“A city truck crashed into the building in the middle of a show,” says Alma Rodriguez, owner of Queen Bee’s Arts and Cultural Center in North Park. It’s an awful sort of poetic symbolism for …
January 2, 2025
Articles by Spike Steffenhagen
Queen Bee’s keeps fighting to stay put
Gonzo Report: Hockey Dad brings UCSD vets and Australians to the Quartyard
“Are you more concerned about your drinks being stolen or someone putting something in them?” I ask a gaggle of patrons at The Quartyard in East Village where Hockey Dad, Remo Drive, and Tatiana Hazel …
December 12, 2024
Gonzo Report: Bob Long played piano for Tina Turner and Ray Charles
“How’s polygamy working out for you?” I ask a man at InZane Brewery in Vista. He looks surprised, as if I’ve just deduced something that shouldn’t be common knowledge. We engage in a staring contest …
December 5, 2024
Time’s up for Doubletime Recording Studio
“You’re the last drummer I’m ever recording in this room,” Jeff Forrest tells Declan Halloran (of Gunner Gunner) in a moment shared on social media by Halloran. Forrest, whose Doubletime Recording Studio in El Cajon …
December 5, 2024
Gonzo Report: Jazz jam at a private party
“People say I’m too nice to play jazz,” says bassist Paul Tillery. He’s unloading an upright bass to perform at California English with guitarist Jon Garner as a duo. They’re replacing Amanda Portela, who had …
November 28, 2024
Gonzo Report: Eating dinner while little kids mock-mosh at Golden Island
“Jazz is whatever the fuck you say it is.” I tell guitarist Aaron Lind, whose organ trio is performing at Golden Island Dim Sum and Asian Cuisine in Mira Mesa tonight. Though I’m not opposed …
November 14, 2024
Gonzo Report: Gentrification is scarier than Bandhaunt
“I wonder why my phone isn’t recognizing me,” says All Monster Revue guitarist Richard “Richie” Bonnin with counterfeit astonishment. The reason is pretty obvious: the facial recognition software can’t penetrate his stage makeup, which resembles …
November 7, 2024
Gonzo Report: Watching out for one another at a hardcore taco shop concert
“You’re way too excited about a broken hand,” says someone outside Rolando’s Taco Shop in Barrio Logan to a young man hoisting his harm aloft and yelling excitedly for everyone to look at his hand. …
October 18, 2024
Happy accidents on the Bob Ross soundtrack
“I couldn’t begin to tell you how many happy accidents Dave [Klein] and I have had during this amazing process,” says Jason Lee about the creation of new soundtracks for the remastering of Bob Ross’ …
October 10, 2024