Forty years ago today -- September 7, 1972 -- the Jefferson Airplane played the San Diego Sports Arena. This was one of the Airplane's final concerts with their "classic" lineup, which split up two weeks later following a San Francisco …

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/sep/06/30985/ PassmoreLab, the San Diego-based 3D production studio, has teamed up with indie-punk-rock outfit Osaka Popstar for a stereoscopic 3D version of the band's "Insects" music video. The song was written by the Kids of Widney High, a music group …

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/sep/05/30936/ Following last month's comprehensive new local band compilation from Ship Records, Against the Current (see this week's Blurt column) is the tenth volume of the long running Staring at the Sun series, with two local release parties, preceded by …

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/sep/04/30804/ “I’m a singer-songwriter with alt-country leanings, but a punk rock spirit,” says acoustic troubadour Grampadrew, aka Drew Douglas. “Think John Prine and Neil Young, jamming on a sawdust-floor hoedown with Wilco.” Grampadrew was nominated Best Alt Country and Best …

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/sep/01/30692/ Astra Kelly will debut songs from her new torch-singer concept album Parlour Songs: Love and Heartbreak at House of Blues on September 7. The full-length finds her pursuing a new less-rock and roll sound, with songs written around universal …

The Reader's Overheard In San Diego comic strip made its debut in the Blurt column almost 17 years ago. Here's the tryout strip I submitted with my original sales pitch: http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/sep/01/30651/ As you can see, little about the format has …

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/aug/28/30447/ Just before 8:00am Tuesday morning, August 28, local harpist Kelsea Rae Little (the Wrong Trousers) was struck by a car while in a crosswalk, walking to work. "I went up onto the car and my head smacked the glass …

This week, Slightly Stoopid's seventh full-length Top of the World debuted at #13 on the Billboard 200 chart. They’ll appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 12, where we're told they'll perform the new title track, as well as “2AM” …

You may be surprised to find out just how many childrens' music performers call San Diego home. “The best thing about performing for kids is how much pure joy we see on a daily basis,” says Steve Denyes of country-fried …

Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine recently told a Singapore audience that President Obama is behind the recent movie theater and Sikh temple shootings. “Back in my country, my President...he’s trying to pass a gun ban, so he's staging all of these …

With fall quickly approaching, the Taylor Guitars Road Show team has announced another season of guitar demos at authorized Taylor Dealers around the globe. From Sweden to Hawaii, nearly 200 new dates have been booked, promising Taylor fans and guitar …

"Finally back after a wild ass tour," say Scott Stephens of Liquid Blue, who've just been hired to play the Democratic National Convention kickoff party on September 1 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Before they leave town again, they'll appear at …

RIP sci-fi author and famous former San Diegan Harry Harrison (March 12, 1925 - August 15, 2012) "Harry was a guest at the 1972 Comic-Con, the first one to be held at the El Cortez Hotel," says original San Diego …

The Grandmothers of Invention "Roxy and Elsewhere and More tour," featuring three former members of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention (Don Preston, Napoleon Murphy Brock, and Tom Fowler) will be performing the music of Frank Zappa at Anthology on Friday, …

Artist Mike Clift has drawn gory, zombie-heavy record covers for bands like GutRot, Nocturnus, DiamondHead, and Skinlab. He’s probably best known for his sleeve artwork for reunited locals Psychotic Waltz, whose drummer Norm Leggio went on to run Blue Meannie …

“Our music is like sex on a beach on a warm night with perfect head high waves and off shore winds," according to Jet West singer-guitarist Chris Warner. "You know, that sound that makes you just want to hang another …

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/aug/08/29354/ Here’s how around two dozen San Diego bands, past and present, came up with their band names, followed by 150 free band names I’ve been dreaming up, all so far unused (as far as I know). I designed ‘em …

"I have been healing nicely since my pancreatic cancer surgery on May 2," reports blues belter Candye Kane, who's about to embark on a tour of the midwest, east coast, Florida, and then on to France and Holland. "While I …

Spirit has been my favorite band for over 30 years now. I’ve come to feel the same way about guitarist/bandleader Randy California that Deadheads feel about Jerry Garcia, a performer inexplicably linked to Sprit only by virtue of both bands …

We asked 75 current and former local San Diegans in the music biz to reveal something about themselves that few would ever know or guess. GAYLE SKIDMORE: “One thing people are always surprised by is that I enjoy backpacking and …