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Jam Session is moving in with Blurt! For articles posted after October 15, please visit Blurt.
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Entries
New Local Blues History, Concert Clips, Lessons Page on Facebook
“Here’s a great new Facebook blues vids page,” says guitarist Wayne Riker, “documenting much of San Diego's blues history, with lessons, performances, and promos from myself, Nathan James, and many others on the local scene.” "Mike Sosebee, a former student …
Mighty Joe Longa's Cancer Battle: Update
Ace keyboardist Mighty Joe Longa of Joey Harris and the Mentals has spent around four months receiving chemotherapy and "catching up on a lot of sleep." The Mentals have been playing around town with a little help from friends like …
Sure Thing
Let's return to the topic of the new Porgy and Bess. This seems to be Broadway taking a hint from Hollywood. Have you noticed how many sequels and comic book movies have been made lately? It appears Hollywood is becoming …
Weekend at Dizzy's with Rob Thorsen and Charles McPherson
Mainstream acoustic jazz played at the highest level will be the focus this weekend at Dizzy's. Friday, a special version of the Rob Thorsen Quartet is the feature, and the following night Charles McPherson brings an all star quintet to …
Tonight! California Bleeding (Makeout Weird), NguzuNguzu (Liquid Geometry), and Todo Mundo
The awesome is running thick tonight in San Diego. photo: Todo Mundo For starters, monthly Makeout Weird hosts nascent locals California Bleeding, a progy, schitzo, wiggle-ready duo featuring members of Alioth and Dead Animal Mod. Makeout Weird curators Monsterpussy (Heather …
Ellen Weller Prepares For Japan Tour
Photo on left: Marcos Fernandes Woodwind multi-instrumentalist Ellen Weller is woodshedding in preparation for an upcoming tour of Japan in collaboration with former San Diego drummer / percussionist / phonographer Marcos Fernandes. Weller and Fernandes worked together previously as member's …
Backstage at Humphrey’s with Yes
On August 4, local duo Scott West and Alex DePue opened up for prog rock legends Yes at Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay. DePue, who’s been touring and recording with Steve Vai since 2007, landed the Vai gig via a …
Best and Worst Gigs Ever: the New Kinetics
We've been asking local bands with new albums on the horizon to tell us about their best and worst gigs ever. Based in North Park, the New Kinetics started up in 2010, founded by singer Birdy Bardot and guitarist/keyboardist Brian …
Next Please
My San Diego Opera chorus audition is tonight at 7:37 pm. This is the first time I've auditioned, at San Diego Opera, for anyone except former chorus master Todd Simmons. I'm not sure what to expect. For the first time …
Elvis Presley in San Diego: The Inside Stories (RIP 8-16-77)
Research into Elvis Presley’s first California concerts over the first week of April, 1956, has yielded new material about the San Diego dates, including unpublished photos of the rock icon backstage at the long-gone San Diego Arena at Eighth and …
Extreme Work-of-Art Makeover
I've seen a couple different posts about a letter that Stephen Sondheim wrote to the New York Times. Mr. Sondheim was responding to a new and updated production of Porgy and Bess. He seems to be saying, "Not while I'm …
Joshua White: Semi-Finalist in Global Piano Competition
The piano returns as the instrument of distinction to the 25th Anniversary Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition, and of 12 semi-finalists chosen from around the world, San Diego's own Joshua White has been selected. The Institute's International Jazz Competition is recognized …
Life Sux...Upcoming Wavves Album to Drop on September 20
Nathan Williams, of San Diego slacker-rock band Wavves, announced that his newest EP Life Sux, will be released on September 20. The album, according to indie-music website Pitchfork.com, is set to drop on Williams' own Ghost Ramp record label, will …
Dying for Art
When writing about Tristan, I failed to mention how deadly the second act is. Conductors Felix Mottl and Joseph Keilberth both collapsed and subsequently died while conducting the second act. Mottl was a respected conductor and composer. His orchestration of …
Hosanna and Noise Beat Propaganda at Culture Beat, Ensenada
Culture Beat on Ensenada's downtown nightlife strip exhibits a similar aesthetic to San Diego's World Beat Center (Rasta/Mayan fusion, happy flowers, a shoddy Marley mural), except it's three stories high and housed inside what looks like a halved aircraft hangar. …
Tickets Onsale Today For Inaugural Little Italy StreetBeat Fest, October 1
Music takes to the streets of Little Italy this October! Club Anthology, in partnership with KPRI 102.1, announces the inaugural StreetBeat San Diego, a music and arts festival. The one of a kind event will be held in Anthology’s front …
Eric Reed Trio Reveals "Something Beautiful"
Photo on left: Joshua White Los Angeles pianist Eric Reed brought his "favorite trio ever" into Dizzy's last night for a CD release party celebrating his new release on WJ3 records, "Something Beautiful." Completing his dream trio was doublebass master …