Loud + Clear Records Celebrates 10 Years

A couple weeks ago, I ran into Brad Lee at the Casbah. "I have a package for you," he said. "I bet you do." After I realized he wasn't coming on to me, I remembered that Loud + Clear Records was celebrating 10 years of being an awesome San Diego based label. The very next morning, I found a box on my doorstep chock full of CDs and records. It is an amazing collection of music and I couldn't wait to break into it, with CD releases by  Via Satellite, Goodbye Blue Monday, John Meeks, to name a few. It also had some vinyl from Mrs. Magician, Writer, Chairs Missing and Goodbye Blue Monday. I'll check my collection and do a giveaway for some of these because several of them are duplicates of my own collection.

Anyway, to celebrate 10 years, there will be a few events around town. First, Brad Lee hits the decks as he spins some records tonight at Starlite.  Then this weekend there are two special Loud + Clear shows. On Saturday night, the celebration moves to the Casbah with Goodbye Blue Monday, Via Satellite, and Neonthief.  (BUY TICKETS HERE) Then on Sunday, you can catch stripped down sets by John Meeks, Via Satellite, and Rafter at the Luce Loft. (BUY TICKETS HERE)

Things To Do In San Diego: NBCSanDiego Party, 3.10.2011

I told you there's a bunch of stuff going on this Thursday, so maybe you can find a way to do more things in one night than usual.

NBCSanDiego is "rebranding" which means they changed some logos, updated their website and lost the peacock for all intents and purposes. Who really cares what it means, if it means a free party? Come see The Tree Ring, Jesse LaMonaca and the Dime Novels, and John Meeks in the W Living Room. Click the flier for more info.

New John Meeks Videos

Did you miss John Meeks at the Casbah this pass Sunday? It was FREE, so save your excuses...time to see what you missed. Actually, these videos aren't from Sunday, so check them for an idea of what you missed...though they played with a 6 piece band, so you REALLY missed out if you weren't there. Just sayin...





You can catch John Meeks at this year's Adams Avenue Street Fair, taking place on September 26-27 (my birthday weekend again, hooray!!) See you there, fo' sho'!

John Meeks, Tobyn Clark and The Tender Faeries@ Whistle Stop 12.14.08

Boy, the Whistle Stop is looking really good these days. I love the tinsel and lights hanging over the bar, the snowflake lights on the back wall, and the tree was littered with presents that night. It has always been a great neighborhood bar, but these little touches make it even more comforting. Well, last Sunday there was a special show that felt like family coming to together to support and send off local musician Tobyn Clark.

The show started off with John Meeks comforting our hearts with his blend of acoustic/country/rock. I have seen him a number of times and have to say the whole band seemed really in-sync with each other, and groove was superb. Brian H. from Blackout Party was playing guitar and back-up vox with Meeks, it was a suprise to me, but he did a great job, and the Civil War General on his guitar is awesome. I had been secretly hoping it was Charles Darwin, but that's my science dork side speaking. It's cool to see heartfelt, honest country music in San Diego. I especially love the song "On The Road Not Again" with lines like "you're never as good as you wanted to be," your soul gets that reflective sorrow that only draws you closer to people you cherish. Before the show, Meeks and I talked about his band hitting the road more, and I hope they do, it's really good stuff.


After Meeks, the bar was really starting to get hopping as Tobyn Clark and the Tender Faeries were setting up. It was their CD release show, as well as farewell show for Tobyn, moving to NorCal. The place was packed and the vibe was great, but made for tough for pics (sorry). It is great to see that kind of enthusiasm on a Sunday night, and I am sure Tobyn was grateful. I am definitely not the very well versed in country, but he had the story telling songs stylings of what to me felt a little like Johnny Cash, but once again I don't really know country. The stories are stark and compliments his vocal style, conjuring up images of Death Valley in black and white, with a dust storm clearing a to reveal a slew lifeless bodies, and a single modern-day desperado smoking a cigarette squinting into the blazing sun. Of course, i have to give some love to the beautiful Tender Faeries, a sweet layer of backing vocals to lay your ears upon. Last but not least, the bass and drummer locked it in for that cool country swing. It was a great CD release and send-off show, San Diego really is a great community of artists and friends, and that show make it very real.
(If you have a better pic of Tobyn Clark from that night, please email it to dagartga@gmail.com so I can put a better one. thanks.)

Overdue Recap: Adams Avenue Street Fair, B-day Weekend, etc.

I would've liked to have taken a full week off to kick around and chill out as I normally do on or around my birthday, but that wasn't an option, but I still managed to take Friday and Monday off so I had an excellent 4 day birthday weekend. After Federico, I hung out with friends and got caught up on some of my HBO shows and movies. Come Friday, I had the chance to write a bit and indulge on even more TV, had a nice lunch, Jake hung out and we watched the 1st presidential debate before grabbing some dinner and heading to the Casbah for John Meeks. Even though he's finally starting to play some more, it had definitely been a while since I got to hear his lovely voice.



We stayed at the Casbah for most of Blackheart Procession, but it was packed, and thinking I'd see them the next day, I refrained from trying to get inside for pics. Mostly it was just about hanging out and getting my drink on, which, needless to say, was pretty much the theme of my weekend. More if you 'keep on reading'.

After the Casbah, I finished the night at the Ken Club, catching just a couple songs from The Jury, but running into friends and hanging out till close, then kept the party going at my house afterwards.

Saturday I was in no rush but eventually headed out, stopping at the Ken Club for a bloody mary before walking to the Adams Avenue Street Fair. I was happy to catch The Roman Spring and it was the first time I saw them with their replacement for Jake since he's been on the road touring. I ran into friends and we had some beers at Dimille's before wandering down to see Republic of Letters who had a great crowd but the least attentive sound man ever. Even when there was awful feedback, he was nowhere to be found. Still, I thought they sounded great.

Here are some random shots from my walk over and the street fair.










After RoL, a group of people had amassed and we invaded Petro's deck and had drinks, but as everyone wandered to catch Black Heart Procession, my best friend came and we decided to escape and grab dinner at Burger Lounge. By the time I got back to Petro's everyone had for the most part gone their separate ways, so I walked back to the Ken with Christopher and Missy. The bar was a little crowded for my taste, and not very exciting at that, so when Jake called and said he was going to the Ruby Room, I was game. Except that I was confused and thought we were going to the Radio Room to see The Long And Short of It. It was fine though, and we went to check out the new place. By the time we got there it was 11:55, so when midnight hit, and officially my birthday, everyone was on a mission to get me...uh...happy. "Your birthday money is no good here," Sean, the new owner told me, and between Sean, Neal, Shiloh, T-Bone and Jake, I got plenty of drinks in me, sticking to my vodka tonics and a gazillion washington apple shots.

Jake dropped me off and I made my way to sleep, waking up to a trail of clothes in my living room. So I guess I can say it was a good night.

I once again took my time before heading back to the Street Fair. I met up with everyone back at Petro's house, even my sister, brother in law, and niece came to hang out. We watched Transfer who had a huge crowd.





After, it was back to Petro's before we all ended up going to Las M0rielanas for my birthday dinner. Though the place is a little hole in the wall, we had fun and everyone seemed to like the place a lot, and how could you not with a logo like this:



From dinner, everyone went their separate ways. Natalie drove me to my house to check on my pets before we headed to see RaRaRiot and The Morning Benders at the Casbah. It's safe to say by that point of the night, I was *ahem*, "happy", so sorry to anyone at the show who was annoyed by the drunk girl and her camera. That was certainly a fun show to celebrate the end of my birthday, for sure.







But like the energizer bunny, I don't stop, so after the show, Natalie dropped me off at the Chee Chee where I hung out with Scott and Todd who gave me a ride home. I can admit that at that point I was trashed which resulted in Scott and I fighting because he called me "Bro". No matter how 'down' I am or how in the 'friend zone' I am, I don't like being called bro by my friends. ew. But the texting that ensued was a sure sign that it was time for me to end my night. Finally.

Monday was pretty much a waste of a day as I slept off my haze and wasted away the day before heading back to the Casbah to sell merch for Filter. They had a ton of stuff, but fortunately the tour manager who doubled as a drum tech had it under control and organized by the time I arrived. The crowd wasn't as big as when they played in the spring, but the crowd loved them. As for myself, I was meah, but sometimes that happens. At the end of the night, I had to wait a while before getting paid, and no hookup on shirts or CDs, but I did get a personalized guitar pick. Woo-hoo. The band does not, like most bands, have any interest in meeting their fans after the show. I was beat after an exhausting weekend, but glowing inside thinking about all the great friends I have who made my weekend so special. Come Tuesday, it was nose to the grindstone yet again, but nothing could take away from how cool my weekend was. Thanks again to everyone who had a part in making my heart pitter-patter.