San Diego: Dialed In - 9 Year Anniversary!

I'm trying to take a few nights at home since I expect to be running around all weekend for San Diego Music Thing, and the house is quiet and I was farting around on the internet and it occurred to me that I completely blew off the anniversary of this website. I first started writing online back in 2003, but it was November 6, 2006 when I made the jump to this site with more of a focus on music. I can't even begin to think about what a crazy 9 years it has been, not without some serious lows, but how fortunate I've been to do and see and be a part of so many amazing things, through today, where I get to do what I love on my terms, with my own little family.

Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, November 9-Thursday, November 12, 2015

I don't know about you, but I had an incredible weekend. On Thursday night, Of Montreal played an amazing show at the Irenic and then I caught singer-songwriter David Ramirez at Soda Bar. It was the first Friday in ages that I didn't have to be anywhere specific and Nova was with us, so we had dinner at Phil's BBQ and then walked around Old Town and then did an evening tour at the Whaley House, which would've been fine if the docent didn't taunt Nova with, "How will you sleep tonight?". At her bedtime, I went to Leon Bridges which was a pretty incredible performance, but then came back home after because North Park on Friday night feels like the Gaslamp. On Saturday we went to the Mesa Rim Rock Climbing Gym grand opening which was awesome. It was busy so we never got harnesses, but Nova and Johanna got a kids one to share and Jo climbed all the way to the top of the 55' wall. Nova went off with my sister for an overnight so that Darren and I could go to the San Diego Brewer's Guild Beer Festival at the Port Pavilion. We got a nice afternoon nap in after that, and then I went to Soda Bar for Gill Landry and Stelth Ulvan and then Sunday was just kind of a catch-up-on-work day as Nova spent time with her mom and then we went to the Irenic for Jordan Krimston's surprise 18th birthday party. This week there are a ton of shows, including the San Diego Music Thing which is definitely something I'm looking forward to. Monday through Thursday archives are after the jump.

Upcoming Shows at Observatory North Park (Updated 11/6/2015)

Only one announcement you should know about this week: Snoop Dogg. The rest of the Observatory calendar is the same. Midmonth and beyond are after the jump.

11/6 Leon Bridges, 7:30pm, All Ages (SOLD OUT)

11/8 Curren$y & Freddie Gibbs, Andre Domar, Trus B, 6pm, All Ages

11/10 The Menzingers, mewithoutyou, 6pm, All Ages



11/11 The Underachievers Forevermore Express Tour, Pouya and the Buffet Boys, Kirk Knight, Bodega Boyz, G.R.A.M.Z.. 6pm, All Ages

11/12 San Diego Music Thing presents Yo La Tengo, Blitzen Trapper, 8pm, 18+

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, November 5-Sunday, November 8, 2015

It has been a beautiful week in San Diego and I'm looking forward to exploring the Old Mission Dam today in hopes that the rain made the water rise a bit. It's also been busy with work, as I worked Antemasque on Tuesday, Botanica Chango on Wednesday, and will be at the sold out of Montreal tonight. Then this weekend there are obviously tons of choices, so I'm not locking into any specific plans just yet, but probably looking at going to Leon Bridges and Gill Landry. Lots of good stuff coming up, and don't forget to grab your San Diego Music Thing badges, too, because next weekend is going to be crazy. I haven't had my camera out much this week, but we were around Mission Gorge yesterday and the clouds were amazing. Thursday through Sunday archives are after the jump.

91X Wrex The Halls Lineup Announced: December 13 at Valley View Casino Center

Bud Light presents 91X Wrex The Halls 2015 

at Valley View Casino Center 

on Sunday, December 13.

Jane's Addiction

Foals

Run The Jewels

Pvris

The Wombats

Will and The People

Pre-sale Start Info: Tuesday, November 3rd at 10am (that's TODAY!)

Pre-sale Ends: Thursday, November 5th at 10pm

Public On-sale: Friday, November 6th at 10am

BUY TICKETS HERE

Upcoming Casbah & Casbah Presents Shows (Updated 11/3)

Okay, so it has been a couple weeks since this running list of Casbah shows has been updated and we now have shows booked into March 2016! I'm particularly excited about the announcement of Martin Courtney of Real Estate coming in January, but there are a ton of shows between now and then to be excited about. Shows from next week and beyond are after the jump.

Tue Nov 03 - The Rocket Summer, Paradise Fears, Plane Without A Pilot @ Casbah

Tue Nov 03 - Antemasque, Eureka The Butcher @ The Observatory North Park

Wed Nov 04 - Spencer Moody, The Fink Bombs, Foreign Bodies @ Casbah

Wed Nov 04 - Botanica Chango, Gary Wilson and the Blind Dates, Bit Maps @ The Irenic

Wed Nov 04 - Dilly Dally @ The Hideout

Thu Nov 05 - Quel Bordel, Sculpins, Lexington Field, Wicked Monk @ Casbah (FREE)

Thu Nov 05 - of Montreal, Diane Coffee @ The Irenic

Of Montreal return to The Irenic on Thursday, November 5

Thu Nov 05 - David Ramirez, Liza Anne @ Soda Bar

Fri Nov 06 - Pimps of Joytime, Con Brio @ Casbah

Fri Nov 06 - Leon Bridges @ The Observatory North Park (SOLD OUT)

Sat Nov 07 - Fall Brewing One Year Anniversary feat Mr. Tube & The Flying Objects, Widows, Victory Mansion @ Casbah (FREE!!)

Sun Nov 08 - Radio Eterno, Marujah, Viri y Los Bandidos @ Casbah ($6 at the door)

Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, November 2-Wednesday, November 4, 2015.

I've not really ever been a big fan of Halloween, but it was a really great weekend. We spent Saturday afternoon at the Dia De Los Muertos festival in Sherman Heights, then took Nova trick or treating with her schoolmates, and then I was dropped off at the Casbah for No Knife where I had just a little too much fun of my own. Sunday was the first day of November, but you wouldn't know it if you went to the beach. The parking lot was jam packed and the beach was full of people and the water is still very (relatively) warm. There are some great shows tis week, though a very noticeable reduction from the insanity of October. It's the beginning of the month, so The Balboa, Gallagher's, and Whistle Stop hadn't updated their sites as of this post. Monday through Wednesday archives are after the jump.

Things To Do In San Diego: Saturday, October 31- Sunday, November 1, 2015

I had to update listings because in case you haven't heard, Rocket From The Crypt had to cancel their show tonight at Bar Pink. The Heartaches will still be there for a free show, and if you had a ticket, show it for a free RFTC poster. Meanwhile, the Casbah is sold out with No Knife. I also wanted to share my excitement that San Diego is finally getting a showing of the award winning documentary, The Glamour and the Squalor, about our dear friend and Rock n Roll Hall of Famer Marco Collins. The film will play at The Irenic on December 5 with Octagrape and Big Bad Buffalo playing after (thus the pic of Jordan of BBB from Thursday's "Halloweezer" cover band). The event will be $25 and you can already get your tickets here. Saturday and Sunday archives are after the jump.

Upcoming Observatory Shows (Updated 10/31)

No changes to the calendar this week besides the addition of Mike Gordon in January. November is going to be a busy month, so grab your tickets early. Remember, you can avoid many of the service charges if you buy tickets at the box office which is open two hours before doors on any show night. Box office purchases are cash only.

10/30 Ghost, Purson 8pm, All Ages (moved to 11/2)

10/31 Soja, J Boog, Dustin Thomas, 7pm, All Ages
11/1 Soja, J Boog, Dustin Thomas, 7pm, All Ages

11/2 Ghost, Purson 7pm, All Ages

11/3 Antemasque, Eureka The Butcher 7pm, All Ages

11/4 King Diamond: Abigail In Concert 2015, Holy Grail, 7pm, All Ages

Things To Do In San Diego: Friday, October 30, 2015

I have to say that this has been a really great week. I saw a couple great shows including DIIV and Failure, and Darren got to see one of his favorites, Tennis, on Wednesday. It was also relatively mellow for work, which is always nice, and we had a fun time going to La Jolla Cove earlier this week. It's also interesting watching Nova get into this groove with school and just growing up into this interesting individual. I feel like watching a kid grow up, you see these small subtle changes and advances all of the time, and then sometimes you just see these leaps and bounds and you're left scratching your head on how this little person just grew up right in front of your face. So yeah, things are really great right now and I'm looking forward to a fun-filled Halloween weekend. Friday archives are after the jump.

Cantore + Woods: Radio Wars

I work very closely with 91X and FM 94/9 on a daily basis, and I'm friends with pretty much everyone I work with, so I'm going to just leave this podcast from Cantore + Woods.

Woah.

Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, October 26-Thursday, October 30, 2015

It was definitely a great weekend. On Friday night I got to catch Kero Kero Bonito at Soda Bar and Bully at the Hideout as I'd planned, and then I worked for Mudhoney on Saturday and Rozzi Crane on Sunday. My niece had an awesome belated birthday at Mission Bay, so everyone took their turns on kayaks and paddleboards and I think everyone is looking forward to the next time we can do that. This week slows down a lot, but obviously picks up this weekend for Halloween and all the awesome Dia De Los Muertos celebrations around town, too. Monday through Thursday archives are after the jump.

Upcoming Observatory Shows (Updated 10/23)

I mostly stayed out of any discussions why ICP canceled yesterday, but I have to say that I actually cried when the show was booked because I was horrified about what the damage to the building would be, so I was definitely not sad that the show was pulled. You can read about the ritual in Santa Ana and understand the concern. Some new shows were added this week, including Dr. Dog, Slightly Stoopid, and two more nights with Tribal Seeds. A bunch of shows changed times sllightly, but one of note is that Tokimonsta is now at 11pm, after the Mayhem show clears out.  Shows from mid-November and beyond after the jump.

10/23 Mac DeMarco, Alex Calder, Walter TV, 7pm, 18+ (SOLD OUT)

10/25 Owl City: On The Verge Tour, Rozzi Crane, 7pm, All Ages

10/28 Shakey Graves, Tennis, 7pm, 18+

Things to Do In San Diego: Wednesday, October 20-Sunday, October 25, 2015

This week hasn't exactly gone as planned but I'll take it anyway. I missed MMJ on Monday because Darren was ill, and Tuesday almost worked out with Darren at Yacht and me at Ought, but in reality by the time he was home and I went, I only caught two songs. Not a big deal, I certainly get to see my share of shows. We did, however, spend the afternoon at the zoo, which is totally my happy place--though you can see it in the eyes of the animals that they know it is October and can't wait till all the little terrorizing children are at least back to regular attendance levels. We had fun, though, and met up with Nova's friend from school. Anyway, still lots of great shows this week and one terrible one. I'll let you figure that one out. Wednesday through Sunday archives are after the jump.

Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, October 19-Tuesday, October 20, 2015

I think I earned my stripes this weekend. I'll start by saying that I stayed home on Friday and Sunday night- The Districts cancelled their Irenic show after getting caught north of the I-5 road closures- and I had already told Observatory I had to work elsewhere, so I was off the hook, but it was nice being home and hearing Darren and Nova come home so excited after the Echosmith/TwentyOne Pilots show at OAT. We had been to a private show at 207 with Echosmith earlier in the day so I got my fill then. On Saturday, it was my night on the town. I started at the Besties at the Fleet to collect the awards for The Casbah and Observatory, then headed to The Observatory just in time for FIDLAR. I stayed for the first half hour or so of their set, dropped by Bar Pink, then saw the remainder of Hinds' set at The Irenic. From there, I went to Soda Bar for Horse Feathers then caught Chad Valley at The Hideout, before closing the night at the Ken Club. Sunday was a manic day but we spent some time at Mission Trails which was beautiful with overcast skies, but by the time we were home and having dinner, I just couldn't get my work done fast enough to muster the trip up to the Belly Up for Givers. So, I'm super bummed I had to miss them, but family is first and we needed a powwow together before Nova returned to school from fall break. This week has some great shows- I'll be a MMJ on Monday, then Darren will be at Yacht on Tuesday, and if he's home in time, I might run out to see Ought. I might try to catch Small Black on Wednesday, stay home on Thursday, and then see Kero Kero Bonito and Bully on Friday before slinging merch for Mudhoney on Saturday and Rozzi Crane on Sunday. Not a bad week at all. Tuesday through Sunday listings are after the jump.

Hinds performed at The Irenic on Saturday, October 17

Things To Do In San Diego: Friday, October 16- Sunday, October 18, 2015

It has been another doozy of a week. Nova's second week of fall break had us running all over town. In the past three days alone, we had a morning at Lake Murray, an afternoon swim party, dance class, hit the Waterfront Park, a Halloween party, and a birthday party at Urban Jungle, all the while trying to make sure I stayed caught up with work (I am the jerk that takes a laptop to Urban Jungle), including a Casbah meeting and my usual bazillion emails. My nights were pretty busy, too, with Wolf Alice on Monday, Other Lives on Tuesday, A Silent Film on Wednesday, and Jose Gonzalez on Thursday. Today we'll be catching a private party with Echosmith, then I'll either be working at The Irenic or The Observatory while Darren takes Nova to OAT for 21 Pilots and Echosmith. I'm not sure exactly where I'll end up on Saturday with the Besties at the Fleet, Hinds at the Irenic, and FIDLAR at the Observatory, but on Sunday I'm going to make every effort to see Givers at the Belly Up. Here's to hoping we see some of the rain that hit LA, minus the destructive landslides. Saturday and Sunday listings are after the jump.

Jesse from Other Lives at the Belly Up

Friday, October 16, 2015:

• CANCELED: The Districts, Sun Club @ The Irenic (The band got stuck in NoCal due to mudslides and I-5 road closures at Grapevine. Refunds will be issued via Ticketfly)
• Marian Hill, Heavy Mellow @ Casbah (SOLD OUT)
• 21 Pilots, Echosmith, Finish Ticket @ Open Air Theatre, SDSU (SOLD OUT)
• Misterwives, Cruisr @ Observatory North Park
• Rock The Boat Cruise with Tomorrows Bad Seeds, Ease Up, Grizzly Business, The Verigolds, Digital Lizards of Doom, Kid Wilderness, DJ Mancat, DJ Raychill Frank @ William D. Evans Riverboat on Mission Bay (Use promo code for discount "verigolds" or "rocktheboat"
• Voodoo Glow Skulls, Phenomenauts, China Wife Motors, Oceanside Sound System @ Soda Bar
• Joe Rogan @ Balboa Theatre
• The Wind Playing Tricks @ Ken Club
• Sarah McQuaid @ Templar's Hall in Old Poway Park
• Luke Bryan: Kick The Dust Up Tour 2015 with Randy Houser, Dustin Lynch @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre
• Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen @ AMSD
• Abstracter, monochromacy, Dead Ghosts @ The Treehouse
• Junior The DiscoPUNK @ Bar Pink
• The Garden - "Haha" (Album Release) @ Che Cafe
• Spotlighting Art Blakey with Matt Witek & Christopher Hollyday @ Dizzy's
• Atomic Groove Pink Girlz Night Out Happy Hour @ Belly Up (5pm)
• Fishbone & Monophonics @ Belly Up
• Spazzkid @ The Loft, UCSD
• The Village Squares, The Casey Hensley Band, Vida Blue @ Music Box
• Musica en La Plaza @ California Center for the Arts Escondido
• Cult Vegas, Mars & The Massacre, Plastik Deer @ The Balboa
• Acid King, Giant Squid, Mala Suerte, Trapped Within Burning Machinery @ Brick By Brick
• America, Lisa Sanders & Brown Sugar @ Humphreys Concerts By The Bay
• Daisy O'Connor, Lindsay and the White Lies @ Java Joe's
• Common Kings, Sammy J, Tribe of Kings Soundsystem @ House of Blues
• Jonny Craig, Travis Garland, Kyle Lucas @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
• Behind the Wagon, The Sickstring Outlaws, Abe West @ The Merrow
• Kitty Plague (CD Release), Jovi & The Issues, Swords of Fatima @ The Bancroft
• Lee Churchill @ U-31
• Teagan Taylor @ Croce's Park West
• Monette Marino @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
• Timeshares, Signals Midwest, Western Settings @ Tower Bar
• Ocean Beach Comedy w/ Matt Lockwood @ Winston's (6-9pm)
• Project out of Bounds, Rubbish, Revival @ Winston's (9:30pm)
• Walter Lure of the Heartbreakers, The Zeros, Dirty Eyes @ Til-Two Club
• F#ing In The Bushes with Rob Moran @ Whistle Stop
• DIRTCAPS @ Fluxx
• EC Twins @ Omnia
• Tiga @ Bang Bang
• DJ Spryte @ Parq
• Junior theDISCOpunk @ Henry's Pub
• Funks Most Wanted @ Tio Leo's
• Liquid Geometry presets Something Different @ Kava Lounge
• Ent. Kings, DJ R2 @ Gallagher's Irish Pub
• Club Musae @ Boar Cross'n
• B Foundation, Reeform & Sandollar @ 710 Beach Club
• Jack Russell's Great White, Sledd, Di Vad, Big Toe @ Ramona Mainstage

Upcoming Casbah & Casbah Presents Shows (Updated 10/16)

If you look at the next couple weeks, you'd think Tim Mays went on a booking bender. Honestly- 4 shows tonight, 3 on Saturday, 3 on Sunday, 2 on Monday and so forth until October 25, when there is finally only one Casbah show, and that is William Fitzsimmons. No amount of begging or bribery could get Yacht & Ought to play together at the same venue- no, instead I have to choose one or the other! Tonight I'm supposed to work at The Districts and Misterwives. I don't know what I'm going to do. Why all these lunatics don't just wait to tour the west coast when we're in our November/December/January lull, I'll never understand. But whatever, too many great shows is a good problem to have. I'm going to go ahead and post this, but just know that there are new show announcements today at 10am, so I'll try and update those when I can. Complete Casbah bookings are after the jump.

Fri Oct 16 - The Districts, Sun Club @ The Irenic (CANCELLED due to mudslides along I-5 in Grapevine. All tickets will be refunded via Ticketfly)

Fri Oct 16 - Misterwives, Cruisr @ The Observatory North Park

Fri Oct 16 - Voodoo Glow Skulls, Phenomenauts, China Wife Motors @ Soda Bar

Fri Oct 16 - Marian Hill, Heavy Mellow @ Casbah (SOLD OUT)

Sat Oct 17 - El Ten Eleven, Sego @ Casbah

El Ten Eleven Appear at the Cabsah on October 17 & 18

Sat Oct 17 - FIDLAR, Dune Rats, The Frights @ The Observatory North Park

Sat Oct 17 - Horse Feathers, River Whyless, Korey Dane @ Soda Bar

Sun Oct 18 - GIVERS @ Belly Up

Sun Oct 18 - El Ten Eleven, Sego @ Casbah

Sun Oct 18 - Black Lips, Ariel Pink, Gary Wilson & The Blind Dates @ The Observatory North Park

Mon Oct 19 - Dethsurf, Cochinas Locos, Los Shadows @ Casbah

Mon Oct 19 - Heartless Bastards, Slothrust @ Belly Up

Tue Oct 20 - YACHT, Larry Gus @ Casbah

Tue Oct 20 - Ought, Upset, Sextile @ The Hideout

Wed Oct 21 - Small Black, Painted Palms, DJ Keith Sweaty @ Casbah

Wed Oct 21 - Eagles of Death Metal @ Belly Up (SOLD OUT)

Thu Oct 22 - Flipper with David Yow, Widows, Stalins of Sound @ Casbah

Thu Oct 22 - The Sword, Kadavar, All Them Witches @ Belly Up

Fri Oct 23 - Red Fang, Whores, Wild Throne @ Casbah

Fri Oct 23 - Bully, Heat @ The Hideout

Fri Oct 23 - Mac DeMarco, Alex Calder, Walter TV @ The Observatory North Park (SOLD OUT)

Sat Oct 24 - Mudhoney, Tar Halos, The Grids @ Casbah

Sat Oct 24 - Natalie Prass @ Soda Bar

Sun Oct 25 - William Fitzsimmons, Jake Phillips @ Casbah

Upcoming Shows at The Observatory North Park (Updated 10/16)

Besides the massive Bernie Sanders Debate Viewing Party on Tuesday, it was a relatively quiet week at the Observatory. But with shows the next four out of five nights, it will certainly get a whole lot busier. I hear that FIDLAR is close to sell out, so grab your tickets in advance or it might be too late the night of the show. Other than that news, the only additions here are Ghostface Killah and Bone Thugs N Harmony.

10/16 MisterWives, Cruisr 6:30 pm, All Ages

10/17 FIDLAR, Dune Rats, The Frights, 7pm, All Ages

10/18 The Black Lips, Ariel Pink, Gary Wilson & The Blind Dates 7pm, All Ages

10/20 Lianne La Havas, Keenan O'Meara 7pm, 18+

Tonight! Other Lives at the Belly Up

Other Lives are playing at the Belly Up tonight. I love these guys and I have been waiting for a long time for their return. I know this week is crazy good for music but tonight with Other Lives and Sunday with Givers are easily my picks of the week.

Check out some of these newer videos:

WATCH - "Easy Way Out"
WATCH - "Reconfiguration" video
WATCH - "2 Pyramids" video
WATCH - Other Lives on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic

From the press release:
Other Lives is comprised of Josh Onstott, Jonathon Mooney and Jesse Tabish. Rituals is a pure encapsulation of the band's relentless drive for precision.The trio relocated to Portland, Oregon from their hometown of Stillwater, Oklahoma to record the album. Tabish says the relocation had a direct influence that can be heard through Rituals.

"There was a spirit of change," Tabish offers. "We had done [2011's second LP] Tamer Animals, which was very close to us and about our home. So the next record was about the spontaneity of travel and being isolated. For the first times in our lives we were moving off on our own away from our families and kind of coming into our own. I wanted the songs to reflect that new spirit."

"This one was a real journey," Tabish says of the 18 months spent writing more than 60 songs for Rituals, a constant creative outlet for the relentless sonic architect amid a rigorous few years of touring their debut album. "It was a long time spent searching for a new identity," the soft-spoken singer continues of the writing process, "still trying to retain the past of our musical palate but also really trying to stretch ourselves into a new type of music." The album was produced by Mooney, Tabish and Joey Waronker (Eels, Atoms for Peace, Beck, etc.).

While Rituals marks a new chapter in Other Lives' story, it's also a continuation of a decade-plus passage. "I feel really lucky to be able to have a band and people around me that have been so supportive and we've stuck together all these years and still don't hate each other," Tabish says. "All three of us are like brothers. I don't think that will ever go away. I loved those kids then and I love them now. There's that mutual feeling. If I want to go have a beer with anyone it would be those two guys. That kind of says something."

Here's some videos I shot of the band in Vegas during their residency at The Cosmopolitan in 2011.

Things To Do In San Diego: Tuesday, October 13-Thursday, October 15, 2015

The overcast skies this morning were so promising, but now it's back to miserable heat, so we're going to run out to the beach or something before I have to work tonight, but since I did the rest of the listings for this week, I thought I'd get them posted. The Hideout and Lestat's have sites that are not currently working, but everything else should be fairly accurate. Here's another photo of TV On The Radio for good measure. Tuesday through Thursday archives are after the jump.