A picture preview

I will be racapping the weekend soon, but in the meantime, here's a pic of how I spent my Saturday night:

Staring At The Sun Volume 5 to be released

This info from Bart Mendoza:

I just wanted to let you know about two events we're putting together to celebrate the release of Staring At The Sun Vol. 5, a FREE compilation of local music. The music on the disc is all over the place with a little bit of everything:-)

Feb. 8 Lestats / All Ages Event
Podunk Nowhere
The Grams
Mark DeCerbo & Four Eyes
Marie Haddad
$5 admission. All attendees recieve a free CD - All Ages. 9 p.m.

Feb. 25 The Casbah / 21 and up
Presented by Tim Pyles and FM94.9
Vinyl Radio
Buzzkill Romantics
The Shambles
Anna Troy
Free Show - Free Food - Free CD
Live FM94.9 Broadcast from the back bar aka The Atari Lounge
7:30 p.m. 21 and up. Free.

The CD includes music from all the above artists plus Will Edwards, Barbara Nesbitt, The Coyote Problem, Citizen Band, Berkley Hart, Christopher Dale's Superdoo, The Spring Collection, Heathen Kings of Olde and Blizzard. Also there is a bonus video of Scott Wilson's song "Coffeehouse 101" featuring cameos from over 50 local performers and music media types, from Troy Johnson to bluesman Robin Henkel!

Thanks
Bart

Things To Do: January 12- January 14 2007

Friday, January 12, 2007

• Deccatree, Tyrone Wells, Micah Dahlberg @ Lestat's (Deccatree is one of my favorites)
• Incubus & Albert Hammond, Jr. (of the Strokes) @ Soma (sold out)
• The Fucking Champs, Earthless, Citay @ Casbah ($10)
• The Fascination, The Wills @ Ken Club
• Sara Petite & Gully @ Whistle Stop
• The Americans, Longway, The Experiments, Nuclear Tomorrow @ Zombie Lounge
• The Soft.Lightes @ Beauty Bar
• Electric Warriors ride: Meet up at 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, at the fountain in Balboa Park.
• Mommy's Little Monster, Dukes of Haggard, Whiskey Dicks @ Brick By Brick

Saturday, January 13, 2007

• Mods vs. Rockers @ Tower Bar
• The North Atlantic, Aspects of Physics, Secret Fun Club, Japanese Sunday @ Casbah $8
• The Prayers, The Muslims, Jeremy Jay @ The Ken Club, DJ Sets by Skull Kontrol
• Oaks, The Front, Hostile Combover @ Scolari's
• FREE INSTORE: Chow Nasty @ M-Theory 3 pm
• Burning of Rome @ Beauty Bar
• Fashion Whore @ San Diego Sports Club (Theme: Cowboys & Indians)
• FREE STUFF: Multicultural Festival @ MLK, Jr. Promenade between 4th and Market across from Harbor Drive. 11a-5p.
• Embarassing: Cheetah Girls @ iPayOne. If anyone has a pair of free tickets to send my way, my little sister would be eternally grateful. She's 8 and allowed to love the Cheetah Girls.
• Get Your Death On, Gargantula, Bat Wings, Its Casual @ Alibi
• Jason Lee, Bamboula, The Strikers, Zombie Surf Camp, The Barroom Shakers @ Dreamstreet $5, 8pm
• Agua Dulce & Those Dang Robinsons@ 710 Beach Club
• Dead Man's Party & Zoo2 @ Belly Up
• FREE: Ray At Night (monthly night of open galleries at Ray St & North Park Way) 6-10p
• FREE: MySpace Secret Show: Hellogoodbye & Self Against City @ Soma Sidestage, Sat Jan 13, 7pm.
  

Sunday, January 14, 2007

• Rhett Miller & Matt Curreri @ Belly Up
• Buckfast Superbee, The Transit War, Spell Toronto, Strike the Design @ Casbah (Casbah's official18th Anniversary)

Thursday Night in San Diego: A recap and Newsy Bits

I joined my friends Andrea, Kara, Francine, Dan and Matt at Bacchus for a happy hour wine tasting. 6 tastings for $5 is a bargain, especially when there are 9 or 10 different wines from which to choose for your tastings. Here's a picture for your pleasure, taken by the camera on Francine's phone.



Apps were half price though the selection limited being that Bacchus is a wine store and not a restaurant. With the happy hour prices, olives and crackers are $2.50, a cheese plate is $5, a meat and cheese plate is $7.50. In a "twist my arm" evening, after our tasting and subsequently sharing 2 bottles of wine from the store, we headed down G Street to 57°. Dan has wine stored there so we shared a few more bottles of wine. I was going to write a fake review of the Belly Up show because I am mad at myself that I bought a ticket and didn't use it, but honestly, a good night shant be cut short for a 25 minute ride up the coast. So yeah, I missed Ryan Calhoun, Anya Marina and Greg Laswell. But I played poker and drank wine in the VIP room of 57°: life is all about trade-offs.

Last night was also the anniversary party at Kate Ross which had a reception at the store and a fashion show afterward at Bluefoot Lounge. My favorite photographer was present and took some pics for your enjoyment. All photos taken by David Fennema. Take a look at his photoblog for other amazing photos.









In other newsy bits:

Rookie Card is looking for a bassist: BASSIST WANTED Want to play and harmonize with Rookie Card? Fun established indiepowerpop/altcountry band. Good songs, good times. We dig Wilco, Guided By Voices, Teenage Fanclub, Whit Strips, Old 97's, Big Star, etc. Contact Adam through the band's MySpace page here. The band has several upcoming shows, so check their MySpace for those dates as well.

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If you missed the live S&M show at the Beauty Bar on Wednesday, check out the pictures here. The photographer also has a great collection of pictures of Republic of Letters here. Catch Republic of Letters at the Ken Club on January 26.

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If you happened to be at the awesome Danielson concert at the Casbah last summer, then go show your love by voting for their video on MTVU. Don't be too cool for MTV. MTV sells records, more record sales equals more touring, more touring means bands stop treating San Diego like we're some podunk town and can be bypassed on tours as bands head from LA to Tempe. Voting ends tonight at midnight.

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Rob Crow is featured on Stereogum's blog today. Check it out here.

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Time for my Friday nap. Peace out...

Things To Do: January 11

My weekend will involve happy hour tonight at Bacchus then Greg Laswell @ The Belly Up, Deccatree at Lestat's on Friday, The Ken Club on Saturday, and Chargers game/Rhett Miller on Sunday. Very nice.

Thursday, January 11, 2007:

• Political: Not One More Death! Not One More Dollar! Rally Against Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq- 5pm First and Cedar @ Federal Building
• Greg Laswell, Anya Marina, and Ryan Calhoun @ Belly Up.
• 34 Below @ Dublin Square
• Mickey Avalon, Dyslexic Speedreaders @ Casbah ($16)
• 4 Way Free, Kyle Phelan, Brett Bixby @ Lestat's
• Long Live Logos, Black Patterns From Saturn, Enter Telescope @ Scolari's
• Noches Rockeras w/ Castillo @ House of Blues (local Rock En Español free tickets call 619-254-4685)
• FREE SHIT: Kate Ross One Year Anniversary, trunk show, bevvies and desserts. 6-9 pm. 3018 University Ave, North Park. (Followed by Kate Ross Fashion Show @ Bluefoot Bar, 9pm, DJ Morgan Young, Drink Specials.)
• Repeater @ Beauty Bar
• Firethorn & Secret Apollo @ SD Sports Club
• Happy Hour: Bacchus $5 Wine Tasting (of 6 wines), 1/2 price apps from 5-8pm. Andrea and I are going. Who is in? The address is 647 G Street. I'll be there around 6.

Accused: Junior Seau Lawsuit

Junior Seau is being sued for property damage and the distress felt after he got into a verbal confrontation with two women at Sidebar over 8 months ago. I know I wasn't there and I realize it's probably really sexist of me, but bitches like these really piss me off and are a disgrace to my gender.
If a guy called me a name and tossed a drink on me, I'd be pissed but it hardly makes me worthy $25k. I wasn't even gonna blog this but as it is local news and happened at a local bar, I'll go ahead and post.

You can read the actual complaint here. Read what he supposedly said! Awesome. He used the C word...because they are.

Rob Crow In-Store!

This news from M-Theory:

Rob Crow In-Store 1/27 @ 3pm at the Mission Hills Store!

Pinback's own (and a million other great indie bands for that
matter) Rob Crow has a new solo record out on Tues 1/23rd. As opposed to some of his other solo output where the songs were a bit more varied in genre styles,
this new record really does sound like a lost Pinback record. With Rob's
signature vocal styling and melodic guitar hooks, it's instantly recognizable to
Pinback fans and will attract those not so familiar with his involvment in the
band. In other words, it kicks ass!

We're proud to announce an in-store performance
to promote the new CD on Sat. Jan 27th @ 3pm at the Mission Hills store.
Additionally, we have a limited supply of autographed Ladies CDs, free with
pre-order/purchase of Rob's new solo record. Ladies is another project Rob was
in recently that involved a collaboration with Zach Hill (from Hella). Mark it
down. Pre-order the CD. See you on the 27th!

Also, Rob Crow & Friends will be performing at the Casbah on February 14.

Today's Newsy Tidbits- Thursday

I didn't make it out last night. My Christmas tree was still up and looking more and more sad the further into '07 we get, so it was time to let go. I wanna hear about the show at the Casbah, the S&M show at the Beauty Bar, and Pussy Galore. Good turnouts? Any craziness ensue?

This really has nothing to do with anything but it will stand, at least for now, as the funniest thing I've seen in person this year. Last night after work, on 2nd and C street in front of the community concourse, a large group of all male protesters had assembled. I don't think I'm exagerrating to say there were 30-40 guys, all young, and loud. What were they protesting you ask? The buildup of troops in Iraq? no. They were chanting in support of the former 9th planet of our solar system, Pluto. Chanting "1-2-3-4 We love Pluto, 5-6-7-8 We think Pluto's great." 5 shirtless guys each had a letter of "pluto" across their chests. The funny thing, to me, was that Pluto's planetary status was stripped months ago. Way to follow your current events, guys!

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My most listened to and favorite album of 2006 was Makers by Rocky Votolato. If you're a fan, keep an eye out for tickets as he'll be returning to the Casbah on April 15 (taxday and my sister's 29th birthday) He often does an in-store at M-Theory, so keep your eyes peeled for that, too.

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Indie103 played an old Silversuns Pickup track this morning. It is from their ep before Carnavas and the song is called Kissing Families. They have it posted on their MySpace page, so go check it out if you're a fan. While I'm at it, I bought a pair of tickets to Snow Patrol, Silversun Pickups, and OK, Go! coming in a couple months. I haven't thought about who is going to get the second ticket, so if you wanna come with me (and pay back for the ticket), let me know. I am not in the pit but my seats are decent.

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This is a message from Andrew of Vinyl Radio/Upset Schoolbus/and formerly Cape May. (Go toward the bottom of the section call Notables)

We're adding Ryan, former singer and guitar hero
from the Jury, to the group that me, Dusty from Cape May, and Andrew
McNally from the Jury and Rookie Card have initiated. So far that makes 2
drummers, sharing the same kick, that will also sing and play keys on different
songs, and some guitars. Ryan will also sing, do his thing that he does so well
on his Les Paul and sing, and myself on guitars and keys and some
singing. Bass player needed. We wanted to talk to the girl guitarist and former
Society back-up singer from Pussywhipped but I got kicked out of the SDSC
before I could speak with her. Damn that register girl!

Keep an eye out for Upset Schoolbus....
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The Black Keys will be on Conan tonight. If you're home (or arriving home after a night out) be sure to check them out. And Peter, Bjorn and John just confirmed they'll be on January 29.
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MySpace Secret Show in San Diego this weekend! Just announced! All Ages! Free!
Hellogoodbye & Self Against City @ Soma Sidestage, Sat Jan 13, 7pm. Maybe Tom will be there!!
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Download "Elephant Gun" (mp3)
from "Lon Gisland EP"
by Beirut
Ba Da Bing!

• Buy at RealNetworks / Rhapsody


• Buy at Napster


• Stream from RealNetworks / Rhapsody

That's all I've got so far...it's a slow news day...just be glad I'm not ranting about the Commander in Chief.

Glitch: Casbah

The Casbah has a few web urls that lead to their pages. The schedule is inaccessible at the moment at CasbahMusic.com, however the other site, CasbahTickets.com, bypasses the schedule and can still be used to buy tickets for now.

Things To Do: January 10

Wednesday, January 10:

• The Fourth Project Benefit show @ the Casbah Wednesday, January 10th.
  The Heartaches (new record just out on Swami Records), Beehive and the Barracudas (first show in almost a year), The Sultans (last show ever!* Featuring members of RFTC) and Mr. Tube and the Flying Objects (10 piece low rider rock featuring Pall of Blackheart Procession and 3 Mile Pilot).
  There will be a raffle with prizes being given all night from sponsors such as Fallen Footwear, Zero Skateboards, Swami Records, Flapping Jet Records, Merch Lackey, Innes Clothing, Dekline Shoes, Foundation Skateboards and others TBA.
• Dynamite Walls & Ovals Of Cassini @ SDSC for Pussy Galore
• "The New Black" @ Beauty Bar. Live S&M show. Meow.
• Metal Skool @ Typhoon Saloon
• FREE SHIT: Chargers Power Rally @ Qualcomm Stadium with appearances by members of the Chargers, The Charger Girls, and free concert by P.O.D. (who wrote a new Chargers theme song). Rally is from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. Free raffle with prizes including playoff tickets.

Boo-Hoo: Landlord Jim's

I came across this little piece of info in today's print CityBeat:

Visual Graffiti Thursday Jan 11. This will be
the last Visual Graffiti because Landlord Jim's will
soon be closing its doors.

WHAT!?! Anyone know what's up? Building sold? Gonna miss the paper bag tallboys...

Today's Newsy Tidbits

I did not go out last night so I got a full night's sleep and I am feeling good today. On with the blog:

If you haven't read CatDirt's review of the Justin Timberlake show, check it out here.
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Good news from Peter, Bjorn and John: the long awaited US version of Writer's Block is out Feb 6th, 2007- for more info on the US release go here. (OK, maybe not local music news, but good non-local music counts on this blog, too.)
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I have modified this website a little. In the right column I have added four different "hype machine" top tens. You can click on the songs and it will link you to the place where that MP3 is available online. I have links to Stereogum, "Popular Blog Tracks", Gorilla vs. Bear, and An Aquarium Drunkard. It's coming together little by little, people...
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A shout out to Swim Party. Troy Johnson has made them the artist of the day on his blog here and this little site has been added as a link from the band's website. Go check out their site here. Thanks, Alex!
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As Troy blogged, bad news for Bayside concerts. I used to teach tennis is Coronado. I say to Coronado, "BITE ME." The concerts at the Embarcadero were fucking great and the islanders get no sympathy. How about checking the decibels of all the military aircraft. Honestly, 76 complaints is a lot? Just wondering. So the concerts will all end by 10 or 10:30. If big bands still book, this could mean more official after parties at Beauty Bar, The Casbah and the like, yeah? The fucked up thing is that Coors will probably get more of the artists that would've played the Embarcadero. $25 for Manu Chao, bye-bye. $34 for Death Cab, Spoon and Mates? Not gonna happen again. Get ready for the tripling of ticket prices...
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In addition to new stuff from Modest Mouse, The Shins, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and Arcade Fire, Indie 103 is playing a new Morrissey track. Apparently the new ep is available on iTunes. And while I'm on the topic, is it just me or could the new Modest Mouse track "Dashboard" fit right onto The Cloud Room's '05 self-titled release?
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Today's CityBeat's got lots of good stuff (most of which you already know from reading this blog!!), but here's Troy's correction about Vinyl Radio:

Last week in “If I Were U,” we reported that Brad
Artley—former drummer of Brian Jonestown Massacre and co-star of the holiest of
unholy rock documentary films, Dig!—had joined local garage-rockers Vinyl Radio.
Seems we jumped the gun: While Artley has auditioned, no decision has been made yet to add him to the band.

They are still looking for a permanent drummer. If you think you've got what it takes, you can drop me an email and I'll put you in touch with them, or just go to their MySpace page.
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Here's CityBeat's take on Dick Murphy's Malkmus attendance that I blogged about here.
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This from HoneyBeeHive:

due to last minute band cancelations, the bee hive is
currently available for bookings on jan 19 and 20. if you are interested in
putting a show together on either of these dates, please call Richie @
619-517-2030

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Blonde Redhead has announced a tour and will be at the Belly Up on April 27. (This one's for you, Jason, because I know you love them so...)

CWK

Let's see if you can decode a message: A glitch on the website of a venue I frequent often (like 3 times in the last 4 days) has announced an onsale date for tix to CWK of this Friday but allows you to make the purchase now. Ticket + Service charge + Mail = $16.25 but I believe it's worth it. Show date is Feb 20.

Things To Do: January 9

Tuesday, January 9:

• Helmet & Totimoshi @ The Casbah
• The Challenger Deep, Hialeah, Hollywood Begs @ Scolari's
• Firethorn @ San Diego Sports Club
• Sin City Revue, Celebrating The Music of Gram Parsons featuring Tim Flannery, Eve Selis, Berkeley Hart, Slidewinders @ Belly Up
• Lady Sovereign @ House of Blues
• The Blackout Party @ House of Blues (Salvation Alley stage...FREE!)
• Competitive Eating Contest @ The Tower Bar (win a $30 bar tab!) Word on the street is this week's food is TAQUITOS.

Random Tidbits/Anti Monday Recap

1. Morrissey has scheduled three solo dates in Pasadena. The shows will be Feb 1-3 and tickets go on sale this Saturday at 10 a.m.

2. Contrary to the SignOnSanDiego teaser about Lady Sovereign, she is not "back at the House of Blues for the second time in three months". Her other show here was cancelled because she brokedown. Maybe she'll breakdown again when she finds out that even when the same tickets had 3 more months to sell, they were still offered for 2 for Tuesdays on the HoB site, whick means you could buy 2 Lady Sov tickets for the low price of $13 (plus $999 in rip-off HoB service charges). I've mentioned that I had a nightmare with "Love Me Or Hate Me" as the soundtrack, so there is no question that I will NOT be at the show tonight. That's what I get for repeatedly watching The Bad Girls Club on the Oh! Network. But how can I resist? It's only like the best reality show EVER!

3. Cool Merch watch: Vena Cava has the best shirts ever. (after you click the link, scroll down for t-shirt demonstration)

4. My lovely amigo Troy Johnson has been blogging lately. Check it out here.

Last night brought the long awaited arrival of Tim Pyles' Anti-Monday League. I feel like I've been helping to promote the hell out of this show, so if people didn't show up, I was gonna take it personal. To my surprise, not only did people show, but it was pretty crowded. Definitely more people than I ever remember at Poprocks. I hadn't really even paid attention at the hodgepodge lineup until I was at the show. The Strikers are metal-cum-psychobilly and were pretty damn good and got the few of us who showed up early lubed for a night of good music. The bassist played a standup bass ("painted like the Batmobile" according to Jason) and as they played their version of Wooly Bully, he proceeded to hump his bass in that jackhammer way that is a nightmare to all women and resurrects bad flashbacks of college. Or maybe that's just me. Nonetheless, I thought they put on a good show and if the fast hard rock stuff is your cup of tea, you should check them out on Saturday at Dream Street.

By the time Fifty took the stage, more people had arrived though it really was a testament more to the fact that everyone loves Tim and wanted to support his endeavors more than anything else. Everyone who matters was at the show. That was a joke. Really. But it was cool to see all the people who turned up...Bart Mendoza, Troy Johnson, Edgartronic, O from Reeve Oliver, Irwin of Irwin's Conspiracy, ChickRawker, CatDirt & CDWife (after Timberlake, of course), the SDSC crew of Neil, Rodney, and Jason, Laura Jane (host of the upcoming Indie Music Fest), Mel, Nick and Adrian of Republic of Letters, MC Flow, and whoever that awesome guy was that bought me a drink at the end of the night. I didn't catch his name but he gets the gold star. I know there were a bunch of other local musicians represented but I don't know all of 'em.

Anyway, Fifty did their thing and the sound was loud but the vox still audible which to me, makes or breaks their shows. The crowd seemed genuinely into the music and you would've been hard pressed to find anyone there who wasn't enjoying themselves. FOTH brand of Pistols inspired punk is fun and energizing and it's always funny to see Junior try to work out a new place for him to climb while onstage.

I escaped to a pool table for a few games with Nick until Vinyl Radio started. I have no journalistic integrity because I love these guys so there definitely might be a conflict of interest, but I was a fan first and friend second so I can still say that I love Matt's onstage presence and the blues driven classic rock feel of their material. I mentioned that I've heard the new recordings and the forthcoming album is gonna be strong. Morgan Young filled in on drums (not the dude from Brian Jonestown Massacre as reported here) and I know that the band wishes he were a permanent fixture. Their quest to find a permanent drummer continues.

Following along? That is psychobilly to punk to rock. This had me concerned because I really liked what I'd heard of Peter and The Wolf, but didn't think the crowd would stick around for folkie indie music. And more or less, I was right. Maybe it was because it was Monday night, maybe people didn't want the change of pace, or maybe that the band isn't local made them easier to dismiss, but I am glad I stuck around for their performance.

I had heard tracks from Peter and the Wolf from a radio broadcast and was expecting a guy and a chick with a guitar and maybe a single snare or something. In no way was I prepared for 8 guys taking the stage, all with various improvised instruments. The singer fronted with a duct taped guitar. I didn't notice any other traditional instruments. One guy played a bicycle rim and the spokes with a drumstick. One guy played a six pack of empty beer bottles in their little cardboard carrier with a drumstick. There were pots and pans and lids and spatulas and shakers and all kinds of random stuff. I felt like I was watching the indie rock version of Stomp without the lame interpretive dance. Unfortunately the crowd thinned out and it seemed there were more people onstage than in the crowd, but those of us paying attention were stoked by what we saw. The band would've benefitted from a more indie billing, I think, like with Kite Flying Society or similar, but for their first show in SD, I hope they felt the trip was worthwhile.

That's all I've got for now. New calendar to be posted later.

Devotchka

After the Devotchka show in December, I said that I didn't think that their music was anything I would listen to at home or at work or in my car, though I thoroughly enjoyed their concert. I would like to officially revoke that statement and tell you to go listen to them here. You will forget you're stuck in a cubicle jungle. Seriously. You will feel transported from wherever you are.

I never posted my really bad pics either. Here's just a couple...

Things To Do: January 8

I kinda like the daily updating of my things to do. First off, I think it should always stay at the top of the page. But also, just typing it all gives me perspective about how my week lays out, when I can fit in doing laundry, how much money I can blow on cover or drinks or merch, when I'll get to take naps or when I should just stay in. I hope it works for you.

It has also occurred to me that people coming from out of town, say for the ASR (Action Sports Retailers) Trade show might be looking for things to do while they're in San Diego, so I'm trying to extend the calendar out a little more, but still on a week to week basis. I'll still be constantly updating as I find other things to add.

Monday, January 8:

• Anti-Monday League @ The Casbah, Featuring Vinyl Radio, Peter and The Wolf, Fifty On Their Heels, The Strikers. $5. Presented by Tim Pyles. New Set Times: 9 :00 - The Strikers 9:45 - Fifty On Their Heels 10:30 - Vinyl Radio 11:15 - Peter And The Wolf

Look at his cute new logo:

• Cocktails in Kensington @ The Ken Club
• Justin Timberlake & Pink @ iPayOne Center
• Elvis' Birthday Celebration @ Dick's Last Resort. Impersonator competition and Jelly Donut Eating Contest. Free to enter. Joey Inzunza, if you were still in San Diego you could be all over this.
• Lady Dottie & The Diamonds @ Tower Bar

Random Buzz: Things That Make Me Happy

1. The Shins are going to be on Saturday Night Live this week. Not that I'll be home to watch, but at least it's exposure for music that doesn't suck. Indie bloggers give your collective groan of how this makes them lose their cred. Whatever.

2. The Casbah has a listing for the Cold War Kids on February 20. Tickets aren't on sale yet. This is the same night as Gomez/Ben Kweller so I'll have to make a choice, but good options to have to debate, don't you think? CWK are supposed to be touring with Delta Spirit and Tokyo Police Club, but TPC is gonna be in Europe for the SD date. Bummer.

3. 94/9 has added the new Modest Mouse song "Dashboard" to rotation.

4. Arcade Fire's 2nd song "Black Mirror" from the new album is playing on Indie 103.1 Rumored to be playing "in (the LA) area" in the end of April would suggest that they are playing Coachella. Not that I go to Coachella, but if I did, this news would excite me.

Recap: Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks and Entrance

Damn my Photobucket has been pissing me off today.

Last night's Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks show was pretty alright. Truth be told, there is nothing I can say about Pavement or Stephen Malkmus that hasn't been said by people who know music and this musician in particular, better than I do. I enjoyed the sold out show, but for me it wasn't life-changing, "epic" or particularly spectacular. I expected more quick starting and quick closing songs, but there were a lot of free jams happening onstage. The crowd was into it, and especially stoked that the drummer from Sleater Kinney is now a Jick. So no analysis, here's the set list for you.



The opening band was called Entrance. They're a three piece, with a chick bassist (who was wearing moccasins and looked like she hit the peace pipe before the show). The vocalist/guitarist plays Hendrix style, with his guitar upside down and really weird tunings. The first four songs to me were pretty cool, psychedelic rock with a hint of gypsy vibe, but they turned more into straight up psych rock as the set progressed and I lost my enthusiasm when the singer switched guitars mid set and had to tune for at least 5 minutes only to come back with only 2 songs. huh? Seemed like a waste. I also felt like the draw of the band was the hollering vocal stylings of the singer and the lyrics fell by the wayside. I guess that's just me. "Don't go walking on the wrong side of the road" just ain't deep.

All in all, I had a good time, but there have been and will continue to be much better shows at the Casbah and around town in '07. Sorry for the indie rock sacrilege.

Recap: Stephen Malkmus Part 2

I forgot to mention that former Mayor Dick Murphy was at the show at the Casbah. I think he was there with his kids. Weird. After the show, I saw him waiting around to talk to Stephen Malkmus. How bizarre is that?