Girl of your dreams — not in an intimidating supermodel way
The hipster girl is more than just an ideal; she is a reality.
DJ Stevens 8 a.m., June 28
Blurt: San Diego Music News
It's a rap shop, not a thug thing
“Being unaffiliated, people feel safer here," says Jay Wat
Singer/songwriter Justin Watson, known to most local rappers as producer Jay Wat, says the fact he didn’t grow up around San Diego was a good thing. “I’m from Detroit, so I have a neutral presence,” ...
Rock en español? Naw, Rock en ingles.
"I was really inspired by Tijuana No!" says Latinized Hawk Auburn guitarman
When XETV Channel 6 went off the air last month, guitarist Raul Gonzales was one of some 60 employees who lost their jobs; he was a programming engineer in the station’s master control studio in ...
Action Andy won't exclude the local-hit long-goners
"Getting records out was either costly or something they never considered."
“I aim on creating a series of compilations based on San Diego music from the ’50s into the ’70s,” says Action Andy & the Hi-Tones frontman Andy Rasmussen. “This first volume will focus on rock ...
XXXTentacion and neighbors unload on Observatory North Park
“Our guards are internal employees who work diligently for all our shows."
Shortly after regaining consciousness after he was blindsided onstage at the Observatory on June 7, XXXTentacion went on Instagram Live. He seemed to claim that the venue’s security team played a part by hiding the ...
Rob Stone — the guy with the glasses? — did it?
No, he says, on XXXtentacion assault, but "I knew it was gonna happen."
Rappers beefing in real life may be good for lyrics but it can cost you gigs. Consider local rapper Rob Stone, best known for his breakout 2015 hit “Chill Bill.” He tells how Florida rapper ...
Mariachi man
“I was just starting high school when my parents got a letter of deportation."
Southwestern College professor Jeff Nevin has been teaching Mariachi music for 20 years. Proceeds from concerts he organizes fund $20,000 in annual scholarships for music students. His teaching clinics help keep Mariachi alive. But Nevin ...
55 gigs in 24 hours is a big enough wow
“We didn’t break the record on our first try, which was okay.”
The Guinness Book of World Records achievement for “Most Concerts in 24 Hours” (65 gigs set in Norway, 2012) is safe for now. Local vocalist Leonard Patton and his group with pianist Ed Kornhauser, bassist ...
Musicians kick out the books
"I wrote it in honor of my son Dillon and our cat Cake."
“I work eight hours a week for a yoga studio, but the rest of my money is currently made playing music on the streets, in venues, and selling my first book,” says Martin Stamper, aka ...
Hand-pumped, bellows-powered
“Most people practicing yoga don’t know Kirtan exists."
“The Kirtan scene [in San Diego] is pretty small,” says Tom Warner, bassist in Pilgrimage of the Heart Kirtan Band, which has performed on over 400 occasions throughout Southern California. “Most people practicing yoga don’t ...
From the X-rated Jolar Arcade to the Belly Up
Gary Wilson will be rolling around in flour, paint, and duct tape
He may not be a native, but Gary Wilson — singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, collector of alien sunglasses, secret-agent lounge musician fetishist of flour and paint — must rank at the top of San Diego music ...
At UCSD William Morris discovers the smallest band they've dealt with
Lightning Cola — via an obscure Vietnamese music blog
As major record labels decline in relevance, getting well-connected managers and agents on your side has become more important for so-called “baby bands” that are struggling to get a national foothold. Consider the plight of ...
