Video:LIVE FIVE: Baby Bushka, Peachy San Diego, Unwritten Law, Poltz Anniversary, Mraz KaleidoscopeTribute bands tend to pay homage to long-gone acts, rather than still-extant groups who might compete for ticket sales, but British singer-songwriter Kate …
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Stories by Jay Allen Sanford
In more bad news for 2024, Mojo Nixon has passed away. Nixon was born Neill Kirby McMillan, Jr., on August 2, 1957 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. A part of the psychobilly movement, he was …
Video:LIVE FIVE: Odessa Kane, Albert Lee, Geezer, Lisa Sanders, Los SaintsBorn in Tijuana and raised in Paradise Hills, half-Filipino, half-Mexican Frankie Quiñones, aka Odessa Kane, first earned local notice with Gonjasufi and Orko Eloheim in …
Video:LIVE FIVE: Aquile, B-Side Players, Creature Canyon, The Grinnells, Dead Man’s PartySan Diego native Aquile, who grew up in Wyoming before returning to California, was 22 when he earned national attention in 2012 as a …
Video:LIVE FIVE: Rocket From the Crypt, Amerikan Bear, Steam Powered Giraffe, Three Mile Pilot, ManganistaThe Casbah’s month-long 35th anniversary celebration presents a reunion of one of San Diego’s best known groups from the city’s 1990s …
Video:LIVE FIVE: Travel Agents, Coral Bells, Pinback, aMiniature & No Knife, and Jazz at the AthenaeumFounded in Solana Beach circa 1987 and largely influenced by the psychedelic sounds of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, …
Video:LIVE FIVE: Daring Greatly, Uncle Joe’s Big Ol’ Driver, Cowboy Jack Johnson, Beat Farmers, Jamie ShadowlightDaring Greatly relocated from Calgary, AB Canada to San Diego in 2015. Nominated Best Rock Artist at the 2022 San …
Video:LIVE FIVE: The Schizophonics, Transfer, Barefoot Hockey Goalie, Almost Monday, Allison Adams TuckerThe Casbah celebrates its 35th year with several showcase concerts this month, including <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/el-ten-eleven/">El Ten Eleven</a>, a mostly instrumental duo featuring two …
Founded in 2009, <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/schizophonics/">the Schizophonics</a> plays fuzzy, psychedelic rock. Singer-guitarist Pat Beers fronts the band with his wife Lety Mora (the Rosalyns), who attended high school with him in Arizona. The little Italy bill …
Psychedelic-folk-synthpop band <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/well-well-well/">Well Well Well</a> was founded by guitarist Seton Edgerton and drummer Dan Nichols, both from the group Barbarian, which had opened for Arctic Monkeys and toured with Bat for Lashes. With a …
Michael May -- aka <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/meidai/">Meidai</a> -- is a hip-hop MC who launched his label Off Da Wall MusiQ in 2006. “My hip-hop alias Meidai, pronounced Mayday, means ‘a very strong individual’ in Greek,” he says. …
<a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/pierce-veil/">Pierce the Veil</a> was founded by singer-guitarist Vic Fuentes and his drummer brother Mike, both former Mission Bay High School students. They released a new album earlier this year, The Jaws of Life, along …
2022 San Diego Music Awards Best New Artist nominee <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/son-of-kane/">Son of Kane</a> is fronted by Evan Yearsley, who spent a decade playing drums behind his mom, the late local blues hero Candye Kane. Having …
Influenced by Britpop music and mod fashion, <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/pleasure-pill/">Pleasure Pill</a> features frontman Jonah Paz (JINX!) and his brother Ethan Paz (rhythm guitar), whose father Oscar Paz played with Kill Holiday in the 1990s and Hingada …
<a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/safety-orange/">Safety Orange</a> was founded in 1996 by singer-bassist Sol Turpin, of Sublime tribute band 40 OZ to Freedom. Their last single “Get Outta My Way” came with a sleeve illustrated by Dead & Company …
The fifteenth anniversary celebration for the <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/events/2023/nov/10/acoustic-evenings-with-jefferson-ja-b13aa556/?et=314192/">Acoustic Evenings at the Athenaeum</a> series is headlined by <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/marie-haddad/">Marie Haddad</a>, who first earned local notice with the San Diego Beat Organization, which was nominated as Best …
<a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/manganista/">Manganista</a> makes rock music with an island vibe. They have a new EP called Hillbilly Bomb Shelter that they’ll be showcasing in Ocean Beach. The all-ages bill includes Proctor Valley Monsters (named after a Bigfoot-type …
Surf-punkers <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/frights/">the Frights</a> were still teens when they formed the band around 2012. Their major label debut was produced by FIDLAR frontman Zac Carper (SWMRS, Dune Rats), mixed by Rob Kinelski (Ed Sheeran, Billie …
The Chula Vista kidnapping of Eddy Tostado by Arellano cartelAt 3:39 a.m. on January 7, 2007, Columbia Street was almost deserted. Little Italy had been plagued with car burglaries — “It got where you couldn’t …
Host <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/jefferson-jay">Jefferson Jay</a> will commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Atheneum’s Acoustic Evenings series by recognizing its history of leadership by women with a series of concerts driven by local women performers. The October …
Blues singer <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/whitney-shay/">Whitney Shay’s</a> bands have included Shay & the Hustle, the Whitney Shay Quartet, the JazzKatz Orchestra, and the blues/R&B group The Shakedowns. Her album Stand Up earned a three-and-a-half-star review in Downbeat magazine …
Longtime Listen Local promoter <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/cathryn-beeks-ordeal">Cathryn Beeks</a> will gather around two dozen of the acts that have graced her concert and radio showcases over the past 20 years for a two-day outdoor musical celebration in …
Developed as a celebration of female strength and empowerment, the <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/events/2023/sep/22/nissan-super-girl-surf-pro/?et=313975/">Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro</a> platform has grown into a series of four festivals centered around providing social, athletic, cultural, educational, business, and entertainment …
"Ever since I was a little bitty boy, a race car had to be my toy. Got a club card at the age of eleven. Now I'm in racing heaven." Local Reelin' in the Years has …
<a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/heavy-hawaii/">Heavy Hawaii</a> was formed in 2009 by guitarist Matt Bahamas (née Barajas), who formerly played in Fantastic Magic with future Wavves frontman Nathan Williams. Nominated Best New Artist at the 2010 San Diego Music …
Country rock band <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/nancarrow/">Nancarrow</a> is fronted by Graham Nancarrow, whose father was a well-known local newscaster/ecologist, the late Loren Nancarrow. Graham formed a punk band while at La Costa Canyon High, Misled Citizen, and …
Rebecca Jade (Siren’s Crush) was the singer for Super Magnetic when that band won the 2010 Ultimate Music Challenge at Viejas Casino. She released her debut album the following year. Her band Rebecca Jade & …
The Songwriter Sanctuary Series is an intimate monthly concert series featuring San Diego songwriters, produced in partnership with Normal Heights United Church, which formerly hosted the ambitious Acoustic Music San Diego concert series. Upcoming EventSongwriter …
Upcoming EventAviator Stash and IndréSaturday, August 19, 2023, 8:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.Navajo Live, 8515 Navajo Road, San Carlos, CAAge Limit: 21+ / $12 - $15MoreFounded in 2014 and based in Carlsbad, Aviator Stash released …
While going through a stash of vintage Betamax videotapes in search of local band footage for the Youtube channel BetaGems, we found September 1989 clips of the costumed King Koopa hosting the controversial King Koopa's Kool Kartoons …
When the Smashing Pumpkins bring their The World Is a Vampire Tour to Chula Vista, opening acts will include local 1990s heroes <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/stone-temple-pilots/">Stone Temple Pilots </a>, who like the Pumpkins aren’t staffed by their original …
Oakley Hll explains The Corpus of Joe Bailey In San Diego, Corpus of Joe Bailey also made a noteworthy entrance. The book was denounced from San Diego pulpits for being too sexy and provoked Mission …
The pre-Gaslamp, premultiplex downtown of 1979 exists today only in the fond memories of cinemaniacs old enough to recall a time when Jaws made you afraid of the water, Friday the 13th made you afraid …
Lead Pony can already spot the VulturesPsychedelic blues rock has never really gone out of style — not locally, anyway. And now, San Diego is rapidly becoming a hotbed of related “concept albums,” from the space …
Hey, Chels was founded by Jacque Mendez (New Way On) on vocals and electric piano, Stephanie Presz (the Newports) on drums, Kevin White (Squarecrow, Londons Falling) on guitar, and Ricky Schmidt (Western Settings, Caskitt) on …
Indie pop singer-songwriter Tamar Berk grew up playing piano and started writing songs on guitar as a teenager. While living in Chicago, she played in regional bands — like her first, power pop group Starball, …
Departing Dystopia is an interactive, immersive, post-apocalyptic-themed cyberpunk theater-nightclub hybrid featuring displays and performances, including a live musical EDM rendition of Romeo & Juliet. The Hillcrest event will include performance art featuring elements of dance, …
Psych/blues rock group Lead Pony released their debut EP Eclipse in 2017, followed the next year by a double-single, “Two Love Songs.” The band toured behind the records and landed a song on the TV …
Classical Salsa guitarist Israel Maldonado moved with his family to Carlsbad when he was 14, learning percussion on the drum line at Carlsbad High and playing in guitar ensembles at Palomar College and SDSU. A …
Blues-rock duo Little Hurricane released a children’s album earlier this year, Life Is But a Dream. Among the fifteen tracks are standards such as “Wheels On the Bus,” “This Old Man,” “Three Blind Mice,” and …
Daring Greatly at Belly Up Tavern June 22 Describing their music as blood harmony rock, Daring Greatly relocated from Calgary, AB Canada to San Diego in August 2015. The band is fronted by Dail Croome …
Rock, reggae, alternative, indie, and rap music comes to Sycuan Recreation Center on June 16 and 17 with a two day music festival in El Cajon. The Friday bill includes Sprung Monkey, Urethane, Project Sell …
Originally hailing from Outer Banks, NC, before relocating to Ocean Beach, Sensi Trails has collaborated with artists and producers such as KBong and E.N. Young. They’ll share a bill on June 8 at the Music …
The Sess (shorthand for sessions) began in the early 2000s with members playing in Riverside punk groups. After relocating to San Diego, they earned a nomination for Best Rock Album at the 2008 San Diego …
“This year’s Beatles Fair will be a special pop-up in collaboration with The Cavern Club in Liverpool for their 66th anniversary,” says Creative Director Christopher Leyva, regarding the event happening June 3 at Queen Bee’s …
After graduating from La Jolla High in 2011, singer/songwriter Josh Blevins attended Pepperdine before enrolling at SDSU and launching Gunner Gunner around 2014. After a long period of inactivity, the band will perform a reunion …
Temblad (Spanish for “Tremble”) was founded as a metal cover band before developing original music. The group will debut their album Hallucignosis at the Soda Bar in City Heights on Friday, May 19, with other …
Founded in 2019 and led by guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Parker Griggs (Radio Moscow), El Perro is a psychedelic rock band with a second guitar and percussionist pushing the music into syncopated Latin and funk grooves. The group …
Temecula-based melodic punk group Strike Twelve has a new album due at the end of June, Last Band Standing, preceded by a video for “Smart Phones, Stupid People” filmed with the members’ cell phones. “I …
Jimmy LaValle formed his meditative electro-organic musical project The Album Leaf in 1999, going on to several acclaimed releases and touring with acts such as Sigur Rós. May 5 will see the release of a …