Over the weekend, musician Kevin Lau passed away while on vacation in New York. Kevin was the bassist of local acts like UV Tigers and Plastic Explosive. He was 32. According to his latest Facebook updates, Kevin was on a cross country trip that was headed to New Orleans, but a change of plans took him to the Bronx where he was amongst friends. On March 20th, Kevin posted, "I'm on a road trip circling the US. Thanks to Jon Ziemba for getting me out of a pinch in Grand Junction. Colorado was breathtaking. I'm heading to Chicago right now. Then New Orleans, Alabama and Pensacola to see some dear friends . I may be heading through Savannah to NYC to visit my best friends of all time. Wish me luck and let's hang out!" On March 21, "Thought I was headed south but plans changed. It was on my list of things this year and I'm excited to see Mike. Any NYC friends but me up I'm jonezing for some rock n roll," and by that night, he had declared,"NYC is insane!!! I dig it!"
Update: Kevin's services will be on Friday March 30, the viewing will be at 11 AM the service will be at 1 PM.
It will be in Moab Utah at Spanish Valley mortuary the address is 386 N. 100 S., Moab, UT
As I look at my arm with my bar stamps just inside my wrists, I have to say that last night was awesome (and I danced!). I'll get to that shortly, but first, San Diego gossip, news and happenings. ***** I got some info about Landlord Jim's. The entire block where the bar is located is rumored to be razed and turned into a parking structure to create needed spaces for City College, the police station and "Smart Corner", the multi use structure being built at 12th & C. Downtown development doesn't come easy or cheaply. The tenants of the apartments above the bar have all been moved, but the building owner is holding out on offers because the developer is trying to undercut the value of the liquor license which the new developer must pay as part of the acquisition costs. The bar is expected to remain open while negotiations continue, so go support your local bar. The bar should be open through at least April/May, but if negotiations and CCDC permitting happen slowly, the bar could remain open indefinitely, even through the end of the year. The bar will pretty much be open till the first wrecking ball crashes through. ***** Last night at the Casbah, I bumped into Ben Brewer of the New York band The Exit. Last time we chatted, he wasn't sure if they would stay a bi-coastal band. Cutest story, too...he moved here for a girl and that is all working out well. His band recently joined him here and they recorded 15 songs for a record. Ben will be heading back to New York to record a couple more songs. He is a welcome addition to the local scene, so if you get a chance to catch him solo, I recommend doing so. Two of the newly recorded songs can be heard on The Exit's MySpace page and are the ones that say "demo". ***** I failed to mention this earlier, but local Johnny Cash cover band Cash'd Out performed last week at Cane's to a sold out audience. True, its a cover band, but what other local band can sell out Cane's? Cash'd Out has recently acquired Andy Robillard of UV Tigers, GoGoGo Airhart, and several other bands on the drums. ***** And speaking of the UV Tigers...I hear that the band is on an indefinite hiatus and will not be playing again until there is a significant amount of new material written. If that happens. ***** Local band The Focus Group is recording material. Mitch Wilson (No Knife) is no longer a part of the project, however, as he is looking to get into the production side of music. He has recorded some tracks from Silverbird and is looking to hook up up-and-coming local bands. You benefit by having an awesome musician record a couple tracks FOR FREE, and Mitch benefits by getting some recording under his belt. It's a beautiful simbiotic relationship. Contact me if you're interested and I'll get you his contact info. ***** This is a MySpace message from d*Frost, my friend Anthony's band:
THIS Saturday February 3rd, D*FROST and the Fluid Distro Compound will be playing a benefit party in the loving memory of Remy Boothe. For those who didn’t know him, Remy was a great friend of the band and well known in our circle of people… he passed away on 1/1/2007. Tomorrow’s show is STRICTLY to help raise money for funeral costs. All proceeds will make it directly to Remy’s family. If you have a moment sometime tomorrow after 12:00 noon, please stop by, have a beer and enjoy the music we play in remembrance of Remy Booth. May he rest is peace.
The event will be held at 2257 Garnet Ave in Pacific Beach. First kegs get tapped at noon. The bands and DJ will be playing through out the day. Feel free to contact me for additional details. Thanks for your support!
***** From MySpace: The Southern California oddity, known as the Locust, has decended upon us with announcements of a new full length album and nation wide tour. New Erections, their sophomore release for Anti records will be available March 20th kicking off a month long tour with Cattle Decapitation and Daughters. For more information check out the MySpace profile below.
What a great first weekend of a new year. I started my weekend after my halfday of work on Friday by scooting home and taking care of business, then heading downtown with Sara to see The Holiday. It’s standard romantic comedy fare, which translates to me crying over silly moments and trying to decide who I love more…Jack Black or Jude Law. I enjoyed the movie and recommend it if you’re already feeling a bit of nostalgia for Christmas.
After the movie I picked up Andrea and we headed to Happy Hour to meet Scott and Sophie (CatDirt and CatDirtWife). They were going to the show at Horton House/Stockton House. Troy Johnson was initiated and showed up at the bar, too, along with Seth Combs. In all honesty, if my night had ended there, I would’ve been fine with that because we were having such a good time, but alas, we all had other plans.
Andrea and I made it to the Casbah just as the Roman Spring had started their set. This is my second time seeing them and I really noticed a lot of growth and a more fluid sound. Tim took more risks with guitar solos and I think the sound mix was just a lot better than the last time I saw them.
As expected, it was a packed house, which is just a great commentary on San Diego local music at the moment. The Prayers were on next and I’ll definitely have to check them out another time when there isn’t so much to otherwise be distracted by. I ventured out to the patio during their set and pretty much remained there throughout the remainder of the show. I went in a couple times for Grand Ole Party and UV Tigers but I feel like I’ve seen both bands in the past 6 months more than I’ve seen my own mother, so there was nothing new going on and I didn’t feel compelled to pay close attention.
Saturday night I wasn’t much motivated to do anything. Knowing the I’m going to the Casbah tonight (Sunday) as well as tomorrow for the Anti Monday League show, I decided that I’ll have to catch Swim Party and Modern Rifles somewhere else. Transfer is another band I’ve seen quite a bit lately, too, so I wasn’t concerned about missing them. Matt called and told me there was some sidestage show happening at the House of Blues. He told me that Vinyl Radio and Grand Ole Party were originally supposed to play, but now the lineup was Lady Dottie and The Diamonds and Delta Spirit. I headed to his house and we ventured downtown. On the ride I got a preview of the rough tracks of the new Vinyl Radio and it is strong. Some mixing needs to be done, but the preproduced product sounds great already. You can still pick up their free CD at various locations. They had a bunch at the Casbah on Friday but I don’t know how many were left. There should be more there for the show tomorrow.
After grabbing some bar fare and a couple drinks, we came to find out that both bands had cancelled and now the show was just going to be Buddy Akai, though I suppose I would’ve known this had I checked the MySpace bulletins.
I’ve seen Buddy Akai before and I enjoy them for what they are, but when manager Erika Jessup (of the Beauty Bar) told us that the band might not play because their laptop was missing we both kinda cringed. Matt is of the belief that computers have no business on stage. I’m not that extreme, but my feeling is that a band should be able to pull off a decent set with or without a laptop. Later that night, Shiloh and Jason and I had a discussion about it and they shed some light on the value of a computer for the electro-rock that bands like Buddy Akai play, but I’m not sure I’m sold. I feel like their sound has already run its course and isn’t really a style with any longevity or staying power once the resurgence of the 80’s passes and we inevitably draw from another era. The boys from Augustana were at the show but left after the first song.
Matt and I were pretty tired from having to wait so long for their set to even start, so we took a cue from Augustana and left after the second song. I picked up my car and wasn’t ready to call it a night so I decided to head to Rosie O’Grady’s in hopes of catching A Weeks Worth and also as a bit of surveillance to check out the bar as a venue. I really believe that bands need to play different venues. The Beauty Bar, The Casbah, The Ken Club and the Sports Club all have their merits, but the crowds at these bars draw from the same pool. There are also places like Brick By Brick or Dream Street or Winston’s that have their own qualities that might help in expanded exposure, even if it seems like nobody is paying attention, as was the case for Rosie’s.
I’ve lived down the street from Rosie’s for seven years now and have to admit this was maybe my fourth time there. I’ve never seen a band play there. I found a stool along the bar and ordered up a Smithwick’s (Rosie’s has a good beer selection) and eventually A Week’s Worth started playing.
They are a local three piece and I have to say I really enjoyed their performance, although I caught them at the end of the night for their final abbreviated set. There’s something about that bar that is foreign to me. Like I love the look of the bar, but the crowd is built in, whether there’s a band or karaoke or whatever, so to me not being a local, you get the feeling like you wish you could transport 50 friends there. Everyone was talking through the music that I kept thinking of the scene in Beautiful Girls when the Afghan Whigs play live but as just background music in the bar. Aside from some random chick dancing up front, nobody seemed to be paying attention to the music except for me and the two guys next to me because we were right near the band’s setup, and the woman taking pictures.
Still, none of that takes away from the fact that A Weeks Worth are a good band. I’ve been laying on my bed and have listened to their album twice all the way through and I am trying to find a way to describe the music but I’m coming up blank. I guess the fact that I can lay on my bed and listen to a self produced local album all the way through twice should alone say something. I’m feeling Nada Surf, early Better Than Ezra, Longwave…somewhere along those lines. Just do yourself a favor and listen to them.
After the show I came home and was ready to settle into a late night movie but Jason and Shiloh came over so we watched Next on MTV for a bit, played a late night game of Scene It! and then called it a night. They took off around 4:30 and I nestled in for sleep.
At this moment I plan on heading to the Casbah tonight for Stephen Malkmus, but Sunday’s are hard, so we’ll see how I feel about it in 4 hours or so. In the meantime, I hope everyone had a good weekend and I’ll be updating the Things to Do shortly.
S0 I know I haven't really been posting, but you were warned...I'm on vacation ffs. I've been living it up so far.
Thursday I spent some much needed quality time with Nick of Republic of Letters and Matt of Vinyl Radio at Livewire. 2007 is already looking good as both bands have been recording and will have releases out soon. At least that's what I think we were talking about, considering the music in that place is such that you have to scream at the person next to you. It got really damn crowded so we all bailed and I polished off my evening at the Ken Club.
Friday I put in my two hours of work, 2 hours of errands and last minute gift buying and rejoiced in the fact that I won't be working until January 2nd. Kelly was bartending at the HH bar so I headed over there and hung out with CatDirt and CDW and then the place filled up. It was a good time. Frank (Down With Leo) kept landing his quarters in the tip jar from afar, netting him several complimentary Buds. Thats some skills right there. I left the bar shortly after midnight and then suffered through really bad karaoke at the Ken Club until closing.
Saturday was a good night for seeing music. Unfortunately I missed Mr. Tube's Ken Club performance, but I was there in time to see UV Tigers. I don't even know what it is about the UV Tigers that make them so good. I'm not usually one for big guitar solos and riffing but when Gary is onstage, it's like he's channelling band greats of the past. The Ken Club was packed for their performance and you know a band is great and respected when Tim Pyles, Eric of M-Theory, and people from other bands come out to see you play, like John Paul of GOP. I watched Earthless for a tad, too, and really they are great at what they do, but I'm pretty narrow minded and need to hear some vocals. Guys love the axe however, and the room stayed full throughout their performance.
It was a good night to hang out and the bar stayed busy up until they had to kick everyone out. I came home and watched Brokeback Mountain and once again revelled in the fact that I'm on vacation. Suh-weet.
Today I'll be spending Christmas Eve with my Jewish best friend and her family at a movie and dinner, then probably heading to Exile on Kettner Blvd for some Stones tunes. If I don't post again today, Merry Christmas everyone.
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