Street Scene After Party: Men of The Casbah

From the Street Scene After Party at Casbah: Sean McMullen, Tim Mays, Tim Pyles.

Bye-bye Turf Club?

So I've been sitting on this information, but since I saw it in a MySpace bulletin, I guess the info is out there, so I'll repost here:

The bar that we all know and love, the place that one friend calls "The Happiest Place On Earth" may be closing down in November. What is certain is that the current owners of the building tripled the rent and are forcing the current owners out. The bottom line is that the place will never be the same. Ever. I always said that I would chain myself to the door if they ever tried to close it down. So if anyone has any ideas about how to avert this semi-disaster for the neighborhood (and let's face it, the city itself) let me know. we need to stop this.

Who's in?

FM 94/9 Independence Jam pt 2

By this point at Indie Jam, it was around 2:30. The Ting-Tings were finishing up their set, I ran into Tim and asked if he could get me an extra credential, so I followed him up the steps and he got me a Casbah stage pass from Porter. It wasn't really necessary, but it gave me leverage to befriend the security up top and I eventually talked to his supervisor who gave us clearance to use the photo barrier for the local stage. Most large shows that I've been to usually have an entrance for photos and one for backstage areas. For some reason, the entrance to get to the photo section of both stages was the same as the backstage area and this caused some confusion, but at least we worked it out up top.

The Blackout Party sounded great and looked perfect, too. Tim was a total rockstar in his wifebeater and aviators as he played his instruments, and Brian was rocking an Obama shirt and the sky made his blue eyes piercing (when he finally took off his shades). Everyone else rocked out, too, though Jake didn't bust another hole in his snare like last time I saw him, fortunately.



After three songs I chilled in the tent for the local stage as more of the bands unloaded, then made my way back to the mainstage for The Whigs. Of all the bands I saw, I was probably least familiar with their music. This was when the mainstage security snafu happened, but Tim worked it out, then later Owen, so I took some quick pics and got out.



There were signs for beer sampling from 3-4p, so Natalie and I walked across the football field to the main beer garden and enjoyed $1 samples of beer and sparks and Velvet and Kristian came to find us. We found a spot on the grass and drank samples until The Whigs finished. From the lawn, we just took everything in, looking at everyone laying on blankets, listening to The Whigs power through their set until the end.

This is where I should say that it's clear people enjoy these events in a million different ways. Some people listened to the music intently, maintaining their spots at the mainstage barrier all day long. Others hang back, minimally clothed, sunbathing while the music played in the background. Some danced, some played hacky sack or frisbee, some hang out to just see one band, and some just drink all day long. Personally, running around, taking pictures, saying hi to friends, being backstage or in a VIP tent, having cold beer...these all make up the ways I enjoyed this event. Just like some people's ideal vacation is a deserted beach in Hawaii, mine is a busy week in a big city where you need 2 days after the vacation just to get back to your real life. Neither is better or worse, just different. With that, The Whigs finished, and it was back up the stairs for Kill Me Tomorrow.

Watching them, I wondered how with all the local shows I go to, I've never seen them. Maybe the band's name sounded too emo for me to even try but they were anything but emo and they played a great set. I promise I will definitely see them again when I can.






I had a beer with Blackout Party and the rest of the bands milling around until I heard the first notes of MgmT and I was off super quick to get to see my band of the day.

Thursday Recap: Bartender's Bible, Mr Tube, MEX

My plan was to see Silverbird at the Beauty Bar on Thursday night, but I got a late start and decided to just head to the Casbah instead. Later I heard that Silverbird didn't play until almost 11, so I could've caught them, but I was glad to be at the Casbah. T-Bone has been drumming for Silverbird, but on this night they apparently went drummerless because T-Bone was at the Casbah playing in Mr Tube and Bartender's Bible.

Anyway, it was my first time ever seeing Bartender's Bible and I really have no excuse or reason why, but they sounded amazing. Good time country music, with full stand up bass, a couple guitars, banjo, keys, and Pall Jenkins was even onstage playing a saw, which I haven't seen anybody do since last year's Adams Avenue Roots Fest.







I don't really need to get into too much detail about the night- it was a full on party. It was a celebration of the birthdays of Tim Mays, Mario Escovedo, Dennis Borlek, and I think like 5 other people. I just know that when I got there and saw Dave Jass and Andrew McKreg, I got excited that there might be some Uncle Joe's Big Ol Driver action on stage. Dave said no, but that Andrew would be playing a song or two with MEX.

Mr Tube and the Flying Objects played a great energetic set per usual and it's cool that the band shares members of Bartender's Bible even though the music is very dissimilar, with more of a Chicano/Santana vibe to it.















Last up was MEX, whose set didn't even start until almost 1 am. I love seeing them because the covers they do are stuff my parents played when I was growing up...Texas Tornados and stuff. And I know they're not gonna disappoint ever as long as they have Whiskeytown's "Excuse Me If I Break My Own Heart" in their set. On this night, they had up to 5 guitars onstage at any given moment, and Andrew not only played with them, but did his own mini set of rock n roll classics. I had such a crush on that guy when I was in high school and seeing him now so many years later was definitely a highlight. Then Mario took over the mic again and finished out their set with the house lights already on, well beyond last call.



























This was the setlist for the portion of the night when Andrew took over the band

This was the regular MEX setlist

It was a particularly fun night at the Casbah because so many people were there who have in some way been a part of San Diego's music scene. I mean, how rare is it to catch Steve Poltz out on the town these days? It just doesn't happen often is all I'm saying. And it was particularly funny to me that after that whole Voice of San Diego thing, that all those idiots talking about the glory days of '93 weren't there to see the guys they go on about all the time. So I'm done defending the local scene. The people who claim their isn't good San Diego music anymore- the ones holding on to 93- are only making excuses. They got older, they got tired, and going to shows has been replaced by sitting at home and watching CSI. It's ok if people got married and had kids and can't make it out to shows, or even if they don't want to, but they need to shut up about local music today because they don't know what they are talking about if they aren't out experiencing it.

They quit music; the music didn't quit them. And the great part is that music is forgiving and will take them back should they ever venture out of their suburbs to check it all out.

Night & Day Features Tim Mays and Tim Pyles

Yup, indeedy, Tim Pyles and Tim Mays share the cover of this week's Night and Day. Nice job, Anti-Monday Leaguers! Go do something out of character. Buy a newspaper.