The classic rock artist
East county painter captures the essence of rock and roll's past
Of the subjects that appeal to fine artist Jessie Buddell, only one of them is still alive. That would be Grace Slick. So far, the rest are Jerry Garcia, Jim Morrison, Tommy Bolin, Keith Moon, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix. She's …
Caged Lizards and Mayhem: a lifetime in music
Anthony Smith tells all in his self-penned memoir about life in the music industry fast lane
There was farting and crude lyrics sung over familiar songs, gay jokes, butt jokes, frequent and loud belly laughter, rough-housing, and a general tone of adolescent mischief. Also, Peepers introduced a new form of drug abuse to my band members: …
No curtain call for Anthology
"Nothing has changed from your company's article a few weeks ago. Just a careful reminder: I won't hesitate to slap the Reader with a defamation lawsuit should you write untruths... There is no additional news here." That was what Anthology …
2012: the music year in review
Musicians and music industry locals name their favorite hometown CD releases of the year
DIANA DEATH / Rock N Roll Preservation Society: The New Kinetics In Stereo "I'm stoked they put out their second album on vinyl, and the last track on side one, "Reverie," is a haunting doo-wop number you just gotta hear." …
Jamming in the blue room
Local jazz musicians gather in a private jam session to sharpen their skills
I'm traveling north on the 15 freeway in a small car with a drummer and a trumpet player. It gets dark early this time of year, and the premature evening has come with fog. We proceed at a snail's pace. …
In her cups
Jessica Crosby of IB re-invents that scene from the movie Pitch Perfect, the one where Anna Kendrick sings and gets jiggy at the same time with a drinking cup
A commercial photographer named Jessica Crosby sent me a link to a music video she made and posted on Youtube. It's just her, doing an inspired cover version of "Cups" from the film Pitch Perfect. I admit -- at first, …
No beheadings this year
East County high school marching bands perform for each other in the season finale
"Last year, I beheaded someone." Heather Luck, flutist, is the instrumental music director at Steele Canyon High School in Rancho San Diego. "It was really cool. The kids loved it." "We did a Civil War show," says Michael Benge from …
You gotta hear this: Lullabies for the Cursed
B-grade Hollywood thrillers and drive-ins were the inspiration for this collection of spook rock tunes released by local duo Picus Maximus.
When nighttime has fallen and the township retires, a flutter awakens a young woman's desires. --Rick Sparhawk Nothing better than two old and gifted friends in the studio, right? In this case, the two happen to be Jim Soldi and …
Bruce Cameron: jazz any way you like it
A local jazz legend jams and talks about then, and now.
The jam at Haritna, in La Mesa: on an achingly hot Thursday evening my friend Mousa, a giant of a man, slings up his tenor sax in the semi-dark and from memory, blows the opening line of "Sunflower" into the …
Tribute planned for former Back 2 Black guitarist
Cap Lillard has died. The word from his family is that he passed away peaceably sometime early Monday morning in his sleep, of complications from diabetes. The first time I met Cap Lyons Dunn Lillard was at a strip bar, …