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Gonzo Report: Three nights of Mission Bayfest bring bliss
“This is a top-notch production.”
A setting sun heralds tons of fun.
From September 27-29, Mariner’s Point Park hosted Mission Bayfest, put on by the same production team that created the San Diego Bayfest. Joe Rinaldi, partner and general manager at the Music Box in Little Italy served as talent buyer and ran ticketing, front of house, box office, and security lines. Dominic Coleman oversaw everything and teamed with Mike Beltran, aka Mikey Beats, to create the layout. Beltran handled the marketing and permitting. Riley Hagey (son of San Diego event legend Rob Hagey, creator of San Diego Street Scene) managed the crew that built and broke down the infrastructure. And Gio managed the setup, breakdown, and hiring for all things bar related. (They had an estimated 110 bartenders working daily.)
On Friday, the weather was cloudy, but my weather app predicted sunshine all weekend long. I arrived around 6:30 pm and watched the sun set behind the people chilling on the sand and dipping their toes in the water. Some folks brought their boats as close as possible to shore in order to see and hear the acts on the main stage, where Ocean Beach’s own Boostive was playing a set. I met up with my friends Bryan and Mark, and as we were walking to the merch and food area, we ran into my old friend Chris Bonner. He’s as big as Shrek, and gave me such a big hug that he lifted me off the ground and cracked my back. I let him know we’d be back for Stick Figure after checking things out.
Each band had their own merchandise booth, and there were plenty of food and drink options. A highlight was $1.50 street tacos in the VIP area, but we weren’t hungry, so we opted for beers. Sixteen-ounce beers went for $14, Bud Light Seltzers for $12, shots for $14, twelve-ounce cocktails for $14, and sixteen-ounce cocktails for $20.
The lineup for the first evening was Aaron Wolf, The Irie, Vana Liya, Sensamotion, Boositive, Z-Trip, and Tribal Seeds, with Stick Figure closing out the evening. Bonner said he’d seen Stick Figure three times before, and exclaimed “This is the best I’ve ever heard them.” He was impressed by the music and organization. “I remember Mikey Beats being a local DJ and promoter years ago. This is a top-notch production.”
On Saturday, I arrived while sun was still beaming bright, much like the smiles of Kristine, Jasmine Renee, and Mel, the three young ladies waiting to greet me at will call. I realized I needed a pick-me-up, and bam, there was the Got Hempsa Coffee tent. I had one of the best cups of coffee of my life for $8. It had a nutty and chocolate flavor. Then I wandered over to Kush Cove, where cannabis dispensaries were promoting their brands. There was another great crowd for the evening: a diverse group that ranged in age from teens to sixties and up.
The bands scheduled for the evening were Dubbest, Doah’s Daydream, Tunnel Vision, Bumpin Uglies, Tropidelic, Eli-Mac, Artikal Sound System, KBong and Johnny Cosmic, IAM Tongi, Rome & Duddy, Pepper, and Iration. Keshaun and Santi from the Music Box were dancing to the music playing on the speakers before Iration’s set. I asked them who they were there to see. Simultaneously, they replied, “All of them! We’re here to dance!” Iration closed out the evening after Pepper’s energetic set.
Sunday was overcast, but not enough to dampen the spirits of the attendees. I arrived around 5 pm, and as Jungle Jason checked me in at will call, he exclaimed, “I love the Reader! I still have the clipping from when Green Day played at the Che Café.” The bands that night were DJ Root, Ric Scales, BLVK H3RD, Josh Heinrichs, Yaacore, Jesse Royal, Denm, Protoje, Fortunate Youth, Wiz Khalifa and Cypress Hill. I was able to get backstage, and while sitting on a sofa and checking my notes, I looked up and noticed an entourage approaching: Cypress Hill themselves. I went up to B-Real to get his thoughts about San Diego. Just after lighting his big joint, he said, “I love San Diego. We’ve been playing here since ‘91. Los Angeles and San Diego are almost the same place.” Then he went off to Wiz Khalifas’s trailer.
There was a stage set up under the Mission Bay Bridge; that’s where I caught Jesse Royal and Protoje. The scene was festive, with people sitting on the dirt mound under the bridge. Ras Mike was doing his thing, announcing the acts. Cypress Hill didn’t disappoint; they played favorites “Insane In the Membrane” and “Dr. Greenthumb.”
The festival ended promptly at 10 pm each night and the organizers did as good a job of getting people out as they did getting them in. On a side note, I learned that Sen Dog went to high school with Dave Lombardo from Slayer.
Here's something you might be interested in.
Gonzo Report: Three nights of Mission Bayfest bring bliss
“This is a top-notch production.”
Gonzo Report: Three nights of Mission Bayfest bring bliss
“This is a top-notch production.”
A setting sun heralds tons of fun.
From September 27-29, Mariner’s Point Park hosted Mission Bayfest, put on by the same production team that created the San Diego Bayfest. Joe Rinaldi, partner and general manager at the Music Box in Little Italy served as talent buyer and ran ticketing, front of house, box office, and security lines. Dominic Coleman oversaw everything and teamed with Mike Beltran, aka Mikey Beats, to create the layout. Beltran handled the marketing and permitting. Riley Hagey (son of San Diego event legend Rob Hagey, creator of San Diego Street Scene) managed the crew that built and broke down the infrastructure. And Gio managed the setup, breakdown, and hiring for all things bar related. (They had an estimated 110 bartenders working daily.)
On Friday, the weather was cloudy, but my weather app predicted sunshine all weekend long. I arrived around 6:30 pm and watched the sun set behind the people chilling on the sand and dipping their toes in the water. Some folks brought their boats as close as possible to shore in order to see and hear the acts on the main stage, where Ocean Beach’s own Boostive was playing a set. I met up with my friends Bryan and Mark, and as we were walking to the merch and food area, we ran into my old friend Chris Bonner. He’s as big as Shrek, and gave me such a big hug that he lifted me off the ground and cracked my back. I let him know we’d be back for Stick Figure after checking things out.
Each band had their own merchandise booth, and there were plenty of food and drink options. A highlight was $1.50 street tacos in the VIP area, but we weren’t hungry, so we opted for beers. Sixteen-ounce beers went for $14, Bud Light Seltzers for $12, shots for $14, twelve-ounce cocktails for $14, and sixteen-ounce cocktails for $20.
The lineup for the first evening was Aaron Wolf, The Irie, Vana Liya, Sensamotion, Boositive, Z-Trip, and Tribal Seeds, with Stick Figure closing out the evening. Bonner said he’d seen Stick Figure three times before, and exclaimed “This is the best I’ve ever heard them.” He was impressed by the music and organization. “I remember Mikey Beats being a local DJ and promoter years ago. This is a top-notch production.”
On Saturday, I arrived while sun was still beaming bright, much like the smiles of Kristine, Jasmine Renee, and Mel, the three young ladies waiting to greet me at will call. I realized I needed a pick-me-up, and bam, there was the Got Hempsa Coffee tent. I had one of the best cups of coffee of my life for $8. It had a nutty and chocolate flavor. Then I wandered over to Kush Cove, where cannabis dispensaries were promoting their brands. There was another great crowd for the evening: a diverse group that ranged in age from teens to sixties and up.
The bands scheduled for the evening were Dubbest, Doah’s Daydream, Tunnel Vision, Bumpin Uglies, Tropidelic, Eli-Mac, Artikal Sound System, KBong and Johnny Cosmic, IAM Tongi, Rome & Duddy, Pepper, and Iration. Keshaun and Santi from the Music Box were dancing to the music playing on the speakers before Iration’s set. I asked them who they were there to see. Simultaneously, they replied, “All of them! We’re here to dance!” Iration closed out the evening after Pepper’s energetic set.
Sunday was overcast, but not enough to dampen the spirits of the attendees. I arrived around 5 pm, and as Jungle Jason checked me in at will call, he exclaimed, “I love the Reader! I still have the clipping from when Green Day played at the Che Café.” The bands that night were DJ Root, Ric Scales, BLVK H3RD, Josh Heinrichs, Yaacore, Jesse Royal, Denm, Protoje, Fortunate Youth, Wiz Khalifa and Cypress Hill. I was able to get backstage, and while sitting on a sofa and checking my notes, I looked up and noticed an entourage approaching: Cypress Hill themselves. I went up to B-Real to get his thoughts about San Diego. Just after lighting his big joint, he said, “I love San Diego. We’ve been playing here since ‘91. Los Angeles and San Diego are almost the same place.” Then he went off to Wiz Khalifas’s trailer.
There was a stage set up under the Mission Bay Bridge; that’s where I caught Jesse Royal and Protoje. The scene was festive, with people sitting on the dirt mound under the bridge. Ras Mike was doing his thing, announcing the acts. Cypress Hill didn’t disappoint; they played favorites “Insane In the Membrane” and “Dr. Greenthumb.”
The festival ended promptly at 10 pm each night and the organizers did as good a job of getting people out as they did getting them in. On a side note, I learned that Sen Dog went to high school with Dave Lombardo from Slayer.
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