Lil' Paul Williams (who made Kensington history in 1983) is STILL ALIVE!
New documentary reminds that the tiny songwriter was a gigantic music AND movie star.
If you were around in the 1970s, and even if you weren't, you probably know Paul Williams. He wrote classic songs like “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Evergreen" and “The Rainbow Connection" and acted on countless TV shows (as well as …
Out with the new, in with the old - Pathology changing members yet again
After over a dozen lineup changes, here's (today's) band roster...
Pathology's former singer Matti Way and former guitarist Tim Tiszczenko are back in the local metal outfit, while latterday members Jonathan Huber and Oscar Ramirez are out. For today, anyway. "Pathology is happy to announce the return of singer Matti …
Another musician loses gear in 5th Ave/HOB garage break-in
Roni Lee is the latest local to get ripped off while playing House of Blues
"Leaving the House of Blues tonight," Roni Lee posted on Facebook last night, "car windows broken, band gear, iPad etc stolen. Christmas presents to mom and dad (sorry guys), CDs. Sigh. BUT, good news, I take my PRS [guitar] everywhere …
27 years ago this week: The Dead Kennedys at the California Theater
On this day in local rock history, the DKs played one of their final shows with Jello Biafra
12-14-85: The Dead Kennedys played one of their final shows with original singer Jello Biafra, at downtown’s California Theater. As the set wrapped up, raucous fans tore up the seats and pulled curtains down from walls, causing police to call …
RIP Ravi
92 year-old sitar master, Encinitas (by way of India) resident and musical legend was just nominated for a 2013 Grammy Award
Indian musical legend Ravi Shankar has passed away. The 92 year old's album Living Rooms Sessions Part 1 (recorded at his Encinitas home) was just this past week nominated for a Grammy Award as Best World Music Album. Ravi Shankar …
Famous former neighbor Jason Robinson tackles ancient Roman and Greek mythology
New album Tiresian Symmetry concerns Tiresias, blind seer said to have lived seven different lifetimes
"Mythology seems related to the kinds of storytelling that we, as jazz musicians, like to do," says former San Diegan Jason Robinson, whose new full-length Tiresian Symmetry concerns Tiresias, a blind seer said to have lived seven different lifetimes. "I'm …
32 years ago this weekend - John Lennon's death: Where were YOU??
We asked local and national celebs where they were on the day Lennon died
Along with many vidiots my age, television was the teat that nurtured us all, and I was less weaned than most. I recall "discovering" the Beatles on a Smothers Brothers show from October 1968 (which I recently re-watched, spotting a …
RIP Spirit drummer Ed Cassidy: w/ Spirit in San Diego concert archive
Exclusive Spirit comic strip bio and complete history of local shows w/setlists, photos, more
RIP Ed "Cass" Cassidy - the drummer and co-founder of Spirit died yesterday (Dec. 6) at the age of 89. Damn. He'd been in a nursing home, having been diagnosed with prostate cancer several months ago. Here's my Spirit Rock …
Eddie Vedder gets Sirius
Limited run Eddie Vedder radio show airing this week, talks up his San Diego days on XM
This week, famous former neighbor Eddie Vedder is hosting a new, limited-run show on SiriusXM's Pearl Jam Radio channel, the Eddie Vedder Radio Show, which premiered on December 5 on Pearl Jam Radio, channel 22. He's been playing many of …
Hawaiian Slack Key Christmas concert at AMSD (Dec. 15) almost sold out
Keoki Kahumoku, Herb Ohta Jr. and Chino Montero serving up holiday music of the islands
"Ticket sales have continued to climb -- a lot -- and we're now almost sold out of the upfront seats [with] dinner packages and upgrades," says AMSDconcerts honcho Carey Driscoll of the December 15 Hawaiian Slack Key Christmas performance slated …
Out there, man
A Scribe Amidst the Lions dropping "by far the strangest album we've ever made"
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/dec/06/36532/ "This is by far the strangest album we've ever made," says A Scribe Amidst the Lions frontman Kris Towne of their new full-length Last Sting Trilogy Volumes II & III, which drops on Tuesday, December 11, with a release …
Roll up for the re-release of Magical Mystery Tour: The TV movie (Dec. 14)
The Beatles 1967 home movie remastered and documented for PBS documentary
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/dec/05/36531/ Waaaaay back in the 1980s, when I got my first home VCR (a technological marvel that seemed like the height of space age tech at the time), the first two tapes I rented at the nearby Wherehouse on University …
Live local jazz is going to the dogs on Friday, Dec. 7
Forecast jazz duo playing Humane Society’s annual Holiday Doggie Café concert
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/dec/05/36527/ "For the eighth year in a row, the Forecast Jazz Duo will be playing jazzed up versions of your favorite holiday songs along with a wide variety of classic jazz and standards from the Great American Songbook," says flutist …
RIP Reader cover artist and underground comix legend Spain Rodriguez
Legendary illustrator from Zap Comix, Trashman, and locally produced Deepest Dimension Terror Anthology
Just got the news that legendary Zap Comix co-founder Spain Rodriguez has passed away. He and Robert Crumb were among the earliest underground comic superstars - among my most prized possessions is the original art pages for a complete Trashman …
Lost gems of the ‘60s: Gates to Paradise (1968) with Jenny Agutter, Pauline Challoner
Obscure 13th century Christian “Children’s Crusade” as twisted teen road trip to Jerusalem
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/nov/27/36102/ I’ve long been fascinated by the so-called “Children’s Crusade,” historically described as a peaceful march to Jerusalem launched around the year 1212 by a charismatic teen Christian who traveled from town to town in medieval France and Germany, recruiting …
Hargo wins a Was - Gimme the Gig winner's TV set airs Dec. 1
Local world rocker wins TV contest, earns recording session with Don Was
“We just won a huge battle of the bands called Gimme the Gig,” says soulful world-rocker Hargo, whose self-named band scored a music video and recording session with celeb producer Don Was as part of a TV pilot taping. Sponsored …
One Wiccan woman's journey as a Michael Jackson impersonator
Local performer's Woman in the Mirror, A Dancer's Journey at Lyceum Theatre Dec. 1 - 9
I first came across local Michael Jackson impersonator Devra Gregory a few years back, while writing a Reader article about local tribute bands, not long after MJ died. Her profile on the Gig Salad website read “Dev was Michael Jackson’s …
Colin Clyne going Down to the Wood for CD release party Nov. 30
Scottish singer/songwriter back from overseas tour with a new concert EP and DVD footage
"There were no overdubs done on this EP whatsoever, and for that I make no apologies," says Scottish singer/songwriter Colin Clyne, whose release party for Doon Tae The Wid (which translates from Scottish/Doric as Down to the Wood) happens November …
Flogging Molly going green on the road for the ninth time
The Celtic rock band's 9th Annual Green 17 Tour will be another rolling party bus countdown to St. Patrick’s Day
Flogging Molly will open for ZZ Top at the House of Blues 20th Anniversary party on December 4, at the HOB venue on the Sunset Strip in L.A., before launching the 9th Annual Green 17 Tour, a rolling countdown to …
Switchfoot/Nickel Creek superduo Fiction Family's new album drops 1-29-13
Currently signed to NJ-based Rock Ridge Music, Fiction Family will release their sophomore album Fiction Family Reunion (with distribution via ADA) on January 29, 2013. The second full-length partnership of Jon Foreman (Switchfoot) and Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek) sees the …