Star Wars Rocks and Wherefore Weiland Art

HERE’S THIS WEEK’S NEW Overheard in San Diego

AND THE NEW Famous Former Neighbors

ROCK AROUND THE TOWN TONIGHT/MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH

Live Music

• Delta Heat
  Patrick's II
  

• Mystery Train
  O'Connells Pub and Nightclub
  

• Swim Party
  Kensington Club
  

• Anti-Monday League: Freeks, Sassy, Pant Hoots
  Casbah
  

• Tim Reynolds & TR3
  Belly Up Tavern
  

• The Blokes
  Hensley's Flying Elephant Pub and Grill
  

• Karin Carson
  Jack and Giulio's Italian Restaurant
  

• Elliot Lawrence
  Azuki Sushi Lounge
  

• Piano Bar
  Jack's La Jolla - Ocean Room
  

• Peter the Prince of Piano
  Rei Do Gado Churrascuria

• Rock en Español - Café Sevilla

• Reggae Infusion Irie Time - The Jumping Turtle

• Doug Allen - The Kraken

• The Shawline Expression - Red Fox Steakhouse

• The Electric Waste Band - Winstons

• DJ Events

  • U-Call-It Mondays
    9:00 p.m., Whiskey Girl
    

  • Grown Folk Music
    9:30 p.m., Bar Pink
    

  • Rock N Bowl
    Air Conditioned Lounge
    

  • College Night
    Riley's
    

  • DJ Famous Dave
    RT's Longboard Grill

****************************************

  Here's where I'd be most likely to turn up tonight...

 Swim Party

• Where: The Kensington Club
• When: 2/09 - 9:00 p.m.

Cardiff-based Swim Party veers from Washington-bred grunge to indie math rock, with some violin thrown in for a touch of progressive punch à la King Crimson and Frank Zappa.

The band formed in 2005, when Eric Tremblay and Petro Halkowycz (New Jersey) moved to San Diego, hooking up with San Diegan and Texas transplant Nadia Shihab. According to their MySpace page, “In 2006, Nadia was awarded a scholarship that was too good to turn down and departed to do research in Turkey, and we remaining three trudged on as a three-piece (though Nadia is still a member in our minds).” Their debut album was nominated for a 2008 San Diego Music Award, for Best Alternative Album. In October 2008, Filter Magazine named the Undiscovered Band of the Month.

THE SOFT PACK (AKA MUSLIMS) MAY HAVE MOVED TO L.A., BUT THEY SAID TO SAY “HI, SAN DIEGO”……

On the eve of their first European tour, The Soft Pack – formerly The Muslims – gave an interview to www.popmatters.com where they give a shoutout to their former hometown, two years after departing for L.A. ---------

What is the music scene like in San Diego?
Well we moved to Los Angeles about a year ago but the San Diego music scene is doing well. Kill Me Tomorrow is a band we’ve been fans of for awhile. Our favorite band the Sess broke up but those guys are getting new projects together that are good. We like the Night Marchers.

How important is where you grew up and began playing to your sound and development?
We were all big fans of San Diego bands in the ‘90s like  Drive Like Jehu, The Blackheart Procession, Hot Snakes. I’m not really sure how growing up there has affected us. We are laid back but there aren’t any Spicoli’s in the band really. No one did too many whipits in high school, no wrap-around shades.

Seems like things have moved pretty fast for you guys, is that weird or has it been difficult?
Nothing too weird. The shows have gotten bigger. Besides that everything is the same. We have been able to open for some bands that we were huge fans of growing up. Meeting those people can be a little intimidating. People that changed the way you went about your business. But they all have been very cool and nice.

I think you mentioned you don’t have to work day jobs anymore?
Yeah. We are going to be on tour for awhile, had to quit the day jobs. This is our job now.

You recently signed with Kemado Records. Why were they a good fit?
We really liked the people at Kemado. We got along really well and felt like they got what we were about the most. Also, they were one of the first labels to talk to us and show a genuine interest. Long before all the CMJ hype stuff.

So how is 2009 shaping up? I know you mentioned going to Europe to play some festivals, is this your first time going there?
We are going to be doing a lot of touring and will be recording our record. We are going to the UK in couple weeks. Then we are doing a tour with White Lies and Friendly Fires throughout the US. Then we have some  festivals in Europe around the summer. I have never been to Europe so I’m really excited. Busy, but all stuff I’m looking forward to.

(Complete interview at They’re Not Rock and Roll Animals, They’re Rock and Roll Athletes ...

Originally known as The Muslims, the Soft Pack formed in 2006, fronted by singer/guitarist Matt Lamkin and bassist Emily Neveu, who sang and played guitar and keyboards with The Clock Work Army. She learned the bass in order to join the Muslims. The band released a five-song demo, recorded in a band member’s bedroom.

Drummer Gabe Patuzzi came from the band the Holy Boys.

Matt Lamkin (who writes most of the lyrics) and guitarist Matty McLoughlin grew up together in North County. They recall that they didn’t think about playing music when they both went to Torrey Pines High School in the late ’90s.

“I didn’t feel the need to play in some jerkoff punk band,” says McLoughlin about the musical tastes that dominated their high school. “The kids who did listen to music when I went there were dorks. They were Huey Lewis as f-ck.... I liked the Replacements. The rest of the kids were into the Swingin’ Utters. I was busy getting my college paid for [earning a baseball scholarship].”

Lamkin and McLoughlin came back home with college degrees but without career plans. They decided to start their first band in January 2007 while delivering pizzas. After their first gig at the Beauty Bar, the Muslims became Casbah regulars and gigged in L.A.

“I’m surprised we’ve gotten the attention we have [without] playing the game,” says Lamkin.

Lamkin, McLoughlin, bassist Richie Lauridsen (who replaced Emily Neveu), and drummer Gabe Patuzzi moved to L.A. in late 2007.

Lamkin and McLoughlin then essentially restarted the band, adding new members Brian Hill and David LantzMan. As of 2007, all four band members live in L.A.

“Some [bloggers] have accused us of being too good for San Diego,” says McLoughlin. “It’s not like we’re abandoning San Diego; it’s just that we don’t want to depend on our parents anymore or work at some record store.”

“I got a job connected with my degree [in film],” says Lamkin. “It’s not like we’re moving up there to get signed.”

Lamkin told Vice magazine, “Most of the band recently moved from San Diego to L.A., and I think L.A. is pretty cool because it has a bigger all-ages thing going on. In San Diego, it’s pretty much just the Ché Café, but it depends on who’s working there. There are just more bands in L.A. so you get a lot more bullsh-t but you also get a lot more good stuff.”

At the 2008 San Diego Music Awards, the band was mysteriously nominated for Best Album, for a two song 7-inch record with "Extinction" and a cover of "My Flash On You," by Arthur Lee and Love. They lost.

In November 2008, the Muslims announced it was changing its name to the Soft Pack. In January 2009, NME Magazine wrote a feature about the band, whose debut single in the UK was "Nightlife" b/w 'The Bright Side," on Caspian Records. February 2009 saw the Soft Pack visiting the UK for the first time, as well appearing at the Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona, Spain.

THEY CALL HER MIZ MANDY

Pop singer Miz Mandy and label BabyLove Records have released her sophomore album Today's the Day. "We did a soft release in December for presales to the fan club," Miz Mandy states, "(and) now that it's through the distribution channels, we are officially releasing it to the general public." It is now available on iTunes, cdfreedom, Napster, Livewire, Groupie Tunes, eMusic, Rhapsody, and http://www.MizMandy.com

The original album, mainly co-written with Patricio Pickslay of Rhythm Coalition Studios in Cardiff, California, is described by Pickslay as "a fun whirlwind of the extremes. On one hand, there is love, lust and passion and on the other self-loathing. There are funny songs, spiritually awakening songs, and flirtatious party songs."

"As Mandy's collaborator/producer," says Pickslay, "I'm intimately involved in many of the aspects of the creative process. I really appreciate Mandy's dedication to the music," States Pat. "She always inspires me to get out of my comfort zone and try new things in the studio. She's in essence, evolved into a co-producer with great production instincts."

"It's hella del fuego, SoCal San Diego", states rapper J.Mac, who says he enjoyed working on tracks with Miz Mandy. "Mandy is real motivated and knows what she wants. Working with her has opened my eyes to a whole new genre of music. Performing with her was the same way - I saw how much preparation and work goes into her shows, and the end result is beautiful. I had a great time."

"Just Another Night" was a finalist in the Best of' San Diego Magazine competition. Miz Mandy, J.Mac and DJ Mission performed at the San Diego Magazine event, reportedly the biggest in the magazine's 60-year existence, with featured artists Bushwalla and Steph Johnson.

The second single from the album, "Sweet Fury of Love (Friscia & Lamboy Back 2 Soul Radio Mix)," released months before the album was finished, made the Billboard charts. Friscia and Lamboy remixed "Sweet Fury of Love" into a "Tribal/Progressive [and] a House/Club Mix" and it entered onto the Billboard Breakout charts on July 4th, 2008. In September it hit #48 on the Hot Dance Club Play Top 50 Billboard Charts. (Issue date 9.27)

"I was real impressed with the record. I felt the ride from the beginning to the end. The way it starts gets me every time." J.Mac refers to the single now being pushed by BabyLove Records through her first music video, "Let Love Be Free." "I had the privilege to hear the beat before the song was done. Nodden and myself both said, yup, that's dope."

The music video for "Let Love Be Free" was recently filmed in San Diego with a production crew consisting of those who have worked for MTV, BET, VH1, Mariah Carey, T.I., and Playstation. Director Frank Rice.

The video will make its official debut February 27th, at Universal Hillcrest.

Other songs on the album include "Detox," "Lovebug," "Discotheque Emergency," and "Filthy Stinking Rich."

Mandy Gasparich (as Miz Mandy) earned a national chart hit in 2007 with a dance remix of her song “In the Mix.” She’s one of the many former female frontwomen of local pop band Liquid Blue to go from one-time BlueGirl to solo recording artist.

The song hit #37 with a bullet on Billboard's dance club play chart in mid-2007. It was produced with Latin rhythms, flamenco-guitar flourishes, and backup lyrics done in Spanish by Cardiff producer Pat Pickslay. The extended remixed dance version that charted was crafted by DJ Scotty K, who is known for the remixes he’s done for Christina Aguilera, Seal, and Madonna.

“We need a new dance diva,” says Pickslay. “When disco started, it was such a strong movement. I see an opening for someone to take that flag and raise it. Avril Lavigne is the pop-rock diva. We need a dance diva. There is a vacuum right now.”

In 2008, Peak Hour Music teamed up with MediaServices NYC Promotion to publicize Miz Mandy’s own “In The Mix” remix project. “The PHM All-Stars have laid the heavy hand on this one,” says her publicist, “guaranteed to rock any floor!” The new remixes were done by Touvan, TsT, Jason Turbulent, Dush, LexDaFunk, Martez, Alternative Reality, Tachyon, and Steve DeParr.

Mandy's mix entered at #92 on the Electro Chart and #80 on the Trance Chart at Beatport.com as well as achieving Top 10 chart status at DJDownload.com. Miz Mandy's "In The Mix (TsT Remix)" was also included on Peak Hour Music's Elektrotech Ibiza compilation CD of electro and tech House anthems.

In November 2008, Peak Hour Music released new remixes of Mandy's pop track "Yours." Remixers include DJ Red, Elemental Project, Paul James, Touvan, and, Von Ukuf Vs. Ei8ht, and Di Liberato.

In the fall of 2008, Miz Mandy released the first single off of the new unreleased album. "Sweet Fury of Love (Friscia & Lamboy Back 2 Soul Mix)" entered the Billboard Breakout Charts and hit #48 on the Billboard Dance Club Play Charts.

Related links

 OKAY, HERE'S MY "LIVE-AS-IT-HAPPENED" GRAMMY COVERAGE - by Marco Frucht of ATIzine

Here we give you some play by play and Twitter chatter during the Grammys' 51st ceremony.

Daft Punk is a noshow at the Grammys? Dork.

Suddenly, NARAS is putting all their extra energy into the non-profit world just as the economy tanks? Predictable.

The Grammy backing band is earning their salary today - lots of no-shows

 Did I just see Winona Ryder dancing in the front row to Heavy D? Bach had 20 children... something about pulling out all the organ stops? No offense dude,
but really dumb frickin' joke.

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones win for Best Pop Instrumental for their Christmas CD - Victor Wooten accepts in a pirate costume

 Pete Seeger wins for best traditional folk - $5 if you know who accepted for him - [ hahaha. was eating. Bruce Stringbean? ]

Watching Coldplay's CBS interview footage in a plane I couldn't help but think about Josie and the Pussycats with the planecrash intro.

 Is Bono making fun of teleprompters and lip syncers??

Al Green is rockin' it; and jeez, Justin Timberlake is NOT sucking tonite.

I saw Kid Rock at Harley's 100th anniversary. He's very untalented. Just sayin.

John Corbett's still doing Applebee's ads I see. That seems like quite a gig for him.

Coldplay seem to have nothing to say. Just sayin - maybe they should've said the reason they didn't steal those beats was they'd never lift such a horrible sound. Oops.

 KidRock - Sorry Kid, you're no Ricky Medlocke. To his credit, I have to say he's not sucking like he did at Harley100 but I do wish he'd amp less. What the HECK was the clap-4-the-wolfman stuff he put in there with his backing tracks???

I wonder if the Grammys' official AA dry peoples' room is full this year?

 Is that Billy Ray rockin' the mullet directly behind Miley there stage right? I never liked Taylor Swift until New Years, she impressed me greatly then. She's helping Miley not suck too. Miley's major talent since she was 5 has been reading cue cards very conversationally as if she's improvising each every phrase. Whoever taught her RW&A should B proud

Guitar Hero ad. Well produced. Too affected. Good try though.

Oh no the Jonus Brothers...Mute quickly! Jonas Bros and Stevie this is like when Clive or someone made John Denver team up with Pavarotti.or Domingo or someone on a whole album. Stevie Wonder playing with the Jonas Bros. My mind
cannot fully process the essential wrongness of this.

Blink 182. What's my talent again?

I'm sure the Obama girls are watching the Jonas Brothers now singing with Stevie Wonder and I bet they're tring to find some diplomatic way to go, "WTF?"

I will never get these minutes of my life back. Damn you Jonas Bros.

RT: @PnutButter downturn really hit me 2day when I saw a lady w/ sign in front of Wholefoods: "Will work 4 organic arugula & pinot grigio."

Katy Perry kinda doesn't sing good.

OMG. Just gave kudos 2 a talented chubby person! [Adele] I think Mario Lanza was the last time NARAS allowed something like that!

Todd Rundgren for Carnival Cruise Lines. Surreal. I think I'll take drugs now.

Tribute to Bo Diddly - Couldn't you have done that when he was still alive and everyone was stealin his beats???

Paul, promise me you won't sing that "Freedom" song you hacked to pieces? I hid for 5 days. Wow, he's still got that high G falsetto thing going on. It's like watching Beatlemania with 25% of the real deal.

Christian Bale rant was possibly staged. Says Hollywood catching on 2 how 2 use social media: http://tinyurl.com/csgle9

Oops, more Silverlight rebuffering\sync problems again. I thought Microsoft worked that out a couple major events ago! Wow, someone simply playing a guitar really well, and someone singing really well. Is it that hard for everyone else???

OMG I'm gonna buy a Sugarland rekkid just 'cause of this. Don't think I've done that since I was like 10 & Roger Miller swept or something

I bought the Radiohead album when it was free. That felt safe and warm.

Well we found something new that Silverlight doesn't handle well. Bleeping. >:| !

PARAPHRASING THE PREZ "In times like these people turn to us for hiding their gross income on a tax dodge," No one's demanded more cowbell yet. Alright. Lemme be the first. Just sayin.

Oh no he didn't. did NARAS president say "yes we can" to suing the pants off preteens who Napster??? Neil Portnow is so last Millenium. Woah, so is Neil Diamond. Where's screech when you need him? http://tinyurl.com/c5ro3d

And who remembers when C. Michael Greene abruptly resigned in the wake of sexual harassment allegations? Oops.

And the Grammy for most murder charge acquittals goes to Phil Spector

Seeing 5 seconds of Odetta made me sooo happy. Imagine if the Grammys gave her a minute or 2; especially seing as how she died last month before her inaug '09 gig. I can't help but think about how much Odetta wanted to sing at Obama's
inauguration - and she almost made it

Is lil wayne wearin' uggs? OK, they're BKs or something. I thought they uggs! Hahaha

Great. CBS is recycling this embarrassing "Forever Young" Pepsi jingle. Wil I am and Bob Dylan are prolly squirming with heavy groans like me! Should I be happy that Dylan is still relevant enough to headline a Pepsi ad, or sad that vintage Dylan is in a Pepsi ad? I'm feeling both. (happy/sad about the Dylan renaissance...)

 Page and Plant wrote this? It sounds like they stole it from Roy Orbison!

RT @postrock Oh no, the Dylan/will.i.am. commercial that makes me reach for the Grey Goose. And it's EMPTY!!!!

T-Bone Burnette is the GE Smith of the Grammys tonite. Plant and Krauss deserve this one just for putting up with his hairdo.

"...and Rounder Records who are working against all kinds of stuff that is terrible." Understatement of the Millenium. Thanks Mr. Plant!

You're running perfectly on time and still feel the need to put music over Robert Plant and T-Bone Burnett? C'mon, producers.

The following twitterers contributed to this report:
@ShannonRenee -- @FolkAlley -- @andylevy -- @PnutButter -- @crinkle_LC

ATIzine: http://www.infomaniack.org --- http://www.twitter.com/atizine
Subscribe to ATIzine - [email protected]

NEW LOCAL MUSICIAN PROFILE - JAS

Mike Keneally Interview

Mike Keneally was fronting local band Drop Control when the invitation came in 1987 to join Frank Zappa’s touring band as a “stunt guitarist,” replacing Steve Vai. “The multivolume work I’m doing now, Scambot, shows a ...(more Mike Keneally)

NEW LOCAL MUSIC STORIES - JAS

From Russia with Love

Sorrow Underfoot, a Christian band featuring Fallbrook sisters Brittany and Shannon Taylor and their brother Justin on drums, has made several tours of Russia as part of the Calvary Chapel Church’s Planting Missions program...(More From Russia with Love)

For the Team

 “After the Chargers started to win some football games,” says Patrick Bernard of local reggae act SD High Tide, “it was time to bring out our playoff song, Chargers on a Roll”...(more For the Team)

 Makes Cents

After publicly feuding with their former lead singer, the Taz Taylor Band has replaced vocalist Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group) with another MSG vet...(more Makes Cents)

MORE NEW MUSIC STORIES

Show Some Brain by Barnaby Monk Thursday 5 | "Shake it like you just don't care...and show some brain" when Angelino dance duo The Bird and the Bee bring the buzz to Casbah tonight. They're not IDM, but they'll do ya some intelligent ... More

	Loudon Wainwright III by Dave Good As a pop culture observer, I hate to hang a performer's career image on a single recording about roadkill and for the sheer gusto with which he sang it, but so be it. In 1974, ... More
	Sara Petite, Canobliss, the Shake Ups by Brian Carver I didn't like the xylophone thing, but I think it was all right. I could kind of hear a lot of elements they used from other genres. In the guy's vocals -- and he doesn't really overdramatize it -- but there was a little Joey Ramone in there. ... More
	Stencil Does Sundance by Dorian Hargrove On January 14, San Diego's own celebrity correspondent and red-carpet rude boy, Bob Stencil, took his signature mustache, aviator sunglasses, and unorthodox interviewing style to the Sundance Film Festival for ten days of celebrity interviews ... More
	Bird and the Bee by William Crain Son, it's time we had a talk about The Bird and the Bee. You see, sometimes a man meets a woman, and together they form a musical duo. Let's say this man is Greg Kurstin, ... More

More Radio Ga-Ga by Ken Leighton After four years as KGB's afternoon deejay, Ditch was fired on January 20. "The entire building was on lockdown that day. You couldn't even walk into the lobby. You had to get buzzed in. What is the purpose ... More

 WEILAND at Viejas Feb. 6th

CONCERT REVIEW by Fat Lando

As a fan of Scott Weiland since his days with Stone Temple Pilots, I was looking forward to this intimate show at the Viejas Casino DreamCatcher Show Room. His past appearances in San Diego weren't recieved very well.

His last performance at Qualcom with STP was delayed and a little sloppy.

Prior to that, he was scheduled to appear with Velvet Revolver at the House of Blues, but the appearance was cancelled on the day of the show due to his entry into rehabilitation.

Tonight at the Dreamcatcher theater, I was not only proud to call myself a fan, but was way impressed with the team behind Scott Weiland. I was fortunate to have seats in the lower balcony, right behind the lighting and sound crew. They truly are the true performers behind the artist. With every flash of light, change of color or flashing strobe, there is a technician literally pushing buttons with the beat of the song. The sound engineers are also unheard heroes as they can either make or break a singer and their band.

But getting back to Mr. Weiland's show, his band started the show with a musical jam which lasted for about 6 minutes, which already there were murmers thru the crowd, that Scott was going to let his fans down. Yes the fans were down, but only because he floored them. He smoothly appeared from the side of the stage dancing to the groove of the music, evoking the spirit of another San Diegan, Jim Morrison. He then sang, shook, dance and – unfortunately - fell the night away. His voice was in top form and he appeared very focused and was patient with his band, as they had minor technical issues. He laughed and appeared very happy.

This San Diego appearance was the second to the last show on this tour then I hope he takes a long deserved break, as this man has been on the road for the past 3 years.

SET LIST:

Opening Jam - musical number

Reel Around

Killing me sweetly

Vasoline

paralysis

Mockingbird Girl

Atlanta

Monster

Unglued

Blind confusion

SPACE JAM

Interstate Lovesong

Fame

Barbarella

Beautiful Day

Missing Cleveland

The swag that was for sale was also very affordable for a show. For two zip up hoodies, with Weiland logos and writings were 20 bucks each. A tour t-shirt with front and back writing were 10 bucks. And a good ol’ button set was only 3 dollars. I felt guilty walking away with all these great prizes for only 53 dollars.

Well that's all I have. If you were there I'm sure you have the same opinions. I'm very fortunate that my band Hocus will be recording our album at Scott Weiland’s Lavish Studios in LA. His bearded maestro Doug Grean will be producing. Hocus will be performing at the Second Wind Santee on February 17th, with Eternal Unborn and Squirrely ARts performing as well.

The show is free, too! Also upcoming: February 10 at Humphrey's Backstage for the world famous songwriter competition (as Fat Lando, two solo songs), and March 19 at the Second Wind in Santee, with Fat Man's Misery.

www.myspace.com/hocusmusic

SO IS STONE TEMPLE PILOTS KAPUT???? – JAS

While it would be easy to assume Weiland’s mercurial behavior during the STP reunion tour is to blame, it’s more likely that the band is being killed amidst the final desperate thrashings of one of the last doomed dinosaurs to stumble into the tar pits ----- Atlantic Records, STP’s label.

Atlantic filed a lawsuit against Weiland and Eric Kretz of STP on June 12, 2008, demanding that the reunited band now live up to its record contract to deliver new albums. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, alleges the STP duo “threatened to stop performing under their contract and have indicated they would like to end the agreement.”

According to the filing, these threats "have given rise to a definite, real and substantial controversy between the parties that threatens to harm Atlantic's business." Guitarist Dean DeLeo and bassist Robert DeLeo were not included in the lawsuit, having been released from their Atlantic contract in 2003.

Though STP recorded six albums for Atlantic Records – a subsidiary of the Warner Music Group Corporation - the label feels it’s still owed up to three more albums. The day after the lawsuit was filed, STP released a response stating “Despite the allegations in the complaint, the band never threatened anything more than remaining away from the studio until equitable terms could be arranged. The precipitous filing of this action is yet another example of the difficulties facing artists in the new music environment, as relationships between artists and their labels fall further and further apart.”

“Eric and Scott have not yet been served and hope that Atlantic will allow cooler heads to prevail, and have the courtesy of shelving this action, to permit negotiations to continue in a positive spirit rather than under a dark cloud of hostility.”

When STP hit the road last year, it was the band’s first national tour in around eight years.

One well-circulated YouTube clip from New Jersey shows singer Scott Weiland mumbling about the band being over an hour late, until he’s cut off by Robert DeLeo saying “Apology accepted, brother,” whereupon the band starts playing. The singer then sits down on the stage and holds out his mic, letting the audience handle the vocals on most of the song.

A New York Times review of the show said “[Weiland] seemed bedraggled and bushed, like a scarecrow. His first comments were barely coherent, and what came next was dispiriting.”

Weiland’s solo album Happy in Galoshes came out November 25th, on his own Softdrive Records label and distributed by New West Records/RED/ SONY.

In a subsequent issue of Billboard, he talked about STP’s current status, or lack thereof:

“I don't know how things are going to go with STP. It was sad to find out that we're still in some way locked into a contract with Atlantic Records, which is a travesty, actually. When we signed to them it was a great label. It was a beautiful time in music. Now if you say, ‘We're going to do this song as the first single,’ they go, ‘OK, we're going to do some radio testing.’ What the? When we first talked about putting STP back together, it was, ‘Do this tour and then see about doing a creative deal with another company.’ So if it ends up being we have to make a certain amount of records for Atlantic in order to be free, then I don't know if I have that in me.”

For now, Weiland is kicking off the second leg of his solo tour in support of Happy in Galoshes. He's reportedly playing songs off his sophomore solo album, as well as songs from his debut solo album, 12 Bar Blues..

Weiland's song "Hyper-Fuzz-Funny-Car" was featured on the January 21 episode of "CSI: NY".

RELATED ARTICLES ON THE READER SITE:

 "Ratt Doesn't Want You to Read This Blog" - Beyond Behind the Music, here's a comprehensive account of how much these guys hated each other, through all the lawsuits and insults, until the money to "reunite" piled up too high to ignore. That is, if you consider the current partially-original lineup a "reunion"....

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/oct/03/books-of-rock-plus-concert-crasher-manifesto-bands/

"Just Sing the Hits and the Crowd is Happy - When Bands (Barely)Reunite" - San Diego has seen its share of former hitmakers who come to town with few - if any - original members. And it doesn't help when brainless local promotors can't even spell the band name right ("Orginnal Sugarhill Gang," anyone? No? I didn't think so.....)

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/oct/03/books-of-rock-plus-concert-crasher-manifesto-bands/

(For a detailed article about Blink's recent overtures toward a reunion, as well as a history of their past and present legal troubles, click here to read Breakups and Reunions Aplenty)

SURE, THEY’RE (MORE THAN) SLIGHTLY STOOPID, BUT WE LOVE ‘EM!

are about to unveil their brand new video for their single "2am", from the band's latest full scale studio release Chronchitis ---

The colorful "2am" clip is a psychedelic amalgamation of live concert footage, archival footage of drug-related police activity from the 60s and 70s, and tripped-out images of marijuana culture. Starting today, fans around the world can watch the video exclusively on the band's imeem profile

The band also plans for an interactive web based version utilizing the new "hot click" technology which will create additional "pop-ups" of various facts and historical information about the band and various elements contained within the video.
- Watch it here

Back in November ’08, when Slightly Stoopid passed through the U.S./Canadian border, they gave customs (and www.spinner.com, which broke this story) something to write home about: they were caught with an eye-raising amount of marijuana and paraphernalia -- a whole three ounces and more than a dozen glass bongs. Oh yeah, and a handful of hallucinogenic mushrooms!.

Wheeeeeeee! Fortunately for them, border patrol knows the cred that bringing home autographed CDs might get you with the kids. According to the website Celebstoner, the band escaped with two members getting written warnings, a $5,000 fine and a proverbial "tsk-tsk" (for felony charges that carry possible imprisonment). A band-issued statement claims that afterwards, the officer "asked for an autographed CD and told the band to have a good show in Fargo." To those with decent deductive reasoning skills, this news should come as little surprise. After all, Slightly Stoopid has toured extensively with Snoop Dogg's boys, 311. So nobody thought they were stocking their bus with bubble gum and lollipops. Now, Kool Aid, on the other hand ... it's electric. http://www.spinner.com/2008/11/10/slightly-stoopid-escape-drug-bust-slightly/?icid=200100397x1212400293x1200797633 Slightly Stoopid formed in Ocean Beach, to create a fusion of acoustic rock, blues, reggae, hip-hop, and punk. In 1995, while still in high school, band members Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald caught the attention of Sublime singer Bradley Nowell, who signed them to his own Skunk Records label. Their eponymous debut Slightly Stoopid (1996) was followed by the surf-inspired Longest Barrel Ride (1998); distribution of the albums was mainly limited to Southern California. After a long run of live shows, Slightly Stoopid put out a live CD, Acoustic Roots: Live and Direct, recorded at San Diego’s Rock 105.3 studio and released on their own Stoopid Records. The band's album Everything You Need (2003) came out on Bradley Nowell's Skunk Records after the Sublime frontman died; it was later released on Encinitas' Surfdog label. Over Thanksgiving 2005, the band recorded two sold-out shows at San Diego's House of Blues, later releasing Live in San Diego as their first live performance DVD. In 2006, Slightly Stoopid was ranked in Pollstar’s "Top 50 Touring Bands" for the first quarter of the year, playing venues with capacities averaging 1,500 to 3,000. In summer 2007, the band co-headlined the Summer Haze Tour with G. Love & Special Sauce and Ozomatli. The tour reportedly sold out 4,000 – 8,500 seat amphitheatres across the country, including the Pacific Amphitheatre in Orange County, Red Rocks in Denver, and the Santa Barbara Bowl. Slightly Stoopid's fifth studio album Chronchitis was released August 7, 2007, on their own label Stoopid Records. It debuted at #55 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart, selling close to 12,000 copies. Additionally, it ranked as the #2 Independent Album and #15 in digital sales. This is the band's sixth independent release and first official release on their Stoopid Records/Controlled Substance Sound Labs label. It features guest artists Guru (Gang Star), Angelo Moore (Fishbone), Money Mark (Beastie Boys), and G. Love. Over a year after its release, in September 2008, Chronchitis won Album of the Year at the San Diego Music Awards. The track "2am" from that album won Song Of the Year. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/slightly-stoopid/ http://www.slightlystoopid.com
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 CATHRYN BEEKS’ WEEKLY LISTEN LOCAL HOTSHEET

 Artist of the Week:

Friends, hear me now: DON’T MISS Jacqueline Grace this Wednesday night, 

Backstage at The Bitter End, 11pm. She’s the real deal pop star with great 

songs and a bad ass band. She mixes pop, r&b and latin creating irresistible 

songs, you’ll be dancing all night. Hear a song or two, see you there. 

No Cover! 

 
 Like your jazz eclectic? 
The Seedy Trio featuring Chris Clarke on mandolin and vocals, 
David Bandrowski on guitar and Doug Walker on upright bass play every 
Monday night at the Turquoise Cafe Bar Europe in North Pacific Beach 
from 7 to 10:30. You’ll hear everything from Django to Jelly Roll to 
Garcia/Grisman and some new original material written for guitar & mandolin…. 
good stuff this.
 
 Many of you commented on the song 
SKINNY MINNIE that I have posted on my Myspace.com. 
The song was written by Marti Amado and John Jorgenson 
of Nashville. Marti is an amazing composer/producer who 
was super fun and easy to work with. 
Check out her new site! 
 
HEADS UP
 
2/14 - Don't miss the Valentine’s Day Mixer at 
The Cottonwood Golf Club, Saturday Feb. 14th.  
Bring your sweetie or find a new one while you're there.  
Got a service to offer or just want to get out and meet 
the people in our little scene?  Join us and bring all your 
friends (all ages and family friendly) for a night of music 
and all the good stuff that goes with it.  Full bar, good 
food, new friends.  
6:00 Roxanne 
6:30 JJ Morin 
7:00 The Castners 
7:30 Paul Cannon 
8:00 Fold Mr. Lincoln 
8:30 Kenny Eng 
9:00 Carlos Olmeda 
9:40 BVioliln 
10:10 Reverend Stickman 
10:40 Ephraim Sommers 
11:10 Rob Deez 
11:40 David Hermsen
 
The Cottonwood Golf Club is in Rancho San Diego and, though they don't 
normally stay open past early evening, they've decided to try having music 
on random weekends.  The club is very family friendly, there is a full bar 
and they have a pretty extensive bar menu.  Besides a large dinning room 
where the bands play, they have a huge permanent outdoor tent perfect 
for weddings, cd release parties and festivals.  Since there aren't a lot of 
places for live music in that area, my plan is to try and bring a nice mixture 
of local music (Americana, some rock and acoustic acts) to the folks in 
East County.  The shows will be free to attend and all ages, family friendly.  
 
 
Sunday 2/22 - THE GAME - Backstage at The Bitter End: 
Local songwriters all compose a tune based on a single 
song title.
 
THE GAME is happening again on February 22nd, 
Backstage at The Bitter End. 
The title is BIG PICTURE.  Yes, I know I agreed that Big Package would be 
the next title at the last game; however, I was drinking. BIG PICTURE is 
much better. Sorry to anyone who already wrote a song to the title 
Big Package, please feel free to play it on the 22nd. Thanks to everyone 
for participating and keeping THE GAME alive.
 
Want to play THE GAME? Just write a song to the title BIG PICTURE and 
show up to play it on 2/22 at 9pm. All styles/abilities, full band (full backline)
welcomed. No cover, 21+
ABOUT THE GAME........ 
It started when Jeff Berkley, Steve Poltz, and Gregory Page toured Australia. 
They'd make up a song title, and then the next night, each of them would 
have to play a song based on that title.
 
We now invite ALL locals to have a whack at instant songwriting for a 
live audience, so far attracting players like Sven-Erik Seaholm, Mark DeCerbo
and others. 
 
Three sample lyrics from a previous Game, where the song title was "Quick": 
Joe Rathburn: "A picture's etched on my brain, of them taken by that hur'cane / 
They were gone just...that...quick." 
Bart Mendoza: "You want the stars, the sun, the moon / 
all yesterday, if not that soon." 
Mark Jackson: "So if you're gonna quit me, baby, be quick / 
And don't you try to burn me with your witch's candlestick."
 

Link of the Week:  We're proud to announce that 
TakeLessons.com is a new Listen Local partner, offering 
voice and instrument lessons and helping teachers find 
students, too.  Visit the site and let them know 
Cathryn Beeks and Listen Local sent you!
 I'm going to be more proactive about promoting my own 
band, The Cathryn Beeks Ordeal.  We're begin work on 
the new album at Berkley Sound and we have some great shows 
coming up...Pretty exciting stuff happening... 
Join The Cathryn Beeks Ordeal's mailing list and be part of the family!
www.myspace.com/cathrynbeeksordeal 
MORE CATHRYN BEEKS ON THE READER SITE: Musician Interviews (Dec. 30, 2004), 
Musician Interviews (April 5, 2007), Blurt (March 26, 2008), 
Hometown CD Review (Oct. 15, 2008) 
 
CATHRYN BEEKS MP3S: 
Desert Music - Add to playlist 
Drive America - Add to playlist 
Good To Be - Add to playlist 
Keep Walking - Add to playlist 
www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/cathryn-beeks-ordeal
ListenLocalSD.com | The Calendar | FAQs | Venues and Partners |Contact

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Not So Quiet on the Set - Bart Mendoza

 While much is being made of pop stars Beyoncé and Mos Def portraying music icons Etta James and Chuck Berry in the movie Cadillac Records, several San Diego artists have also had stints impersonating hit-makers of the ’50s and ’60s.

In 1989, Mojo Nixon made his film debut in Great Balls of Fire, portraying James Van Eaton, drummer with Jerry Lee Lewis (played by Dennis Quaid) and other ’50s-era Sun Records artists. Nixon, a proficient drummer, spent several weeks studying vintage TV clips and changed his drumming style to match that of Van Eaton. However, as it turned out, the skills of Nixon and movie bandmates John Doe and Jimmie Vaughan were never utilized. The actors mimed Lewis’s original Sun Records recordings.

A decade later, blink-182’s Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus portrayed ’60s surf duo Jan and Dean in the 1999 CBS-TV mini-series Shake, Rattle & Roll. Their musical input in the program was minimal, singing a bit of “Dead Man’s Curve” in a scene set around a publisher’s piano.

In 2004, Jason Mraz portrayed Dion DiMucci of Dion and the Belmonts fame on NBC-TV’s teen drama American Dreams. Set in the ’60s and based around Dick Clark’s music-TV show American Bandstand, the plotline included Mraz as a guest on the show crooning his own take of DiMucci’s “Ruby Baby.”

Only one local group has been re-created for cinematic purposes — Rosie and the Originals. The part of Rosie Hamlin was played by Jeanette Jurado of vocal trio Exposé. Jurado and actors playing the band sang Rosie and the Originals’ lone hit, 1962’s “Angel Baby,” during a scene of an early ’60s teen dance in the 1995 film My Family.

According to Nixon, attention to detail in Great Balls of Fire was important to his role, but only to a point. “Van Eaton told me he used to put his wallet on his tom drum to deaden the sound. When I did it for a scene, the producer told me not to bother, since you probably couldn’t see it on the screen anyway.”

Nixon spent a month in London and three months in Memphis working on the film and cites his time between takes as the most exciting. Although the band was miming, the equipment was real, so the musicians would jam whenever the cameras weren’t rolling. The ad hoc band even managed to squeeze in a few gigs. “We were staying a block off Beale Street, so we went and borrowed equipment from one of the bands playing in a bar there. The crowd wouldn’t let us pay for our drinks, and we got to play rock ’n’ roll where it all started. Does it get any better?”

Though Nixon is now semiretired from music and concentrates on his Sirius Radio show, The Loon in the Afternoon, if the opportunity arose, he would jump at the chance to play ’50s rocker J.P. Richardson — the Big Bopper. The singer of 1958 hit “Chantilly Lace” died in the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens and has been portrayed in several films, including The Day the Music Died, due February 3. Nixon considers his own booming voice and larger-than-life personality a perfect fit for the part. “That’s a role I was born to play,” he laughs.

An additional bonus to Nixon’s acting in “Great Balls of Fire” was getting co-star Winona Ryder, who played Lewis’ 15 year old wife in the movie, to spend a little of her movie off time co-starring in his video for “Debbie Gibson is Pregnant with My Two Headed Love Child.” Naturally partner in crime at the time, Skid Roper also makes an appearance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O92QcjT6vDY&NR=1

Debbie Gibson commented on Nixon’s song in an interview, claiming to have written a response song to the tune. It remains unheard. :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz1YGBCFNiI&feature=related

Mojo Nixon as 50’s era Sun Session / Jerry Lee Lewis drummer James Van Eaton: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDo6EkJtKqs&feature=related

Blink-182 as 60’s surf duo Jan & Dean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhCFRcAl7ys

 

Jason Mraz as sixties icon Dion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKtnSTpkWfo

 

Rosie and the Originals recreated in this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCYknTY6u4A

And just because I’m a completist, here’s two more role playing clips from locals:

Blink-182, collectively, as sixties TV show icon Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver, in this “Leave it to Beaver” parody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tgPhdGPaZM

And very minor indeed, but Jewel appears in the Judy Garland role of Dorothy in this stage production of “The Wizard of Oz”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNntXzI1EkU

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LAST WEEK'S MUSICIAN INTERVIEW: MARY DOLAN

In Bloom - Singer-songwriter Mary Dolan — a fixture in the San Diego music scene in the ’90s — was off the local radar for several years. “Our son Jack was born in November 2004, the day before my ...

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Today's Local MP3 Downloads

• West Indies - ADAMNT for President
• Anna Troy - Ain't No Man
• Willovealot - Alittle for Alot
• West Indies - All Eyes On Us
• Astra Kelly - All I Got
• Chad Cavanaugh - All I Have To Give
• Brandon Rice - All That We Live For
• Nature of the Beast - All Time Greats featuring Qwel
• D.R. Auten - Angela
• J03L - Architect's View
• Vanja James - August
• Matt Commerce - Back in the Game
• Ryan Vernazza - Barely a Scream
• Vanja James - Beautiful Mess
• Nature of the Beast - Bench to the Bus Stop
• Bill Molch - Billion Watt Bulb
• Hocus - Bipolar Girl
• Howls - Black Gold
• Agave - Blown Out Day
• Young Mass - Blue Skyy -- Remix/Radio Edit

View all MP3s

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"Pussycat Theaters - When 'Cathouses Ruled California" -- for the first time, the detailed inside story of the west coast Pussycat Theater chain of adult moviehouses, which peaked in the '70s but later died out. Told by those who actually ran the theaters! http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/dec/26/pussycat-theater-history-when-cathouses-ruled-ca-5/

"Before It Was The Gaslamp: Balboa's Last Stand" - Cover story 6-21-07: In the late 70s/early 80s, I worked at downtown San Diego's grindhouse all-night movie theaters, for the owner of the Pussycat Theatre chain, Vince Miranda - this detailed feature recalls those dayz, the death of the Balboa Theatre, etc.

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/jul/23/before-it-was-the-gaslamp-now-with-50-more-content/

 

"Battle Of The Peeps" - feature article about a weird gig I had in the mid-'80s, running a strip club called Jolar, for the nation's second biggest pornographer, Harry Mohney (Deja Vu Showgirls founder).

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/oct/23/battle-of-the-peeps---an-insider-history-of-san-di/ 

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"Midnight Movies - the '80s Part 1" - The Fine Arts Theater, the Unicorn, the Guild, the Academy, the Loma and La Paloma, the Ken Cinema, the Strand in OB - for a time, the midnight movie crowd was its own sort of stoner subculture. Several historic cult movie events happened right here in SD, including the first-ever audience participation performance along with Phantom of the Paradise.... http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/nov/09/more-on-brick-by-bricks-new-hip-hop-showcase-plus-/

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"Why Jackson Browne Hates Former Reader Contrib Richard Meltzer" - The first time Jackson Browne was profiled Rolling Stone [June 22, 1972], Richard Meltzer did the interview. When Meltzer called the singer "one hell of a prototype sex symbol for the gay rock underground," Browne was VERY unhappy....  http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/nov/09/more-on-brick-by-bricks-new-hip-hop-showcase-plus-/

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 "Collecting Local Music"  - an encyclopedia and price guide of local music collectables through the years.  http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/aug/27/collecting-local-music-price-guide-part-3-plus-stp/

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 "The Day Happy Hare Got Ritchie Valens to Play Clairemont High" - Legendary local DJ reveals a lost chapter in the Valens story, when the rising rocker played the opening ceremony at Clairemont High. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/aug/27/collecting-local-music-price-guide-part-3-plus-stp/

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 "Do Venues Need Permission to YouTube Your Band?" - Yet another reason to stress about intellectual property rights on the internet. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/aug/27/collecting-local-music-price-guide-part-3-plus-stp/

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 "Revenge Club Does Vegas" - And lives to tell! http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/aug/27/collecting-local-music-price-guide-part-3-plus-stp/

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 "Vintage Synth Collector" - John Goff of Aspects of Physics is always in the mood to Moog - he's got a jones for classic electronics, and he plays a mean bagpipe, too!   http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/aug/27/collecting-local-music-price-guide-part-3-plus-stp/

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 "Local Woman Illustrates David Bowie Storybook" - She bought the rights to an obscure old album, and built a Bowie book from it! Even comes with a Bowie CD ------    http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/aug/27/collecting-local-music-price-guide-part-3-plus-stp/

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 "Secret (Crime)Story of a Band Name" - the felonious tale of local badboys Bad Sticky Ant Gas ------    http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/aug/27/collecting-local-music-price-guide-part-3-plus-stp/

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 "Neighbors From Hell" - and you thought living next door to an unemployed drummer was bad.     http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/aug/27/collecting-local-music-price-guide-part-3-plus-stp/

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 "Bart Mendoza's Old Guitar" - Shambles/Manual Scan guitarist's old axe takes on a new life.      http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/aug/27/collecting-local-music-price-guide-part-3-plus-stp/

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 "Stone Temple Pilots Comics" - STP, cool or no?      http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/aug/27/collecting-local-music-price-guide-part-3-plus-stp/

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 "Courtney Love's 12-Step Plan For Stardom" - The comic that got me fired by Larry Flynt at Rip Magazine! How was I to know they'd just hired Love to play his wife in a movie?        http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/aug/27/collecting-local-music-price-guide-part-3-plus-stp/

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 "Prong Comics"  Hand colored, none of that computer crap.  http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/aug/27/collecting-local-music-price-guide-part-3-plus-stp/

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 "Rob Zombie Comics"  Hand colored, none of that computer crap.  http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/aug/27/collecting-local-music-price-guide-part-3-plus-stp/

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Like this blog? Here are some related links:

OVERHEARD IN SAN DIEGO - Several years' worth of this comic strip, which debuted in the Reader in 1996: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/photos/galleries/overheard-san-diego/

FAMOUS FORMER NEIGHBORS - Over 100 comic strips online, with mini-bios of famous San Diegans: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/photos/galleries/famous-former-neighbors/

SAN DIEGO READER MUSIC MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/sandiegoreadermusic

JAY ALLEN SANFORD MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/jayallensanford