Video:LIVE FIVE: Tim Flannery, Pete “Pops” Escovedo, Roger Clyne, Orion Song, Jeff BerkleyThis edition of Acoustic Evenings at the Athenaeum features former Padres star Tim Flannery. By late 2014, he had officially retired from his …
April 11, 2024
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Stories by Jay Allen Sanford
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Tim Flannery, Pete “Pops” Escovedo, Roger Clyne, Orion Song, Jeff Berkley
Kristi Krause, Billy Galewood, Headphone, The Highwayman Show, Israel Maldonado
Video:LIVE FIVE: Kristi Krause, Billy Galewood, Headphone, The Highwayman Show, Israel MaldonadoSan Diego native Kristi Krause is a singer-songwriter who performs regularly all over town as part of the Acoustic Spot lineup of nightclub talent. …
April 4, 2024
Ass Pocket Whiskey Fellas, Terry Matsuoka, Aquile, Blaise Guld, Back to the Garden
Video:LIVE FIVE: Ass Pocket Whiskey Fellas, Terry Matsuoka, Aquile, Blaise Guld, Back to the GardenAss Pocket Whiskey Fellas was formed in 2011 by members of the Fairfield Fats Band, Superkeltic, Enuf, and the Clairemonsters. The …
March 28, 2024
San Diego Reader 2024 Music & Arts Issue
Some musicians see forming a tribute group as a way to get into the music industry. Copping someone else’s successful act may seem their only chance at earning a bit of applause, adulation, and — …
March 27, 2024
Croome Brothers Trio, Jack Tempchin, Ricky, Swami & the Bed Of Nails, Kahlil Nash
Video:LIVE FIVE: Croome Brothers Trio, Jack Tempchin, Ricky, Swami & the Bed Of Nails, Kahlil NashThe Croome Brothers Trio features three members from local Americana band Daring Greatly; brothers Patrick Croome and Liam Croome, alongside …
March 21, 2024
Gilbert Castellanos, Buddha Trixie, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Shane Hall, Brian Jones Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival
Video:LIVE FIVE: Gilbert Castellanos, Buddha Trixie, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Shane Hall, Brian JonesBorn in Guadalajara, Mexico, trumpet whiz Gilbert Castellanos first earned local cred with the Charles McPherson quintet. He attended Berklee College of …
March 14, 2024
Joanna Gerolaga, Kai Kalama, The Drug Hunt, Mike Myrdal, Lauren Leigh
Video:LIVE FIVE: Joanna Gerolaga, Kai Kalama, The Drug Hunt, Mike Myrdal, Lauren LeighJoanna Gerolaga is a solo performer whose covers of island vibe R&B and pop classics feel right at home on the Mission beach …
March 7, 2024
Sitting On Stacy, Matte Blvck, Zack Oakley, Hexa, Jakobs Castle
Video:LIVE FIVE: Sitting On Stacy, Matte Blvck, Zack Oakley, Hexa, Jakobs CastleSka-flavored alt rockers Sitting on Stacy won the 2018 Kaaboo Discovery competition, as well as opening for the Jonas Brothers in Chula Vista circa …
February 29, 2024
Headphone, Irving Flores, Hullabaloo, Songwriter Sanctuary, George Harrison Birthday Celebration
Video:LIVE FIVE: Headphone, Irving Flores, Hullabaloo, Songwriter Sanctuary, George Harrison Birthday“Our music blends our interests in everything from classical and jazz to electronic and independent rock,” according to Headphone, “while the lyrics look at the …
February 22, 2024
Baby Bushka, Peachy San Diego, Unwritten Law, Poltz Anniversary, Mraz Kaleidoscope
Video:LIVE FIVE: Baby Bushka, Peachy San Diego, Unwritten Law, Poltz Anniversary, Mraz KaleidoscopeTribute bands tend to pay homage to long-gone acts, rather than still-extant groups who might compete for ticket sales, but British singer-songwriter Kate …
February 15, 2024
Mojo Nixon Comix & Stories - Mojo's autobiographical cartoon
In more bad news for 2024, Mojo Nixon has passed away. Nixon was born Neill Kirby McMillan, Jr., on August 2, 1957 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. A part of the psychobilly movement, he was …
February 9, 2024
Odessa Kane, Albert Lee, Geezer, Lisa Sanders, Los Saints
Video:LIVE FIVE: Odessa Kane, Albert Lee, Geezer, Lisa Sanders, Los SaintsBorn in Tijuana and raised in Paradise Hills, half-Filipino, half-Mexican Frankie Quiñones, aka Odessa Kane, first earned local notice with Gonjasufi and Orko Eloheim in …
February 8, 2024
Aquile, B-Side Players, Creature Canyon, The Grinnells, Dead Man’s Party
Video:LIVE FIVE: Aquile, B-Side Players, Creature Canyon, The Grinnells, Dead Man’s PartySan Diego native Aquile, who grew up in Wyoming before returning to California, was 22 when he earned national attention in 2012 as a …
February 1, 2024
Rocket From the Crypt, Amerikan Bear, Steam Powered Giraffe, Three Mile Pilot, Manganista
Video:LIVE FIVE: Rocket From the Crypt, Amerikan Bear, Steam Powered Giraffe, Three Mile Pilot, ManganistaThe Casbah’s month-long 35th anniversary celebration presents a reunion of one of San Diego’s best known groups from the city’s 1990s …
January 25, 2024
Travel Agents, Coral Bells, Pinback, aMiniature & No Knife, and Jazz at the Athenaeum
Video:LIVE FIVE: Travel Agents, Coral Bells, Pinback, aMiniature & No Knife, and Jazz at the AthenaeumFounded in Solana Beach circa 1987 and largely influenced by the psychedelic sounds of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, …
January 18, 2024
Daring Greatly, Uncle Joe’s Big Ol’ Driver, Cowboy Jack Johnson, Beat Farmers, Jamie Shadowlight
Video:LIVE FIVE: Daring Greatly, Uncle Joe’s Big Ol’ Driver, Cowboy Jack Johnson, Beat Farmers, Jamie ShadowlightDaring Greatly relocated from Calgary, AB Canada to San Diego in 2015. Nominated Best Rock Artist at the 2022 San …
January 11, 2024
El Ten Eleven, Starcrawler, Pacific Records Fest, Auz Fontaine, Back to the Garden
Video:LIVE FIVE: The Schizophonics, Transfer, Barefoot Hockey Goalie, Almost Monday, Allison Adams TuckerThe Casbah celebrates its 35th year with several showcase concerts this month, including <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/el-ten-eleven/">El Ten Eleven</a>, a mostly instrumental duo featuring two …
January 4, 2024
The Schizophonics, Transfer, Barefoot Hockey Goalie, Almost Monday, Allison Adams Tucker
Founded in 2009, <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/schizophonics/">the Schizophonics</a> plays fuzzy, psychedelic rock. Singer-guitarist Pat Beers fronts the band with his wife Lety Mora (the Rosalyns), who attended high school with him in Arizona. The little Italy bill …
December 28, 2023
Well Well Well, Nicey Nice World, Sue Palmer, Moans, and the El Vez Mex-Mas Show
Psychedelic-folk-synthpop band <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/well-well-well/">Well Well Well</a> was founded by guitarist Seton Edgerton and drummer Dan Nichols, both from the group Barbarian, which had opened for Arctic Monkeys and toured with Bat for Lashes. With a …
December 21, 2023
Meidai, Buddha Trixie, TV Girl, Cattle Decapitation, Ziggy Shuffledust
Michael May -- aka <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/meidai/">Meidai</a> -- is a hip-hop MC who launched his label Off Da Wall MusiQ in 2006. “My hip-hop alias Meidai, pronounced Mayday, means ‘a very strong individual’ in Greek,” he says. …
December 14, 2023
Pierce the Veil, Alvino & the Dwells, Common Sense, Frequency Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Headphone
<a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/pierce-veil/">Pierce the Veil</a> was founded by singer-guitarist Vic Fuentes and his drummer brother Mike, both former Mission Bay High School students. They released a new album earlier this year, The Jaws of Life, along …
December 7, 2023
Son of Kane, Lady Dottie, Mikan Zlatkovich, Johnny Deadly Trio, Just In Case
2022 San Diego Music Awards Best New Artist nominee <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/son-of-kane/">Son of Kane</a> is fronted by Evan Yearsley, who spent a decade playing drums behind his mom, the late local blues hero Candye Kane. Having …
November 30, 2023
Pleasure Pill, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Mercedes Moore, Chest Fever, Punk Riffs & Mosh Pits
Influenced by Britpop music and mod fashion, <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/pleasure-pill/">Pleasure Pill</a> features frontman Jonah Paz (JINX!) and his brother Ethan Paz (rhythm guitar), whose father Oscar Paz played with Kill Holiday in the 1990s and Hingada …
November 23, 2023
Safety Orange, Midnight Track, Danny Green Trio, Iration, Band of Gringos
<a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/safety-orange/">Safety Orange</a> was founded in 1996 by singer-bassist Sol Turpin, of Sublime tribute band 40 OZ to Freedom. Their last single “Get Outta My Way” came with a sleeve illustrated by Dead & Company …
November 16, 2023
Marie Haddad acoustic anniversary, The Drabs LP celebration, Gregory Page Fall Fest, Amanda Cogan album release, and Corporate Citizen charity gig
The fifteenth anniversary celebration for the <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/events/2023/nov/10/acoustic-evenings-with-jefferson-ja-b13aa556/?et=314192/">Acoustic Evenings at the Athenaeum</a> series is headlined by <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/marie-haddad/">Marie Haddad</a>, who first earned local notice with the San Diego Beat Organization, which was nominated as Best …
November 9, 2023
Manganista, SM Familia, Deap Vally, San Diego Hall of Fame Induction, and Berkley Hart 25th Anniversary
<a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/manganista/">Manganista</a> makes rock music with an island vibe. They have a new EP called Hillbilly Bomb Shelter that they’ll be showcasing in Ocean Beach. The all-ages bill includes Proctor Valley Monsters (named after a Bigfoot-type …
November 2, 2023
Halloween parties with The Frights, Embers, Rocket From the Crypt, Creepy Creeps, and Chloe Lou Liddell
Surf-punkers <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/frights/">the Frights</a> were still teens when they formed the band around 2012. Their major label debut was produced by FIDLAR frontman Zac Carper (SWMRS, Dune Rats), mixed by Rob Kinelski (Ed Sheeran, Billie …
October 26, 2023
South Bay gated community may not be safest place to avoid danger
The Chula Vista kidnapping of Eddy Tostado by Arellano cartelAt 3:39 a.m. on January 7, 2007, Columbia Street was almost deserted. Little Italy had been plagued with car burglaries — “It got where you couldn’t …
October 22, 2023
Acoustic Evenings at the Atheneum, Splitrock Festival in Fallbrook, Project Sellout around Lemon Grove, Los Shadows in City Heights, Audio Perdisco at OB jam
Host <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/jefferson-jay">Jefferson Jay</a> will commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Atheneum’s Acoustic Evenings series by recognizing its history of leadership by women with a series of concerts driven by local women performers. The October …
October 19, 2023
Whitney Shay, Nickel Creek, Mark Fisher, Earl Thomas, and Brian Jones Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival
Blues singer <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/whitney-shay/">Whitney Shay’s</a> bands have included Shay & the Hustle, the Whitney Shay Quartet, the JazzKatz Orchestra, and the blues/R&B group The Shakedowns. Her album Stand Up earned a three-and-a-half-star review in Downbeat magazine …
October 12, 2023
Listen Local 20 Year Celebration, Miniaturized album release, Helsott headline set, Deaf Club does South Park, Aviator Stash rocks Solana Beach
Longtime Listen Local promoter <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/cathryn-beeks-ordeal">Cathryn Beeks</a> will gather around two dozen of the acts that have graced her concert and radio showcases over the past 20 years for a two-day outdoor musical celebration in …
October 5, 2023
Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro, Adams Avenue Street Fair, Sitting On Stacy, Whiskey & Burlap, Tim Flannery
Developed as a celebration of female strength and empowerment, the <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/events/2023/sep/22/nissan-super-girl-surf-pro/?et=313975/">Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro</a> platform has grown into a series of four festivals centered around providing social, athletic, cultural, educational, business, and entertainment …
September 21, 2023
Long-lost Mojo Nixon footage found by local film archivists
"Ever since I was a little bitty boy, a race car had to be my toy. Got a club card at the age of eleven. Now I'm in racing heaven." Local Reelin' in the Years has …
September 15, 2023
Heavy Hawaii awarded, Sure Fire Soul Ensemble videotaped, Benches renamed, Jonathan Karrant collected, DJ Pnutz released
<a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/heavy-hawaii/">Heavy Hawaii</a> was formed in 2009 by guitarist Matt Bahamas (née Barajas), who formerly played in Fantastic Magic with future Wavves frontman Nathan Williams. Nominated Best New Artist at the 2010 San Diego Music …
September 14, 2023
A week of Nancarrow, Gregory Page, Charles McPherson, Marujah, and Mike Pinto
Country rock band <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/nancarrow/">Nancarrow</a> is fronted by Graham Nancarrow, whose father was a well-known local newscaster/ecologist, the late Loren Nancarrow. Graham formed a punk band while at La Costa Canyon High, Misled Citizen, and …
September 7, 2023
Rebecca Jade’s winning streak, Anthony Cullins’ blues guitar, Daring Greatly’s blood harmony, Manual Scan’s scooter celebration, Astra Kelly’s album release
Rebecca Jade (Siren’s Crush) was the singer for Super Magnetic when that band won the 2010 Ultimate Music Challenge at Viejas Casino. She released her debut album the following year. Her band Rebecca Jade & …
August 31, 2023
Enter Jeff Berkley, new host of the Songwriter Sanctuary Series
The Songwriter Sanctuary Series is an intimate monthly concert series featuring San Diego songwriters, produced in partnership with Normal Heights United Church, which formerly hosted the ambitious Acoustic Music San Diego concert series. Upcoming EventSongwriter …
August 26, 2023
This week with Aviator Stash, The Silent Comedy, Beach Punx Fest VII, Lord Howler, and Joshua Taylor
Upcoming EventAviator Stash and IndréSaturday, August 19, 2023, 8:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.Navajo Live, 8515 Navajo Road, San Carlos, CAAge Limit: 21+ / $12 - $15MoreFounded in 2014 and based in Carlsbad, Aviator Stash released …
August 17, 2023
We found the lost 1989 Mario Bros TV show King Koopa's Kool Kartoons
While going through a stash of vintage Betamax videotapes in search of local band footage for the Youtube channel BetaGems, we found September 1989 clips of the costumed King Koopa hosting the controversial King Koopa's Kool Kartoons …
August 12, 2023
Stone Temple Pilots do Chula Vista, Sully Band at Solana Beach, Nathan Raney plays San Carlos, Price Of Dope in Little Italy, George Piper Memorial for OB
When the Smashing Pumpkins bring their The World Is a Vampire Tour to Chula Vista, opening acts will include local 1990s heroes <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/stone-temple-pilots/">Stone Temple Pilots </a>, who like the Pumpkins aren’t staffed by their original …
August 10, 2023
Author of the novel that shook Mission Hills
Oakley Hll explains The Corpus of Joe Bailey In San Diego, Corpus of Joe Bailey also made a noteworthy entrance. The book was denounced from San Diego pulpits for being too sexy and provoked Mission …
August 6, 2023
Confessions of a 70s/80s San Diego grindhouse theater projectionist
The pre-Gaslamp, premultiplex downtown of 1979 exists today only in the fond memories of cinemaniacs old enough to recall a time when Jaws made you afraid of the water, Friday the 13th made you afraid …
Best San Diego music prospects: Lead Pony, King Whisker, Sandollar, David Orozco
Lead Pony can already spot the VulturesPsychedelic blues rock has never really gone out of style — not locally, anyway. And now, San Diego is rapidly becoming a hotbed of related “concept albums,” from the space …
August 2, 2023
Hey Chels in City Heights, Christopher Hollyday in La Jolla, Lucy’s Fur Coat in Little Italy, Earthless in Solana Beach, Almost Monday in East Village
Hey, Chels was founded by Jacque Mendez (New Way On) on vocals and electric piano, Stephanie Presz (the Newports) on drums, Kevin White (Squarecrow, Londons Falling) on guitar, and Ricky Schmidt (Western Settings, Caskitt) on …
July 27, 2023
Tamar Berk adds up all the Tiny Injuries for her third album
Indie pop singer-songwriter Tamar Berk grew up playing piano and started writing songs on guitar as a teenager. While living in Chicago, she played in regional bands — like her first, power pop group Starball, …
July 27, 2023
Celebrate Comic-Con with Departing Dystopia, Monsters Ball, Weekend Bar Crawl, Kirby’s Dream Band, and Gaslamp Divas Cosplay Drag
Departing Dystopia is an interactive, immersive, post-apocalyptic-themed cyberpunk theater-nightclub hybrid featuring displays and performances, including a live musical EDM rendition of Romeo & Juliet. The Hillcrest event will include performance art featuring elements of dance, …
July 20, 2023
Lead Pony and Black Market III debut albums, Slightly Stoopid plays the ballpark, Tourmaliners rock Bay Park, Tolan Shaw serenades Del Mar
Psych/blues rock group Lead Pony released their debut EP Eclipse in 2017, followed the next year by a double-single, “Two Love Songs.” The band toured behind the records and landed a song on the TV …
July 13, 2023
Point Loma Salsa, San Diego Bayfest, Oceanside Gospel Revival, Steely Dan Tribute
Classical Salsa guitarist Israel Maldonado moved with his family to Carlsbad when he was 14, learning percussion on the drum line at Carlsbad High and playing in guitar ensembles at Palomar College and SDSU. A …
July 6, 2023
Little Hurricane headlines, Bobby Bray experiments, Wavves returns, Crucial Blend opens, Blame Betty releases
Blues-rock duo Little Hurricane released a children’s album earlier this year, Life Is But a Dream. Among the fifteen tracks are standards such as “Wheels On the Bus,” “This Old Man,” “Three Blind Mice,” and …
June 29, 2023
Daring Greatly’s blood harmony, Aviator Stash’s indie rock, Hirie’s pop reggae, Glass Spells’ synth pop, Fred Benedetti’s world tribute
Daring Greatly at Belly Up Tavern June 22 Describing their music as blood harmony rock, Daring Greatly relocated from Calgary, AB Canada to San Diego in August 2015. The band is fronted by Dail Croome …
June 22, 2023