British electronic pop duo, the Pet Shop Boys, performed at Copley Symphony Hall on October 8 to a sold out house.

British electronic pop duo, the Pet Shop Boys, performed at Copley Symphony Hall on October 8 to a sold out house. This was the pair’s second time at Symphony Hall, having played there on their last visit to San Diego, …

Reunited 1960's era garage rockers The Standells performed at the Adams Avenue Street Fair on September 28, joined for the last few numbers by guitarist Johnny Echols of Love. Five photos.

Legendary sixties garage rockers, The Standells, with guest guitarist Johnny Echols of Love, topped the bill on the first day of the 2013 Adams Avenue Street Fair. The Standells' current incarnation includes founding keyboardist Larry Tamblyn, mid-Sixties bassist John Fleck, …

A photo blog of some of the daytime events at San Diego Music Thing 2013

The 6th Annual San Diego Music Thing took place September 13 and 14th at the Sheraton Hotel, Mission Valley. The first year away from the events previous home, the Lafayette Hotel in North Park, saw hundreds of musicians and industry …

On September 21, blues guitarist Johnny Vernazza will perform at the Iwakuni Summer Music Festival, held at the Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni, Japan.

On September 21, blues guitarist Johnny Vernazza will perform at the Iwakuni Summer Music Festival, held at the Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni, Japan. Vernazza previously performed in 2011 at this event, which is held annually at the Air …

Flutist Lori Bell hosts a series of jazz concerts at the La Jolla Community Center with guests including guitarist Peter Sprague as well as pianists Dave Mackay and Grant Levin

The Fourth Friday Jazz Series will take place every month through November at the La Jolla Community Center. With a capacity for 100 attendees, each show in the series features a performance from Bonita-based flutist Lori Bell, accompanied by guest …

Jazz vocalist Allison Adams Tucker will tour Japan in October, but first there is a show at 98 Bottles on September 20...

Jazz vocalist Allison Adams Tucker will embark on a five date tour of Japan from October 18 through October 23. Dubbed the "California Connection Tour," dates include Nagoya, Hamamatsu, Mito, Yokohama, and Tokyo. “I lived in Japan for several years …

Mike Peters / The Alarm, Big Country: In 1984 Peters was on a U.S. tour opening for the Pretenders. “I shouted ‘San Diego I want to hear you sing’ and got nothing from the crowd,” Peters recalled. “So I said …

Courtney Love performed a sold out show at the Belly Up Tavern August 25.

A capacity crowd greeted Courtney Love at the Belly Up Tavern on August 25, the twentieth show since she began her current tour on June 20. The night was opened promptly at 9 p.m. by Ginger Wildheart who played a …

A wrap up of the daytime lineup at Indie Fest 8's Craig Yerkes Stage Saturday August 17, with Lyrical Groove, Steve Grand, Beach, The Morgan Leigh Band, Kevin Wood and Michael Bowman

Crowds were light but enthusiastic at the daytime portion of the eighth edition of Indie Fest. Held at Liberty Station NTC, August 16-18, the three day event showcased film all three days, with the Saturday addition of music on five …

Strange Stage Stories from San Diego Musicians: Chris Biggin (We Are Sirens), Chris Faust (promoter), Matt Bozzone (Todo Mundo), Garrison Bailey and Suzanne Shea's meeting with Joan Baez.

Matt Bozzone (Todo Mundo): "At a show on our current tour the power cut out on us, but we just kept playing the song and broke out into some drum solos. The power turned back on, so we went right …

Australian tunesmith Joe Algeri made a rare solo appearance at Lestat's Coffeehouse on August 4.

Australian songwriter Joe Algeri performed to a small, but enthusiastic, crowd on August 4 at Lestat’s. The Perth based musician was playing the last date on a two week tour around the Midwest and West Coast, which kicked off on …

Strange Stage Stories from San Diego Musicians: Thea Tochihara (Social Club), Sppike Mike Muellenberg (League of Liars), Lou Curtiss (Folk Arts Records), Joe Mendoza (The Spring Collection) and Paul Shaffer (Private Domain / Bratz)

Lou Curtiss (Folk music legend): “It wasn't exactly on stage but I was playing country music in a band one summer up in Weed, Ca., up by Mount Shasta. The owner of the club said to us when he hired …

Guitarist Wayne Riker has put together a new Beatles tribute show, set to debut on July 28 at Swedenborg Hall.

Acclaimed guitarist Wayne Riker has put together a new Beatles tribute show, set to debut on July 28 at Swedenborg Hall. The concert will consist solely of Riker with his Stonebridge acoustic/electric guitar. “Don't let that fool you,” he says. …

Eighties hitmakers the Fixx performed at Birch Aquarium on July 17. Bushwalla opened.

On July 17, New wave hitmakers, the Fixx, performed at Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Part of the eighth annual Green Flash Concert series, held the third Wednesday of each month from May to September, proceeds from …

Lots of music related ways to spend time and money at Comic Con International 2013, from an artist who records on wax cylinder to new Beatle plush toys. 21 photos.

While Comic Con International is certainly based around the trilogy of comics, science fiction and motion pictures/television, it’s not hard to find music at the convention. It starts on arrival downtown, before you get to the convention center itself, with …

Piano playing singer-songwriter Chris Carpenter celebrates the release of his debut solo album, with a show at Lestat’s Coffeehouse on July 14. His band includes Roni Lee, Jamie Shadowlight and Haley Allen.

Piano playing singer-songwriter Chris Carpenter celebrates the release of his debut solo album, Up All Night, with a show at Lestat’s Coffeehouse on July 14. While Carpenter has self released various tracks in the past, these recordings are his first …

On July 7 Raising the Roof: A Benefit Concert for the Blues Hall of Fame Museum, featured performances from 15 different artists, including Earl Thomas, Rockola, Joey Harris, Sara Petite, Gregory Page, Lisa Sanders and Eve Selis.

On July 7 the Belly Up Tavern was the site of Raising the Roof: A Benefit Concert for the Blues Hall of Fame Museum. The event was organized by blues singer Earl Thomas, with proceeds going to the Blues Foundation, …

The 2013 San Diego County Fair Singer-Songwriter Contest was held on June 14, with winners taking home Taylor guitars, cash and other prizes.

The San Diego County Fair held its annual singer-songwriter contest on June 14, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event was preceded by a set from the previous year’s winner, Josh Damigo. Held on the Paddock Stage, there was …

Strange Stage Stories from San Diego Musicians: Michael Halloran (91X), Doriot Lair (The Dinettes), Joel Kmak (The Hitmakers, The Farmers), Louis Brazier (Lestat's soundman) and Jack Butler (Glory, Private Domain) relate odd and interesting moments that have happened while performing...

Michael Halloran / San Diego radio mainstay: “Matisyahu. Belly Up Tavern. Goldberg the wrestler. He and his brother are part owners of the club. I asked if he would come onstage to help with announcements. He obliged. At the drip …

One of only two shows on a West Coast trip, on June 9 the Fleshtones rocked the Casbah

The Fleshtones played to a small but boisterous crowd at the Casbah on June 9, part of only two dates on this West Coast trip. A planned San Francisco date fell through at the last minute, leaving their appearance on …