This article should only contain: “The Tree Ring, album release show, Saturday, Birch North Park Theatre” and that should be enough to convince you to go. But I am in the unique position of being a Point Loma Nazarene alum, which means I only had to look for the closest find a feather-hair-extension or a mustache (student’s or professor’s) to find a fan. The local five-piece chamber-pop group includes the prolific Joel P West, who recently wrote the music for the film “I am not a Hipster”, the multi-talented Kelly Bennett, who spends her days as the Arts Editor for Voice of San Diego, Douglas Welcome, Darla Hawn, and Jon Titterington. While the idea of strings-and-organ-heavy rock may turn off some, The Tree Ring’s music is always engrossing and often transcendent. They’re bringing their intimate and complex music to the Birch North Park Theatre tomorrow night to celebrate the release of their new album, "Brushbloom". You can listen to a few tracks embedded below before the album releases this Tuesday. The Shivers are opening. Be sure to get your tickets early here.
I feel like I've been rounding up all of these cool links and seeing cool stuff across the web, but the Facebook social monopoly (and completely stupid friend algorithm that decides who sees my posts and whose posts I see) really makes me crazy.
Here's how I spend my time online.
The Tallest Man on Earth performed on the syndicated radio show/podcast eTown. This guy is amazing and the last time I saw him I was sitting in misery in the corner of The Loft with back spasms. This time around, you can see them at the Birch North Park Theatre on 9.2.2012. Get tickets here, and watch/listen to the eTown performance here.
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The 2012 Adult Swim Singles Program for 2012 is back and includes all-new, never-before-released tracks from these featured artists. You can download the singles week to week here.
Week 1 (June 18) - Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Week 2 (June 25) - The Hives
Week 3 (July 2) - Wye Oak
Week 4 (July 9) - Absu
Week 5 (July 16) - The Field
Week 6 (July 23) - Flying Lotus
Week 7 (July 30) - Gauntlet Hair
Week 8 (August 6) - Wavves
Week 9 (August 13) - Com Truise
Week 10 (August 20) - Yamantaka//Sonic Titan
Week 11 (August 27) - Elite Gymnastics
Week 12 (September 3) - Artist To Be Announced
Finally, I know people are often surprised when I tell them that I watch The Bachelorette. It is seriously the best show to watch On Demand while I'm working because it repeats itself so often that it really takes no attention away from what I'm doing. That being said, I know it is terrible and this season I have especially loved watching "Burning Love", a web-series that makes fun of some of the more absurd moments of the season but is hilarious even if you've never watched The Bachelor or Bachelorette, and I'm pretty sure it's made by the same people as Children's Hospital. You can see the Yahoo! series here.
I pressed the snooze button (or so I thought) and woke up two hours later to realize I almost missed Snow Patrol. Radio Sophie was hosting Sophie's Lounge with lunch at West Coast Tavern and an acoustic performance by half of Snow Patrol in the Birch North Park Theatre. Don't you love the era we live in? I mean, I got home about an hour and a half ago and already have the videos for you to watch. One day, that's going to seem like forever, like early fax machines, but for now, I'll take it.
The band is doing a small radio-station only promotional tour for Fallen Empires, their newest record that will be released stateside on January 10, 2012. The record is fantastic (available in the UK and thus all over the interwebs), and you can pre-order it now. The band will start touring mostly the UK and Germany in January and February and should be in the U.S. sometime in March/April.
As a promotional event, the band was only going to play three songs from the new record, but instead played a couple older songs, too. I really wanted to hear "Chocolate" but I think that predates most radio airplay. All of the videos are below in a playlist and will play in order of the performance.
1. Called Out In The Dark
2. This Isn't Everything You Are
3. Lifening
4. Just Say Yes
5. Chasing Cars
Thanks again to everyone for this, especially David at West Coast Tavern and Mookie at Radio Sophie. This one was beyond words for me.
Most of you probably don't know me so here's a brief introduction. I'm a huge local music fan and try to make it out to a rock or jazz show at least once a week. Most of the time, I bring my camera.
I usually refuse to be a guest blogger on other peoples' sites. I figure that if anybody's interested in seeing my work, they can find my blog. But when Rosey asked me to do some posts here, I had to reconsider. She has been a fixture on the local music scene for years, and has always helped me out whenever she could. For that I am grateful, and I'm honored to be a contributor.
Rosey got me in to last month's Birch North Park Theatre show, featuring Dirty Sweet, Transfer, The Silent Comedy, and Apes of Wrath (now called New Mexico). It was a fantastic show and I'd like to show a group photo from each band here, in order of appearance.
Apes of Wrath (New Mexico)
The Silent Comedy
Transfer
Dirty Sweet
You can see more photos on my blog at www.seemichaelsphotos.com. I hope you like them. My next post will be photos from last Sunday's Tortoise show.
You can win a custom painting by Hearts and Stuff's Martha Martin, a limited edition photographic print by San Diego's own Rebecca Joelson, and more just by buying tickets in advance online for Friday's show at the Birch North Park Theatre! The show features Dirty Sweet, Transfer, The Silent Comedy, and Apes of Wrath in an environment unlike any you've seen them in before! Check out the video below for more details.
This blogger has been accused of only touting touring bands, while tending to bypass the local San Diego bands. I cannot disagree with those sentiments entirely, but I have definitely made an effort recently to watch more of our home grown talent on a regular basis. This Friday is your chance to catch four of the best bands San Diego has to offer in what promises to be one great show. As a bonus, the event is taking place at the beautifully renovated Birch North Park Theatre. Having seen several shows there, I can easily give my stamp of approval since all the proper elements are in place for a great live performance: great sound, lighting and comfortable seating in an intimate venue. Plus the cost is what one would pay to see just one of these bands much of the time.
Dirty Sweet has just returned from a European tour and have released a new album, American Spiritual. Transfer also released their latest effort, Future Selves, which shows more diversity within the songs. The Silent Comedy are gaining popularity with their energized live show. Apes of Wrath gets it done with fewer members, but their songs are so frenetic and catchy at the same time.
If you haven't been to the Birch, you owe it to yourself to support all these great bands as a great way to kick off the upcoming holiday weekend. This is a Casbah produced show, and the venue is almost all ages (5+).
Congratulations to this week's Masquerade winner, Rudy P.
I've got one final pair of tickets to give away to the New Year's Eve Masquerade at the Birch North Park Theatre. If you have entered the contest before, you must re-enter for consideration in the final drawing which will take place on Tuesday. Send an email to sddialedin at gmail with subject "Final Chance". Include your phone number. You must be 21+ and able to pick up the tickets in Kensington on Wednesday. Good luck!
Co-producers West Coast Club Life and Jon Block will bring Masquerade: New Year’s Eve Celebration to adjoining venues Birch North Park Theatre and West Coast Tavern on December 31, 2009, bringing an enormous array of music, fashion, and culture to an area of town that’s emerged as the arts capital of San Diego.
Masquerade will feature six unique performances including Delta Spirit, hometown heroes who've played top music festivals Lollapalooza and Street Scene; three-time San Diego Music Award winners Get Back Loretta; the always unpredictable The Burning of Rome; the Billie Holiday-influenced The Hot Moon; and 12-woman burlesque troupe Caburlesque Kittens. Attendees will also experience five deejays including DJ TheoryJean, DJ Dennis J, and DJ Kray-Z-K as well as models, video projections, and art sculptures, all driven by the masquerade theme.
If you would like a chance to win a pair of tickets to this New Year's bash, e-mail sddialedin AT gmail DOT com with the subject "masquerade". You must include your age and phone number. A random winner will be selected on Friday, December 18, 2009.
We'll be giving away another pair before the party, but if you'd like to guarantee your spot, this is the last week to buy presale tickets for $45.
You can also purchase "Eat and Drink with the Stars Backstage" Package - $99.00 A limited number of attendees will have green room access, hanging out with all of the night's performers in a charged yet intimate setting. These admission passes include complimentary dinner, non-alcoholic beverages, and 2 free drink tickets for the main bar. Call 858-945-2830 for details.
