Things To Do In San Diego: December 27, 2011

It's Tuesday and that means I'm getting back into a work mindset because there is SO.MUCH.STUFF. coming up in 2012, personally and professionally. I'll save it for another post. In the meantime, I promised that I'd put all the weekend listings up today so you can plan ahead. Here's what I know at this moment- THERE ARE LESS THAN 40 TICKETS LEFT for the NYE party at The Lafayette. I will be working and I have NO GUESTLIST, so if you don't buy your tickets, I can't help you. The bands don't have space either, so just buy the damn ticket, okay? The Growlers show at the Casbah will also likely sell out, so I wouldn't wait if you wanna hit the rock show. I added some links to a few of the events, but you should check out the CityBeat New Year's Eve Guide for a whole bunch more events for dinner, family, or DJ/club options. Urbanist has a guide, too. If I missed a show or event that belongs on my listings, please leave a comment or shoot me a tweet, facebook message, or email. Tuesday archives are after the jump.

Things To Do In San Diego: December 26, 2011

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and Hannukah, and hopefully you're still enjoying family and friends and don't have to work today. There's a ton going on this week and I've already done the weekend listings but want to make sure I got all the important music events happening on NYE. so I'll wait to post them until tomorrow. You should know that if you plan on going to the Lafayette Hotel for the Casbah's big show with Transfer and the Silent Comedy, there aren't many tickets left, so you should buy them now. We don't expect to have any tickets available the night of the show.  Similarly, The Growlers show at the Casbah is selling swiftly so you should get tickets in advance if you plan on hitting that show instead. Monday listings archived after the jump.

New Music: Jesse LaMonaca "The Deal"

Jesse LaMonaca and the Dime Novels have spent many months putting together their second full length record, The Lament of Tumbleweed Hawk, which will be celebrate a release party on February 18 at the Casbah. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, when that record was being mixed and mastered, Jesse visited Brandon Conway in Nashville and they went to Blackbird Studio for some fun and ended up recording a couple songs while there.

This is Jesse LaMonaca and Brandon Conway performing "The Deal".

Latest tracks by Jesse LaMonaca

Things To Do In San Diego: December 23-25, 2011

I am so looking forward to Christmas with my family this Sunday. I'll be making the turkey for the first time in several years, so wish me luck. Before then, however, I'll be enjoying some great music- tonight with Writer at the Soda Bar and then Exile on Kettner on Saturday. I'm going to keep my online time to a minimum, so merry Christmas and I'll get back to regular posting next week. Archives after the jump.

Tonight At The Casbah!

Things To Do In San Diego: December 20-22, 2011

It isn't often that I have nothing to say, but today is one of those days. I took a nice day off yesterday (more or less)  now I have a mountain of clean laundry that needs to be put away, dinner and a birthday cake to make, and the rest of the Christmas decorations to hang. All in the next two hours. So I better get to it. I'm just glad the Casbah is closed tonight so I'm okay with skipping shows two nights in a row. Tomorrow I've got the Fast Crowd Christmas at the Casbah, so come on down and really get in the spirits of the holiday season. Listings archived after the jump.

Things To Do In San Diego: December 19, 2011

I've heard of my friends catching this cold going around and I truly feel bad that it has knocked so many of them down. I feel really lucky that this cold really only took me out for about a day and a half. Maybe it's true that whiskey is the best medicine? That plus the 30 naps I took over the weekend seemed to have done the trick. I don't know but the weekend was fun...the KCRW show in LA was great, I sold merch at the Pink Panther reunion on Saturday, and last night I caught Shawn Colvin at the Belly Up with Josh Damigo opening. I've been trying to taper off my time online around the holidays, but I'll keep up the diary posts and such. Wednesday night I have a Fast Crowd show at the Casbah if you can make it out. Archives after the jump

Things To Do In San Diego: December 19, 2011

I've heard of my friends catching this cold going around and I truly feel bad that it has knocked so many of them down. I feel really lucky that this cold really only took me out for about a day and a half. Maybe it's true that whiskey is the best medicine? That plus the 30 naps I took over the weekend seemed to have done the trick. I don't know but the weekend was fun...the KCRW show in LA was great, I sold merch at the Pink Panther reunion on Saturday, and last night I caught Shawn Colvin at the Belly Up with Josh Damigo opening. I've been trying to taper off my time online around the holidays, but I'll keep up the diary posts and such. Wednesday night I have a Fast Crowd show at the Casbah if you can make it out. Monday archives after the jump.

Win A Signed Guitar From Nada Surf!

I have to admit, I was pretty late to the Nada Surf party. I never particularly cared for the song "Popular" and didn't realize the amazing music they made until it was pointed out to me by an ex-boyfriend. We'd stay up till sunrise listening to albums like The Weight Is A Gift and Let Go then delve into the older stuff like High/Low and The Proximity Effect. That guy is long since out of my life, but the band is still one of my favorites and I'm pretty sure that I've been to every show they've played here in the last seven years or so.

Well, the band is coming back to San Diego. Bring On The Bright Lights is proud to host one of only 2 west coast shows taking place the week The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy drops before heading off to Europe for a full tour. This is their first record of original songs since 2008's Lucky, and I can't wait to hear it. (If anyone at Barsuk is reading, please send me an advance!)

Anyway, I know I already posted about this show back in October, but I wanted to tell you about a super cool contest they're doing. One ambitious fan will win an autographed Nada Surf guitar, a signed limited edition screen print, and a copy of the new Nada Surf album out just 4 days before the show. In order to be eligible, you've got to buy a ticket to the show and then help spread the word about the show through your social networks. You can find all the contest information on Facebook.

Things To Do In San Diego: December 17-18, 2011

I can't believe it is already 4 o'clock in the afternoon! That Christmas post took way longer than it should have. I have to be at the Casbah by 8 to sling merch for the Pink Panther 25 year reunion and I still have to buy a secret santa gift for tomorrow and I haven't eaten or showered....man, I'm kind of a mess.  I'm gonna put the laptop down and get to real living considering in real time, I have to catch the bus in an hour and a half. Yikes. I hope everyone having parties tonight has a great time, especially my friends at Christmas on Kalmia, The Cooks at their party, and Andrew Rowley and his ugly sweater pub crawl. Unfortunately I can't turn down shifts when I can get them. Be safe and take cabs... Archives after the jump.

Christmas Goodness

I've been getting so many Christmas and holiday downloads but I'm having a hard time keeping track of all of them. I'll try to do a better job of sharing them when I get them. Below are a few, though I thought I'd start it off with some Etta James.





Joshua James 3 Song Christmas Download

For the first time ever, you can get the Yule Log on your computer (I hope this is a big hit tonight at the Casbah!) Just go here. (It's Free from Movies On Demand)

Also, in case you didn't find the easter egg from Google, search "Let It Snow".

There are a bunch more after the jump that span the map from classics to originals, and all over the map with genres. Happy Holidays! I know many of you are having parties tonight and since I was called to work, I know personally I'm missing three great ones, but I'm there in spirit. If you have holiday/winter/Christmas music that you want posted, send it over and I'll try to update this post to its own page tab.

xoxo

Things To Do In San Diego: December 16, 2011

I was so certain that I wasn't going to catch the cold that is going around, yet here I am, sniffling away. I'm heading to LA today for the KCRW Invisible Children benefit at te Troubadour with The Mountain Goats, Eric D. Johnson (Fruit Bats) + Andy Cabic (Vetiver), Ivan & Alyosha, La Sera, and NO. It's Jeff's birthday today so a massive thank you and happy birthday to him. You might not know it, but Jeff does the weekday listings for this site and gets my ass out to shows almost every night of the week so I'm completely indebted to him. Friday archives after the jump.

Things To Do In San Diego: December 14-15, 2011

It's humpday, and let me tell you, with Christmas right around the corner, the heat is on. There are all kinds of things going on right now that have me completely scattered, so if you've sent me an email, know that I read everything (at least I caught up on that!) and if I didn't respond, I will soon. I've even noticed myself drifting off mid-conversation with people. I'll get it under control soon. I hope to see some friendly faces tonight at the Casbah for my show with Echo Revolution, The Whiskey Saints, and The Get Down Automatic. It's only $5 and is the best things going on tonight, if I do say so myself. Wed/Thurs archives are after the jump.

Wednesday Night: Echo Revolution, The Whiskey Saints, & The Get Down Automatic at the Casbah

I've got a handful of shows I either booked or am involved with on some level, so I'll be adding to the Events tab of the site later today when I can organize all of the artwork, but in the meantime, I wanted to share the details. Check out some music below. Click on the flyer to see the Facebook event page.

The Casbah

Wednesday, December 14

Echo Revolution (11pm)

The Whiskey Saints (10pm)

The Get Down Automatic (9pm)

$5

The Debut of Tourism, San Diego's Newest Band

My friends Dustin and Frank asked me to write about the debut of their band Tourism on Friday night at the Soda Bar. I thought it would be better if they wrote about it themselves. Here's the goods:

When you say Tourism aloud, what does it bring to mind? Color, novelty, movement, mystery. I feel like our name is fitting both for our vision of the kind of strange, intricate pop we are trying to make as well as the way in which we are sampling the many tastes and textures of our favorite music, past and present: The Zombies, The New Pornographers, Elvis Costello, The Kinks, Girls, Magnetic Fields, the Beach Boys. As a songwriter, I’m trying to tap into a certain feeling that these artists have given me, while adding to it my own experience and sensibility. It is a rewarding process to see the skeletons I bring in get fleshed out by the band, finding new corners and hidden spaces, as we shape the songs into something we think you’ll find exciting.

Our debut show is this coming Friday, December 16th, at Soda Bar. We are incredibly pleased to be opening for two of our favorite acts in San Diego: Cuckoo Chaos and Jamuel Saxon. It is an auspicious beginning for our band and we hope you’ll be there to experience it with us.

<3,

Dustin / TOURISM

Things To Do In San Diego: December 13, 2011

It sounds like the rain has let up for a bit but that doesn't mean I'm getting out of this cozy bed with my dog at my feet as I tap, tap, tap away on my laptop. In fact, it might be time for a nap soon. There's so much coming up, however, that I'll probably be staring at my screen for the next several hours as I try to get everything done that I need to. Got some more blog posts for you, tons of events to add to the event tab at the top of this site, music to listen to, and some touring bands to scout for booking. I'm even going to try to get your weekend listings done early this week because I'm heading to LA on Friday. While there are great shows tonight, don't be surprised if I have to skip out to get all of this work done. Tuesday archive are after the jump.

New Years Eve at the Lafayette

UPDATE! There are less than 40 tickets as of December 27 at 10 am. Buy tickets now!!

Casbah Presents New Years Eve at the Lafayette Hotel!

We love good music and we love a good party, so The Casbah and Cunning Fox have teamed up to produce a New Years Eve Party at the Lafayette Hotel that people will talk about even after the Mayans destroy the planet in 2012. (Or something like that…)

Featuring:

The Silent Comedy

Transfer

The Creepy Creeps

The Heavy Guilt

Hell On Heels Burlesque

Creepxotica

Low Volts

The Visual Underground



Food by: Tacos El Paisa

The Details:

Individual tickets for the event can be had here.
A special pre-sale rate of $25 is good thru November 16th.
Tickets are now $35 through the day of show. $40 day of show.





Hotel packages which include two tickets start at $169. They can be booked directly here.


For all the fine print, see the event page on The Lafayette's site here. 

Photos: Holiday Soiree

I realized I never added these photos from KPRI's Holiday Soiree (11.30.2011). Mostly because I went at the last minute, I didn't have a photo pass or anything, and I was trying to just enjoy the show. Not my best shots ever, but here are a few pics of The Head and the Heart, Mayer Hawthorne, and Fitz & The Tantrums from that night.

Things To Do In San Diego: December 12, 2011

I don't know what to tell you except that the weekend...shit, this whole month thus far...has felt pretty insane. I went to the first day of Wrex The Halls, went to the West Coast Tavern party, and I met so many people this weekend that makes me think 2012 is going to be really productive but also incredibly busy. I booked a show on Wednesday at the Casbah with Echo Revolution, The Whiskey Saints, and The Get Down Automatic and it is going to kick ass so please plan on being there. Monday archives are after the jump.

Tonight! West Coast Tavern Customer Appreciation Party

Tonight is West Coast Tavern's annual customer appreciation White Christmas party. It's free, there will be food and drink specials all night long, and the awesome staff will be in attendance. Find your winter white, grab a toy for the toy drive, and have a great Sunday night.