Tuesday, October 31, 2017

groove pigs share tracks...finally! This Is Halloween & Throne Games

You might recall that Darren and I visited his mom this summer. It was our first time going without Nova (she was in St. Louis) and so it was a true vacation in that we'd spend days with his mom and nephews and then had the nights to run around the East Bay/Oakland/SF area. One of the things he really wanted to do was meet up with his old band.

So the really quick history is that Darren was in a band called groove pigs back 20 plus years ago. Darren and Joe Heavey went to high school together and played music for years, and then had rehearsal space adjacent Dan Jewett, with whom Darren went to SFSU, and eventually they formed groove pigs as a fun side project from all their other endeavors. I'm not exactly telling this right, but they all moved a lot, had different bands, blah blah, but they were a party band and played house shows and bars and clubs and art spaces and basically anywhere they could at the time. But then life happened and they all moved on.

Darren resurfaced in San Diego and then little by little they reconnected over the magic of Facebook (though Dan and Joe live just a short distance from one another), thought they should start tooling around with music again, and became an internet project, each recording parts and sending them to the others to record. They have a whole record of original songs. (By the way, you should check out Dan's other project, My Little Hum.) I don't know what will become of it or if they'll release it or whatever, but while we were in the area, the guys all played together in the same room at the same time for the first time in at least a couple decades and many craft beers and shots of tequila were consumed and it was awesome. One day they'll let me release those videos.

In the meantime, Darren has a Halloween tradition, playing the very complicated "This Is Halloween" with Nova, and so this year, the band decided to give it a whirl, and the mix came in after midnight, but we wanted to share it (you can even hear Nova singing in parts). The b track, Throne Games, is their twist on the opening them of the show (duh). I promise I'll be sharing more as they let me, but it's just a fun project for them, and I'll let them dictate how they want it shared with the world.






Monday, October 30, 2017

Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, October 30-Wednesday, November 1, 2017


Ug. So I have been in bed a whole lot lately. The whole of last week, I didn't even step out onto my balcony until Thursday and didn't leave my house until Friday and that was for a doctor's appointment. Fortunately, I still have OBAMACARE and got to see a doctor and get an x-ray and an antibiotic for whatever lung infection I have and an inhaler so I can breathe again. On top of all that, because Kaiser kinda works like a health care buffet, my stuff was so speedy that it was done before the actual appointment time...I'd checked in on the kiosk 25 minutes in advance of my actual appointment time, was immediately called in, met with the nurse for weight, blood pressure, health screening, taken to a room, and checked by the doctor all before my actual appointment time. And in that time, made two more appointments for my annual lady parts checkup and for a mole I want removed. So yeah. The good news is by Saturday I was finally turning a corner and we coached our morning soccer game, hung around the house for a bit, and spent some time at Balboa Park and the Zoo before having dinner at Mona Lisa. So yay. I'm getting out of the house again. But it will definitely be a low key week for me until maybe the Livewire Anniversary party on Saturday.
I will try to get around to updating Bar Pink, Black Cat Bar, El Dorado, FLUXX, Sycamore Den, and Whistle Stop before the weekend but no guarantees. Monday through Wednesday archives are after the jump.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Things To Do In San Diego: Tuesday, October 24-Sunday, October 29, 2017

I haven't been out with my camera this past week at all and I'm sick again and I feel like hell so I'll keep it short and use one of my old pics from The National. Last week was a good week, we were able to do Six Flags and soccer practices and went to Arcade Fire and Said The Whale and I worked at Cody Simpson and The Bronx and we had a soccer game and then I wasn't feeling great so I skipped Scallywag, but then I was feeling better so I caught Tei Shi and went to Park n Rec and Whistle Stop and then I went swimming on Sunday and all the sudden came down with a fever that I couldn't shake for 36 hours. So I don't know if it's just that I went way too hard last week or that this stupid weather change is making me ill but I feel like shit and I'm going to take it super easy this week. I'll be locked in my air conditioned room, if ya don't mind. Tuesday through Sunday archives are after the jump.

Monday, October 23, 2017

Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, October 23, 2017


I'm burning up. I don't want to make a habit of just giving you Monday listings, but out of nowhere I've been blindsided with a fever. It's super weird because I was feeling mostly great all weekend. I'll tell you about my week when I get the listings up but for now, here's the clearest shot I could get of Win Butler from my seat at the amazing Arcade Fire show. I'll get the rest of the listings up by Tuesday morning. .

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Things To Do In San Diego: Tuesday, October 17-Sunday, October 22, 2017


Ok, so I told you I would get these done, and thankfully after a full day at Magic Mountain with Darrren, Nova, and Jo, Darren drove home so we could sleep and I could get my work done upon our return. Six Flags was fun, but I realized I'm in a new demographic: moms who hold stuff. I didn't go on a single roller coaster because I just couldn't psych myself up for that dizzy, spinny, nauseous feeling. So I held stuff while everyone else did the rides and I was totally okay with that. It was fun just to be there and see the kids faces light up before and after each ride. This week is pretty busy, too. I might still try to weasel a ticket for Cafe Tacvba, and we're going to Arcade Fire, and I'm working at the Cody Simpson show and The Bronx in the same night, and then working at JR JR on Friday, and maybe going to Ye Scallywag on Saturday if I can score a photo pass, and then Saturday night we'll check out Tei Shi at Soda Bar. So much good stuff. Tuesday through Sunday archives are after the jump.

Monday, October 16, 2017

Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, October 16


Things have been really great, but really, really busy. On top of work and soccer coaching, last week I got to see Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile, The National, worked at Nothing But Thieves, did Taste of North Park, shot Jason Mraz, went to Dirty Sweet & John Meeks, and sold merch for Oh Wonder where I worked a six hour shift (I think we sold over $15k in merch!!) and we're going to Magic Mountain for the day, so I hate to break it that I only have it in me to do Monday listings at the moment. I'll try to get the rest of the week up as soon as I have the time. Archives after the jump.

Friday, October 13, 2017

Photos: The National at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, 10.12.2017


The past few weeks I've had a ton of photo passes which means I'm backlogged with gigs and gigs of photos. In three songs at The National, I shot 405 photos. And I've been a little shy about posting because I'm slightly intimidated by the far more talented photographers in this town and their amazing gear that isn't filled with scratched mirrors and spotty sensors and image dust bunnies, but Darren gave me a pep talk, and I get some incredible access to shows that not a lot of people get, so I promise as things start to slow down as we get deeper into fall, I'll get around to posting more photos. I'm on such a high from Thursday night that I wanted to get these pics of The National up right away.


Thursday nights are tough because we have soccer practice in PB until 6, which means by the time we pack up and leave the area, it's 6:30 and the 5 south is in rush hour. Jeff and I made arrangements to meet at Tribute before the show. I should've studied the menu and pre-planned my order, because that place is busy. It was delicious, but not somewhere to go if you're in a rush. As it was, we had to take my pizza to go when it was finally ready, dropped it at my house, then made our way to SDSU. I had a photo pass, but arrived during the fourth song from Daughter, so this was the best I could get from my point and shoot from my seat. They sounded fantastic and were a solid choice as an opener.

Oh. This is a funny little side note about the photo pit. I haven't shot at OAT in several years but I have a pretty great relationship with Casey from LiveNation. I'd texted her that I wouldn't make it for the opener because at the venue, everyone has to meet at the top and get escorted into the pit. Except when we got to the pit, the band had dead cases piled and taped to the part where we get in. So imagine a dozen photographers, climbing up the cases and jumping the four feet down into the pit. One girl was seven months pregnant and wearing a dress! It was pretty funny and I was super glad that I always opt for comfy and sensible clothing choices. Getting out was even more hilarious because there was no step up, so you had to be an acrobat climbing out, unless you're flexible yoga girl Kaitlyn from 91X who basically vaulted over in one beautiful, graceful motion, making all the rest of us look like assholes.

I don't know what to say about The National. All told, I've seen them live about half a dozen times, they're always amazing, and I have nothing but love for Matt Berninger. We've been dealing with Nova being sick, girls from our soccer team being sick, and hearing that hacking cough everywhere you go, so when I saw him coughing during the first song, even at times into the mic, I couldn't help but feel sad for him, but also what a superhero to power through when you feel like shit. The setlist was a beautiful mix of new stuff and favorites. Matt had his bottle of wine to help him get through it, but his throat and voice were definitely strained where you'd expect them to be. You can see eight videos here

Still, raspy voice and all, it was a beautiful night in San Diego. Matt was charming and funny at moments, and had a few "Fuck Trump" moments, as well as attributing "Walk It Back" to Karl Rove, "but he keeps refusing the royalties." On my way out of the pit, while waiting for everyone to climb out, I got a lingering high five/handshake from Matt and I felt like a girl whose junior high crush finally said hi to her. Toward the end of the night, Matt joked about playing Eminem, so the band finished the show and walked off stage, the stadium lights came up, and the snarky soundguys played "Lose Yourself" which brought Matt back out onto the stage as stagehands all around him worked, and he pantomimed Em while shaking hands of fans and giving out setlists. Matt Berninger. He's just like us. A man of the people. Swoon. Tons more photos after the jump.


#SaySomething Week: October 16-20

Next week is national Say Something week, so let's start off with some video of James from 2012 at the House of Blues. I wanted to share Say Something Week with my readers because hopefully you're as sick of senseless gun violence as I am. I wish we'd go the way of Australia to be honest, but until the day the NRA's deathgrip on the balls of the rich white men who run this country ends, sometimes just doing something is better than doing nothing. So below is a message from Sandy Hook Promise. Nova is only in fifth grade, so perhaps too young for the campaign, but if yours are old enough, you should reach out to their schools and administrators to spread the word.



SAY SOMETHING WEEK

During the week of October 16 - 20, 2017, thousands of schools and youth organizations from across the United States will participate in Say Something Week. Say Something Week raises awareness and educates students and the community through training, advertising, public proclamations, media events, contests and school awards. Say Something Week reinforces the power young people have to prevent tragedies and save lives when they Say Something to a trusted adult.

What is Say Something?

Did you know that when it comes to threats of violence or suicide, most are known by at least one other person BEFORE the incident takes place? Imagine how much tragedy could be averted if these individuals said something?

Say Something teaches students, grades 6-12, how to look for warning signs, signals and threats, especially in social media, from a peer who might be planning to hurt themselves or someone else and to say something to a trusted adult to get help and save a life.

How does Say Something work?

Say Something is a no cost, easy-to-implement, life-saving program that can be delivered digitally, in the classroom or through assemblies. The initial presentation takes 50 minutes or less and the program offers a wide range of activities to ensure sustainability and integration into the school culture year-round through SAVE Promise Clubs. To sign up or recommend a school's participation, check out this link.

Monday, October 09, 2017

Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, October 9-Sunday, October 15, 2017


As I mentioned in my weekend update, I've been on a serious music streak with very few nights off in between, so I thought I'd stick in this pic from last Monday when Middle Kids played the Casbah. The show was attended enough to be awesome, but after hearing the band's set at Austin City Limits over the weekend, I gotta say, you really missed out if you weren't there. It was kind of that last push of summer into fall but I gotta warn you, touring shows seriously start slowing down, so don't miss out when you have a chance to see a good one.  That gnarly cough and cold is back in our house so we're trying to take it easy. Our girls tied their soccer game 0-0 which for us was an accomplishment against a La Jolla squad. I worked at the Irenic on Saturday night for Léon, and Sunday we spent the afternoon at Santa Clara Rec for my niece's 8th birthday. Nova is on fall break, so assuming we can knock out the cold, we hope to catch some museum month stuff, get at least one trip in to Magic Mountain, and enjoy a little less rushing in our lives, even if for just two weeks. Monday through Sunday archives are after the jump.

Saturday, October 07, 2017

Things To Do in San Diego: Saturday, October 7-Sunday, October 8, 2017


Yikes. This week has been crazy. Sunday was The Shins, Spoon, and Day Wave, Monday was Middle Kids, Tuesday was Gillian Welch then Low Volts at Casbah, Wednesday was Archons, Thursday was Father John Misty, and Friday was Pinegrove. Among that is soccer and work and sleep and my cough coming back. Someday I'll post more of the photos of my adventures. The weekend is going to be amazing if I can get enough sleep. I decided to repost the listings because there's so much going on. Saturday and Sunday archives are after the jump.

Monday, October 02, 2017

Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, October 2-Friday, October 6, 2017



I didn't expect when I went to the Office for Guns n Roses Undercover and Bar Pink on Monday that I'd end up sick. And not like hangover sick, but sleep all day in jammies, my eyes are too hot to stare at a computer screen, pass the tissues and please bring me soup kinda sick. Darren was a champ and got me zinc lozenges and I was able to take it easy so by my actual birthday on Thursday I was able to make it to work at the Irenic then went to Rabbit Hole/Sycamore Den/Ken Club for birthday drinks. I worked at the Irenic again on Friday and aid low after so we could be ready for our Saturday morning soccer game. The girls lost, but it was a perfect San Diego day, so I enjoyed walking to Adams Avenue Street Fair after the game and then going to Oktoberfest at the German-American Societies and then closing down the Ken Club with a hang with Jake. I ended the weekend by going to OAT for The Shins, Spoon, and Day Wave. The 2nd row ticket was a birthday gift from Jeff and it was an excellent show. These listings took extra effort this week but I'm so glad they're done. I'll try to catch up on some posts this week. We'll see how that goes...Monday through Friday archives are after the jump.