“Are you more concerned about your drinks being stolen or someone putting something in them?” I ask a gaggle of patrons at The Quartyard in East Village where Hockey Dad, Remo Drive, and Tatiana Hazel …

“How’s polygamy working out for you?” I ask a man at InZane Brewery in Vista. He looks surprised, as if I’ve just deduced something that shouldn’t be common knowledge. We engage in a staring contest …

“You’re the last drummer I’m ever recording in this room,” Jeff Forrest tells Declan Halloran (of Gunner Gunner) in a moment shared on social media by Halloran. Forrest, whose Doubletime Recording Studio in El Cajon …

“People say I’m too nice to play jazz,” says bassist Paul Tillery. He’s unloading an upright bass to perform at California English with guitarist Jon Garner as a duo. They’re replacing Amanda Portela, who had …

“Jazz is whatever the fuck you say it is.” I tell guitarist Aaron Lind, whose organ trio is performing at Golden Island Dim Sum and Asian Cuisine in Mira Mesa tonight. Though I’m not opposed …

“I wonder why my phone isn’t recognizing me,” says All Monster Revue guitarist Richard “Richie” Bonnin with counterfeit astonishment. The reason is pretty obvious: the facial recognition software can’t penetrate his stage makeup, which resembles …

“You’re way too excited about a broken hand,” says someone outside Rolando’s Taco Shop in Barrio Logan to a young man hoisting his harm aloft and yelling excitedly for everyone to look at his hand. …

“I couldn’t begin to tell you how many happy accidents Dave [Klein] and I have had during this amazing process,” says Jason Lee about the creation of new soundtracks for the remastering of Bob Ross’ …

Video:GONZO: Arguing Oxford commas with WeAreJackStrong“I’d lose that if I were you,” WeAreJackStrong bassist/vocalist Gregg Oliver advises me. He’s referring to my faith in humanity, specifically, the place of creators in a world where Artificial …

“Excuse me, I have to put this fire out,” says Joseph Bursey, the doorman at The Tower Bar. I see he’s being literal as I nosily follow him to the corner of the building, where …

It was a bright and sunny day when a pop music revolution took place on a hallowed stage in Southern California. Local singer Zach Goode, who has taken over frontman duties for ‘90s alt-rock icons …

Video:GONZO REPORT: Gonzo Report: Playing truth or dare with Rogues of Chaos“If I need one of those, either the spawn of Satan has been born or there’s a dead fucking doctor.” That’s what I tell …

“There’s a lot going on in ‘Take Five’ that you miss until you try to play it,” saxophonist and teacher Dave Good tells me. He’s speaking of the jazz standard popularized by the Dave Brubeck …

“You’re dealing with a bunch of Gen Zers and Millennials who never get out of the house because of anxiety,” says Sonya, a mother who goes to shows with her daughter. She’s sporting a “No …

“Wygdjgedy Gilmour hednkjehuicehk amplifier cmoiewjcpew.” That’s not my cat walking on the keyboard, but rather an estimation of what I hear from behind me as two people carry on a conversation at normal talking volume, …

It’s been fifteen years since Adam Jones made his debut at The Blarney Stone Pub in Clairemont. “One evening back in 2009, when I stopped in for a weekend nightcap, I heard another band covering …

Video:GONZO: TV themes take the stage at The Jazz Lounge“I opened this club, so I can do what I want,” says Leonard Patton from the stage at The Jazz Lounge. He’s flanked by pianist Aimee Nolte …

“This is why they didn’t let me talk in the band,” joked master kotoist June Kuramoto from a stage at The Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad. The band was jazz fusion legends Hiroshima, which …

“Use the force, young Skywalker” reads the note attached to the mixing board at Little Italy’s Music Box. Jedi hijinks might help to explain the flow at Commotion Explosion, which sees several bands taking the …

Video:GONZO: Grinnells serve jazz for breakfast at Books & Records in Bankers HillWhen I ask Jenna Angeloni, the manager at Books and Records in Banker’s Hill, if anyone has ever taken their “no dress code” …

Video:Bad Religion bassist Jay Bentley reflects on the band's early days playing Iguanas in Tijuana“I don’t even know this fucking guy, he’s not my friend!” says the man who has just pulled a stranger out …

Video:Sparse crowd doesn’t lessen metal magic.“It doesn’t matter,” says a guy I’ll call Drunk Boda after I inform him that I didn’t play at tonight’s Metal Monday show at Navajo Live in San Carlos. The …

Degher and his daughter duo: “W.H. Auden said that reading your own poetry is like smelling your own farts,” says singer/songwriter, producer, and published poet Darius Degher. For some reason, I imagine the noxious fumes flowing …

Video:GONZO: TikTok star Ricky Montgomery connects in real life“There’s nothing more dangerous than the combined rage of teenage girls,” a teenage girl informs me after I ask a group of them to not beat me …

“Wait, what? Protein? Gimme some steak!” The staff member taking my order at Panama 66 in Balboa Park had nearly left me resigned to eating a quinoa salad, a vegetarian meal, because I was unaware …

Island civilizationWithin the Coronado Ferry Landing, you will find Coronado Tasting Room. Purveyors of Craft Spirits, Extra Virgin Olive Oils, Balsamic Vinegars, Spices and Gourmet Foods. Every other Wednesday evening, Michael Gonzales (aka Gonzo) and …

Some musicians see forming a tribute group as a way to get into the music industry. Copping someone else’s successful act may seem their only chance at earning a bit of applause, adulation, and — …

Video:GONZO REPORT: Stinkfoot Orchestra conjures Zappa at Winstons“Don’t ever fucking do that again!” yells the security guard at Winstons Beach Club in Ocean Beach. The recipient of his instruction is a guy named Steve, who …

“I would say that 60 percent of the crowd liked him, and the rest were offended,” recalls Beat Farmers guitarist Jerry Raney about his initial meeting with Mojo Nixon at the Spring Valley Inn circa …

Video:GONZO REPORT: Roni Lee, Monette Marino, Shamini Jain bring love and support for Jamie Shadowlight“I can’t even begin to understand what you’re going through,” says a woman, comforting her friend as we wait in line …

Humble hero on the harp: “Robert had an unusual habit like no other,” says saxophonist Dave Good of Robert Cowan, a bandmate in every band Good formed after their 2015 jam session at Java Joe’s, including …

Video:BLURT: Reverend Stickman Memories: "Who We are Now" Behind the scenes and live performanceReverend Stickman left for the great gig in the sky on December 22 of last year, at the age of 59. “He …

“He died in Sweden; I’m so sorry,” says a man named Daniel who’s checking out my Cliff Burton tattoo. Though Daniel hails from Sweden himself, I doubt he had anything to do with Metallica’s tour …

“I said to myself, ‘Frankie, you’re not going to be one of those people that just drives a normal car and gets in it every day,’” recalls singer/dancer/producer <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/musicians/frankie-silver/">Frankie Silver</a>. “I figured, when I …

“Does anyone complain about the dicks on your shirt?” I ask Keshaun, one of the bar staff at Little Italy’s Music Box. He’s sporting swaag from Dwarves, a punk band as notorious for their shock …

“I think I dropped a couple of verses there,” jokes <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/color-forty-nine/">The Color Forty Nine</a> singer-guitarist Phil Beaumont. “Maybe they’re on the floor.” Or maybe it’s drummer-singer John Meeks who’s talking. I can’t see either …

“I got to tattoo Speedo” — aka <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/rocket-crypt/">Rocket From the Crypt</a> guitarist John Reis — “in Milan, Italy in 2018, backstage at a Hot Snakes concert,” says Italian artist Mayo Maggiore, aka Crapman. “And then …

All this jazz at Tio Leo’s“I see a lot of familiar faces here, and I see three or four new ones. I want to let you know that, when the music is playing, we are …

“We wanted to be called Brock Samson,” says <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/doc-hammer/">Doc Hammer</a> guitarist Clayton Word, “but the band wasn’t heavy enough to accommodate such an epic killing machine as our avatar,” As fans of the animated …

“What’s with the boots?” I ask several people as they pass the empty footwear resting on the overpass leading to Corazon Del Barrio. The boots, sturdy workman types, could be protecting the feet of any …

“I’m an equal fan of <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/ratt/">Ratt</a> and <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/cattle-decapitation/">Cattle Decapitation</a>,” says Bobby Ferry. “Bottom line, this city has produced some of the best metal music ever made.” The founder/guitarist/vocalist for <a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/-16-/">-(16)-</a> fronts a …

“Fuck Greg, gimme that white shirt,” I tell Dr. Know’s merch person. Greg Gonzalez is like a brother to me, and I’m attending this show at The Casbah because Dr. Know is one of his …

Raucous relationsFamily vibe at Bolt’s Punk & Brews“I didn’t get to see T.S.O.L. at The Holding Company; I had to leave because one of my kids needed me,” says Emily Anne Elliot, referring to the …

Kevin Grossman — formerly of Rat City Riot, now with LoudMouth — shares a memory of touring with tonight’s headline act, GBH. “There’s nothing like being in a poor punk touring band, going to Paris …

We don’t have a public restroom,” the lead employee at a discount store tells me. “Yes, you do.” I shoot back. “No, we don’t,” she repeats, not looking at me. It’s December of 2022, I’m …

“Some guy jumped from the top balcony onto the speakers and then down onto the floor. And then some other guy dove off the stage onto his face on the floor and had to go …

David McHank of Styrofoam Records is an artist whose 30-year career includes illustrating posters and album covers, as well as venturing into animated shorts around a decade ago. Mike Molina is a videographer for Robles …

“Aw, man! I thought I might get to dance with some cats today!” Knowing that the man in the purple shirt is using olde-timey slang to describe males — as opposed to our furry feline …

“I’ve always associated letters, numbers, flavors, scents, and sounds with colors,” says artist Jennifer Mann. “I never knew there was a term for this, synesthesia, until a few years ago. For me, ‘A’ is red, …

“What made you think the world needed another brewery?” I ask Burning Beard Brewery co-founder Mike Maass. He doesn’t miss a beat, laughing as he explains the art of brewing, and the environment he and …