FM 94/9 Holiday Hootenanny 12.11.2010

Earlier this week, my photos from the Holiday Hootenanny were put up on SoundDiego, but I've got some more and haven't had the chance to write about the whole show. It was definitely a fun night. I took my friend Steve to the show, mostly because he's really easygoing and since I knew I'd be taking photos, he would be on his own for a lot of the night. What I didn't know is that he'd eaten a giant pot brownie, so within an hour of our arrival, he was telling me that we'd have to cab home. So much for my designated driver...at that point I pretty much left him to watch the show as I bounced back and forth between the photo pit and the VIP lounge. There was a little taco spread and they were serving complimentary wine and Guiness Black Lager, which is apparently test marketing in San Diego. It was good, but I'd gone big on Friday and wasn't really into drinking too heavily, so I took it easy and mostly just caught up with friends between bands.

Tokyo Police Club kicked off the night and sounded awesome on the big stage. It was fun shooting with awesome lighting so I just went with it.


Sleigh Bells was next onstage and though I was looking forward to seeing them since they were the only band on the bill that I hadn't seen before but I just wasn't feeling it. Their backing tracks were far more complex than their actual live performance. The lighting was mainly red lights and strobe so my photos really aren't worth posting. I spend most of the three songs in the pit trying to assess what part of the performance was actually live. To be honest, it didn't feel like much of it was live. Maybe that's fine for a club, but at a show like this, I want live music. I went back upstairs until The Temper Trap were on.

I've seen them twice before and this was better than the other two for me, maybe because of the energy of the crowd, but it also might be because this performance felt a little more diverse...it wasn't that alto vox the whole way through the set.


I was really happy to see Against Me! again. The last time I saw the band was a few years back at Warped Tour, and since they played back to back with Rise Against, my brain had confused the two, but I really loved Against Me's latest record, White Crosses, and to be honest and slightly sexist, I really wanted some manly rock. I definitely got that with their performance and found myself forgetting to take pictures because I was so into the band's performance and Tom Gabel just really does it for me. He's super sexy and owns the stage when he's on it.


Between bands I went back upstairs. The VIP area traditionally shuts down before the headlining band, so I had a couple quick beers. While standing around with friends, a guy started talking to me. He was hilarious and told me that he has snuck into the VIP area (twice) and the second time his friends were too afraid to follow. He had a fun energy, but the band was about to start to I had to bail and get downstairs and slipped into the elevator as it was closing. The Black Keys are always fantastic and you just get the feeling that they love San Diego and that they love FM 94/9. They had also got their Grammy nominations just a few days before so there was this infectious energy in the arena.

After the three songs, I was wandering and bumped back into Patrick, the sneaky kid in the VIP area, and he convinced me that we had to SEE the show. I cannot tell you the last time I was at a big show and actually maneuvered through a crowd, but within 10 minutes, that's exactly what we were doing. We're on the floor surrounded mostly by kids and worked out way all the way back up to the front. It was hot and stinky and sweaty and I had crowdsurfers passing over my head and it was awesome. Patrick turned to be quite sheisty and was telling people all kinds of shit...that I was some reporter and needed to get "my story" and whatever and whispering to me, "just go with it." I did and the crowd was spastic and we got carried around as it shifted and though I felt like I'd been hit by a bus the next day, I felt like a kid when I was in it.



Things worked out in the end, thankfully Natalie offered to drive Steve and I back home and I closed my night out at the Ken Club.

I took almost 400 pictures but nobody wants to see that many photos, so here's a little slideshow of some of the rest of my shots. Huge thanks to FM 94/9 for another great show and I look forward to whatever is around the corner for 2011.

Contest: FM 94/9 Holiday Hootenanny Tickets

The FM 94/9 Holiday Hootenanny is almost here and there are still some tickets available. I've been pretty excited about the station's lineups in the past, but this one takes the cake, especially with all the Grammy nominations that the Black Keys received.

The Black Keys, Against Me!, The Temper Trap, Sleigh Bells, Tokyo Police Club

Tickets are $40 and you can skip service fees by getting your tickets at the Price Center box office.

My friends over at FM 94/9 really want YOU to be at the show, so they're letting me give away a pair of tickets to one lucky person. Send an email with the subject "Hootenanny" to sddialedin AT gmail DOT com. Include your full name and phone number. I will select a winner at random on Friday. While my dear personal friends can enter, don't try and guilt me or beg me because like all of my contests, there will be no advantage given to anyone.

FM 94/9 Announces Holiday Hootenanny

I posted about some upcoming holiday shows, but today is super special because FM 94/9 has announced their Holiday Hootenanny.

Event: Holiday Hootenanny
Station: FM 94/9
Date: December 11, 2010
Location: RIMAC Arena, UCSD
Lineup: The Black Keys, Against Me!, The Temper Trap, Sleigh Bells, Tokyo Police Club
Onsale: November 16, 12noon via FM949sd.com, Price Center Ballroom, Ticketmaster
More Info: FM949sd.com

I have one thing to say about this: KICK ASS.

Just Another Saturday In San Diego

This weekend is going to be a big one in San Diego, so in advance of posting all your weekend listings I thought I'd remind you where I'll be.

First, The Rumble is back for it's fifth installment at the Casbah. The monthly event will, as always, be free, and will start at 3 pm on Saturday. This month features Tape Deck Mountain, The Drowning Men, All Wrong and The Plans Change, and DJ Andy Ralph of Writer on the decks. The show will be over by 6 pm, so you can get up to the other biggie of the day...



The FM 94/9 SD Holiday Hootenanny is finally here. The SOLD OUT show is going to be a good one. If you're over 21, plan on dressing warm (possible rain) so you can enjoy the beer garden on RiMAC field. The full lineup for Saturday has been released as follows:

Doors: 5pm
The Styletones 5-6pm
White Rabbits 6-6:35pm
Manchester Orchestra 6:50-7:25pm
Phoenix 7:50-8:40pm
Vampire Weekend 9:10-10pm
Spoon 10:30-11:30pm



And I'm not sure if time will allow for it, but Tristeza is celebrating the release of their latest CD, Fate Unfolds with a west coast tour and will be hitting the Casbah on Saturday.

FREE Mp3 :: "Manitas" from 'Fate Unfolds'

FM 94/9 Holiday Hootenanny Pre-Sale NOW

For music junkies like me, this is already old news, but if you're living under a rock and haven't heard, FM 94/9 announced the return of the Holiday Hootenanny earlier this week and in all honesty, I don't know that I've ever been to a multi-band show or lineup where there was a band I wasn't really into. Spoon, Vampire Weekend, Phoenix, Manchester Orchestra and White Rabbits. (and my boys are playing the infield but I don't wanna leak that just yet). In this case, I LOVE every band and have seen all of them at least twice (except this show will pop my Phoenix cherry). Tickets are $38.50. The pre-sale is happening right now through Sunday and with Ticketmaster charges, will knock you back about $50. You have to be an insider for the password.

Who: FM 94/9 presents Spoon, Vampire Weekend, Phoenix, Manchester Orchestra, White Rabbits
What: Holiday Hootenanny
Where: UCSD Rimac Arena
When: December 12, 2009
Why: Duh. Because they're awesome.

And from the station:

However, if you want to avoid the service charges, you can buy tickets at the UCSD's Price Center Box Office on Monday, November 9th starting at noon. We'll be out at the Price Center between noon and 2pm and will hook anyone who makes a purchase of Holiday Hootenanny tickets with a CD from one of the artists or a pair of tickets to see Julian Plenti at House of Blues on Saturday, November 14th. This offer, of course, is while supplies last.

This show is going to be amazing and I suspect it will sell out quickly, so don't snooze. Click the banner for more information.

FM 94/9 2007 Holiday Hootenanny

You might recall that I was looking for a "plus one" to go with me to the Hootenanny. I had VIP passes and was looking for someone who'd be willing to drive to UCSD. I was glad that my friend Adam responded, had I known he wanted to go I would've just asked him. We made sure to arrive early because we didn't want to miss out on the grub like I always seem to do for events. We got there as the gates opened walked right in. We made our way to the outdoor tent area and grabbed a couple beers while we chatted with the bartender and some random people who were confused about some things. FM 94/9 had a promotion during the last week before the show that anyone who bought a ticket at designated spots got a free lift ticket but a few people seemed to think they got one just for going to the show. Once we straightened that out, it was time to chill out, have a burger, and enjoy the show.

Adam used to work for 94/9, so he was chatting with friends when I went to watch Reeve Oliver, and O asked over the mic if I'd found a date. Thank god I don't embarass easily.






The field was set up like last year, with a full beer garden and plasma screens all over, so we ended up watching Rogue Wave from outside, though I'm hoping to catch the show at the Belly Up in January. We went into the venue for Mute Math and they were so entertaining, jumping all over the stage. Like an idiot, my battery for my camera was running low, so I was pretty conservative taking pictures, but I was able to snap a few throughout the night.





At one point the drummer dove into the crowd, then had his drum passed into the crowd, which somehow he managed to play as he and his drum were passed over the crowd. Pretty great showmanship, if you ask me, and it made their performance stand out above the others of the night.



Between bands we went outside once again, hanging with friends for a short while until it was time to catch The Kooks. I thought they sounded great, though they seemed to be pretty pissed, talking shit to the sound guys, but clarifying that they loved the crowd despite the technical difficulties.





After having seen Louis XIV and Pinback more than a few times this year, we opted to hang out in the VIP area which was packed with people for the remainder of the night. We went in for a little at the end of Pinback's set and somehow I managed to get a band pass, so I was in the dressing room area for a little while and then helped Rob Crow carry some gear to their van. Would you believe the guys are still unloading their own gear?



I'd never seen Queens of The Stone Age, and never really considered myself a fan, but I was really blown away by their energy onstage, and I guess I didn't realize that I am familiar with most of their material, so that was kinda cool. I managed to grab a couple setlists, too.


Queens of the Stone Age setlist, 12/15/07

After they finished we said our quick goodbyes and found our way to the parking garage and managed to get out with relative ease, though we did have to bust a u-turn to get out via Gennessee. The Hootenanny was a great night, and not just because of the bands playing, but to see so many old friends and to meet new ones, made for a nice holiday party. FM 94/9 took plenty of pictures of the night, too, which you can see here. For us, it was off to the Tower Bar.

Holiday Hootenanny: Be My Guest?

I plan on going to FM 94/9's Holiday Hootenanny tomorrow. I have VIP passes that include food and drink gratis. You fly, I buy, as they say. You pick me up before the show and drop me off at home after the show and you can be my guest. Making out before, during, or after the show is optional. If you're interested, hit me with an email. Most compelling e-mail will be chosen.

FM 94/9 Announces Holiday Hootenanny

This year's Holiday Hootenanny will once again be held at Rimac Arena at UCSD.

The event takes place on December 15.

The lineup includes Louis XIV, Pinback, The Kooks, Queens of the Stone Age, Mutemath and Rogue Wave.

Last year was a great time, so I plan on hitting the show again this year. Good times, indeed.

Update: Sorry for listing the bands as I heard them, I don't think Louis is the headliner. Here's the poster: