Staff blogs | San Diego Reader

Music from the Little Street of Happiness

September 1, 2012 · Dave Good

"We've been around for quite a while." Mark Calabio checks in by phone from L.A. His band, Platypus Egg, is readying for their CD release party in San Diego in September. "Most of our shows have been in the East …

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Jam Session

Fear No Accordion: Tiff Jimber

August 23, 2012 · Dave Good

"I live in Santa Monica now, but I'm originally from La Mesa." Tiff Jimber is a pop music singer/pianist in the image, somewhat, of Ben Folds. Her music is both wry and intelligent to the point, at times, of introducing …

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Jam Session

Pussy Riot Sentenced in Moscow: San Diegans Speak Out

August 17, 2012 · Dave Good

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Maria Alyokhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, -- Pussy Riot -- were sentenced in Russia today to two years in prison following their arrest in March after the punk trio sang "Mother of God, put Putin out," …

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Jam Session

Sink, or Swim: East of Sweden

August 16, 2012 · Dave Good

East of Sweden's drummer Jeffrey O'Brien learned to play cello this summer. But don't expect him to have it onstage when the band performs at their record release party this weekend. "I play cello on the album," he says by …

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Jam Session

And the SDMA Winners Are:

August 14, 2012 · Dave Good

The roll call of winners from last night's sold-out 22nd Annual San Diego Music Awards at Humphreys included top honors to jazz pianist Mike Wofford, who received this year's Lifetime Achievement Award, and Candye Kane, the first recipient of SDMA's …

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Jam Session

When I Met Robin Henkel

August 8, 2012 · Dave Good

It was about a fez. I was working on a series of interviews with local rockers who'd had a taste of the big time for a story when I happened upon the Blue Guitar. At that time, the guitar shop …

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Jam Session

Operation MINDBLOW to the Rescue

August 2, 2012 · Dave Good

The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down a very deep well. -- …

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Jam Session

Tim Nunnink's Garage

July 26, 2012 · Dave Good

"I use this tool a lot," says Tim Nunnink. He brandishes a sinister metal rod. "It's more like a breaker bar." Under the hard glow of shop lights, strange tools and dental picks cover work benches in the garage. There's …

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Jam Session

The Bass Man Speaks: Greg Wills Can Do Everything, Everything That Is Except Play Bass

July 25, 2012 · Dave Good

It happened on a Sunday morning at the end of April. Greg Willis rolled out of bed at around 9 a.m. and just kept going until he hit the floor. "I couldn't stand up. I couldn't say words." Patty Birchard, …

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Jam Session

A Beer and a Download

July 24, 2012 · Dave Good

BOR IPA Makes a Big Splash in OB The Burning of Rome's Surfdog Records debut With Us is scheduled for release September 18. In the meantime, the band just released its own beer. Brewed at Pizza Port in OB, where …

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Jam Session

Young as You Want: Whitney Shay

July 20, 2012 · Dave Good

A listener hears old, but sees young: the singing voice, and the person using it, do not match. Whitney Shay is 26, but she can pound out the blues like someone I interviewed years ago who told me her name …

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3rd Annual Rock-N-Roll Reunion Benefit Concert Slated for July 28

July 19, 2012 · Dave Good

Anthony Carrasco lived in San Diego during the '80s. He, like a lot of teenagers, had aspirations to play rock and roll. "But I was kicked out of every band I've been in or auditioned for." He laughs. "I'm not …

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Jam Session

Coffee, with Divas

July 18, 2012 · Dave Good

All told, the Queen Divas of the Universe are a slice of rock and roll history. We meet up at Cosmos in La Mesa and let the name dropping begin: "I was at a party with Jimi Hendrix in Detroit …

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Jam Session

The Burning of Rome: Incredible Minds

July 17, 2012 · Dave Good

"A lot is riding on this new record." Adam Traub checks in by phone about his band The Burning of Rome and their new disc. "Kind of everything. We've got a good relationship with our label (Surfdog Records.) I'm treating …

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Jam Session

Fifty Years of "Wipe Out": A Surfaris Retrospective

July 16, 2012 · Dave Good

Swarmius Photo: Amy Hecht "Wipe Out" has a life of its own. I don't have to do anything." That's the word from Bob Berryhill, who checks in by phone during a Surfaris tour stop on Hawaii, this nearly 50 years …

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Jam Session

Indie Fertility: Five San Diego Bands to Listen To

July 13, 2012 · Dave Good

Pictured: The Very The Very: "Like Three's Company," emails Diana Death, referencing the old TV sitcom. "Two girls and one guy." Phil Inzunza handles guitars, vox, and drum machine sequencing, Lex does keys and vocals, and bassist Death also sings. …

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Big with the Drums, Heavy on the Metaphor

July 12, 2012 · Dave Good

But in my imagination this whole thing developed and I started mixing up old folk songs with the Beatles beat and taking them down to Greenwich Village and playing them for the people there. --Roger McGuinn, The Byrds River City …

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Jam Session

Dance No More: Bar Leucadian

July 11, 2012 · Dave Good

"As far as I know, it's all over." Scott Clayton is talking about music at the Bar Leucadian. He owns On Point Promotions. For the past few years he has booked all of Bar Leucadian's live entertainment, a gig that …

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And Now for Some First Generation Ozzy: Meet Madman

July 1, 2012 · Dave Good

"We kinda came up with the concept a number of years back," ex- Psychotic Waltz guitarist Steve Cox says, "to do some choice old Ozzy and early Sabbath." Ozzy tribute bands abound. They are to be found in places like …

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Jam Session

Heavy, But Not Metal: Trailerpark Rockstar

June 29, 2012 · Dave Good

You ask me, "Was it worth it all?" I say "Yes" with all my might 'Cause I live in a Lakeside trailer park and everything's gonna be all right. -- Country Dick Montana How the band name Trailerpark Rockstar came …

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Staff Blog Entries

Music from the Little Street of Happiness

Fear No Accordion: Tiff Jimber

Pussy Riot Sentenced in Moscow: San Diegans Speak Out

Sink, or Swim: East of Sweden

And the SDMA Winners Are:

When I Met Robin Henkel

Operation MINDBLOW to the Rescue

Tim Nunnink's Garage

The Bass Man Speaks: Greg Wills Can Do Everything, Everything That Is Except Play Bass

A Beer and a Download

Young as You Want: Whitney Shay

3rd Annual Rock-N-Roll Reunion Benefit Concert Slated for July 28

Coffee, with Divas

The Burning of Rome: Incredible Minds

Fifty Years of "Wipe Out": A Surfaris Retrospective

Indie Fertility: Five San Diego Bands to Listen To

Big with the Drums, Heavy on the Metaphor

Dance No More: Bar Leucadian

And Now for Some First Generation Ozzy: Meet Madman

Heavy, But Not Metal: Trailerpark Rockstar

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