Pianist Mike Wofford was born in Texas, but grew up in here in San Diego. He began playing around 7 and was drawn to jazz by the time he hit 16. After high school, he moved to Los Angeles and …

“Our lineup is still the same but has been hectic with Joel joining TV Girl in addition to D/Wolves, Paper Forest, and his KYNAN solo project,” writes DUDES guitar/bassist E.J. Binns (ex- Da Bears) via email. “We have a couple …

On June 1, SDSU’s Aztec Center, home to long-dark Montezuma Hall and the Backdoor, will be demolished to make way for a modern structure. From the late 1960s to the 1990s, both venues hosted concerts by emerging rockers such as …

Springtime and first loves are nice, but what about Delilah? Delilah, what a manipulative,nagging, opportunistic, whore. However, Samson was a jerk. These two needed a reality show. They could have been the original celebrity couple. Sam-lah. After Samson falls in …

Ask San Diego trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos who his influences are, and you'd better have a notebook -- or a recorder. I managed to write down Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Brown, Booker Little, and Kenny Dorham. Suffice it to say the man …

Photo at left: Barbara Tobler Springtime and love. Love and springtime. It's happening. Even the insects are doing it. I did the six-mile run to the waterfall and back in the Penasquitos Canyon Preserve. The PQ Preserve is one place …

On June 25, Java Joe will hold a fundraiser for the family of bluesman Steve White, who passed away on April 22, following a long battle with cancer. The event will take place at his new location in the Ideal …

Since moving back to San Diego in 1989, doublebassist Rob Thorsen has become a ubiquitous and vital member of the local jazz scene, performing initially with tenor saxophonist Daniel Jackson and pianist Mike Wofford. Thorsen has made several recordings of …

Launched in March, VarioRadio is a semi-independent radio and internet streaming music once labeled "alternative", "industrial", "new wave", "goth", "Euro", "post-modern", etc. “We concentrate on current artists whose work shows influences of that '80s and '90s music,” says Station Manager …

Composer and pianist Anthony Davis has been teaching at UCSD for several years now, so you can add Professor of music to his titles. Davis had already recorded two galvanic titles by the 1980s, "Of Blues and Dreams" a free …

Because life is just that wonderful, here are a few more festivals you can skip work for this summer: EarthDance – September 18 - This festival goes down simultaneously in over 100 cities around the world. The lineup isn’t posted …

Saturday, May 28: Featuring over a dozen bands and DJs, the Remember: Mnemonic Muzic Marathon runs all day, from noon to after midnight, at RT's Longboard Grill, one of the most ambitions events ever launched by the PB venue. Sprung …

The "young lion" of the San Diego jazz scene is definitely pianist Joshua White. Josh was playing Mozart and Bach at the tender age of 7, and became his church's pianist by age 12. He wasn't exposed to much jazz …

Experimental noise musician and composer Randy Chiurazzi recently auditioned for NBC’s America’s Got Talent reality series in which performers competed for a $1 million prize and a chance to perform in Las Vegas. “They basically hated it,” says Chiurazzi, not …

White Gold and the Calcium Twins started off as jokey TV commercial characters ala the Free Credit Report.com band. The Spinal Tap-esque glam rockers, created for the iconic “Got Milk?” advertising campaign, were featured on over 750,000 school book covers …

A new monthly open mic event is going down on the first Wednesday of every month at Kava Lounge “SpeakHer is a creative outlet for women to share and enjoy each other’s art in a welcoming and relaxed environment,” says …

Krauty art rockers Shapes of Future Frames have just finished recording their debut full-length album at White Horse Recorders in Kearney Mesa. You'll recognize singer and bassist Gary Hankins' distinct vibrato from the Scarlet Symphony. Former fellow Scarlet bandmate Aaron …

Gregory Page is the subject of a new documentary that will be screened at Lestat’s on Friday June 17. Produced and released by the Snapshots Music and Arts Foundation, the footage was shot in La Jolla during a live show …

Zombie Cartel’s debut release for Lakeside’s Double Barrel records drops June 10. Empire is an untamed collection of roots punk originals ranging, says Jono Lanasa, from Robert Johnson (yep, that Robert Johnson) to Motorhead with a little Mike Ness growl …

Contrabassist Mark Dresser's San Diego Quintet comes to Dizzy's on Sunday, May 29, at 7:00 p.m. Fresh off a tour of Germany, Dresser continues to gig more in Europe and New York City than here at home, a situation that …

David Owen is manning the piano bar at the Red Fox Lounge again tonight (5/26). Owen took over at the venerable lounge after the legendary Shirley Allen died in 2006. “I was new in town and had no other gigs, …

Jesse LaMonaca's Left Coast Sunshine Tour - a Solo Journey to Australia Jesse LaMonaca recently documented his first solo tour to Australia, using a Canon T2i, an out-stretched arm and the helping hands of friends. The story is told in …

Del Mar resident and retired UCSD music professor Bert Turetzky schedules a rare San Diego performance on Thursday, May 26, at Dizzy's downtown at 8 p.m. Turetzky's long career in classical music and jazz have made him one of the …

Music as life and death is rare. However, I assume there are a few songs about death. I just Googled "Death Songs" and one site claims there are 148--so perhaps I'm wrong. Wait, I'm also forgetting almost every opera ever …

Where oh where to start - the guy's giant pointy elf shoes? The mysterious brown liquid seeping out from between the girl's legs and onto the floor? The Beep Beep poster with inexplicable ocean motif? The hemorroid donut mounted on …

“People are wary of drum machines because they can blow out sound systems,” says Gun Runner guitarist Tommy Graf, who until recently covered guitar and acoustic percussion duties in the band with the help of programmed beats. The addition of …

Featuring members of The Locust, All Leather, Rats Eyes, Cattle Decapitation, and Festival of Dead Deer (among others), San Diego punk super group Retox has signed to Ipecac Recordings to release their debut full-length album, Ugly Animals, in August after …

Local tribute bands Pink Froyd and Pink Floyd Experience are both fronted by guitarist Tom Quinn, with both bands usually featuring the same local players. “Our first [Pink Froyd] gig was in 1995,” says Quinn, who was inspired to form …

Thank the Lord we didn't have a rapture on Saturday because I don't want to live through the tribulation. When I was a kid, my church showed the "A Thief in the Night" series of movies. These movies scared the …

Summer is nearly upon us and that means several awesome things. Besides the ole all night bike & booze in a T-shirt, summer time also hails festival season when, if you know where to look, you can find a gathering …

Top Five Overheard in San Diego Tips from OB “My dad thinks I stole his bong.” “Your poncho smells like lentils.” “I’m thinking about investing in incense.” “My other bike has a banana seat.” “Dude, trails!” Top Five Recent Craigslist …

"For the last three years, I've split my time between San Diego and Amherst, MA, where I teach at Amherst College," says sax symbol Jason Robinson. "In the middle of this summer, my lovely partner Steph will be joining me …

She’s playing L.A. on June 20 (Staples Center) and Anaheim on June 24 (Honda Center), but that’s as close as Britney Spears’ 2011 Femme Fatale Tour is coming to San Diego. DESPITE our city hosting two venues of comparable size …

On June 18, a new local “supergroup” of sorts, Action Andy and the Hightones will debut at Eleven. Comprised of frontman Andy Rasmussen (The Bomboras, The Sleepwalkers), bassist Tom Ward (Nashville Ramblers, Gravedigger V), guitarist Xavier Anaya (The Trebels, The …

On Saturday night, Carmen opened and was panned by every critic who saw it. The critics were justified. Carmen was subdued and passive, Don Jose sounded worn out, Escamillo merely posed, the secondary roles were great and the chorus was …

Rockers CircaNow are on hiatus, says frontman/guitarist Josh Pann, and drummer David Tye is moving to Dublin. Pann, meanwhile, has been busy in the studio. He’s cut two new tracks at White Horse Recorders and Big Fish with engineer Alan …

Reverend Stickman was named the winner by a panel of four judges at the San Diego Songwriters Guild Performing Songwriter Competition hosted by Guild president Sandi Shaner Gugliatti and held May 14 at Humphrey’s Backstage Music Club on Shelter Island. …

“Slick Rick, 2Pac, C-Murder, Mystikal, and Lil Kim have all had different post-incarceration paths,” says Massterpiece Entertainment head 40 Oz Chris of Young Mass' latest legal problems. “No one can predict the aftermath of Mass’ incarceration, but I know we …

Vintage doo-wop stars the Safaris, featuring original singer Jim Stephens, have recruited Peter King, Jim Carkagis, and Kevin Jones from the Royals of San Diego to perform with them at several shows. The Safaris will appear August 11 at Tachi …

Hot Nerds, a new project with drummer Nathan Joyner (All Leather, Leg Lifters, Secret Fun Club, Some Girls) and keyboardist Alia Jayawook (Christwaves, Say Wen, Kata, Bitter Sober, Tiny Telephones) will debut at this Thursday’s Makeout Weird at the Whistle …

Born July 21, 1939, Kim Fowley was two when his mom put him in a College Grove foster home. At the age of six, his dad moved him to Malibu, though Kim frequently returned to San Diego to live in …

Lightning in a Bottle, an arts and music festival produced by the Los Angeles-based Do Lab, has seen performances from several San Diego artists including Red Sonya, Vokab Company, and The Album Leaf. This year, San Diegans Inspired Flight and …

In case anyone wants to know more about The Nine Worthies, here's a little information. The Nine are split into three groups of three. The Pagans: Hector, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar. The Hebrews: Joshua, King David, Judas Maccabeus. …

5-16-79: The Police played the long-gone Roxy Theater, at 4642 Cass Street in Pacific Beach. Broadcast live on KGB-FM, the performance was widely bootlegged, the most common version being San Diego d'Amour. Several websites offer the entire bootleg, including http://www.dimeadozen.org …

Lohengrin arrives in the middle of the first act of Wagner's musical drama. Wagner claimed that he didn't write operas, he wrote musical dramas. Sometimes I want to say to Wagner, "Whatever, dude." Lohengrin has shown up to fight for …

San Diego’s own Taylor Guitars started in 1974 as the dream of Bob Taylor (age 19) and Kurt Listug (age 21) on a loan of $10,000. In its short 37-year history, the company has gone on to be the leading …

Nick Cannon has responded to allegations that he and his wife Mariah Carey were drinking liquor and taking illegal drugs at the L.A. hospital where she gave birth to twins on April 30 (which happened to be their third wedding …

Bar Pink'll be bringing home a couple friendly faces from San Diego's rock-roll past next week, as Jay High (GoGoGo Airheart) trades drumsticks for guitar picks with Brooklyn-based dark-pop band Xray Eyeballs on Sunday, May 22, and Andrew Mckeag (Uncle …

Jon Kanis once asked me, "Are you a Plimsouls fan?" Like any right-thinking music writer I said, "Of course" -- which is how I found out Kanis was Peter Case's newsletter publisher and road manager in the early '90s. This …

LAFAYETTE HOTEL, UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS/NORTH PARK, SAN DIEGO The San Diego Music Thing (formerly known as the North Park Music Thing- NPMT) is now in its fourth year drawing music industry professionals, talented musicians and aspiring professionals to San Diego. This …

Liquid Blue recently earned a Guinness World Record for their song “Earth Passport,” as it was sung in more languages than any other song ever to hit the Billboard Charts. All six official United Nations languages were used in the …

Attention bassheads! Tonight and tomorrow night Winston’s in Ocean Beach will be hosting a special two-day Ocean Beats featuring some of the best local and visiting acts in dubstep and beats. Friday $ 13.00 Online Friday tickets are sold out, …

Vice Magazine is throwing their "Uncapped: San Diego" party tomorrow (Saturday) at Til-Two Club in City Heights. The show includes free booze and performances from The Soft Pack, Dunes, Ale Mania, and Devon Williams. RSVP for free entry plus one …

A friend of mine took me up on discussing the merits of Phantom. As we exchanged thinly veiled insults, I became exasperated and finally said, "Stop listening to the tune." "What am I supposed to listen to then?" In Phantom's …

Improv jazz trio Dawn of Midi were recently awarded a 2011 Chamber Music America Presenting Jazz Grant to produce new recordings. The band is using the grant to complete their multimedia work Kashmir, for which the organization Triple Canopy is …

The Black Cat Bar in City Heights will be throwing their grand opening party Friday with The Glossines at 9:30 and The Amandas 10:30. The bar opened about three months ago in the location formerly known as Nancy’s Pub.

The Kava Lounge will be celebrating the relaunch of their Center for the Arts Friday with “[a] unique blend of Soulful and Funky House”, a set from DJ Impera, and “[a] special dark and twisted techno set to close out …

Tickets go on sale Saturday, May 14, for the Slightly Stoopid Seedless Summer 2011 Tour, which begins July 21 at Big Sky Brewery in Missoula, MT, hitting San Diego’s Cricket Amphitheater on July 30 before wrapping up at Red Rocks …

Scottish singer-songwriter Colin Clyne will wrap up his West Coast tour with a homecoming show on Saturday, May 14, at Hensley’s Flying Elephant. Over the course of his most recent road trek, "I performed at the Sacramento Highland Games and …

Roxy Monoxide/Y3K Spinoff Band Launching Second Album Ristband’s release party for their second album Balancing Act happens Friday, May 20 at Pal Joey’s. “The cover art features Adelaide Marcus of Danyavaad & the Shimmy Sisters,” says guitarist Dave Gladish, “depicting …

5-11-69: The Grateful Dead headlined SDSU's Spring Fling concert at the Aztec Bowl. Held on Mother's Day, the show included Canned Heat, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Lee Michaels, Tarantula, and Tijuana-bred Carlos Santana. Jerry Garcia performed "Morning Dew," and Ron "Pigpen" …

San Diego via El Centro screamers Batwings will be debuting their new line up at the Ruby Room on May 20. Singer/keys/bassist Robbie Lopez left the band and is currently making music with Boo Report, Cub and Pony, and Giraffe …

“Yes, the songs are licensed,” says singer/guitarist Anthony Stanze of The Touchies. And their upcoming comedic-covers album David Cover-Riverdale includes irreverent versions of tunes like “Angelfuck” (Danzig), “First of the Gang to Die” (Morrissey), “Teenage Kicks” (the Undertones), “Only Shallow” …

To kick off the annual Sun God Festival, UC San Diego’s KSDT radio station will be throwing their annual Alterative Music Festival tomorrow at 6 p.m. with live music from Jamuel Saxon, The City Freeze, 60s Residue, Neon Cough, Space …

Famous North County neighbor Dave Mustaine has formed a new band with ex-Anthrax guitarist Dan Spitz. The band, reported to be called Red Lamb, has risen from the ashes of Spitz's previous project, Deuxmonkey, which was shelved after vocalist Wade …

I will admit I went to see the movie Thor in IMAX 3D. I'll also admit that I liked it. Before the previews started, various pieces of movie soundtracks were played over the sound system. When The Imperial March from …

Indie pop duo The Boyish Charms recently released a music video to the first track, "The Tweed Twig", from their album Infinity in its Infancy. The seven song 12-inch vinyl was recorded at The Habitat in Golden Hill and released …

"The whole idea behind the Blackout Blowout basically came from my Thursdays at The Shakedown," guitarist Jason 'Blackie' Blackmore (Otro, Rats Eyes, Sirhan Sirhan) writes via email. The usually free weekly event sees DJ Cap'n Blackie playing '80s hardcore interspersed …

PINK SON MEETS PURPLE ONE! On Saturday, May 7, Adam Lambert joined Prince onstage at the Forum in Inglewood, CA. After the concert, Lambert tweeted “Saw Prince down at the forum! Danced our asses off. Happy MOMS Day!!” Lambert was …

LOCAL LOSES HIS VOICE, BUT GAINS A NEW SOUND “I use to worry and wonder ‘What would I do if I lost my voice,’ and then the biggest fear I had in my life came true,” says Imperial Beach songwriter …

TONIGHT: GEOFFREY KEEZER’S ALL-STAR CONCERT IN LA JOLLA Geoffrey Keezer and his wife, fellow musician Susan Wulff (principal bassist for the San Diego Symphony) will both be performing tonight, May 9, at the Neurosciences Institute Auditorium in La Jolla. Taking …

MEGADETH BEGINS NEW ALBUM TODAY AT SAN MARCOS STUDIO Megadeth begin recording their as-yet-untitled new album today, with producer Johnny Karkazis (Machine Head, Disturbed) and slated for a fall 2011 release through Roadrunner Records. Drum tracking is being done all …

LOCAL SINGER COMPETING MAY 30 ON TV TALENT SHOW On May 30, singer Amber Ojeda will appear on the new Bravo TV show Platinum Hit, which is co-hosted by fellow famous former neighbor Jewel. The program will feature twelve musicians …

FORMER VILLAGE PEOPLE SINGER SUING FOR 1.5 MILLION Victor Willis is suing the firm representing his former band the Village People for $1.5 million in song royalties he claims are unpaid. The 59 year-old La Jolla resident is suing Can't …

I didn't hear or see anything of The Royal Wedding but I heard John Rutter wrote a new piece of choral music for it. The subject came up at church choir because we were rehearsing Rutter's setting of "The Lord …

Attention music writers, Exciting news from Reader HQ: we're getting ready to rock-n-roll in real time with a live stream of spontaneously updated bloggage from guess who? You! Yeah, it's your blog. If you are privy to some music news …