"All through August, I'm going on a U.S. tour with Since Our First Guitar, an indie pop band from Sweden, and Biggles Flys Again, an indie pop from Ireland," says singer/songwriter Normandie Wilson. During the tour, "I'm creating a 30" …

The next installment of Jazz Live (Tuesday, August 2) will feature the Rob Thorsen Quartet and have a slightly different focus from the usual concert scenario. Turns out that Thorsen has been involved in exposing jazz to youngsters throughout San …

UPDATE - 8/1/11 - Retox will NOT be able to play this show. The other three bands are still confirmed. On June 24, the first episode of “Young, Broke, and Beautiful,” an “off the beaten path” travel show, aired on …

The dick of all classical dicks must be Richard Wagner. It's a nice coincidence with his name being Richard and all. If Lindsay Lohan, Christian Bale, Kim Jong Il, and the Kardashians were all considered to be geniuses, we might …

"We're supporting our annual U19 Battle of the Bands," says Beth Vinas of Studio CCMA (who also plays with Groove Kitty). Bands and musicians with players UNDER 19 years old have been asked to submit a LIVE video, link or …

Jazz musicians from all over Southern California and beyond flocked to El Camino in Little Italy last night for a mega-jam session in honor of Gilbert Castellanos' 39th birthday. Local KSDS afternoon jazz personality Ron Dhanifu emceed. Castellanos, expanding his …

Is the stupid bliss of eternal sunshine getting you down? Wiggle over to the Shakedown Bar tonight for a soul-blackening noise metal showcase at the only bar in town that offers tall cans of Steel Reserve and Old E. Local …

The second annual San Diego '80s Big Hair Rock Starz Reunion happens July 30 at 710 Beach Club. "This year's event is a benefit concert," says the San Diego Action Network. "We are dedicating the evening to the late Marc …

The Che Underground presents two classic local garage bands reuniting on two consecutive nights at the Casbah: the Crawdaddys (September 2 with offbeat Beatles tribute the Baja Bugs and the Amandas) and the Unknowns (September 3 with the Sidewalk Scene …

“It’s just really dirty, rugged MPC sampling,” writes My Dirty Drum Habits promoter Nino Seneris of the August 3 beat showcase at the Kava Lounge. The one-off night of “neck breaking live analog drum machine madness” includes “savage hip hop …

I saw the current production of The Tempest at The Globe and enjoyed the music that accompanied the show. The inclusion of original incidental music is a tradition that goes way back. Shakespeare has been fairly well set to music. …

December's All Tomorrow's Parties fest in Minehead, UK (December 2 through 4) will include a Hot Snakes reunion. "I'm super stokified on this," frontman John Reis posted online this week. "So far just ATP is confirmed. We are talking about …

“None of us even knew we were part of it,” Tori Roze says of a recent poll held on SoundDiego. In the poll, ten area musicians were selected to compete for a slot on The Voice this fall. “The people …

Poppy chilly-wavey duo TV Girl blew up last year when, within a week of posting the track online, “If You Want It” had garnered attention from Pitchfork, the UK Guardian, and a BBC podcast. The song sampled Todd Rundgren’s 1973 …

Since Eine Alpensinfonie is a tone poem, let's talk about what a tone poem is. The dictionary says a tone poem is a large scale orchestra work based on folk tales or literature. That's not completely true because there are …

During the fall and spring semesters at San Diego City College, Jazz Live is a monthly concert series, gearing up to bimonthly performances in July and August. The concerts are almost always scheduled on the second Tuesday of the month. …

“My band's gear and personal items were stolen out of our van last night while staying in [Manhattan],” writes Maren Parusel’s manager Mario Escovedo of Requiemme Management and Booking in a Facebook post yesterday. “White Ford E250, parked on W87th …

Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos will celebrate his 39th birthday with his regular Wednesday night jam session at El Camino in Little Italy--expanded with surprise guests comprising "my favorite players from around town," said Castellanos. The music begins at 9:00 p.m. with …

Photo on left: Batwings Catwings About a $3 taxi ride from the border, Bar Monaco in Mexicali is a popular spot for both touring and local punk/noise/electronic bands. Shows tend to get entirely awesome at this Tower-Bar-meets-Mos-Eisley-Cantina dive, and I …

I went up to the top of Cowles Mountain. It was, how shall I say this? Hot? Yes, it was hot. Furthermore, it's not much of a mountain but I'll take it since it comes with a San Diego climate. …

Sorry folks, but America’s Finest Beer Festival has been canceled at the last moment. The three-day grog n’ music get-together, from this Friday 22 thru Sunday 24, was billed as “the largest brew festival in southern California.” It was supposed …

Photo: Dancing Strangers at Club Purple - Bodega Aragon, Tijuana Tijuana native Miss Lady D has been bringing San Diego and international musicians to TJ with Club Purple dance night for over a year now. This Saturday, Miss Lady D …

Saxophonist Scott Martin and his Latin Soul Jazz Sextet stopped by the Saville Theatre on Tuesday, July 19, to record a live album and lay down some dance party grooves, with varying degrees of success. Martin, who spent 14 years …

It’s that time of the month again! Third Thursdays hail two of San Diego’s freshest, most progressive, and downright awesome monthlies. Makeout Weird at the Whistle Stop showcases San Diego’s unique subculture of experimental, punk, and dance music with visuals …

The University of California has been deeply involved in the development of state-of-the-art video, audio and networking technology over the last ten years to present to the public the brave new world of "Telematic" concerts. Telematics, also known as "Telepresent-performances", …

Besides Pachelbel and his canon, Vivaldi might be the most obvious classical one-hit-wonder. Even people who don't know The Four Seasons, know The Four Seasons — they just don't realize it. Look at almost anyone's music collection, regardless of their …

With a new single out, “Family Dinner,” Writer's U.S. tour with Cults will hit San Diego on July 29, at Soda Bar. Writer revolves around brothers Jayme and Andy Ralph. “We play indie rock, with a little Southern guitar picking,” …

"I have finally begun tracking the next album for real," says singer/songwriter Jon Ji. "The object this time is create a recording that sounds just like it feels and sounds to me while I'm playing it. I have been experimenting …

Photo on left: Sun-Ra Saturn Never Sleeps is a collaboration of Philadelphia music producer King Britt and singer/artist Rucyl which formed in 2009 for two improvisational performances dedicated to the music of Sun-Ra. Pushing the tradition of electronic innovators like …

This two day event in Imperial Beach attracts sandcastle builders in the world who compete for a top prize $21,000. The competition attracts over 300,000 people, with over 140 vendors, entertainment, a firework display, food, arts, crafts, and a Kids-N-Kastles …

Heads up for lovers of Latin jazz-- Tuesday, July 19, KSDS brings saxophonist Scott Martin and his Latin Soul Band to the Saville Theatre as the next installment of the Jazz Live concert series. Martin's got six CD's out under …

Having been nominated for three 2011 San Diego Music Awards (Best Hip-Hop, Best Hip-Hop Album, and Album of the Year for Quit Sleep), Vokab Kompany embark on a new tour this week, taking them through Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and California. …

“Our whole thing is never doing the same thing twice,” says Eugene, Oregon native Hargo Khalsa. “There are a lot of moods and a lot of energies on the record, and that’s something that we strive to do. Always change …

The July 23 Class of ’94 Reunion at Bar Eleven will double as a John Kuhlken Tribute and Benefit Concert for City of Hope. Five bands with '90s roots (sans mullets) will be hookin’ back up to reunite and rock …

As requested, here's some more Elgar. We all know Pomp and Circumstance. Elgar knew it was going to be popular when he wrote it. At its premiere at a London Promenade Concert, it was given a double encore. No other …

Jacqueline du Pre was best known for her definitive interpretation of the Elgar Cello Concerto. She was 20 years old when she recorded it for EMI and it has remained in print since it was recorded in 1965. In the …

"I just launched a new site that features local, unsigned musicians who donated songs to help the La Jolla seals," virtual tour guide Local Wally tells the Reader. "It's a labor of love site, and all download money goes to …

Photo on left: part of Tearist Once you’ve exhausted yourself perusing Troma schwag and oggling slave Leia’s and Harajuku girls at Comic Con, head up to the Soda Bar for a three night extravaganza curated by Art Fag and Impose …

Free jazz trumpeter and independent record label entrepreneur Jeff Kaiser has a new CD release on his AngryVegan imprint: John Hirschmann - Iceland vs Borneo, volume 1. Hirschmann is an electronic musician, and Kaiser describes his aesthetic as "Amazing industrial …

Instead of just one hit wonders of classical music, I think I'm going add an "and one" element. If Elgar's one hit wonder is Pomp and Circumstance, his "and one" would be the Introduction and Allegro for Strings or perhaps …

Last night (Wednesday, July 13), Penetrators guitarist Gery Heffern jammed onstage with Mudhoney during an encore of The MC5's "Kick Out the Jams" at Tavastia, Helsinki, in Finland where Heffern currently lives. "They were on fire last night," says Heffern. …

Adam Lambert made yet another unannounced stage appearance on Saturday, July 9, at a charity performance for the Kierrah Foundation, held at Celebrity Centre International in Hollywood. Lambert took the stage to sing Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" with 10 year-old …

People aren't the only ones who've got rhythm. Two recent reports published in Current Biology, an online Cell Press publication, reveal that birds, and parrots in particular, can also bob their heads, tap their feet, and sway their bodies along …

Viejas Casino and Jack FM 100.7 are presenting the annual Ultimate Music Challenge, featuring 40 cover bands, three winners, and $40K in prize money. The fifth annual contest will be held at the DreamCatcher at Viejas Casino. The competition will …

Vice Magazine will be hosting their debut Noisey Nights series event at the Casbah tonight with surreal synth-popper John Maus, dreamy Los Angeles girl duo Puro Instinct, and Geneva Jacuzzi. “Noisey is Vice's new online channel [in concert with Intel …

Bassist Mark Dresser and vocalist Jen Shyu, have a brand-new CD for the Pi Recordings label, set for an August release. There aren't a whole lot of bass/vocal duos around, especially in the adventurous context that these two explore in …

Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos, like most jazz musicians, has to keep many irons in the fire to stay busy and keep the bills paid. In addition to his local performances with his Latin Jazz Quintet, his B-3 organ trio, and as …

On July 30, Lestat’s Coffeehouse will rock and jangle in homage to the Los Angeles music scene centered around the Sunset Strip during the mid 1960s, featuring music by Love, Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, The Grass Roots, and more. This …

“It’s that altruistic beauty of the underground that rarely makes it to the mainstream,” says Wobble Events promoter Bryen Beglinger. “The mainstream is all about being treated like cattle by bouncers herding you in to buy $13 drinks and listen …

The kids and I did the Balboa Park thing yesterday. We haven't explored a lot of the park together so it was delightful to share the park and to see their reactions. They were very impressed with several of the …

Singer/songwriter Josh Damigo's show tonight at Lestat’s Coffeehouse is actually the opening date of a southwest tour running through most of July. While Damigo has toured the Southwest in the past, this tour has a special importance to him, as …

Photo at left: Robin Henkel "Embarking on an ambitious CD project, beginning recording in the fall at Studio West," guitarist Wayne Riker tells the Reader. "Ten tracks, ten styles, ten top shelf guest guitarists from the greater San Diego area, …

I met up with Lieutenant Facemelter and noted San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Donald Flamenco to talk air guitar and dissolved faces. We chatted in a coffee shop 10 minutes away from Facemelter’s top secret training grounds just off the …

Bridgepoint Education is working on that old public image. The San Diego based education company was a hot topic for national news when it came under fire from the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee. A nice benefit we …

Since 1989, Daniel Atkinson has been involved in expanding the San Diego jazz scene exponentially through his work at UCSD and as director of the Jazz at the Athenaeum concert series. Atkinson, a San Diego native, didn't become a serious …

On this day in 2006, Syd Barrett died from complications arising from diabetes. He was 60. The singer, songwriter and guitarist was one of the founding members of Pink Floyd, active as a rock musician for only about seven years …

"Fade Away," an original ballad from brooding indie rockers the Black Heart Procession, can now be heard on the ending credits of PlayStation 3's apocalyptic video game Infamous 2. The song is Black Heart at their best, with piano, and …

Pianist Theo Saunders brought a sextet into the Saville Theatre on July 5, that combined the wisdom of experience and the exuberance of youth into an ideal vehicle of post-Coltrane expressionism. Representing the experience factor were Saunders, trombonist David Dahlsten, …

Eddie Vedder was the subject of the opening soliloquy at yoga class on Wednesday. Josh Vincent, the instructor, had been to the concert the previous night and claimed he was still buzzing from it -- in an emotional/spiritual manner not …

A couple of months ago, the Reader ran the 1000th comic strip I've done for the paper...wow, suddenly my drawing hand is tired! As you may or may not know, I depend on tipsters to email me stuff they've overheard …

I wasn't familiar with the Horowitz transcription of the Stars and Stripes Forever until New Orleans Opera Director, Todd Simmons, put it up on Facebook. It is a fireworks display of virtuosic, finger numbing, piano playing. I fully expected the …

David Bowie will finally receive the surf-instrumental treatment when locals the Lost Boys of Penzance and 20 other artists from around the world release their unique surf-guitar takes on classic David Bowie tunes, on an album called Ziggy Played Surf …

Nonprofit visual arts and music collective Sezio wants a piece of the county's Community Enhancement Program pie. Unfortunately, county supervisor Ron Roberts hasn't included the nonprofit on his list of recipients. The county program takes $2.5 million from hotel tax …

The Che Café has a long tradition of hosting some of the most outlandish acts in San Diego, and tomorrow’s show is no exception. Author & Punisher – Local Tristan Shone (left) performs industrial doom metal on a custom fabricated …

Successful real estate developer and life-long jazz fan Howard Berkson, who also owns the Anthology nightclub, is giving back to the music youth community in San Diego with the Anthology Jazz Institute, aimed at educating student musicians from ages 12 …

The Touchies (“slang for cuddling with your special someone”) were launched in late 2008 by Anthony Stanze (AKA Anthony Touchie) on lead vocals and guitar, and Mishey Moreno (AKA Mishey Touchie) on bass and backing vocals. The duo has played …

Before we wrap ourselves in the flag, aka: drink beers, get a sunburn, and watch fireworks, I'd like to share a few verses. While reading the second and third verses of "America the Beautiful," I found myself moved by the …

Photo at left: from Backdoor Betty video Scribe Amidst the Lions have a new 6-track EP, The Lidless Kind. “This one was completely recorded, produced, and mixed by the band at our own Controls for the Sun Studio,” says bandleader …

San Diegans have a unique opportunity to experience one of jazz's best kept secrets on Tuesday, July 5 at City College in the Saville Theatre as a part of the KSDS Jazz Live series. Native New Yorker Theo Saunders moved …

Tuesday night kicks off the tour for Brooklyn electro-pop trio Class Actress, whose West Coast jaunt includes a couple dates with Washed Out (but not here). Consult das Pitchfork. Freddy Cougar - auto-tuned latin futureton from San Diego’s premiere pre-utopian …

“Sweet Cheeks was inspired by the fact that, from my experiences, when one goes out to a bar or venue and wants to hear different music, no one ever thinks of the ladies, let alone the music that creates babies,” …

Dust off the bong, hippie. Tonight’s psychedelic freak out at the Casbah showcases local psych-rock from Astra, Joy, and what will likely be the only show in town this year from instrumental paisley-pickers Earthless. Liquid projection duo Operation Mindblow has …

"Tonight the Tin Can will join other flying metal objects in the space,” says Innerds guitarist Bobby Bray, “the only question is weather or not it will land safely!" The show features four two-piece bands what for rocking your brains …

On their website, 1920's cabaret-inspired music troupe The Silent Comedy announced that they will be playing the Dave Matthews Band Caravan festival on September 2 at the Gorge in George, Washington -- yes that is correct. At the fest, the …