Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, April 4-Wednesday, April 10, 2024: bar italia | Hurray For The Riff Raff | Jesse Daniel | Good Kid | The Cactus Blossoms | STRFKR | Old 97's | John Cleese | Slow Hollows | Chastity Belt |

Sold Out Gregory Alan Isakov at The Sound (Taken 3.7.24)

You can tell by the way the listings are starting to get longer and longer that we're staring down Coachella, with it's first weekend next week. There are so many great shows and not all are conveniently booked on weekends, so you might have to rearrange some things to say, get to the Chastity Belt with it's early door time on a Wednesday, or even double up on shows or nights going out to get it all in. As for me, I worked for Nicotine Dolls on Friday and Adi Oasis on Tuesday, and I'll be working for Good Kid, The Cactus Blossoms, and Chastity Belt this week. And next weekend my mom, sister and nieces are going to the Bad Religion show, so I guess I need to procure a ticket to hang out with them for that. 

It's a busy week and the Casbah has about a dozen announcements this week alone, so stay tuned and make sure you get the newsletter so you're on top of it. 

Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, March 7-Wednesday, March 13, 2024: Gregory Alan Isakov | Forester | The Screamin' Yeehaws | Real Estate | Liily | Sam Outlaw | Birdtalker | OKAN |

I don't know about you, but I did not expect all that rain on Wednesday. I was prepared -- because January 22nd should've taught us all not to be caught off guard even when forecasters say just a 'chance of rain' -- but it was still a little more than I expected. It's not bad for me personally, but it definitely made me change plans. I was going to drive to Mission Valley during rush hour, completely forgetting about Gold Cup, but I guess in that way, the rain and traffic was a blessing because I just went home instead. Dumb errands can always wait.

This week I'm going to The Sound for Gregory Alan Isakov (with Damien Jurado opening!!) and going to see one of my kids' elementary school friends in Freaky Friday at Grossmont High. I want to see Real Estate at Observatory but I didn't really make any effort to make it happen, so that's probably a no-go at this point. I will say I'm sooo glad Super Tuesday is behind us and hope we get at least some reprieve from political ads for awhile. What a horrible nightmare shitshow those are. 

If you didn't see my last post, the HIPPOS have finally been moved back to their renovated habitat at the Zoo and the gorillas were back out today, too, so if you need to find me, I think you know where I'll be. 

Have a great week and stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, October 12-Wednesday, October 18, 2023: Bandalos Chinos | Richard Marx & John Waite | JMSN | Field Medic | Nickel Creek | Matt & Kim | Pkew Pkew Pkew | Jalen Ngonda | Angel Olsen |

I am beat. It's been a busy week of family stuff and birthdays and work and entertaining and I know the life of this laptop is coming to an end, so that's a whole other headache I need to deal with and start planning for because it's not gonna survive my daily zoo trips much longer. 

I always fit my zoo time in, but I also went to the El Cajon Oktoberfest at the German American Societies Club over the weekend with my family then got dragged to my niece's soccer. Man, I am glad our kid dropped out of that soccer life. It's so demanding and stressful, I don't know how so many parents do it, especially on competitive and pricey club teams, but that's neither here nor there. 

After my zoo time on Monday, I sold merch for corook at the Casbah, which was a pretty fun show. On Tuesday, my mom had to drop her vehicle in El Cajon to get some work done on it for a few days, so we were all over the county. We went to Miramar to visit my dad's grave. That's not really my thing...I feel my dad with me all the time and I don't need a marker in the ground to remind me of him, but it makes my mom happy so it was worth the drive. Afterward I dragged her to the zoo and she fell in love with my little langur and all the birds and my little Aisha. I took her back to Chula Vista, and then I probably shouldn't have gone shopping but I couldn't resist. I was so tired of driving and what better way to get out of traffic for awhile then to buy new shoes? 

On Wednesday I tried to crank out the listings and get ahead of work before I caught just an hour with the gorilla boys before Darren and I raced to Carlsbad to meet up with his cousin who was visiting from Geneva. I booked a tour at Carlsbad Aquafarm, where they sustainably farm mussels and oysters using the intake water at the desalination plant. It's a really cool cycle and system and the tour was very cool, and culminated with our guide teaching us how to shuck the half dozen oysters we got to eat at the end of the tour. Highly recommend this experience. 

Of course, that means I was on my phone while we hung out at the beach, making sure I was caught up with work stuff, which gave Darren a chance to catch up with his cousin. After that, we drove back south and I popped by for the last hour of zoo, and then spent Wednesday night busting ass to get the listings done. But I did them, even if I'm going to bed way later than I planned. 

My cousin is coming to town this weekend and I am working at Quartyard on Friday and have some other plans, so I don't suspect I'll be updating here much if I missed anything. I hope everyone has a really great week ahead.

Ohhhhh. And kind of a big deal...Casbah is a finalist for the Hometown Venues of Consequence thing and I had to answer all their questions, so check that out and GO VOTE for the Casbah. Like everyday.  

I love you. 

Stay safe out there. 

And RIP to my favorite walrus, Mitik, who passed away over the weekend. What a heartbreaker. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, July 6-Wednesday, July 12, 2023: Sky Ferreira | The Havnauts | Cardiel | She Fest | Charlie Puth | Neil Young | Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit | The Drums | Rozzi | Summer Salt |

Fourth of July should always be on a Tuesday, am I right? I loved having a long weekend, of only moderately having to check email, of being out in the perfect weather of San Diego and then completely vegging and bingeing TV at home, too. I loved it, even though on the actual 4th I didn't do a single thing because I had to be home for my poor animals who were tormented by the non-stop illegal fireworks of City Heights, Normal Heights, North Park and beyond. We had some car stuff come up and I maybe had a night with too many drinks where I impulse purchased a new air conditioner, so I'm gonna be laying low, no real plans to go out beyond my San Diego Zoo and Sea World visits, since those are already paid for.  

I think I covered all the possible events in the listings but I'm questionable on Neil Young...I see it listed in some places and tickets are on Ticketmaster, but it's not listed on the Shell's calendar...which may be because it's a rental or may be because it's not happening, I can't really confirm either way and frankly, with tickets as much as they are, I don't really care enough to dig any deeper. So there's that. But good stuff this week if you're looking for it. 

Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Wednesday, September 28-Tuesday, October 4: Silversun Pickups | Tyson Motsenbocker | Suzanne Vega | Desert Daze | Oktoberfest | Livewire 30th | The Pixies | King Khan & BBQ Show | Metric |

Me & Brian from SSPU Taken A Million Years Ago at SDSU

It's my birthday!! It's statistically probably yours or close to it since all our parents decided to bang around the holidays. Happy birthday to all of you, and my gift to myself is keeping these listings short. I will try to come back later in the week and add show announcements and other music news, but for now, I'm out. Can't wait to see SSPU again tonight for maybe the 20th or 30th time. 

Stay safe out there. 

Wednesday, September 28, 2022 (Happy Birthday To ME!!):

• Silversun Pickups - Physical Thrills Tour, Eliza & The Delusionals @ The Observatory
• Tyson Motsenbocker, Titus Haug, Shua @ Casbah
• String Machine & Orson Wilds, Sorry It's Over, Sleepy Pearls @ Soda Bar
• Julian Lage @ Belly Up
• Gilbert Castellanos Young Lions Series & Jazz Jam @ Copley Auditorium, Panama 66
• Steve Vai: Inviolate Tour @ The Magnolia
• Sad Park & Heart To Gold, Caracara @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
• San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers @ Petco Park
• Come Fall In Love - The DDLJ Musical @ The Old Globe
• What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank @ The Old Globe
• Kinky Boots @ The Moonlight
• Broadway San Diego presents Cats @ Civic Theatre
• Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord @ La Jolla Playhouse
• Street Legacy: SoCal Style Masters @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Revocation, Krisiun, Alluvial, Inoculation, Good For Nothing @ Brick by Brick
• CMT Next Women of Country: Maddie & Tae, Sacha & Abbey @ Moonshine Beach 
• Trivia @ Quartyard
• Rockin' Aces @ Tio Leo's
• Open Mic with Whit @ Pour House
• Rafael Pondé Brazillian Reggae @ Winston's 
• Karaoke @ Rosie O'Grady's 
• Obsession: Teachers Pet @ Queen Bee's 
• Big Blues Jam @ Navajo Live
• Karaoke @ Bancroft Bar
• Ernie & Friends @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
• Open Mic @ 710 Beach Club

Thursday, September 29, 2022:

• An Intimate Evening of Songs and Stories with Suzanne Vega @ Belly Up
• Narrow Head, The Berries, Bedlocked @ Casbah
• SUSU, Broken Baby, Lord Friday the 13th @ Soda Bar
• PJ Morton - Watch The Sun Tour presented by TJ Entertainment Group, DJ ArieSpins @ The Observatory
• Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band - Trouble Is...25th Anniversary Tour,  Samantha Fish@ Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay (SOLD OUT)
• KES, Jimmy October @ Music Box
• Willie Jones III Quintet @ La Jolla Athenaeum Jacobs Music Room 
• Get The LED Out @ Balboa Theatre
• Cosmo Gnostic, more TBA @ Pour House 
• Cemetery Sun & Lil Lotus, poptropicaslutz!, Not A Toy @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
• The Worst, The Rough, Mittens, Happy To Be Here, The Smokes @ The Holding Company
• Victoria Robertson @ Veranda Bar, Westgate Hotel
• Sting- Reimagined @ The Jazz Lounge
• Vamp/So Say We All @ Whistle Stop
• Movie Night - Dark Side of the Rainbow & Echoes and Beyond the Inifinite @ The Merrow
• Arcadian Wild @ Winston's 
• Jabril @ SoFar
• San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers @ Petco Park
• Come Fall In Love - The DDLJ Musical @ The Old Globe
• What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank @ The Old Globe
• Kinky Boots @ The Moonlight
• Broadway San Diego presents Cats @ Civic Theatre
• Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord @ La Jolla Playhouse
• Street Legacy: SoCal Style Masters @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Backwater Blues @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
• Aztec Open Mic, Featured Artist: Theresa Layne "The Stan Lin Band" @ Aztec Brewing Company, Vista
• Lyrical Exchange Open Mic @ Queen Bee's
• "U.S. Unraveling 2022" Tour: Warbringer, Heathen, Misfire, Malison @ Brick by Brick
• San Diego Soul Collective @ Til-Two Club
• Open Jam with Jeff Ousley @ Navajo Live
• Thursday Social DJ Set @ Park & Rec
• Strictly Bass with DKT b2b M3ngo, Dubstep Lizard, Ea$e-Up, Adonix, Crown Point, Dubz n Dutchz, Milkado, Rice, Rose, Zerotonin @ SPIN
• Moonshine Thursdays @ Moonshine Beach 
• Line Dancing @ Moonshine Flats 
• Karaoke @ The Luau
• Karaoke @ 710 Beach Club

Friday, September 30, 2022:

• Desert Daze Festival @ Moreno Beach, Lake Perris, CA 
• La Mesa Oktoberfest (4-10pm)
• Oktoberfest 2022 with Die Guggenbach Buam @ German American Societies of San Diego (4-10pm)
• Henry Rollins: Good To See You 2022 @ The Observatory
• Plague Vendor, Mistress 77, Scary Pierre @ Casbah
• Forever Came Calling, Homesafe, Pollyanna, Nominee @ Soda Bar
• Heaven 17 “We Don’t Need This Fascist Groove Thang  USA and Canada Tour 2022” @ House of Blues
• Don Carlos, Sister Speak @ Belly Up (SOLD OUT)
• Declan McKenna - Zeros Tour USA, Annie DiRusso @ Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay (SOLD OUT)
• Leavers & Nass Zuruck @ Whistle Stop
• Club Sex Beat and Club Nothing presents The Lost Boys Night @ Ken Club
• Sabrina Claudio: Based On A Feeling Tour, bLAck pARty @ SOMA
• The Doobie Brothers: 50th Anniversary Tour @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, SDSU
• Gloria Trevi: Isla Divina Tour @ Viejas Arena, SDSU
• Matt Smith Trio @ Panama 66
• Anees, Michael Minelli @ Music Box
• Atomic Groove @ Belly Up (Happy Hour 5pm)
• Drew Lynch @ Balboa Theatre
• Brain Dead Monkeys, Blossum, Jewerly Girl, Homeview, Ridgeway @ Che Cafe
• Lord Howler, Cochinas Locas @ Black Cat Bar 
• Sting- Reimagined @ The Jazz Lounge
• Street Legacy: SoCal Style Masters @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Latino Night: La Gran Sonora, Tributo A Terricolas @ The Park at Viejas
• Padres Fiesta In The Park @ Gallagher Square, Petco Park
• San Diego Padres vs. Chicago White Sox @ Petco Park
• Big Sky Moon @ Renegade Country
• Dana Duplan @ Grand Ole BBQ & Asado
• Clayton Shay @ Moonshine Beach 
• Summer 97 @ Moonshine Flats 
• Upsahl, KiNG MALA @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
• Wildcat Showcase @ Aztec Brewing Company, Vista
• Kenny Eng and Rob Deez @ The Rabbit Hole
• Carlos Velasco @ Veranda Bar, Westgate Hotel 
• Freddie Jackson @ Live & Up Close, Sycuan 
• Oceanside Theatre Company Presents Billie! Backstage with Lady Day @ Brooks Theater, Oceanside
• Come Fall In Love - The DDLJ Musical @ The Old Globe
• What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank @ The Old Globe
• Greetings from the Red Planet @ Palomar College Studio Theatre 
• Kinky Boots @ The Moonlight
• Broadway San Diego presents Cats @ Civic Theatre
• Ain't Misbehavin' - CCAE Theatricals @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord @ La Jolla Playhouse
• Seawall Prophet, Zzajj, Puerto and Dive Bar Saints @ The Holding Company
• Musica En La Plaza: Mariachi Garibaldi @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Open Mic @ Quartyard
• DJ Boogie Blanco & Friends @ Park & Rec
• Psydecar and Cappo Kelley  @ Winston's 
• Pounding Paula @ Mr. Peabody's
• Francis Blume, Chloe Lou & the Liddells @ Pour House (9pm)
• California Rangers Reunion feat. Tom Boren @ Pour House (5-8pm)
• Disco Goth Nite - Xibling & Ritualz @ The Merrow
• Love Hang Over @ Til-Two Club
• Groove Mercenaries @ Tio Leo's
• Wildside @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (8:30pm)
• Cars On Fire, Faerie Qveene, Murder of Five, The New Machine @ Navajo Live 
• Wolff Trio @ Fast Times 
• Joynoise, Velvet Starlings, The Reckless @ Queen Bee's
• Sake and Karaoke Fridays @ Mikami
• D Union w/ Delta Heavy & Bensley, Richter, Garva, Bemm @ SPIN 

Saturday, October 1, 2022:

• Livewire 30th Anniversary With Metz, The Spits, Deadbolt @ Mississippi Room, Lafayette Hotel
• Desert Daze Festival @ Moreno Beach, Lake Perris, CA 
• La Mesa Oktoberfest (10am-10pm)
• Oktoberfest 2022 with Die Guggenbach Buam @ German American Societies of San Diego (12pm-10pm)
• San Diego Humane Society 36th Annual Fur Ball
• Pixies, Cherry Glazerr @ SOMA (SOLD OUT)
• THICK, Skating Polly, Doll Riot @ Casbah 
• Apocalyptica - Cell-0 Tour, Leprous, Wheel @ The Observatory North Park
• FamilyJules, Or3o, Lacey Johnson, Adriana Figueroa @ Soda Bar
• Too Many Zooz, Cameron Graves, Fresh Veggies Micro Brass @ Belly Up  
• Irving Flores presents a Tribute to Eydie Gormé @ Dizzy's
• Kolohe Kai: Hazel Eyes Tour, Anuhea @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, SDSU
• Red Hot Cholo Peppers @ Ramona Mainstage 
• Scorpions, Thundermother @ Viejas Arena, SDSU
• Oktoberfest Weekend with ZZYMZZY Quartet (6-8pm), The Beer Mugs (2-5pm) @ Panama 66
• Payare Leads Verdi's Requiem with San Diego Master Chorale @ The Shell
• Matte Blvck, So Below, DJ Killmor, DJ Diskdroid @ Music Box
• LatinX Fest & Mercadita with Los Pinche Pinches, French Mouth, Ryn Esla,  Lazy Dream, Well Hell, Tabula Rasa, Crime, Marianina @ Che Cafe 
• Zucchero: World Wild Tour @ Balboa Theatre
• San Diego Padres vs. Chicago White Sox @ Petco Park
• Chickenbone Slim @ Pour House (5-8pm) 
• Custard Pie @ Aztec Brewing Company, Vista
• Oceanside Theatre Company Presents Billie! Backstage with Lady Day @ Brooks Theater, Oceanside
• Come Fall In Love - The DDLJ Musical @ The Old Globe
• What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank @ The Old Globe
• Greetings from the Red Planet @ Palomar College Studio Theatre 
• Kinky Boots @ The Moonlight
• Broadway San Diego presents Cats @ Civic Theatre
• Ain't Misbehavin' - CCAE Theatricals @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord @ La Jolla Playhouse
• FPJ's Ang Probinsyano @ Heritage Event Center, Sycuan Casino 
• Street Legacy: SoCal Style Masters Closing Reception @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Chris Fast Band @ Grand Ole BBQ & Asado
• Emo Night Brooklyn @ House of Blues
• Charlotte Sands - Love and Other Lies Tour 2022, No Love For The Middle Child, carobae @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
• Oceans, Mood Lifters (Rush) @ Navajo Live
• Sting- Reimagined @ The Jazz Lounge
• Deacon Dimes, Tormenta Rey (with Dave Gleason), TK & The Deadlist @ Tower Bar
• E.X.S., Apollo 03, Thing of Twins, Quid Punk Quo @ Bancroft Bar
• Summer 97 @ Moonshine Beach 
• Clayton Shay @ Moonshine Flats 
• Behold! The Monolith, – 16 –, OLDS @ Til-Two Club
• Tube Amp'd @ Mr. Peabody's
• Bear Night with DJ Jon Williams @ The Merrow (9pm)
• The San Diego Golden Girls @ The Merrow (5:30pm)
• Holly Hofman @ Plaza Bar, Westgate Hotel 
• Frequency 1 with The Calvin's @ Winston's (4pm)
• Irieality and Cruz  @ Winston's (9:30pm)
• Full Strength Funk Band @ Tio Leo's
• Mid-City Community Music with Dirty Cello @ Queen Bee's (5:30pm)
• Town Hall Brawl @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (5pm)
• Platinum Vibe @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (8pm)
• In The Bag presents: BAGMANIA: Heavyweight House and Techno @ SPIN

Sunday, October 2, 2022:

• Desert Daze Festival @ Moreno Beach, Lake Perris, CA 
• La Mesa Oktoberfest (12pm-8pm)
• Oktoberfest 2022 with Die Guggenbach Buam @ German American Societies of San Diego (12pm-9pm)
• Bartleby Bloss Memorial Bash feat. Spring Passing, Strange Planet @ Casbah (FREE - No Ticket needed, 12pm)
• The King Khan & BBQ Show, Miranda and the Beat @ Casbah (7:30pm)
• Dirty Cello @ The Merrow (6:30pm)
• QAnon Anonymous Podcast Live - Reptilian Recon Tour @ Soda Bar
• Rosalía: Motomami World Tour, @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, SDSU
• Oktoberfest Weekend with Mad Hat Hucksters (4-6pm), The Beer Mugs (12-3pm) @ Panama 66
• Camilo @ Pechanga Arena
• LN & Desert Daze Present: Viagra Boys & Shame, Kill Birds @ The Observatory North Park
• Whitney Shay, The Tighten Ups, The Sea Monks @ Belly Up 
• Trace Amount, King Yosef, Orange Crystal & Skrapez @ Whistle Stop
• Point North, Jeris Johnson, Fran Roz, JordyPurp @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
• Vacation, Lenguas Largas @ Tower Bar 
• Billy Nation - A Tribute to Billy Joel @ Music Box 
• Clerks III: The Convenience Tour @ Balboa Theatre
• Payare Leads Verdi's Requiem with San Diego Master Chorale @ The Shell
• Oceanside Theatre Company Presents Billie! Backstage with Lady Day @ Brooks Theater, Oceanside
• Come Fall In Love - The DDLJ Musical @ The Old Globe
• What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank @ The Old Globe
• Broadway San Diego presents Cats @ Civic Theatre
• Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord @ La Jolla Playhouse
• Greetings from the Red Planet @ Palomar College Studio Theatre 
• Ain't Misbehavin' - CCAE Theatricals @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• San Diego Padres vs. Chicago White Sox @ Petco Park
• Concert in the Park @ Spreckels Organ Pavilion (2pm, Free)
• San Diego Baroque @ La Jolla Athenaeum (12pm Mini-Concert) 
• Velour, Surf Farmer @ Winston's (4pm)
• Karaoke "Jose Sinatra hosts O.B.-o-ke - San Diego's Best Karaoke" @ Winston's (8pm)
• Women On Wheels @ Quartyard (11am-3pm)
• karaoke @ The Merrow
• Jazz Jam with Dylan Soto @ Aztec Brewing Company, Vista
• Live Music @ Sycamore Den (6-8pm)
• (hed)PE  @ The Holding Company
• Buzz Campbell And The Heartaches @ Grand Ole BBQ & Asado
• Che Cafe Unplugged with Lisa Sanders, Tunnel, Jabril Yousef, Crasher @ Che Cafe 
• Anthony Ortega Jazz Quartet @ Mr. Peabody's
• Hog, Early Moods with special guests @ Til-Two Club
• Salsa Sundays @ Queen Bee's (All Ages)
• Rob Thorsen @ Veranda Bar, Westgate Hotel (10:30am-1:30pm)
• Jesse Davis Documentary @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (12pm)
• Ritz Vanity, Glassfault, Dolphins on Acid @ Navajo Live 
• Darryl WIlliams @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (7pm)
• Karoake @ 710 Beach Club
• Trivia and Sake Nights @ Mikami
  

Monday, October 3, 2022:

• The Luka State, Micky James, Cousin Simple @ Casbah 
• Metric - The Doomscroller Tour, Secret Machines @ The Observatory
• Aida Cuevas: 45th Anniversary - Yo Creo Que Es Tiempo with Mariachi Aztlán, Mariachi Los Campero @ The Shell 
• Lady Dottie & The Diamonds @ Tower Bar 
• Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest @ The Loft
• San Diego Padres vs.  San Francisco Giants  @ Petco Park
• Electric Waste Band @ Winston's 
• Blue Monday with DJ Camilla Robina, DJ Heather Hardcore @ The Merrow
• Trivia Night w/Kyle @ Pour House 
• Blues & Classic Rock Jam @ Aztec Brewery, Vista
• Caleb Hearn, Rosie Darling, Presence @ House of Blues
• Ron Houston & the Berry Pickers @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
• Open Mic with Jay Cain @ Mr. Peabody's
• Lion's Law, Komintern Sect, Broken Cuffs, Sucio @ Til-Two Club
• Karaoke @ The Holding Company
• Caliente Mondays Salsa y Bachata @ Tio Leo's
• Karaoke @ The Holding Company
• Proteus, Faerie Qveene @ Navajo Live 
• Line Dancing Lessons @ Moonshine Beach 
• Mic'd Up at Moonshine  @ Moonshine Flats 

Tuesday, October 4, 2022:

• The Bronx, The Chats, Drug Church, Scowl @ Music Box
• Lake Street Dive, Devon Gilfillian @ Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay
• Sarah Shook & the Disarmers @ Casbah
• Sheer Mag, Twompsax, DFMK @ Soda Bar
• Leonid & Friends @ Belly Up
• Carbon Leaf @ Winston's
• The Midnight, NIGHTLY @ The Observatory
• Westside Boogie: More Black Superheros Tour 2022, GRIP, Bobby Sessions, Dappa @ SOMA Sidestage 
• Rebecca Jade @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
• January Band @ Tio Leo's
• San Diego Padres vs.  San Francisco Giants  @ Petco Park
• YeloHill @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
• Rolling Loud Presents: Lancey Foux - Lifeinhell Tour Pt. 2, Hook, Dom Corleo @ House of Blues
• Zeal & Ardor, Sylvaine, Imperial Triumphant @ Brick by Brick
• Blues Berry Jam @ Queen Bee's
• Trivia Night @ 710 Beach Club
• Karaoke @ The Merrow
• Karaoke @ Aztec Brewing Company, Vista
• Line Dancing @ Moonshine Beach 
• Something Funky @ Tower Bar
• Karaoke @ Bancroft Bar
• Open Mic Comedy Night @ The Rabbit Hole
• Come Fall In Love - The DDLJ Musical @ The Old Globe
• Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord @ La Jolla Playhouse
• Terrible Tuesday All Vinyl DJ Night wtih DJ Lexicon Devil @ Pour House 
• Karaoke @ Peabody's
• Trivia Night @ Park & Rec
• Karaoke with Christine @ Navajo Live 
  

Things To Do In San Diego: El Vez | Frau Eva | Jim Rao Fan Club | Bayfest with Atmosphere | Willie Nelson | Adia Victoria | Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 | Ikana |

I know I missed a couple days, but I did finally get around to doing the listings. Mostly because my COVID-19 bed rest has my sleep even more messed up than normal, so I'll definitely spend most of the weekend offline...or at least not working and bingeing on whatever shows and movies I can find between all the streaming sites. And probably watch some San Diego Zoo cams, too, because I miss my babies. I'm going to believe that I've already gone through the worst of this illness and that I'll be fine to do listings for the big upcoming Pride and Comic-Con weekends but I guess I can only take it day by day. Time flies, until you're sick and isolating. 

Be safe out there. COVID is all around us and as I can attest, it fucking SUCKS. 

In addition to the listings, SaN Diego County put together a pretty rad guide called The Upside of Outside that is worth looking at for fun stuff around the county. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Wednesday, May 25-Tuesday, May 31, 2022: Hatchie | OMD | Sir Chloe | Adolescents | The Palms | Rex Orange County | FREE Neon Beat Dance Party | Spoon | Still Corners |

Hatchie (Taken 4.5.2019)

I have to admit that when I've actually had the time to find old photos I've taken of bands playing in the upcoming week, it's been kind of fun to post them, even if some of the make me cringe at just how bad they are or remembering how long it took me to finally buy and learn how to use a better camera...though I still think if I dug further for old CyberShot point and shoot pics, I may be surprised at how good some of those got. 

Still, this is a funny week because it's Memorial Day weekend so I don't have a lot of history with many bands playing this week. In a world where COVID didn't exist and I had could go to any show I wanted to, I would likely be at OMD this week, whose opener, In The Valley Below, I've shot at least two times, maybe three, and can't find any photos. I've shot Hatchie a couple times and would love to go to the show at Casbah but I think it's right when we have to go to my parents' house to move my dad. I've been to a dozen Adolescents shows, but mainly as their merch seller so only a couple pics of them, and I don't know if I bothered taking shots the one time I saw GWAR. I've seen and shot Spoon a lot, but not sure I was organized enough with their photos for all those times, and it's funny that my Rex Orange County photos were the best of this lot, but I think there's a whole gap of Observatory shows that were on a hard drive that was stolen from me while I was selling merch at some random show.   

So whatever. 

It's Memorial Day weekend. 

Have fun. 

Wear a goddamn mask indoors. 

Be safe out there. 

CoViD-19: Schools Projected To Fully Reopen This Fall | Biden Creates Supreme Court Commission | Bowen Bikes SD | SD Local Musgrove Throws Padres First Ever No Hitter |

Amur Leopard (Taken 3.19.21)

Thursday was "Zoo Lovers Day" and we didn't make it to the San Diego Zoo. As I shared last night, Darren and I went to the Casbah opening and then had a fun night in the speakeasy. That made for a super lazy day around the house and Darren picking up Yak N Yeti for dinner, which was our first time having it since before the pandemic. I attempted my own saag paneer a few times over the course of the last year, but it's just not the same as getting it from people who know what they're doing. So yum. 

Today felt like a good news day overall. Dr. Walensky said she expects schools to be fully in-person this fall and predicted what I've been hoping all week, which is that 12-15 year olds could begin getting vaccinated as early as mid-May. Meanwhile, Jeff Zients said they're not changing vaccine distribution strategies despite new hotspots in the country, which is kinda like saying maybe y'all should've kept mask mandates and mitigation measures and the administration isn't gonna punish states who've been doing the right thing because the ones who reopened too early are now seeing spikes. And then Biden spoke and he's authorized a commission to look into the Supreme Court, which to me is just kinda putting McConnell on notice that we're coming for his decade of obstructionism. Finally, I'm not gonna act like I care much about Major League Baseball though I've been to my share of Padres games, but it is pretty cool that a homegrown pitcher threw the franchise's first ever no-hitter. Especially against Texas. Very satisfying. 

The Casbah was featured again on the news, this time on News8, so I'll throw up the link if they make it shareable. In the meantime, stay safe out there and have a great weekend.

Let's Talk Music: Waxahatchee Livestream | Jason Mraz Releases Track With Tiffany Haddish | Switchfoot Sells Out Drive-In Concert | Casbah Videos

New Years Eve with the Creepy Creeps 12.31.2019

It's been awhile since I've really posted anything about music. Obviously, part of the reason is that music has shut down, so it's a little painful to think too much about it, but also I had been so busy writing for SoundDiego and still doing newsletters and socials for the Casbah that I kinda let the pandemic take over my site. And no offense to readers, I appreciate all the support, but though I may seem quite angry or stressed out, I've found the exercise of watching the daily briefings and aggregating important articles to be quite therapeutic for me. If I can write it down, I can release if from my mind and be free of the worry. So anyway, there are a lot of things happening in the music world, and there are plenty of ways to follow all of the livestreams and free things that are coming out....Consequence of Sound, Bands In Town, Paste, KCRW, NPR, Noisey and many many others are keeping running lists, so you can find all of that on your own, but I'm just sharing a few nuggets below. After the jump.

SoundDiego: #BandTogether | Bro-Am Canceled | Club Relief Funds | Local Pandemic Playlist

On Friday, the Casbah launched a YouTube channel called Casbah Live, which will post a new playlist every Friday at 1pm. It kicked off with a playlist curated by Tim Mays, but will also feature local musicians, journalists, fans, and more. I included this in my Sunday story for San Diego, but you can check out my most recent pieces below.

4.3: Artists, Venues #BandTogether for Local-Music Livestream Series

4.4: 2020 Switchfoot Bro-Am Canceled, Kick off Fundraiser

4.5: Kick Something in to Help Out the Clubs

4.6: Help Local Musicians Featured on the San Diego Pandemic Playlist

Photos: JS Ondara, Cat Clyde @ Casbah, April 10, 2019

I can't promise today will be an all day posting day because I'm considering buying a bus pass and just cruising around the City today with no real destination, but I do want to post some of my old drafts that were never shared. Below are photos of J.S. Ondara who played an amazing and to capacity show at the Casbah in April. It was sad to find out at that time he'd already announced a fall tour without a San Diego date, but maybe he'll surprise us and join the Wonderfront lineup or some other bigger event that we're just not yet aware of. If you have the chance to see him, you definitely should, though his voice is so haunting, you might need the Kleenex. Photos of J.S. Ondara and stunning opener Cat Clyde are after the jump.

Photos: Peter, Bjorn & John @ The Irenic. May 5, 2019

Peter, Bjorn and John played at the Irenic on Cinco de Mayo this year, but I was happy to be working at their show. Little did we know that mere months later, The Irenic would be shut down by the City, so we maybe should've appreciated what we had a little more. Still, this was an excellent show. I was a little bummed that the room was only about half house...having seen the band before when "Young Folks" was all the rage, their shows were selling out in every city, but so goes the music biz in 2019. The empty space in the room didn't matter, however, when the band jumped into the crowd and played some jams. I'm sorry these didn't get posted sooner. These and dozens of others were held up in drafts and never published.

Photos: Wild Child, Stelth Ulvang at Casbah, May 5, 2018

After leaving the Hot Snakes show at the Observatory, I caught an Uber down to the Cabsah for the sold out show with Wild Child and Stelth Ulvang. It was obvious a lot of people were there to catch Stelth, a "touring member of the Lumineers", but unfortunately he was playing his last song when I arrived. I have to be super honest, I'd written off Wild Child. I confused them for the local Doors tribute band and was always astonished they could sell out the rooms they played. When I finally put it together and decided to check them out, I could've kicked myself, because they're everything I love in a band....a big folky ensemble with guitars and violin and mandolin and boy girl harmonies and call and response. They're a lot like The Head and the Heart and you know I'm obsessed with that band. So yeah, totally late to the party, but I will definitely make a point to catch them whenever they come back to town moving forward. The wide shots below are from my Samsung, the rest with my Canon. Pictures after the jump.

Photos: Typhoon at Music Box, February 10, 2018

I told you how I went to Vegas a few weeks back for The National. On that trip, Jeff and I had 12+ hours in the car for the roundtrip adventure, and as such, we listened to a ton of new records, including Offerings, the latest from Typhoon. The record is amazing, and weird, and intricate, and heartbreaking, and powerful. Listening through the desert, I'd decided that I had to see what they're about live. Because the record is a cohesive story in four parts, I was curious if they'd just play the whole thing front to back. That would've been awesome, but also maybe too intense, so I was actually surprised how uplifting and fun the show was. Despite the seriousness of the record, and the amazing musicianship, the members themselves don't seem to take themselves too seriously, and the energy from the stage to the crowd and back again was easy to get caught up in. I took a zillion photos, and several of them are after the jump.

Photos: St. Vincent at Observatory North Park January 27, 2018

I'm not gonna lie. I am kind of embarrassed to share these photos. I was so excited to see St. Vincent at the Observatory a couple weeks back. She's long been one of Darren's favorites and over time has become one of mine, too. I had the chance to see her a few times before, including House of Blues and the tour with David Byrne in Orange County, but this one was even better for numerous reasons-- it was on my home turf, I got to shoot, she was playing solo, I got to see her with Darren, her aunt and uncle Tuck & Patti opened the show after hearing about them for years, Nova was at a sleepover, it was a Saturday night...the reasons are endless. And then I get 50 pictures loaded in and see that the lighting was actually TOO good and got every speck of dust and hair that's just locked in my camera. I have two cats and a dog, I carry my cameras just about everywhere and not in their photo bag, so I'm just always going to have imperfections, but on someone as flawless as Annie Clark--St Vincent--they're just way worse. So my apologies, I don't use lightbox or edit my photos, you get them how I shot them. And if I don't share them then I get backed up and stop sharing altogether and it's a big downward spiral. But I'll spare you and put them after the jump. (Unless you're on mobile, then you'll just get them all in one quick burst).

Upcoming Casbah & Casbah Presents Shows (Update 7.1.2016)

I don't know about you, but I cannot wait for this weekend. I've updated all of the Casbah shows, including the adds that I only listed last week while I was on vacation. The summer is looking pretty great for Casbah and Casbah presents shows. Shows through midmonth are below, and everything else on the books is after the jump.


Fri Jul 01 - Schizophonics Soul Revue, The Magnificent with Mighty Manfred, The RaveUps, DJ Claire & Mr Mazee @ Casbah 

Sat Jul 02 - Kevin Morby, Big Thief @ Casbah

Kevin Morby

Sun Jul 03 - Booty Bassment @ The Casbah

Wed Jul 06 - Joe Pug @ The Casbah

Thu Jul 07 - Big Bloom (Album Release), Splavender, the Bad Vibes @ The Casbah

Fri Jul 08 - Big Sandy and His Flyrite Boys, Deke Dickerson and the Ecco-Fonics, Hotshot Drifters @ The Casbah

Sat Jul 09 White Lung, Plague Vendor @ The Casbah

Sun Jul 10 - Kyle Craft @ The Casbah

Mon Jul 11 - Parker Milsap, Travis Linville @ The Casbah

Tue Jul 12 - Smoke Season, Caught a Ghost @ The Casbah

Tue Jul 12 - M Ward, Nice As Fuck (NAF) @ Belly Up Tavern

Wed Jul 13 - Wheeler Walker Jr., Birdcloud @ Casbah

Thu Jul 14 - Deerhoof, Skating Polly, Weird Night @ The Casbah

Fri Jul 15 - Phoebe Ryan, Cardiknox, Secret Weapons @ The Casbah

Fri Jul 15 - We Are Scientists @ House of Blues - Voodoo Room

Upcoming Casbah & Casbah Presents Shows (Updated 6.17.2016)

It's been almost two weeks since I last updated The Casbah list of upcoming events and there are so many new shows. Besides all of the Observatory shows added, I'm super excited about the return of Blind Pilot to the Belly Up (already close to selling out), The White Buffalo, Kula  Shaker, Black Joe Lewis, The Descendents, Brendan James, The Black Heart Procession, Stage Kids, Escort, and my favorite, Rocky Votolato, celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Makers. Everything on the books is after the jump.

Fri Jun 17 - The Muffs (Record Re-Release Party), Claw Hammer, Schizophonics, The Touchies @ The Casbah

Fri Jun 17 - Tokyo Police Club, We Were Promised Jetpacks @ Belly Up Tavern

Fri Jun 17 - PRAYERS @ Observatory North Park

Sat Jun 18 - Day Wave, Nico Yaryan, The Filthy Violets @ Casbah

Day Wave

Sat Jun 18 - Sarah Jarosz, Curtis McMurtry @ The Irenic

Sun Jun 19 - You Won't, Bombadil, Jocelyn Mackenzie @ The Casbah

You Won't

Mon Jun 20 - Federico Aubele, Bossa Bebe @ The Casbah

Tue Jun 21 - The Blank Tapes, The Pesos, The Rotten Mangos @ The Casbah

Wed Jun 22 - Mimosa, Real J Wallace, Skinny Vinny, DJ Artistic @ The Casbah

Thu Jun 23 - Suuns, JJUUJJUU @ The Casbah

Thu Jun 23 -  Radkey, All People @ Soda Bar

Fri Jun 24 - Mattson 2, Montalban Quintet, Krass Bros. @ The Casbah

Sat Jun 25 - Good Old War (Acoustic Performance), Empty Houses @ Casbah (8pm)

Sat Jun 25 - Buck-O-Nine, Penetrators (Riverside), Oceanside Sound System @ The Hideout

Sun Jun 26 - Skyterra, Gayle Skidmore, Kid Wilderness @ The Casbah

Upcoming Casbah & Casbah Presents Shows (Updated 6.6.2016)

Things have been super busy so I wanted to update this when I had the chance. There are always a ton of new shows from week to week, and some new ones I'm excited about, like Dinosaur Jr at the Belly Up, Declan McKenna at The Irenic, and Joe Pug at the Casbah. Here's a complete list of everything on the books.

Mon Jun 06 - The Gory Details, Zombie Surf Camp, The Blood Ponies @ The Casbah

Mon Jun 06 - Caravan Palace, Bakkuda @ Observatory North Park

Tue Jun 07 - PigPen Theatre Co. @ The Casbah

Wed Jun 08 - Gavin Turek, Monogem @ The Casbah

Thu Jun 09 - The Sleepwalkers, Goma, Super Buffet @ The Casbah

Fri Jun 10 - Islands, Ted Leo, Honus Honus @ Casbah

Fri Jun 10 - Arbor Labor Union, BLOOM, Polish @ The Hideout

Sat Jun 11 - Vinyl Junkies Record Swap The Casbah (11am-5pm, $3)

Sat Jun 11 - Mutual Benefit, florist @ Casbah

Mutual Benefit

Sat Jun 11 - The Sadies, Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet, The Loons @ The Hideout 

Sun Jun 12 - Holy Fuck, Doomsquad @ The Casbah

Photos: Frightened Rabbit at Belly Up (5.21.2016)

I was nothing but excited about last weekend's music offerings, but after being slightly disappointed by Damien Jurado (mostly because he chose to sit the whole show), I tried not to get too excited about Frightened Rabbit on Saturday. Fortunately, there was nothing to be disappointed about. Scott was as amazing as always, his banter with the crowd makes his crowd adore him, and the band played everything we wanted them to play, including the bold move of starting their set with their latest single, "Get Out". I adore Frightened Rabbit and though I know there probably won't be any small Casbah shows where we all hang out and do shots after the set, it's great to see them and hear them still playing amazing music.

It was definitely a crowded show and thus I enjoyed our table by the soundboard without moving around and basically took a million pictures that look pretty much identical but that's how I roll. The more excited I am about a show, the more pictures I take. You can see a bunch of them after the jump.

Here's the setlist:

Upcoming Casbah and Casbah Presents Shows (Update 4.13.2016)

My last update of upcoming Casbah and Casbah Presents shows was at the beginning of the month and I swear, I'm just amazed sometime just how quickly things get booked and added. There are too many for me to point out, but some personal highlights for me include Broncho, Rhett Miller, Kurt Vile, The Joy Formidable, and M Ward.  Of course, those are all down the road...tonight I can't wait for Chvrches, and then the next two weeks are kind of insane. I've been a little run down, but hoping I can rally and get back on the scene. Shows after the weekend are after the jump.

Wed Apr 13 - Spencer Moody of Murder City Devils, Iska Dhaaf @ Casbah

Wed Apr 13 - Lord Huron @ Belly Up (SOLD OUT)

Wed Apr 13 - CHVRCHES, Alvvays @ The Observatory North Park (SOLD OUT)

Chvrches