"For the last 20 years, I have spent a good amount of time sitting on top of those cliffs with a guitar, writing songs,” says Michael Jones, AKA local rapper Wax, who has lived in …

In the 91 years since her cinematic debut in Bride of Frankenstein, few tales have successfully expanded her story. Though literature has provided some excellent attempts (most notably Fraulein Frankenstein by Stephen Woodworth), film, the …

The heavy metal coming from the Performance 360 gym isn’t the kind I came to Linda Vista for. While there’s a certain hypnotic rhythm, it looks like a lot of effort. It’s close to Brick …

Gotta give it to the marketing campaign behind this film. FanboyNation.com hailed it as “A rare perfect film.” Fox 13 Utah hailed it as “One of the best films of the year,” and short clips …

For me, walking through Ocean Beach never involves a direct stroll to a destination. There are too many cool distractions that catch my eye, too many things that make me ponder, too much sensory input …

David Bowie’s “Changes” often plays in my noggin whenever things become different — when they evolve or devolve. It’s playing around the back of my skull at minimal volume as I approach Vinya: vino+ vinyasa …

I get a good view of the costumed crowd attending this Halloween shindig at the Casbah from the entrance, where doorman Alfredo Tellez and I go full film nerd in a discussion instigated by my …

Susan tells me that Luke Harmon is around here somewhere — right after she makes sure I don’t have to pee. Just now, she’s directing people to the restroom and answering questions at the TERI …

“Being a big Maiden fan since hearing their debut album, I’d like to say there was a connection and inside story, but you’ll have to defer to Tony for more on that,” says Dany Musser …

Security stops my buddy as he attempts to enter The Magnolia in El Cajon. Whatever is in his pocket has set the metal detector beeping. He calls it a nail file. Security calls it a …

The man with lemur hands is being mindful about touching anything. It’s not because his hands are actually lemurian; it's because he’s just exited the men’s room at the Tower Bar, which is bereft of …

“Brian [Thoryk] had this smirk on his face and told me he needed to talk to me after a Skullbusters practice,” Victim drummer Junior Solis tells me. “Then he says, ‘We’re doing the Victim reunion.’ …

At the trolley stop, I ask Brenden Walton if he and his girlfriend Ting Goskrra are taking the trolley downtown to see King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. When he says yes, I can’t help …

“I developed into a bit of a shut-in during Covid,” Kayla tells me outside of The Music Box in Little Italy. “Then I transitioned, and the nerves were amplified. But when the ad for this …

“I’ve got lots of honey-holes I’ve been cultivating through the years, so I come across interesting things you don’t see every day,” says Alfred Howard of the collection that fills The Reverie Room, his recently …

“Are you a swing dancer?” asks the woman from a table adjacent to mine. She smiles, verifying that the question is indeed intended for me. I tell her no, I’m a writer, but this doesn’t …

“Every time we work with an outside company, I have to keep them from trying to steal our sound guy,” says Luke Harmon, Director of Entertainment Operations at the Training, Education & Resource Institute (TERI) …

“He’s staring at your ice cream,” says a woman working the information booth at the Julian Town Square Music Festival. This by way of explaining her husband’s hungry stare in my direction. I can’t blame …

“We just wanted our music back,” says Justin Pearson (Swing Kids, The Locust, Deaf Club). Founded in 2008, Pearson’s band All Leather originally released their debut EP Hung Like a Horse through Los Angeles-based Dim Mak …

“See?” says my wife Shelley, “you can pee here too!” She’s not talking to me; she's talking to her friend Chrissy’s Shih Tzu puppy, while watching a large yellow dog pause his stroll along Newport …

“You’re thinking of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit,’ I get them mixed up a lot too,” guitarist Mike Keneally responds when I suggest “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas was written for trust fund hippies who …

“Fuck kale.” I declare to Cari Veach, the hostess at Nate’s Garden Grill on Euclid in San Diego. It seems that I’ve been unable or unwilling to let go of my grudge toward this “superfood” …

“American Idiot by Green Day was the first CD I remember stealing from my sister, and I listened to nonstop,” says Louis Petrella of Sorry, It’s Over. Petty theft from siblings is a rite of …

“I had the chance to see Miles [Davis] when I was in High School and didn’t — I still kick myself,” Brad tells me while we’re waiting for refreshments at The Conrad Prebys Music Center, …

“Let’s get some glitter on you and bring that inner little kid out,” Megan Harper says to me on the second floor of Spin Nightclub in the Midway District. Vendors are selling clothing, bartenders are …

“Occasionally, we need to chase the younger ones out, they have no fear of people,” Katie tells me when asked the oddest thing she’s seen as a server at Duke’s La Jolla. She’s referring to …

Flashback: I was dubbed a “daft cunt” by Napalm Death bassist Shane Embury at Spanky’s café in the early '90s. Earache Records had signed several grindcore bands and sent them on tour. This particular event …

“Prince was just okay,” says a man I’ll call Troutface. We’re sitting at The Cordova Bar on the edge of Linda Vista and Bay Park, waiting for the house band to start the monthly jam …

“If I hadn’t broken that string, we might not be married today,” says Cat Curry Hasz of her husband Jon. “I went in to Ramona Music Center [previously known as Blue Horse Music] in high …

“Gerbil porn will be the instrument of my demise,” I mutter in the parking lot of Dizzy’s on Morena Boulevard, where Stephanie Trick and Paolo Alderighi are performing this evening. Getting to the club, which …

“It wasn’t something grand or unique outside of the actual simplistic meaning of friendship,” says Justin Pearson of the upcoming Swing Kids reunion show. “John Brady, the band’s bassist, is turning 50, and he decided …

“We have an EMT on-site if you want a Band-Aid for that,” says Observatory North Park staffer Anna when she sees my bleeding left knee. She monitors people leaving the bar area to make sure …

“We love this place. So, even if something bad happens, we’ll still love these.” Newlywed Summer is referring to the matching tattoos she and her husband Dimitry got of The Tower Bar to commemorate their …

“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 …

“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 …

“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 …

“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 …

“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 …

“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 …

“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 …

“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. …

“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’ …

Video:GONZO: Arguing Oxford commas with WeAreJackStrong“I’d lose that if I were you,” WeAreJackStrong bassist/vocalist Gregg Oliver advises me. He’s referring to my faith in humanity, specifically, the place of creators in a world where Artificial …

“Excuse me, I have to put this fire out,” says Joseph Bursey, the doorman at The Tower Bar. I see he’s being literal as I nosily follow him to the corner of the building, where …

It was a bright and sunny day when a pop music revolution took place on a hallowed stage in Southern California. Local singer Zach Goode, who has taken over frontman duties for ‘90s alt-rock icons …

Video:GONZO REPORT: Gonzo Report: Playing truth or dare with Rogues of Chaos“If I need one of those, either the spawn of Satan has been born or there’s a dead fucking doctor.” That’s what I tell …

“There’s a lot going on in ‘Take Five’ that you miss until you try to play it,” saxophonist and teacher Dave Good tells me. He’s speaking of the jazz standard popularized by the Dave Brubeck …

“You’re dealing with a bunch of Gen Zers and Millennials who never get out of the house because of anxiety,” says Sonya, a mother who goes to shows with her daughter. She’s sporting a “No …

“Wygdjgedy Gilmour hednkjehuicehk amplifier cmoiewjcpew.” That’s not my cat walking on the keyboard, but rather an estimation of what I hear from behind me as two people carry on a conversation at normal talking volume, …

It’s been fifteen years since Adam Jones made his debut at The Blarney Stone Pub in Clairemont. “One evening back in 2009, when I stopped in for a weekend nightcap, I heard another band covering …