Dave Gilbert

Native San Diego guitarist Dave Gilbert’s old Kiss tribute band once received a cease and desist letter from Kiss mainman Gene Simmons. He went on to play with Big Toe, whose bassist Mark Goffeney was born without arms and so played with his feet, and who appeared as contestants on the TV show Star Tomorrow. Gilbert was also a member of Claire Monsters, as well as West Coast Iron Works, one of the longest continuously-operating rock bands in San Diego, having formed in the mid-1960s. Gilbert’s latest single “Livin’ in the Country” was written in 2020 during the height of Covid. “I really wanted my parents to hear it, so I did a solo acoustic version and put it up on YouTube,” says Gilbert. “I was really happy that they got to hear it then, as they both passed in early 2021. Luckily, I still have memories of them enjoying listening to it.” Recorded at Cabeza Records Studios by Michael Head and mastered by Paul Abbott at ZenMastering, the song features Tim “The Pinn” Butler on bass and “The Reverend” Randal Jones on drums, with guest Cathryn Beeks providing harmony vocals and Ted Stern playing pedal steel guitar. The Dave Gilbert Band appears June 25 at the Ocean Beach Street Fair from 2:30 to 3:30 on the Artist’s Alley Stage.

Jackslacks

Based near SDSU, Americana/roots rocker Chris Giorgio, aka Jackslacks, was a founding member of Forbidden Pigs, Hot Rod Lincoln, and Dead Engines. Taking the name Jackslacks from the 1957 Sparkletones hit “Black Slacks,” he embarked on his solo career in 2002. A new single called “The Unity Song” recently dropped via indie label Shield of Love. Produced at local Earthling Studios by Jackslacks and Mike Kamoo (who guests on harpsichord), the single features Jerry “Hot Rod” DeMink (guitar, vocals), Billy Raven (backing vocals), and Dave Roof (bass, vocals), along with guests Jeff Brown (acoustic piano) and Kenneth Johnson (horns). According to Giorgio, “We recorded the song as sort of a bookend to last year’s full-length, Inside Out, which concluded a six week run at number one on the Roots Music Report’s Top Rockabilly Album Chart by finishing fourth overall for 2021. The band also recently shot a cool retro video for the new track in town at The Ocean Beach Playhouse.”

Nathan East

Bassist Nathan East attended Crawford High, where he played in a school band that also included at various times Hollis Gentry, Carl Evans Jr, and Gunnar Biggs. His early ‘70s funk group Power, which included Gentry and Evans Jr, toured with Barry White, Nancy Wilson, Al Jarreau, Joe Sample, David Benoit, and Larry Carlton, among others. After earning his music degree in the late 1970s at UC San Diego (where he studied with Cecil Lytle and Bert Turetzky), East went on to play with Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Stevie Wonder, Michael Bublé, Quincy Jones, Kenny Loggins, Rod Stewart, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Michael Jackson, B.B. King, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Joe Satriani, and many others. He also co-wrote the 1984 Phil Collins and Phillip Bailey hit “Easy Lover.” The star bassist will accompany Eric Clapton for a seven-show September series being staged in Columbus, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and over two nights each in Chicago and New York City. Clapton poached a large portion of Roger Waters’ touring band for these shows, including Doyle Bramhall II, Paul Carrack, Sonny Emory, and Chris Stainton, with Sharon White and Katie Kissoon on backing vocals and special guest Jimmie Vaughan.

As I Lay Dying

“After 15 years, almost half my life, I’ve decided to part ways with As I Lay Dying,” posted bassist Josh Gilbert online recently, marking the second member to quit the group over the past year (guitarist Nick Hipa announced his departure last September). “Despite the ups and downs inherent, I’ll always be grateful for the profound privilege of being able to grow up traveling the world playing music with the band. None of that would be possible without the fans of the band, so for that I sincerely thank you all so much for allowing me the opportunity. I wish the best for AILD moving forward, and I hope to see all of you sooner rather than later.” Miss May I bassist Ryan Neff will fill in for Gilbert on their upcoming live dates. Former AILD guitarist Nick Hipa has resurfaced with a band called Mire, alongside Ryan Gilsan (ex-Allegaeon, Pyrithion) and vocalist Benton Mckibbe. As I Lay Dying’s most recent concert video, for the (prophetically titled?) track “My Own Grave,” was released in December to promote the deluxe edition of their Shaped By Fire album.

Rocket From the Crypt

After the breakup of Pitchfork, singer-guitarist John “Swami” Reis formed Rocket from the Crypt, named after an underground punk band called Rocket from the Tombs. The popularity of Rocket from the Crypt’s 1992 album Circa: Now! led to a recording contract with Interscope Records. Their mid-to-late-’90s albums such as Scream, Dracula, Scream! earned them national acclaim, radio airplay, and appearances on MTV. Though mostly inactive while Reis keeps busy with bands such as The Night Marchers, the band will stage a reunion performance for Riot Fest, taking place September 16 through 18 at Douglass Park in Chicago. They’ll be playing their entire penultimate album from 2001, Group Sounds, which spawned a hit single for “Savoir Faire.” Other bands playing entire classic album at the festival include the Original Misfits (Walk Among Us), Yellowcard (Ocean Avenue), The Menzingers (On The Impossible Past), The Get Up Kids (4 Minute Mile), and Fear, who are celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Record.