Jay Allen Sanford co-created the comic book line Rock 'N' Roll Comics for Revolutionary Comics, publishers of the Beatles Experience 8-issue series (among the titles reprinted in graphic novel form, beginning in 2010), and his publishing company Re-Visionary Press is known for its line of Carnal Comics — True Stories of Adult Film Stars; the titles were among the top-selling independent comic books of the '90s. He also created the comic strip "Rock Tales," which began in Rip Magazine before beginning a 15-plus year run in Spin magazine. Since selling off his publishing interests in 2000, he likes to scribble and type stuff every day, and rumor has it that people actually pay him to do this, including MTV/VH1, for whom he writes TV shows and specials like Pop Up Video, 100 Most Metal Moments, etc.
For the San Diego Reader, he serves as Music Section editor and writes cover stories and musician interviews, as well as contributing each week to the Blurt music column for over 20 years. He draws two comic strips created specifically for the Reader: Overheard in San Diego (debuted 1996 and collected in book form in 2013) and Famous Former Neighbors (since 2004). His column Just Announced, previewing upcoming local concerts, debuted in early 2017, and his Local Five/Live Five column debuted in 2019.
Video:LIVE FIVE: Big Sandy, Auz Fontaine, Ariel Levine, Mark Battles, Tell-Tale Hearts TributeRay Brandes’ Tell-Tale Hearts Tribute at The CasbahJan 3When singer Ray Brandes co-founded the Tell-Tale Hearts in 1983, they already looked like a …
Video:LIVE FIVE: Ben Benavente, Karl Denson, Schizophonics, Matt Heinecke, Frankie & the Witch FingersBen Benavente at CannonballDec 26Ben Benavente specializes in Hawaiian and island style music, citing Jack Johnson, Bruno Mars, and local star Jason …
Video:LIVE FIVE: Rebecca Jade, Stoney B. Blues, Manzanita Blues, Blame Betty, MarujahRebecca Jade with Dave Koz at Balboa TheatreDec 19When Dave Koz and Friends perform jazzy renditions of timeless Christmas classics on his 27th anniversary …
Video:LIVE FIVE: Andrew Peña, Frankie J, Beat Farmers, Jesse LaMonaca, Puddles Pity PartyAndrew Peña at CannonballDec 12Andrew Peña launched his own band The Verge in 2017, as well as playing with local acts such as …
Video:LIVE FIVE: Songwriter Sanctuary, B-Side Players, The Crawdaddys, Saint Luna, BrawleySongwriter Sanctuary at Normal Heights United Methodist ChurchDec 6The Holiday Edition of the Songwriter Sanctuary series will feature in-the-round performances from several locals in an …
Video:LIVE FIVE: Greyboy Allstars, Acoustic Revolt, Scary Pierre, Thee Sacred Souls, Glass SpellsThe Greyboy Allstars at the Belly UpNov 29 and 30Debuting in 1993, The Greyboy Allstars includes Rolling Stones sax player Karl Denson and …
Video:LIVE FIVE: Sitting On Stacy, Matte Blvck, Think X, Hendrix Celebration, CorianderSitting On Stacy at Belly UpNov 21Formed in 2013, alt-ska rockers Sitting On Stacy won the 2018 Kaaboo Discovery competition, and went on to …
Video:LIVE FIVE: Patch Croome, Sara Petite, Buck-O-Nine, Justin Froese, Nardwuar’s Video VaultPatch Croome at L’Auberge Del MarNov 14Daring Greatly, who relocated from Calgary, AB Canada to San Diego in August 2015, were at one time …
Video:LIVE FIVE: Residencies and one-offs in Little Italy, Del Mar, Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, CoronadoDeaf Club at the CasbahNov 7Co-founded by Justin Pearson (The Locust, Dead Cross, Planet B), Deaf Club says they “approach music …
Photos