Wed Recap: Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, Slender Means

After three days of 'fire blogging', I was in desperate need of getting out of my house. I suppose I should say that I live in a very central part of San Diego and was never in any major threat of fires. I know people who evacuated and in the past I'd volunteered for post-Katrina help at the Red Cross, but when I realized that every major government site was overloaded, I decided the best way I could contribute to the disaster of the firestorm was to post as much information as I could as fast as I could. I realized not everyone had the luxury of sitting in front of a tv while also accessing the internet.

Anyway, in no way do I feel like I should be rewarded or get the pat on the back, I'm just saying that blogging and web searching and posting information is something that I'm good at and if I'm gonna sit here with six browser tabs open, I might as well repost information to people who might be looking for it. So that's what I did.

Starting Monday morning and following my friend Cat Dirt's lead, I began to post. And then I became obsessed. And the more hits I got, the more I felt a responsibility to post info as I got it. And that's what I did with a couple naps, a few hours sleep, and a couple breaks in between.

Suddenly I realized I'd not left my house since Saturday. It was nice of Kevin to call this morning and we had a coffee break for a while this morning. And when I found out that the Rocky Votolato show was still on at the Casbah tonight, I was itching to get out of the house.

And so I did.

I arrived shortly after Slender Means took the stage. I didn't take any pics of the band, but they were really great. Rocky's brother is in the 5 piece band and listening to their mix, I knew it had to be Jake on sound because they sounded perfect. I especially loved when the 3 guys up front joined in melodies and harmonies. I watched the band from right up front as well as from the patio because there was some catching up to do with Cullen.

Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter were great as well. I was here for diversion from all the shit happening to San Diego at the moment, but when Jesse commented, "I'm sure some of you are affected, or have friends and family that are affected by these fires, and truly, my heart goes out to all of you" and then played "The Air Is Thin", it hit me a little harder than I expected. As she repeated "oh, the air is thin" in her Grace Slick voice, it just hit kinda heavy. In a way, I wish she'd not mentioned the fires at all, because this was my escape, but in another deeper way, I was so glad she did. If you've not heard her magical voice, check it out here.

I have to say, despite this blog being a one way conversation, I have felt close to everyone who has taken the time to click here. But even more, getting out and being with friends and seeing my all time favorite musician made me feel something that is beyond words. So with that, Rocky Votolato gets a separate post...

Saturday Recap: Livewire and The Ken Club

So apparently things sometimes get all mixed up. On Saturday night I went to Livewire with the belief that there was the chance that Stimy would be around and play a surprise set with Inch for the 15th anniversary of Livewire. No such luck. Even if he was there, (and no chance I would recognize him from the few times I was lucky enough to see him perform at all ages shows when I was still in high school), Livewire doesn't have a 'cabaret' license and could get shut down for having live bands.

Still, it was cool hanging with Mr. Hip Hipster Larry and Max and just having a couple beers while djs spun old school Drive Like Jehu and Rust and Lucy's Fur Coat and Uncle Joe's Big Ol Driver and such.

But then the texts started coming. I decided to leave and was on my way to the Ken when my friends sent a text that they were on their way to Livewire, so I circled back to Livewire only to find my friends were still at the Ken. Whatever.

After enough text messages and voice mails, I headed to the Ken around 12:15 and finally found my friends and promptly switched to some stong vodka tonics to catch up (since I'd only had 2 beers in about 4 hours.) Oh, and a couple shots. Whatever, right? At this point I'm walking home anyway.

So bartime comes and everyone is getting told to go home and another herd of us head to my house, and in my drunken delight, we watch Reality Bites AND Beautiful Girls while drinking beers and shots and mixed drinks and hangin out and having a grand ole time. Eventually it came down to three of us (as the sun was rising), and I warned of my evil loud snore and we all passed out.

When I finally awoke, there was a coffee and a danish on my table, my friends were gone, and San Diego was about to burst into flames. I was glad we had the time together before all hell broke loose in this city that we all call home.

Friday Recap Part 2: Silverbird At Beauty Bar & Afterparty

(written on Monday)
I'm not trying to be insensitive to anyone who found this site because they sought fire information, but when I woke up today, I intended to do my normal thing here- write about music in San Diego. Because I've been watching the news for almost 17 hours, I need to unfry my brain, so I'm gonna retrace the weekend as I promised I would a couple days ago.


When I left off, I had left the Matt Pond PA show at the Casbah to head to the Beauty Bar. When I got there, it was absolutely packed. I had missed SayVinyl, but walked in on a full Beauty Bar with full ass booty shakin to the tunes being spun by Gabe Vega. I promptly found Erika who poured me a sweet drink, then made my way to the patio for Silverbird.

(After all the fire blogging, I didn't get to continue this post until Thursday)
I was pleased to see that T-Bone was still 'filling in' until the band finds a new drummer, but in my own reality, I think of him as being an essential part to the band. He has a minimal setup, but plays it all just right to accompany what is an amazing alt-country band, and the fact that he is singing along, albeit without a mic, shows his passion for this music. He is the perfect fit, if only he wasn't already committed to 15 (grossly exaggerated) other San Diego bands.

Anyway, the show was beautiful, and here are the best pics I could grab from my crap camera.

OK, actually these pics might be in reverse order, because here's Anna Banana with Arnie from Arm The Angels, and we took this pic after the set, but nonetheless...here are the pics.

By the way, I should mention that I've seen Silverbird a handful of times but never had any recordings, and I found myself singing along to just about every song on their setlist. Admittedly, there are local bands that I love that will probably never gain an audience beyond San Diego, and then there are bands that you just know are going to break. Maybe not find worldwide million album sales or shit like that, but who will find their niche audience and be successful. I would like to think that Silverbird is one of those bands that people notice beyond our county lines because they are amazing. They could easily tour with Son Volt or Ryan Adams if those guys were open to touring with bands that are as good as they are.
















So long story short, after the set I headed to the Ken. Anna and her friends came, too, as did Bubba from Silverbird. (By the way, that does officially count as 3 shows in one night, because we caught the ska tunes of the Hi-Lights. There were people skankin but that's just really not where my heart is so we hung back on the bar side of the Ken.) We were close to bar time, so we did some shots, then a herd of people came to my place and we drank and talked and drank and logged online to watch funny youtube videos (namely the owner of Apertivo going apeshit on people; not once but twice) and then finally everyone made their way home as I hit the hay.

I know in the afterhours everyone seems to speak nonsensically and there's a whole bunch of drama that can arise, but I had such a great time with friends, both new ones and old ones, that it almost feels perverse, catching people in the raw being completely honest. To me, therein lies the beauty of an after party.

San Diego Fires: Signing Off

I said I'd be following fire news and posting until 9, but I've been up since 4 and I need to refresh these eyes. For continued fire info, I've added valuable fire coverage links to the right of this page.

For my friends, I hope to see you all at the Casbah tonight. I'll be back online after the show for music and fire updates, if necessary. In all honesty, I just hope I can get this site back to covering local music. I still have details about Silverbird's show on Friday, and the fun at Livewire and the Ken Club from last Saturday. Seriously craving normalcy.

love you all. be safe.

San Diego Fires: Idiot Patrol Part 6: AT&T Satellite Assholes

A woman on TV just reported that after her home was destroyed in the fire, she called to cancel her utilities. AT&T asked if she had retrieved the satellite receiver and when she said no, she was told that SHE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $300 dish.

Are you kidding me?

Things To Do In San Diego: October 24, 2007

Wednesday, October 24, 2007:

• Rocky Votolato, Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter @ Casbah
• Secret Apollo, 12 Cent, The Underclassmen @ 710 Beach Club
• Lady Dottie and The Diamonds @ Henry's Pub
• Fire Benefit @ Keating Hotel Lobby; 432 F, 9p-4a. Donations of Blankets, Dental Hygiene Items, Clothing, Baby Wipes, etc.
• Canceled!- The Jesus and Mary Chain, Evan Dando, AM Vibe @ 4th & B
• David Fuentes Tribute Show - Agro-Cat featuring members of The Aggrolites, Hepcat, the Expanders @ Belly Up
• Canceled- Beauty Bar Will Be Closed Tonight! Spell Toronto (CD Release), Arm The Angels (acoustic) @ Beauty Bar
• Building Better Monsters, The Beatles, Kennedys Curse @ Zombie Lounge
• Canceled! Boys Like Girls, All Time Low, The Audition, We The Kings @ House of Blues
• Postponed!- Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony @ Cox Arena
• The Pack @ House of Blues (Delta Room)
• Coyote Grace, Garth Michael McDermott @ Lestat’s
• Just Like Jenna, The Common Loon, Plane Without A Pilot @ O’Connell’s
• Dark Haven, Severed Roots, Unloaded @ Brick By Brick
• Skanic, The Upbeat and The Amalgamated @ Belly Up
• Pnuma Trio, Signal Path @ Winston’s
• Postponed!- Chevelle @ Soma (Postponed due to wildfires)
• Pharaohe Monch, DJ Fingaz @ Cane’s
• 12 Cent, The Underclassmen @ 710 Beach Club

San Diego Fires: Reporting from the home office

This has been my setup for the last 3 days. Anyone who wants to come and bunker with me is welcome. Cold beers, plenty of food and supplies, and wi-fi. I'll be online until 9 p.m. tonight then off to the Casbah but I expect I'll be up all night.

San Diego Fires: Press Conference 4:15 PM Update

(I'm only posting new info; redundancies will be omitted)

Ron Roberts:

• Major SDG&E Power Transmitter has been restored (but please still conserve)
• 4,000 firefighters battling the fires with improved air assets
• First Local Assistance Center is open
• Over 560,000 evacuated, many are returning to their communities
• 2-1-1 has had 41,000 calls since Sunday, Average wait is now 50 seconds
• Still a lot of work to do; many evacuees will still not be allowed home just yet

Mayor Jerry Sanders:

• (All open areas refer only to areas with in San Diego City Limits)
• Opened west areas of Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos, San Pascual
• North Rancho Bernardo and Westwood are still closed; police will escort residents for essential items (medication, documents, pets etc.)
• Opened first Local Assistance Center (Hours 7am-8pm M-F; 8-4 Sat; 9-2 Sun) It is located at 18448 West Bernardo Drive. It will serve residents of San Diego, 4S Ranch, Rancho Santa Fe and Escondido

Chief Kevin Crawford:

• Reentry into areas is dangerous and has to be well thought out, in consideration of hazards
• Many outside assets trickling from Northern California
• Receiving resources from outside the state of CA including Nevada National Guard
• Rice Fire- 8000 acres, 15% containment, 700+ firefighters. Fire is in Santa Margarita drainage and is moving north toward Riverside
• Horno Fire- northern end contained, south is not
• Concentrating on Camp Pendleton; no evacs on base, just personnel redirection

Sheriff Kolender:

• Not considering just absence of fire, but health issues, utilities, water, gas must all be safe for people to repopulate
• Patrols are keeping all evacuated areas safe
• 1 direct death from fires, others were indirect

Chief ?:

• Weather- east winds diminishing; onshore flow is moving east; spread has stopped moving west but are now fires are moving east and northeast
• Harris- 73000 acres, 10% containment; 7 injuries; 759 personnel; a lot of activity in Jamul and Skyline truck trail area. Earlier a lot of activity in Lion's Peak and Lion Valley area
• Poomacho 0% containment; 10 injuries; 759 personnel; established on Mt Palomar and Valley Center area. Has not met with Witch fire, they are burning parallel but are still expected to meet later tonight.
• Witch- 196,420 acres; 10% contained; 10 injured; 1800 personnel.
• Better intelligence about new threats and where the fires have moved should be available this evening

424 homes destroyed in San Diego City Limits

Martin Mars was delayed at Customs. (WHAT!!!!????!!!!) Should arrive tonight and be available tomorrow morning for water and retardant drops.

EOC Assessments:

• Report will be completed this evening with a list of 250 destroyed and damaged homes in unincorporated areas of the county. Should be posted and available tonight.
• Escondido- 36 homes - Escondido Website has listings
• Poway-86 homes - Poway Website has listings
• Protocol for repopulation of communities in unincorporated areas (and similar process in City Limits): Fire Dept notifies Sheriff when fire threat is gone; Sheriff validates safety; Sheriff notifies EOC to do assessments (caltrans, SDG&E, public works agencies); once that is determined safe then a detailed area perimeter will be established and the public will be notified.

San Diego Fires: Humane Society Need Donations

The San Diego Humane Society is seeking donations for pets:

Animal Crates
Leashes
Kitty Litter
Pet Collars
Pop Up Tents
Animal Carriers
Cages
Monetary donations

If you can donate, go the SD Humane Society Website or Call 619-299-7012

San Diego Fires: Superdome vs Qualcomm Comparisons

My good friend Cullen at Dirtbag's Delight has a brilliant post about pundits and national and international media drawing comparisons between the Katrina situation at the Superdome and the current situation in San Diego at Qualcomm Stadium. Please read his post here.

San Diego Fires: Escondido Fire Damage

My good friends and fellow bloggers Sophie and Scott just returned from Escondido at the site of her parents' lost home. My condolences go to all of them and everyone who lost their home in all of this. You can read about it here or see pictures here.

San Diego Fires: Personal Commentary

Is there any form of placement assistance happening with evacuees? I understand people who are holding out because their areas expect to repopulate soon, but those that have lost homes shouldn't be staying on concrete indefinitely. On Craig's List there is post after post of people offering rooms and homes, yet people are still milling about Qualcomm in the open air and open heat. It's really great that there are services and donations and food and whatnot, but isn't it time to start getting people in better places, safe from the heat and smoke? Shouldn't they, at the very least, start moving people from Qualcomm to places like The Rock Church that have more comfortable accomodations? Are evacuees being asked to stay at the Q or are they coming and going? I mean, if I was evacuated, I'd hit the nearest comfy coffee shop or sports bar and kinda just camp out. Am I too far from the circumstances to understand?

San Diego Fires: Noon Press Conference (all thank yous)

Press Conference with Senator Barbara Boxer, Congressperson Susan Davis, David Paulson (FEMA), and County Supervisor Ron Roberts

Barbara Boxer:

• Comments on extraordinary evacuation/services, etc.
• Getting equipment we need; already have the personnel
• Qualcomm is prepared for 30,000 evacuees
• More than 1200 homes are gone
• Senator Feinstein sends her best; Boxer will be back in 10 days
• Coverage is creating comaraderie
• Urging support of Fireman Protection Act: When an uninsured (as is the case for volunteer firefighters) emergency worker or fire fighter fights during a nationally declared emergency, that dept of health will follow them through the local government to guarantee they get proper health coverage.

Susan Davis:

• San Diego has really responded to the need; proud of community
• 53rd District not in way of fire but have become the heart of volunteers and hosts
• Planning for how people pick up their lives after this is all over
• Air support problems are not because of training or cross agency support but because weather hindered flights

David Paulson:

• Keep spirits up
• President signed Emergency Declaration (releases funds to agencies, city and state) and Major Disaster Declaration (releases funds for individuals)

Ron Roberts:

• High temperature, low humidity, high winds are creating "the perfect firestorm"
• Board of Supervisors are eliminating building permit fees for rebuilding homes

San Diego Fires: Fire Photos

If you have digital fire photos, you can send them to KFMB at firephotos@kfmb.com
and/or, if you'd like me to post them here, send me an e-mail. Address is to the right.

San Diego Fires: Caring for the Elderly

When caring for an aging family member and loved one, it is crucial to be prepared, especially during fire season and in case of a fire. Preparing your home and your loved ones for such an emergency can prevent tragedy later. Here are some basic tips to help you during the fire season:

1. Make sure all medications are easily accessible and available. Keep a week's worth in the car or in a purse in case you're not at home when an evacuation happens. Also keep a list of medications and dosages. Here are some tips for safe medication storage.

2. Drink plenty of water. The heat and dry wind conditions associated with the fire season can dehydrate the elderly quickly.

3. Stay inside. Keep elderly loved ones indoors, both the elderly and children are more susceptible to smoke inhalation and bad air quality. For more information about the dangers of smoke inhalation for elderly, click here.

4. Avoid wearing dust masks. "Wearing a dust mask, wet or dry bandanna or surgical mask is not effective to reduce smoke. In order for a mask to work, it must filter fine particles, such as a HEPA filer. These are difficult to wear and are easily worn improperly and can interfere with breathing."

5. Be organized. A basic-emergency preparedness checklist can help you prepare in care of an emergency.

6. Fill out an emergency contact and medical form. Make copies of the completed form and keep one next to each telephone in your home and other locations where they can be quickly accessed for handy reference.

7. Prepare an escape plan. Make sure you have a plan for leaving the house quickly with your loved one. Practice it to make sure you can get out quickly and efficiently. If your loved one does not live with you, make sure his or her care facility has a plan.

8. Leave the area. If a fire threatens your immediate area, evacuate immediately. As stated earlier the elderly are more susceptible to the dangers of fire. Leaving the area sooner, rather than later, can help you to avoid these dangers. For tips for traveling with older adults, click here.

More information from AGIS:

Home Safety

San Diego Fires: Camp Pendleton & FEMA info

FEMA now has a number for people who sustained losses in the fire. Call 1-800-621-FEMA or go to the site here.

Word is that Camp Pendleton is being evacuated, though I-5 is open.

San Diego Fires: Contacts At Qualcomm

If anybody is reading this from Qualcomm Stadium (my CityBeat peeps, U-T homies, etc.), please call me. I have a question about medical donations. 619.624.0346

Back To Music For a Moment: Rocky Votolato Show Is On

Just wanted to let anyone planning to go to the Casbah tonight that Barsuk Records just got back with me and the show tonight is still on. This should finally be a good break of all the bad news.



I'll be there.

San Diego Fires: How to Cope

Mental Health America Recommendations On How To Cope In These Challenging Times:

Talk about it
Spend time with family and friends
Take care of yourself
Eat properly
Do things you enjoy (take a walk, read a book, etc.)

Avoid drugs and excessive drinking

I know these recommendations are serious, but when I heard the newscaster say, "Read a book, and don't do drugs!" it just kinda made me laugh.

Still, here are crisis numbers:

Crisis Line 1-800-479-3339
Mental Health Help Line 619-543-0412

San Diego Fires: A Good Reason To Stop Blackwater

If you have been following the efforts of Blackwater to create a facility in Potrero, you will know that many San Diegans have been blindsided by the plans for the mercenary corporation to build here. These fires are just another reason why the facility is just a bad idea. To join the Courage Campaign and sign petitions to Senators Feinstein and Boxer to tell them we do not want Blackwater here, CLICK HERE.

From The Courage Campaign:

...I keep thinking about the good people of Potrero -- a serene small community
in East San Diego County -- that I met just a few weeks ago as we rallied
together to block Blackwater from building a base in their tiny, beautiful town.

These concerned community members have been working for months to stop
Blackwater from building a mercenary training facility on 824 acres, consisting
of 11 firing ranges, a helipad, and an emergency vehicle operator's course
covering the equivalent of 10 football fields. As we watch the fire burn across
the area today, one can only imagine what might have happened if an armory full
of ammunition and explosives were located inside this box canyon.

...Beyond the damage and destruction to life and property, the timing of
this wildfire could not be much worse. This fire exploded just as the people of
Potrero were preparing for a recall election on December 11 to kick out the
planning group members who approved Blackwater's base. With ballots scheduled to be mailed in early November to less than 600 registered voters in this historic
vote-by-mail recall, Potrero residents were preparing for an intense campaign
over the next six weeks.

Help Stop Blackwater Today.