Writer, The Ringers & This Holiday Life, Beauty Bar, 2-16-08

So I had quite the weekend and have over a hundred pictures to sort through from Saturday, as well as my weekly "things to do" listings to get to, but I'm not really in the mood. I just feel like writing about the rest of the weekend...pics will come later, as well as video of Swim Party from last Monday, The Prayers from Thursday and Cory Branan from Friday.

Saturday night was a Beauty Bar night for me. The bands are starting a little bit later these days, so I had some time to hang out, grab a bite nearby, and post up for This Holiday Life. It was my first time seeing them and I really enjoyed them. They fell in the vein of Agualung for me...beautiful soaring vocals and very piano heavy. I realized that I'd left my camera battery at home, so Abraham and I snuck off mid-set to pick it up. I clocked it and my apartment is 3 minutes from the Beauty Bar.

By the time we got back, we heard there was some mix-up and the Ringers went onstage second instead of Writer. Perhaps it was a weird booking to put the two together, but I know there was a little anxiety that The Ringers super high energy show would somehow overshadow Writer's more melodic and quiet set, but I'm happy to say that not only did both bands play well, but the crowd stuck around for both bands and I think appreciated them both.

The Ringers of course were all over the stage and did their LA brand of rock n roll and they do not disappoint. Again, another dude-heavy fanbase, but it was ok, I strapped my camera around my wrist and did my best to take some pics.












After they were done, I met them outside. Joe, the singer, has a sister named Rosie, so he was really nice to me and we kinda talked about the lineup change, and it just seemed like a fluke- nobody to blame but they had to get back to LA.

Back inside, Writer took the stage and sounded great. I kept joking that after The Ringers, they'd have to keep up the momentum with a few leg kicks, but they did what they do and nobody seemed to mind that they were much more mellow. I freaking love them and really can't say enough about how much I love their CD as well as what great people they all are "in real life."






After the show, Abe and I hit the Ken Club for last call, then hung out until 6 am sitting on my kitchen counter just shooting the shit, before I eventually went to sleep.

keep on reading...

Drag The River, Cory Branan, & The Silent Comedy @ Casbah, 2-15-08

Friday rolled around and my bosses were kind enough to let us bail early, which was great because after the rainy day Thursday, Friday's weather was a lot nicer. I had to run an errand in Golden Hill, so I picked up my dog and we ran around the Grape Street dog park for a while. Pascha is deathly afraid of having her picture taken, but I tried to sneak a couple in, then she caught on and kept a good thirty feet from me until we were ready to leave, at which point she ran out of the park on her own and sat next to my car door.



After that, a brief nap, then it was time to head back to the Casbah for Drag The River, Cory Branan, and Silent Comedy. People are finally realizing what an amazing band The Silent Comedy are. I decided not to take pictures of them because they had a professional photographer there with a flash set up behind the stage and I didn't wanna ruin his shots, but it allowed me to get into the revival. There's this movie called The Apostle that I love- and their set reminds me of that movie. If you've seen it, perhaps you know what I'm talking about. If not, it's worth adding to your NetFlix queue.

I bumped into Seth at the show and he introduced me to Cory Branan who was such a nice guy. Hailing from Tennessee, I could easily see him tour with Steve Poltz & Bob Schneider with his sometimes quirky and oddball lyrics. Not your typical dude with a guitar, which is probably why he has so many whiskey swilling dude fans. This is music not made for coffee shops, and I loved it.






Between bands, Vena Cava played in the Atari Lounge, but they were so loud that they could be heard throughout the Casbah. I like them a lot, but it was pretty packed at the back bar so I listened from the patio. The punkboarders were out in full force, as well. Oh, and then I was at the back bar for a minute when some dude came up and turned on the sauce flirting with me, but I think he was just hoping I'd be so flattered I'd buy him a drink. Yes, Steve, Mr. Firefighter from Carlsbad, I'm calling you out.

Drag The River took the stage last and they had a set list of about 40 songs on their guitars, though I couldn't really say how much of them they got through, because it seemed they got cut short toward the end of the night. Perhaps I'd lost track of time, but it felt a little premature. I can't really say though, because I was out on the patio or in the back bar for more than half their set. I like the band a lot, but they're also a dude's band and the crowd was a little rowdy for my taste. Not pushing or fighting or anything, but just a lot of alcohol pouring and a lot of raised drink sing-a-longs. Kinda felt like a frat party I wasn't invited to.





After the show, Laura Jane and Jason came over and we stayed up really late. LJ left when it was just about sun up, but Jason and I were up well past sunrise, eventually laying out in my backyard and I even got a sunburn. It was awesome- these legs haven't seen sun in some time. Eventually I had to crash out and sorta lost the day, but it was all worthwhile. Below are some pics from the patio...

keep on reading...

Win Tickets To Drag The River, Cory Branan & The Silent Comedy

This is certainly a Casbah heavy week. In fact, I'll be heading down in support of the House Party girls and the San Diego Burrito Project. Then, of course, there's Grand Ole Party on Thursday night, which San Diego is buzzing about. But there's another great show this week that should be noted, and I've got a pair of tickets up for grabs.

Drag the River, Cory Branan, and Silent Comedy are all performing (with Vena Cava in the Atari Lounge) this Friday night at the Casbah. Drag The River has an interesting history of being an on again/off again band. Their last time around, in fact, Chad had to perform mostly solo because his bandmates ditched him in Colorado (or something like that). The dude is awesome and can put down some serious whiskey.

Cory Branan is an amazing performer who is beyond the singer-songwriter label, as he's not a cry in your beer kinda guy, but rather an inspired troubadour...

And then there's Silent Comedy- one of San Diego's finest bands-

It's going to be a great night at the Casbah, and you can see it all for free. Send an e-mail to me by 5 pm on Wednesday. Include your name & phone number and I'll notify the winner on Thursday. e-mail sddialedin AT gmail DOT com.

Stream Cory Branan here and here

Cory Branan

keep on reading...

Sunday Night Recap: Rocky Votolato, Drag The River, Street To Nowhere

Sunday was a good day to kick around the house…I missed the Tower Bar BBQ and also Wine Cabana’s dog day, but sometimes a gray day outside calls for pajamas and chores and hanging out with mis animales. Somehow I even forgot to watch Entourage and the Sopranos, so I guess I’ll have to catch up later this week.

Instead, it was an evening of my single most favorite musician, Rocky Votolato. I was surprised by how crowded the Casbah was on a Sunday night, but he’s developed quite an audience, as has Drag the River. It was nice to see that many people out nonetheless.

The show was opened by Street to Nowhere, a four piece band outta Oakland. I liked them a lot and there was a quality about them that brougth to mind Bright Eyes crossed with Two Gallants minus the country elements to those artists, but I’m not sure if it was just the quiet to loud moments in the music or something else that brought those bands to my mind. They seemed pretty yound and I’m sure they’ll be back around soon as headliners.









Drag the River was next, but in reality was just Chad, the singer, and his acoustic guitar. “Let’s be honest,” he said, “some things happened on the road and some people flew home, so I’m all you get tonight.” The drummer was there but didn’t back him up as he sang beautiful songs about love and loss and being drunk while loving and losing. People will probably throw rocks at me, but his reminded me of John Mellencamp, and I liked it.



Finally Rocky played and the number of people singing along to every song (I’m guilty, of course) was amazing. He was backed by Chad and the drummer of Drag The River for most of the songs.



Though I’ve seen him switch to an acoustic guitar in the past, he stuck exclusively to his electric guitar, even when the guys left the stage for him to play alone. When he played Suicide Medicine, he asked the crowd to help out and it seemed everyone knew every single word. I was up front and trying not to be obnoxious with my camera, but sometimes I get carried away, so hopefully he wasn’t too annoyed with it.







It was cool to see he had his wife and sister there with him, but I was too shy to introduce myself. I did ask Rocky for the setlist, and he said he was mostly playing off the list from Phoenix, so here that is.



When the show ended I bolted and I can’t believe Monday is already upon us. This should be a great week for music so no staying in. The Appleseed Cast is playing Anti Monday league, Aerogramme and The Twilight Sad will be at the Casbah on Tuesday, The Sky Drops will be at SDSC on Wednesday and Mad Juana will be at Kava Lounge the same night… You can sleep when you’re dead, get out an support the music…

keep on reading...