The San Diego Music Awards nominations were made public at the beginning of May, with qualifying material required to be released between January 1 and December 31, 2020 in order to be eligible for trophy …

Fronted by singer-guitarist Travis Trevisan, Tape Deck Mountain began by releasing all their recordings on cassette tapes. Inspired to become a musician after seeing the Smashing Pumpkins, Trevisan’s first band Liberty Park had to change …

The Chris Holmes project the Rightovers has a new Kruise Kontrol EP coming out via Portland label Jigsaw Records on June 5. “Our last show was in December 2019 at the Soda Bar,” says Holmes. …

As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis in no stranger to legal problems, having served time for attempting to hire a hit man to murder his wife. This time, he's in civil hot water. A …

A surprise new song and video from costumed rockers Steam Powered Giraffe appeared online this month. “Fart Patrol” is their first new release since last year’s ambitious 1896 album, which came with a separate acoustic …

Evening’s Empire is an alternative rock band fronted by Rock ’n’ Roll San Diego honcho Shannon Woods, aka Shannon Sabin of the reformed Dinettes, alongside guitarist Sam Strohbehn and bassist David Skolnik. They released their …

Van Bates - aka Black Hesher - has reportedly passed away. Originally from Boston before relocating to Lemon Grove, Bates grew up in the North Street projects, a colorful but hard life that later inspired …

As one half of the folk duo Berkley Hart, Jeff Berkley has toured the world and performed countless concerts with Calman Hart, including a continuing series of themed shows paying tribute to pop culture touchstones …

“I’m a musician and entrepreneur who believes in the power of music,” says Curbside Vinyl bassist M. Florentino Buenaventura of the new ConcertsCafe website he helped launch from Miramar this month. “Our live streaming concert …

It’s been around two years since Josh Rosenblum released his album Move Yourself. “The album is labeled as pop rock, but our jazz, funk, and blues roots always find a way into our music in …

Fronted by Nine Inch Nails drummer Ilan Rubin, the New Regime recently released two live performance videos off their third album Heart Mind Body & Soul, “You Can Be” and “Smoke and Mirrors,” with six …

“It’s go time. This is not a drill. The Zeros documentary is in production,” says Javier Escovedo, who is working with filmmakers Anthony Ladesich and Michael Webber on a movie about his influential 1970s punk …

Hardcore punk rock band the Undertaking was founded in 2018 by Brent Jasperse (drums), Keith Butsko (guitar), and Austin Visser (vocals), later joined by bassist James Moyer (Mainsail) and singer-guitarist Johnny Mercuri. The following year, …

Innerds was founded by Brandon Relf (Sleeping People) and Bobby Bray (The Locust, Holy Molar). By 2016, with the addition of Chad Deal (Phantom Twins) on bass, the band had changed its name to INUS …

“I’m releasing my debut single on March 26, called ‘Melancholy Treasures’” says Sky Star, one half of the musical duo Smokelines. “The song talks about my move from San Diego to New York City for …

Goth-inclined Silent was founded in Mexicali, Baja California by singer-percussionist Jung Sing (All Leather) and guitarist Alejandro Lara. The band has toured the USA and Mexico, alongside San Diego labelmates like Dead Cross, Retox, the …

Acoustic troubadour Drew Douglas, aka Grampadrew, was nominated Best Alt Country and Best Songwriter at the 2008 San Diego HAT (Honoring Acoustic Talent) Awards. He came up performing at the Whistle Stop and later formed …

Bassist/guitarist Mark Goffeney, who was born without arms and played with his feet, reportedly passed away on March 2 at the age of 51. He and his wife were found dead in their El Cajon …

“We feel very strongly how important footage is and why it needs to be preserved,” says David Peck, president of local Reelin’ in the Years. Founded in 1992, Reelin’ maintains and licenses over 30,000 hours …

Rapper Jack King, aka Parker Edison, is a TedX speaker and a member of the award-winning rap-jazz group Parker Meridien. He came to local notice in Parker & the Numberman, who earned a Best Hip-Hop …

Guitarist Louis Valenzuela is a vet of adventurous bands such as Áfrojazziacs (fusing contemporary and traditional Cuban, jazz, funk, reggae, cumbia, salsa, and Afro-beat), Juice Box (founded by drummer/composer Matthew Smith), the Humankind (R&B, soul, …

Scott Mercado (aka Manuok) is a vet of local bands such as Via Satellite, which he cofounded, as well as touring or recording with the Black Heart Procession, Mr. Tube & the Flying Objects, the …

“It was pretty ironic, losing our home during a stay-at-home order,” says Valentine Byrne, who was recording an EP last April when disaster piled on top of pandemic. “I’ll never forget receiving that phone call …

The untold stories about Hillcrest’s Friendship Hotel would probably read like William Burroughs’ dream journal. Once a nurse’s dorm for the nearby hospital, by the turn of the 21st century the two buildings across the …

Singer-guitarist Esteban Rene attended boarding school in Ensenada, while bassist Beto Bautista grew up in Tijuana. Rene met Bautista while working for Hornblower Cruises and the duo formed the Slashes. They have a new album …

According to alternative-indie rocker Be Mine Phantom Valentine, “BMPV incorporates post-punk guitars with a full range of synths and haunting organs. The name was inspired by phantom valentines who perform anonymous acts of kindness.” A …

“I really thought I’d build a simple archive and hoped that a few of the old crowd would turn up to participate, but within a year, we’d located most everyone involved,” says Matthew Rothenberg, co-founder …

Metal-punk band Low and Be Told was founded by singer Doug Thompson (the Marsupials), bassist George Vidaurri (Uncle Joe’s Big Ol’ Driver), drummer Darrin Lee (Tragic Tantrum), and guitarist Frank Blackcat, who was recently replaced …

18 year-old British-American folk-pop singer-songwriter Pip Lewis started writing, recording, and mixing her own songs around two years ago, with her debut singles “Frown” and “What’s A Dream?” Her debut EP Pathos was released in …

“Liquid Blue had been on a streak of performing at least a hundred shows every year since 2000,” says Scott Stephens of his group’s pre-Covid run. “2020 was the first year the band hasn’t played …

Singer-songwriter duo Monica Sorenson and Rick Walker began collaborating in 2012, going on to form Sometimes Julie, a hard-driving rock band with blues and Americana influences. A self-taught musician on guitar, bass, and keyboards, Walker’s …

Despite the pandemic lockdown, locals have managed to shoot and release some terrific music videos this year, and Belladon is responsible for one of them. Their performance video for “Haisa” was taped August 2 as …

Based in La Jolla, Plunderbund (defined in the dictionary as “a league of commercial, political, or financial interests that exploits the public”) is a power trio playing alternative and power pop tunes, often with a …

The local School of Rock is where Jordan Krimston got his start with bands such as Pandemonium and Lua. “The more important things that I think students usually take away from School of Rock are …

“I broke my hip bone while rock climbing in Zion National Park in Utah,” reports singer-songwriter Daniel Isle Sky. “I was rescued by a [National Park Service] helicopter the next day. A surgeon in St. …

Christmas Jerk I managed to avoid being homeless on Christmas Eve 1979, but just barely. Unemployed since that summer, I found a cheap flophouse on 12th and Island where 70 bucks a month got me …

Fade to Black has long been one of my favorite movies about the movies. I was lucky enough to see it new in 1980, a number of times, thanks to having just started work at …

The titular frontman of the Scott West Band has recorded with guest contributors such as Cake bassist Gabe Nelson, Lee Rocker (Stray Cats), and Prairie Prince (The Tubes, Jefferson Starship). Since the early 2000s, he’s …

When I first bought my tickets to see Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets last year, I admit my expectations were low. I’ve seen Pink Floyd’s 75 year-old drummer in his prime, first on opening night …

Indie electronic pop-rock singer-guitarist Heather Nation was already writing songs for bands while still a teenager, with her first recording studio session taking place while still in high school. She’s a founding member of synth-pop …

Originally from West Monroe, Louisiana, Ron Steven Houston is best known from his time playing with the Sickstring Outlaws, whose album Johnny Drank Jack was nominated Best Local Recording at the 2013 San Diego Music …

The dreaded Purple Tier was back. This would be the final weekend before the most severe social distancing rules would again suspend indoor operations at restaurants and bars on November 14, potentially shutting down countless …

San Diego Music Awards nominee for Album of the Year, Hemisphere draws on rock, pop, jazz, fusion, and metal for inspiration. Their new album American Dreams includes guest players such as Grammy winning percussionist Tommy …

Hip-hop rocker Black Hesher, producer J. Andrew, and Michael Fairchild of the Spice Pistols have formed San Diablo Allstars, with a single for “Hatchback” now streaming. A debut album drops December 4 on 8-track tape, …

“We’re in Vermont,” says newly relocated comedic rock duo Pony Death Ride. “Seems neat. Met some musicians. We’ll never like the band Phish or the Patriots football team. We’ve made these promises to ourselves.” The …

The Zappa family moved to San Diego in 1954, where 13 year-old Frank began buying used records in a retail nook in the Maryland Hotel. One day, he spotted a record sale sign at a …

Ricky, the new solo project from Ricky Schmidt (Western Settings, Hey, Chels), has an 11-track solo album called Palm Trees dropping on November 13. “Palm Trees encompasses mid-2019 to pretty much the present time for …

"This kind of announcement is not easy, especially during a stressful time like this," according to an online post from Ted Wigler at Ocean Beach nightclub Winstons. "And since there is no way to sugarcoat …

“Smokelines is the product of our regional, cultural, and musical differences,” says San Diego-born Skylar Blaze Star, one half of a new musical duo with New Yorker Faith Gara. “We’ve combined my west coast sunset …

“Yes, the world has come undone a lot these days, but we are all in it together, and music helps get us through,” says Cardinal Moon by way of introducing their new album Come Undone, …