Ume on Sunday at the Belly Up Tavern

Ume Photo Credit: Sandy Carson

With the recent flood of folk and electronic bands pouring into San Diego and popular music, it is always refreshing when a band melts your face off. Ume is going to be bringing the loud this Sunday night at the Belly Up Tavern. The three-piece outfit are quickly setting the standard, alongside the Joy Formidable, for what the next generation of alternative bands need to do to return to the heavier roots. Anthony Bourdain liked them enough to interview the band on an episode of "No Reservations" which can be viewed here. Ume is opening for the old guards of alternative rock that night, The Toadies and Helmet, two bands that have had an incredible influence on the genre. So make sure you get to the show early to hear why these two and other great bands like Jane’s Addiction and Smashing Pumpkins have asked Ume to open for them with songs like “The Conductor” and “Captive”, the latter can be listened to below.

 

Tuesday Newsy Bits: Light's On, The Upstarts, Smashing Pumpkins

I'll be at the Transfer show tonight, but if you're still up in the air, consider the free Beauty Bar show tonight, with the debut of Light's On. According to Andrew Bernhart of Vinyl Radio and Swedish Models, "It's fronted by Tim, the Stereotypes bassist, and also has Mike Kamoo on guitar from the Types and they are doing a great joy division/new order/interpol thing. Great writing and will likely get buzzing soon.

Their first show is tonight at the Beauty Bar at 10PM.... free show."
To me it sounds a little more Echo and the Bunnymen/Simple Minds, but I guess it's all the same era. Anyway, you can check out their MySpace page here and decide for yourself. Regardless, I like it and am eternally a huge fan of Mike Kamoo...wonder if I can make both shows...

Another place I won't be tonight is the House of Blues, but an old friend of mine from my high school days is in The Upstarts, and tonight they're playing their CD Release show. If hip hop is your thing, go enjoy the stylings of the Upstarts (and a whole bunch of DJs). The show is $10 or something, but if you hit up the band on their MySpace page (first and last name), I think they can still get you in gratis.

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Our little San Diego blogosphere is constantly growing. I added the link to the right last week, but wanted to point it out if you hadn't noticed... Cullen from The North Atlantic (and one of the most interesting and intelligent people I can say I know) has started a blog. It's called Dirtbag's Delight and you can read it here.
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All relevant blogs have already posted this, but if you haven't yet seen, Smashing Pumpkins have announced a date at the Embarcadero on September 19. If you buy the album on pre-sale on iTunes, you get a pre-sale password. I thought pre-sales were irrelevant at the Embarcadero, but someone recently brought it to my attention that some of the shows this year have been reserved seating. Frankly, I think that sucks...I loved the Death Cab for Cutie and Manu Chao shows last summer with the freedom to bring a blanket and sit or stand wherever your wanted. Anyway, get on it. If you care. I can already tell you that I don't.

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Ciao for now...Have a safe and happy 4th of July.

Street Scene 2007 Lineup Guessing Game Continues...

According to Troy Johnson, Smashing Pumpkins and White Stripes are both definitely not playing Street Scene 2007. I'd take his word for it. White Stripes will be at Vijas Concerts at Bayside on September 18, according to their website. Cold War Kids are still listed on their site as playing Street Scene, which is a little odd to me, but whatever.

I don't go to Street Scene for the headliners and don't get any feeling about these two particular bands, so I'm just anxious to see who really is playing. Just stretching my guesses and looking at Tour dates, I'd be happy to see Arcade Fire, Kaiser Chiefs and Spoon among a ton of other "wish list" bands.

Wednesday Newsy Bits

Vinyl Radio are featured in a story in this week's CityBeat. Check it out here and don't miss their show Thursday night at the Beauty Bar with the Ringers (from LA).

Matt Binder, Vinyl Radio, photo by Rosey SD:Dialed In


The Ringers, photo by Rosey SD:Dialed In
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The Nurses are technically no longer a San Diego band, having relocated to Chicago, but doesn't mean I like them any less. Here's a pretty good review and some of their tracks if you're interested.
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Lot's of local bands are recording and posting their new stuff on MySpace and pressing CD's...The Vision of A Dying World, Nautical Disaster, and Roxy Jones, and Two Word Name, just to name a few off the top of my head...check out their stuff and if your band is recording, send me your info to post here, too. Get your stuff out before the Music Awards cutoff date. (Music must be recorded between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007)
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I promised some old school stuff from my archive boxes so here are a couple good ones:


Smashing Pumpkins Ticket for Soma, January 31, 1996


Flyer for Radiohead show at World Beat Center (Hancock location)
July 16, 1993(?) Tickets were $12.50.
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According to Halloran, Scott & Aimee have broken up, both as a musical duo and as a couple. Their show last night at the House of Blues was supposedly replaced by an acoustic set by Scott and other members of Unwritten Law.

More to come...

Street Scene Lineup Taking Shape?

Apparently.

My fellow bloggers have commented here a couple bits of info.

The White Stripes did not include Street Scene on their recently released tour dates. But San Diego is missing from their tour entirely, which is pretty unusual. Their tour has them playing on September 21st in Berkeley, CA, then on the 24th in Anchorage, Alaska. Maybe the 22nd here?

Meanwhile, Chickrawker commented that Smashing Pumpkins will be playing on the second day of Street Scene without revealing her sources.

Also, another mention that Jamal at the House of Blues is the dude to bribe if you want your local band to be given a shot at playing Street Scene this year. The majority of the lineup is expected to be pulled together in June. Of course, this is still conditional since I haven't yet heard that the Del Mar Racetrack is totally on board just yet.

Update: A new festival in Colorado called Monolith is scheduled for September 14 & 15. Think festival artists. Think Street Scene. Maybe some of the same artists will grace this beautiful city of ours? Some of the acts include The Flaming Lips, The Decemberists, Ghostland Observatory (next big thing), The Brian Jonestown Massacre, William Elliott Whitmore (I LOVE him), Yacht, and Cake. Take your chances and buy your presale Street Scene tickets when you can.

boo. Smashing Pumpkins new single "Tarantula"

Just heard the new Smashing Pumpkins single "Tarantula" on Indie 103.1. As CatDirt would say, "meah," but I haven't been a fan of the Pumpkins since Gish. Jonesy's Jukebox Jury was split- half "pants", half "mustard". Dave Wakeling gave it pants. (that's bad) Steve Jones gave it mustard. (that's good) Darcy from Reprise Records shouldn't get a vote if you ask me.

FM 94/9 is supposed to start playing it on Monday. Please, please, please don't overkill it. Make people want it. Make me want it. Make me want them to play Street Scene.

Smashing Pumpkins Lineup Determined?

I just wanna say quickly that I love the amount of San Diego blogs, new and old, that are here to help me get through the day. Check out the links on the right for CatDirtSez, ChickRawker, SoundSoundSound, Baby Heisman, et al. not only for their coverage on the local scene, but because we all have our different favorite blogs and news sources, so its just more eyes and ears out with feelers on all the time.

Today's gold star goes to Opening Band for finding info on the Smashing Pumpkins lineup for the tour this year. Since I don't really give a shit about SP, I'll make you go to his site for the info.

Anyone remember the Smashing Pumpkins show at SOMA? Was that 1995? 96?