“It’s crazy,” says Carlsbad resident Marty Schwartz, “so far my lessons have gotten over a half a billion hits on YouTube. Not to sound pompous, but I am the number-one online guitar teacher in the …
May 11, 2016
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Stories by Edwin Decker
Carlsbad's Marty Schwartz is "the number-one online guitar teacher in the world"
The underestimated American
Pianist Dan Frost talks about his “American Dream” project, to record to video a 50-state solo concert tour and cut it into a documentary feature film.
April 24, 2013
Bitter Candy
Notes from a local stagehand who worked on Madonna’s recent concert at Petco Park: “We were 50 feet away, in the tunnel, and they made us turn the other way, toward the loading dock, so …
December 17, 2008
Shirking Off the Blues
"The women's room has only one commode in it, and the room has a locking door," says Lorrie Merriman, co-owner of O'Connell's in Bay Park. "Two women and a hot topic of discussion can tie …
February 22, 2007
Carbon-Neutral Rock
Anne Tropeano, manager for San Diego roots rockers Tapwater, recounts a stroke of good luck the band had while on a recent five-month tour: "We were touring through Georgia and someone recommended a booking agency …
January 25, 2007
Hardcore Holiday
"We played a small show on a cold, snowy winter evening in Flint, Michigan," writes Brian Sheerin, vocalist for Mower, a San Diego hardcore band that's now on tour. "It was at a really cool …
January 4, 2007
New Year's Traditions
M y friend Christine fears her two children are growing up without enough family traditions. As she, another friend Celia, and I power-walked through the neighborhood, Christine lamented, "I need to start some family traditions. …
December 28, 2006
Unhappy Camper
Roots rockers Tapwater, in the middle of a 72-gig, 12-state tour, recently had a three-day break. They decided to camp through the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Canyon de Chelly in an RV they call …
December 21, 2006
Dutch Saw It All
4th & B opened for business in 1995. Since then approximately 1900 shows have taken place, and almost two million people have walked through its doors. Through it all there was "Dutch," Doug Schultz, who …
October 26, 2006
Super Open-Minded
"Some of the songs [I wrote] for Fuel TV are on my new CD," says Superunloader drummer Chad Farran about his recently released second solo album, Another Ride. "Fuel TV is one of Fox Network's …
March 16, 2006
Gotham City Gush
It's not certain yet whether Tim Pacheco will be an official member of P.O.D., but the front man and founder of Psydecar has been working a lot with the band lately. "My other band, Psydecar, …
February 9, 2006
I'm the Guitar Center Guitar Champion
"I'm the Guitar Center guitar champion of San Diego," says Greg Vaughan, winner of the San Diego Guitarmageddon competition -- a nationwide contest presented by Guitar Center. "On the day of my [preliminary] performance, I …
May 5, 2005
When I Told Him I Had Lung Cancer
"When I told him I had lung cancer, he kept asking me to do a benefit," said Peggy Claire, a San Diego jazz singer and former KSDS disc jockey who has inoperable cancer. "Charles McPherson …
April 14, 2005
House of Blues
"House of Blues will significantly change the local landscape," said Jeff Gaulton, citing the new club's arrival as the reason he moved from his position as talent buyer for downtown's 4th & B to the …
March 3, 2005
To Sir With a Whole Lotta Love Boat
‘We’re gonna work on our Jewel set now.… It’s called Jewelmania. Then we’ll do a spoken-word thing where each of us will interpret one of her poems. I’m doing mine in dance,” says José Sinatra …
April 6, 2000