thought I'd update really quick because I just heard that tickets for Built To Spill have the incorrect door time on the ticketfaces. If you're going to the show tonight, doors are at 7pm, first band starts around 7:30 and Built To Spill is supposed to start by 9pm. Don't be late!!

Fucked Up the Casbah tonight, August 23rd, 2014

Fucked Up photo courtesy of Matador Records

I knew Fucked Up was special the moment I saw that in the third hour of their marathon 12 hour show they held in NYC years ago, Moby (yes, this Moby) joined them on stage to tear through Blitzkrieg Bop.  I wish I had paid closer attention to this band from that moment onwards, but it was the Fall of 2008, I had fallen out of love with hardcore and Bon Iver's spare sadness fit the mood of moving back into your parents house.  I would have never guessed that these barely tattooed Torontonians would be the ones to help me fall in love with hardcore again.

Fucked Up accomplishes this not by riding a wave of nostalgia for a musical equivalent of a raw nerve.  Instead, the six piece act explores post-hardcore punks boundaries to create the most thoughtful narrative-driven albums this side of prog-rock.  Their 2011 release, David Comes to Life, has meta-textual layers and twists in store for the listener should they choose to embark on a journey through all 18 of it's tracks.  But even if you only commit to trying out a few songs, the exuberant brilliance found in the tracks "Queen of Hearts" and "The Other Shoe" will undoubtedly keep you listening for the next 18 tracks.  This album landed near the top of every music publication's top 10 for 2011 list for a reason.

They're currently on tour for their newest release, the surprisingly brief (in comparison to everything else) Glass Boys.  With anthemic guitars setting the atmosphere and the masterful rhythm from the drums, tracks like "Paper the House" (which you can listen to after the jump)  and "Sun Glass" might leave some listeners saying this isn't real hardcore, but even the greatest punk purist or phobic person would agree that Fucked Up did not fuck up rock.

Fucked Up are playing the Casbah tonight with Tijuana Panthers, Ghetto Blaster, and Subtropics.  Tickets are still available here and at the doors, which open at 9pm.


ET

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Things To Do In San Diego: August 21-22, 2014

This week has been nutso, but Nova's been back in school for a week and I think we're finally getting into the rhythm of days and nights. The Naked and Famous were awesome last night, and Sylvan Esso was off the charts. I'm posting these a little early and might have some additions but I wanted to get them out since I'm working the next three nights. Thursday and Friday archives are after the jump.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Drive Like Jehu Return For "Rock 'n' Roll Organ" August 31

I'm at Balboa Park and just ran into Rob Crow (with kids in tow) and I realized I completely spaced on writing this post, which is why I'm vigorously swyping on my phone.
So here's the deal as I know it. Dang from Bar Pink is on the Board for the Organ Pavilion. Dang from Bar Pink is awesome and wanted something refreshing and new at the Organ Pavilion's 2014 International Summer Organ Festival. Dang from Bar Pink coordinated a special concert on Sunday, August 31 from 7-8pm. The first half hour will feature Civic Organist Carol Williams, and the second half hour she will play along with DRIVE LIKE JEHU!!!
This is a reunion that San Diego music fans have been asking about for years. The show will be free and all ages. Obviously, YOU need to mark your calendar and save the date.

Casbah Presents Cut Copy at The North Park Theatre - October 31

So, I've been working at The North Park Theatre for the past several months and every concert announcement that comes gets me a little tingly...we've had so many good shows come already, and when something falls right in my wheelhouse, I'm especially excited- like last week's show with The Head and The Heart. So earlier this week I told you we had big news. And then just before we announced the show, it was canceled. Just like that. A week of work and excitement, and after all that, no show. Fortunately, we have so many shows in our pockets, that we could swiftly replace one announcement with the other and so, today (actually yesterday if you were paying attention) we announced that we are bringing Cut Copy to the Theatre. After seeing them at Outside Lands, this is going to be an epic way to spend Halloween. So tickets go on sale for the show on Friday, but we have a presale now through Thursday at midnight. Password is halloween. We also added the Check Yo Ponytail Anniversary Show with The Presets. Tickets for that one also go on sale Friday, but we have a presale until midnight tomorrow with presale password ponytail. If the presales sell out, fret not, there are plenty of tickets and you can snag them on Friday. Anyway, the rest of our upcoming shows are listed below. Insider truth: if you want the cheapest tickets, buy your tickets with cash at the box office. The North Park Theatre box office is open Friday 3pm – 8pm and Saturday 12pm – 5pm.



Wed, 08/20 Casbah presents The Naked and Famous-SOLD OUT!
Fri, 08/22Casbah & Belly Up present Lake Street Dive-SOLD OUT!
Wed, 08/27An Evening With Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra- SEATED SHOW!
Fri, 09/12San Diego Music Thing & Casbah present Liars
Mon, 09/22Casbah presents Lykke Li- SOLD OUT!
Thu, 10/16Casbah presents Washed Out
Fri, 10/17Casbah and House of Blues Present Yellowcard, Memphis May Fire, Emarosa
Sat, 10/18Casbah presents The New Pornographers
Sat, 10/25Casbah presents Warpaint
Tue, 10/28Casbah presents Tycho


Fri, 10/31 Casbah presents Cut Copy-Tickets on sale Friday!
Sun, 11/02 Casbah presents Carla Morrison
Thu, 11/06 Casbah presents Rhye
Fri, 11/14Casbah presents Check Yo Ponytail Anniversary Tour with The Presets- ON SALE FRIDAY!
Mon, 12/01Casbah presents An Evening with John Waters

Monday, August 18, 2014

Things To Do In San Diego: August 18-20, 2014

Isn't that the way life goes? You look forward to a chill weekend, see an awesome show (in my case Liam Finn and Helio Sequence) and then you come down with some bug that keeps you home and curled up in a ball most of the remainder of the weekend. I'm hoping it's worked itself out of my body and maybe it was just there to remind me that rest is not only okay, but totally necessary. This week is going to be another big one, with a HUGE concert announcement tomorrow at 10am (check back then!), two sold out shows at The North Park Theatre with The Naked and Famous and Lake Street Dive, and big shows at The Irenic with Balance & Composure on Thursday and Future Islands on Friday.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Things To Do In San Diego: August 15-17, 2014

Wow. What a week. I think I deserve a night at the Casbah to check out Liam Finn and Helio Sequence. But only after a very long daytime slumber. So here's what's up. The North Park Theatre has been booking incredible shows, but each one takes a lot of time and email and effort and I'm trying to transition to our new website and it is exhausting. But they're all worth it. So Warpaint (10/25) and Tycho (10/28) have been added and go onsale today at 10am. And then *OH*MY*GOD* we're announcing two more shows next week and I'm pretty sure a lot of people might go pretty apeshit for tickets. I'm super excited. And then, of course, Casbah is announcing new shows every day and that is crazy, too. So here are your weekend listings and I've combed through and hopefully we got everything, but let me know if we missed something.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Things To Do In San Diego: August 13-14, 2014

I knew this week was going to be kinda crazy, but when you're trying to spend the last day of summer vacation at the beach and you're on your phone checking email and working the whole time- well, it beats an office, but it is a little overwhelming Today Casbah and The North Park Theatre put Warpaint (10/25) and Tycho (10/28) on presale, with regular tickets on sale this Friday at 10am. Comment with your email address if you'd like to be added to The North Park Theatre email list and I can forward the passwords. We'll have some more big announcements in the next couple weeks, so don't be left out of the info. In the meantime, here's listings for tonight and tomorrow, and for any parents with kiddos going back to school this week, pat yourself on the back for surviving summer.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Things To Do In San Diego: August 12, 2014

I'm back and while in no way am I complaining that I got to go to Outside Lands, driving home straight through and arriving at 4:30 am probably wasn't the best way to start of my work week, which also happens to be the final few days of summer break before Nova goes back to school on Thursday. Still, we got some time at a neighborhood rec center, I discovered I can create ticket links for Casbah and The North Park Theatre on my phone, and we hosted The Head and the Heart and James Supercave at the theatre. I have to say, this is a band I've seen A LOT...Casbah, House of Blues, Balboa Theatre, Coachella, Observatory and a few others, and it felt pretty special to be able to stand in the production room listening and watching the show in a whole new way. I mean, bands say a lot of things, but they kept saying it was a better show than The Hollywood Bowl the night before. I mean, the freaking HOLLYWOOD BOWL!? We keep adding shows all the time, too, like Warpaint on October 25, which goes on sale Friday. Here are the rest of the listings through Thursday.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Things To Do In San Diego: August 11, 2014

I'm preparing for my last day at Outside Lands by sitting in a Starbucks to do listings. Boo. So you only get Monday. I'll be home tonight or tomorrow and will get the week's up later.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

2014 San Diego Music Awards Info & Nominees

24th ANNUAL SAN DIEGO MUSIC AWARD RETURNS TO HUMPHREY’S BY THE BAY SAN DIEGO –

The San Diego Music Awards returns to Humphrey’s by the Bay (2241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego) on Monday, October 6th to recognize the diverse achievements of the talented San Diego music community. Proceeds from the event benefit the San Diego Music Foundation’s Guitars for Schools program.

The San Diego Music Awards are presented annually to artists and albums of exceptional merit in 28 categories. Nominees are selected by the San Diego Music Academy, which includes press (print, radio and television), music venue staff, and other key members of the San Diego music community. The nominees for this year’s awards are listed below. Online voting for nominees in each of the artist categories is open to the public between August 11th- September 16th , via the official event website at www.sandiegomusicawards.com. Album-related categories are voted on by members of the San Diego Music Academy. (more info after the jump.)

Arcade Fire @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre 2014

Friday, August 08, 2014

Things To Do In San Diego: August 8-10, 2014

This week has been absolutely amazing. Darren and I met two years ago this week, and we had just returned from our vacation in Hercules and thought we'd be chilling out this week, but instead had an awesome Tuesday going to Spoon at the Lafayette, Arcade Fire and Spoon at Sleep Train where we scored box seats and pit wristbands. On Wednesday I worked for Jagwar Ma which was a pretty great show even if I jokingly make fun of "knob-turners". Thursday was another excellent night as we went to see Courtney Barnett at the Casbah. I got to interview her for SoundDiego, so keep an eye out for that to air in the next couple weeks. I'll for sure share the air-date when I know. I scored a last minute invite, so today I'm flying to San Francisco for Outside Lands and then will be riding back with a friend on Sunday, so I don't know when I'll get around to next week's listings, you might be on your own for Monday, but I'll get around to them eventually.

Tuesday, August 05, 2014

Spoon @ The Lafayette Hotel, 8.5.2014

I'm off to Sleep Train for the big show with Arcade Fire, Dan Deacon and Spoon, and haven't even watched these, but here are the videos of the Britt Daniel at The Lafayette from today's Loud @ presented by FM 94/9.

Things To Do In San Diego: August 5-7, 2014

I'm at work getting ready to head over to the Lafayette to catch Spoon, but thought I'd let you know that yesterday we announced a new show with Yellowcard and Memphis May Fire on October 17 at The North Park Theatre, and also put tickets for Liars on sale, who are playing during San Diego Music Thing on September 12. It is a ticketed event, so you have to buy a separate ticket even if you have a wristband. Wednesday and Thursday listings are after the jump.

Monday, August 04, 2014

Things To Do In San Diego: August 4, 2014

We got back home late Saturday night and while I can't say I'm ready to jump back in to real life, it's here waiting so let's get into the week. I'm super excited for the Casbah this week, with Jagwar Ma, Courtney Barnett and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah in three back to back nights, I should just take a sleeping bag. The North Park Theatre has another concert announcement today, so stay tuned and I'll post around 10am. My awesome intern Jordan is back to, so he'll have the weekend listings later this week for me to post, but here's to get your week started.