San Diego Music Thing Preview: Strange Vine

Another out of town band passing through for the San Diego Music Thing is Strange Vine from Fresno. The first impression that I got from Toby and Ian is that they were a diligent DIY band. These days, it's easy to find my email address, but it wasn't always so and so getting a direct invite to a show from a band always carries a little more weight with me. Plus they were friends with my friends in Rademacher who told me I had to go see them at a show they played at Bar Pink. That first show I got there late and missed their whole set, but still met them and they made sure I left with their record. Sure enough we kept in touch and without fail I get a text whenever they're coming back to town, and they played at my SDMT showcase last year at the Soda Bar. I love these guys and I think you'll dig their bluesy rock which certainly always gets comparisons to the Black Keys.

Find them on Facebook here, and see them Friday night at U-31 at 9:40 pm as part of the San Diego Music Thing.

Tonight: Family Wagon & Strange Vine at Bootlegger (HMBSMS Canceled at Casbah)

I feel like such a jerk that I forgot this event in my listings because Strange Vine are such dear friends and only told me about 15 times that they would be here. You might remember seeing them if you came to my showcase at the Soda Bar during the North Park Music Thing? Well, hopefully they'll forgive me since the Bootlegger hasn't yet been on my radar. It's downtown, for one, and has been under different ownership a few times in the last few years (previously Bar 90 and Lucky D's before that), but Gareth from Family Wagon assures me that it's a cool spot. As far as I've been told, the show tonight is free, doors are at 9, and features Strange Vine at 9:30 and Family Wagon at 10:45.

Here's a preview of the bar from Thrillist:


In a separate but related note, He's My Brother, She's My Sister were scheduled to perform tonight at the Casbah. Unfortunately, Rachel was in a pretty gnarly car accident this week. We wish her a speedy recovery and will get the band back to the Casbah when she's back on her feet. Casbah tickets will be automatically refunded through Frontgate, and you can save your Casbah fix for my show there tomorrow. The Mumlers, who were to support the show, have been added to the bill at the Soda Bar, which I suppose is fitting since they were already playing with Amando Jo Williams at other stops on the tour. So there ya go. Always options on a Tuesday night.

San Diego Music Thing: SD: Dialed In Presents Tonight at Soda Bar

I just got home from Day 1 of the San Diego Music Thing. I have a million thoughts about the day and learned some lessons, like when the universe sends your entire county a blackout, take the opportunity to sleep and not drink twice the amount of shots as usual just because other people are buying them. It is my fourth year participating, so I'm not necessarily learning new information at the panels, but I always appreciate making new contacts, meeting bands who give me CDs, and just paying attention to the people around me who are making an effort to build their own careers by simply showing up and asking questions. It was two years ago that I met Josh Damigo because I was so impressed with his participation and though I thought I'd bounce around venues tonight, I ended up hanging at Bar Pink all night, seeing old friends and meeting new people. Super awesome thanks to Jake, Pete, Vito, Eric, Andrea, David, Nick, Maynard, Daniel, Tim, Josh Z., Josh D., Steve, Chris M., Chris V., Colin, Craig, Dang, Kevin, Anya, and everyone else who made the day & night so awesome.

For day two, I will have a spot at the trade show at the Lafayette Hotel, so please come by and drop off a CD. I'll be pimping my showcase at Soda Bar, giving away 4 song EPs from The Heavy Guilt and convincing everyone to buy $5 tickets to Rocktoberfest. I will also have some lists for people to sign up if they're interested in my booking opportunities, giving out $5 comp cards for West Coast Tavern, and just hoping to meet as many people as possible. (Tequila shots accepted at all hours of the day).

Soooo...about my showcase-- I am SOOO thrilled to have the bands I have. Please come check them out.



In order of appearance:

Jesse LaMonaca and the Dime Novels (Check out some acoustic tracks here.)

Brett Detar (The Juliana Theory) (Check out his site for a free download of his full album)

The Heavy Guilt (Download their 4 song EP here.)

Strange Vine

Inspired Flight (Check out their album on Bandcamp.)