Feature beats, bass, trap, juke, and dubstep at El Dorado, downtown.

Tonight at El Dorado Cocktail Lounge (1030 Broadway – Downtown), long-standing dubstep monthly Dub Dorado will join forces with future beat showcase Trill for a night of big bass and trap featuring Switchblade Recordings artists Them Lost Boys and Whiskey …

Young singer/songwriter's debut EP sports local all-star lineup (Cantrell, Berkley, Hart, Caplinger, Moore, etc)

“I don’t actually have a band,” says singer/songwriter Savannah Philyaw. “I’m occasionally accompanied by friends of mine; violinists, drummers, guitarists, etc. I always have a great time when other musicians play shows with me, though. It’s just difficult to find …

Tim McMahon, Anthony Smith and Pat Burke each brought their own personality to the instrument.

The new Dizzy's hosted the Vibraphone Summit last Sunday, bringing three top exponents to share their music with an all-star rhythm section. Tim McMahon, alongside Anthony Smith, with Pat Burke, manned the mallets, while guitarist Peter Sprague, bassist Rob Thorsen, …

Rush-loving quartet drops impressive debut full-length

So you think you’d like Rush more, if only that singer didn’t keep whipping out his “chipmunk in a blender” shriek. And you’d probably listen to more Marillion and Yes, if only the album covers didn’t all look like Chevy …

Marguth has all the tools, and she knows how to use them.

Fresno vocalist Karen Marguth breezed into the new Dizzy's on Sunday, January 27th, fronting a kind of California-All-Star group featuring LA woodwind specialist Nate Ketner, San Francisco bassist Sam Rocha, Fresno drummer Nathan Guzman and San Diegan Jason Wanner, for …

Under a layer of body paint, there's a lot going on in the nomad-ish mind of Dive Bomber front man Kris Keyes

On Facebook today guitarist Catfish Comstock posts this: "First Time EVER! Dive Bomber is #4 on Reverbnation San Diego Rock Charts and #10 in San Diego for all genres! " Dive Bomber is a San Diego hard rock band fronted …

Funky tech house space groove super night crosses south again.

Following over a decade of chess, day drinking, and some of the best electronic music nights in town, BeHe dive Kadan closed their doors at the end of August. Official MOONSHAKE Wrap-Up Video at Kadans (R.I.P.) from Trevor Dean on …

Claire Lynch Band playing Del Mar Powerhouse

Two-time International Bluegrass Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year Claire Lynch has become a creative force in acoustic music and at the forefront of women who have expanded the bluegrass genre. She has twice earned Grammy nominations and was …

The tenor master featured a solid trio and a slew of guest musicians.

Local tenor saxophone giant Daniel Jackson, in a packed-to-the-rafters concert at the new Dizzy's, continued to demonstrate the salient features of his musicianship that have endeared him to so many. Leading an all-star group of pianist Joshua White, bassist Marshall …

Indie soul quintet drops new single for Lost Ark Studio compilation.

Hills Like Elephants released a new single a few days ago titled “Note to Self,” adding a post-punk edge to their soulful “Motown with drum machines” sound. Produced by Mike Butler at vintage-ready Lost Ark Studio in Pacific Beach, “Note …

Member of Fidlar very ill

Tonight's installment of the KSDT's Ancient Alien Jamboree at the Che Cafe has been cancelled. According to a Facebook post from KSDT general manager Kenny Katayama, one of the members of Fidlar is "very ill." If you would like to …

Which is the better story, finding Babe Ruth's rookie card at a yard sale for a dime or hearing Stephen Costello sing his first Tonio?

Having a conversation with Stephen Costello isn’t like having a conversation with an opera singer even though his speaking voice is well placed. He speaks more like a dude you’d grab a burger with at Hodad’s. However, make no mistake, …

"I went to jazz camp at Stanford, and there's a 12-year-old kicking my ass."

Nobody calls them Young Lions any more but Kyle Myers, from Rancho Penasquitos, could have been one -- that good. And although I don't think alto sax man Christopher Hollyday was officially dubbed a Young Lion either, he surely could …

Dream-fi versus beach-fi

San Diego’s premier amorphous swag rock outfit DUDES recently released a split EP, titled EDEA (Ailanthus Recordings), with DUDE Ryan Solomon’s “internet homie” Chaz Bell, also known as H | p s. “Most of the DUDES songs are b-sides from …

Saxophonist/composer/pianist Kenyatta featuring a burning group with special guests in a mesmerizing set.

UCSD's The Loft presented an all too unique opportunity to catch some of San Diego's less visible but no less vital jazz musicians last night with a performance by the Kamau Kenyatta Group, featuring drum pro Richard Sellers, bassist Antar …

Daniel Jackson week gets underway Thursday night in downtown San Diego

The name of Daniel Jackson rests at the top of many San Diegan's lists of hometown straight-ahead jazz tenor sax heroes. But, as I have written before, Jackson kills it as a piano player. He kills it. "I hope whenever …

Maestro Abel holds forth on risking it all and leadership.

Continuing the conversation with Yves Abel. San Diego Reader: We've seen conductors who have been very positive but haven’t always maintained a high standard. You appear to be able to stay positive and keep a high standard. Yves Abel: I’m …

Moon Block Party follows last year's 11-day blowout with overnight festival near Salton Sea.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/22/38879/ Pilots representing San Diego at last year's Desert Daze music festival. Last year’s inaugural Desert Daze was an eleven-day psychedelic bonanza held in the town of Desert Hot Springs, about 30 miles from the dual weekend festivities of Coachella …

Diatonic duo dishes on pimped-out Hollywood hotel rooms and loving their ladies

Lee Coulter is about to embark on a 55-city tour, but locals can catch him tonight with his frequent brother-from-another-mother Michael Tiernan, performing a 7:30 set at the Belly Up. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/22/38810/ The pair first met up in 2004, while Tiernan …

Fusing the rhythms of rock with the improvisational skills of jazz, Deutsch even brought a very special surprise guest to ice the cake.

The power of music to revive long dormant memories and bring them into laser focus, as well as its celebratory ritual ties with the universal concept of motion we call groove burned brightly in a knockout Fresh Sound (by Bonnie …

Some lesser known figures in San Diego's beat and hop circles

On Thursday, January 31 at the Kava Lounge, Moonside presents an esoteric showcase of local experimental hip-hop and beat producers with support from DJ’s representing San Diego grassroots vinyl/cassette label Kill Quanti. Jazz guitarist and beatmaker Go Yama: Beatboxer, lyricist, …

World famous tenor Stephen Costello debuts the role of Tonio at San Diego Opera

Singing on the opening night of the Metropolitan Opera season is a testimony to a singer’s ability. Not only is it a testament to the singer's ability to sing but also the singer's ability to create some buzz--some anticipation. There …

Parker has a great touch and serious arranging skills.

Pianist Reka Parker headlined her first gig at the new Dizzy's in Pacific Beach last night, fronting a veteran quartet featuring guitarist Dwight Love, bassist Jeff Blanco and drummer Bob Daniels. Ratcheting the excitement quotient up several notches were the …

Cumbia and dancehall Gematria DJ tonight at El Tinieblo Mezcal Room

Every Monday at The Office (3936 30th Street - North Park), DJs Rashi (Tribe of Kings) and Eddie Turbo bring out the laser bleeps, airhorn, and riddim rewinds for Dub Dynamite. For about a decade now, this weekly event (formerly …

The Christopher Adler Trio improvised from scratch, while the Michael Vlatkovich Quartet tore into charts for two equally compelling sets.

Bassist Scott Walton was the unifying factor in two wildly divergent presentations of "free-jazz" last night at the University of San Diego. Together with pianist Christopher Adler and drummer Nathan Hubbard, a dense, kinetic, wholly improvised set unfolded--and, with trombonist …

Jazz 88.3 radio deejay has hosted Latin Grooves for nearly a decade from the campus of City College

Also known as C-Love, Chris Springer has been the voice and chief programmer of the Latin Grooves show Saturdays on KSDS Jazz 88.3 since 2003. He takes time out for a little email Q/A session. How did the show come …

Is it an open heart or an Ayn Randian egotist? Perhaps both?

As mentioned, I sat down and chatted with Yves Abel. We let ourselves roam around a number of subjects. We talked about more than music but there was almost always a musical connection to be made. Throughout our talk, Yves …

3 complete albums to be performed:The Yes Album, Close to the Edge, Going For the One

In summer 2012, singer Jon Davison of mostly-local Yes tribute band Roundabout was tapped by the actual Yes, to tour as a temp replacement for singer Benoit David (who replaced founding vocalist Jon Anderson). Davison will still be manning the …

Borgo asked heavy questions, answered some of them, and played some great music last night.

UCSD professor, ethnomusicologist, saxophonist, and composer David Borgo presented a wide-ranging talk last night called Why Music to a full-house at Conrad Prebys Music Center. Utilizing written material, audio and visual examples, and most importantly, live instrumental demonstrations, Borgo posed …

A harmonica with a rock and roll past lands up under Coe Lewis's Christmas tree

"I just want to point something out to you right here." Coe Lewis sets a smallish white box on the table at Einstein's and opens it to reveal: a pocket harmonica with set of pinkish lip prints. "That's my lipstick," …

Who is the most interesting man in the world? I submit Yves Abel for your consideration.

Yves Abel appears to have been almost everywhere: Berlin, London, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Rome, Palermo, Paris, Nice, Lisbon, Naples, Dallas, Calgary, Santa Fe, Seattle, Leeds, San Diego--and on and on and on. In these cities he has influenced …

Analog liquid projectionists present psychedelic wondernight at Casbah

“Our goal is to make super-rad visuals without using any video or digital stuff,” Ake Arndt of liquid projection duo Operation: MINDBLOW told The Reader in February. “Just to keep it fun and interesting and do weird shit.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3khIslRCHvc Liquid …

East county painter captures the essence of rock and roll's past

Of the subjects that appeal to fine artist Jessie Buddell, only one of them is still alive. That would be Grace Slick. So far, the rest are Jerry Garcia, Jim Morrison, Tommy Bolin, Keith Moon, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix. She's …

These guys have some pretty heavy credentials. Plus, it's a Bonnie Wright production.

Bonnie Wright's Fresh Sound concert series continues on Jan. 20, at Space 4 Art in the East Village with a performance by the Erik Deutsch Band arriving from NYC. Keyboardist Deutsch has worked with vocalists Norah Jones and Roseanne Cash, …

Ride the triangle with the Valkyries.

We were bombing our way down the freeway when Ride of the Valkyries began to play. My eight-year-old daughter looked up from the game she was playing on my phone, “What’s this one about daddy?” “Warrior princess riding across the …

Uncon Sci's beats from a far East post-midnight metropolis

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/14/38409/ Uncon Sci Tiger Mustache album art by Michelle Tran Last month, experimental bass and beat collective Liquid Geometry threw a farewell Apocalypse party to signal a halt to nearly two years of monthly installments at the Kava Lounge in …

Bassist Scott Walton will play with the Christopher Adler Trio and Michael Vlatkovich Quartet this Thursday. Starts at 7. Free!

USD will host an evening of cutting edge jazz on Jan. 17, a double-bill concert that features former San Diegan Scott Walton in both ensembles. At 7 pm, the Christopher Adler Trio opens, featuring Adler on piano with Walton on …

Retro-world rocker promises to post "Turban-cam" reports for Reader readers

"I kept it mellow during the holidays, kind of recharging my batteries for what is sure to be the busiest most exciting year yet for me and the band," says retro-world rocker Hargo. "My guitarist Sanjay Parekh and I are …

Obsessively DIY singer/songwriter swears "I will never subject you to a Kickstarter campaign"

"When I first arrived in San Diego almost twelve years ago, I could only record and put out demos on tape cassettes," recalls soulful singer/songwriter Simeon Flick, who crafts original music in his own Blue Chair Studio as well as …

The small room, pristine acoustics and masterful playing make the Westgate the place to be on Friday nights.

Some of my friends are piano players, the concert series curated by trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos, held each Friday night at the Westgate Hotel continues to be the jazz spot in San Diego. The premise is solid: a different pianist every …

Monthly experimental/dance/punk night hosts Late Nite Howl and Dead Animal Mod

"Makeout Weird is a great place to bring a first date," Monsterpussy, co-host of the eclectic monthly event at Whistle Stop Bar (2236 Fern Street – South Park), told The Reader last April. This Thursday, January 17, Tijuana doom-folk troubadour …

A full house for a riveting concert at Space 4 Art.

Fresh Sound, the adventurous concert series curated by Bonnie Wright, began its 2013 season with a superb show by the ageless Dutch percussion legend Han Bennink last night, with string virtuosi Mark Dresser and Mary Oliver before a standing-room-only crowd …

Oldest son of Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti returns to roots

Femi Kuti, son of Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, and his band, The Positive Force, will be coming to the Belly Up Tavern (Solana Beach) on Thursday, January 17. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46wRCyTYAl4 Kuti’s latest album, No Place for My Dream, follows his …

The music of the iconic jazz couple will be celebrated in the first concert of the year by the San Diego Center for the Arts.

"The idea behind this series was to provide an additional venue for local musicians to perform music of their own choosing," says guitarist Nate Jarrell of the San Diego Center for the Arts, an organization founded by drummer Jeanette Kangas, …

Anthony Smith tells all in his self-penned memoir about life in the music industry fast lane

There was farting and crude lyrics sung over familiar songs, gay jokes, butt jokes, frequent and loud belly laughter, rough-housing, and a general tone of adolescent mischief. Also, Peepers introduced a new form of drug abuse to my band members: …

A few marginal pieces by Mendelssohn.

Since Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto is going on this weekend, I decided to explore some of his other music and keep my New Years resolution of listening to a new piece of music everyday. Here are a few of the Mendelssohn …

The Danish vocalist dazzled in her inaugural SD showcase, floating on the accompaniment of Sprague, Biggs and Weller.

Danish vocalist Sinne Eeg played her SD debut last night, a hastily organized but spectacularly successful concert that found her hooking up with guitarist Peter Sprague, bassist Gunnar Biggs and young drum phenomenon Charles Weller for the first time to …

"He's awake and alert but breathing tubes are still in," according to friends.

Mira Mesa blues singer/guitarist Jeffrey Joe Morin is in the hospital, "mending from some heart complications" according to his Facebook page today. "He's awake and alert but breathing tubes are still in," reads a post from fellow musico Lindsay White …

The answer is ancient aliens.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/09/38144/ The Che Café is back with another multi-day extravaganza following last year’s “I Promise” benefit, which saw some of the most energetic acts at the UCSD co-op venue since I was in high school. In fact, the excitement of …

San Diego-gone-Brooklyn duo release video in support of debut LP.

On the coattails of their debut album, Brotherface, San Diego-gone-Brooklyn duo Writer (James and Andy Ralph) recently released a video for their track “Cash for Gold.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF8G7ekSdlI Director Erika Ochoa says: "the visuals for 'Cash for Gold' were inspired by …

Each of these 14 releases still resonate with me.

2012 was a banner year for recorded jazz, if the more than 100 CD's that arrived in my mail box are any indication. Even still, I'm sure I missed a few that might have bowled me over--but that's o.k., since …

Six years in the making, Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto headlines at Symphony Hall this weekend.

The Mendelssohn Violin Concerto is coming up this weekend at the San Diego Symphony. This concerto is one of the most popular in the violin repertoire. The piece took Mendelssohn six years to complete. There were extenuating circumstances, such as …

Pink Floyd Experience to debut new national stage show at Winstons

"There will be no other west coast appearances, so this is a Winstons exclusive" says Tom Quinn of the Pink Floyd Experience, who'll appear at the Ocean Beach venue on January 18. "For the first time ever, we'll present a …

With 80 singers who know what they're doing, the San Diego Opera chorus for Samson is ready to smash or be smashed.

All 80 singers were there last night for the first combined chorus rehearsal of San Diego Opera’s Samson et Dalila. What a sound! The chorus begins the show as oppressed Hebrews and finishes the show as depraved and ultimately squashed …

The saxophonist's original material draws upon the inspiration of one of jazz's most revered icons.

Tenor saxophonist Brian Levy set the spirit of jazz behemoth John Coltrane into motion last night with a set that toggled between blistering power and velvet warmth to offset the chilly air at the new Dizzy's, joining forces with pianist …

Bennink is a master of conventional and free jazz improvisation who has played with everyone from Sonny Rollins to Eric Dolphy to Derek Bailey.

Concert promoter Bonnie Wright kicks off her cutting-edge music series Fresh Sound this week with a bang, bringing the Dutch drumming legend Han Bennink to San Diego with violinist/violist Mary Oliver and our own contrabass virtuoso Mark Dresser on Jan. …

Psychedelic coldwave rockers host Mondays for the month

Soda Bar is kicking off a free, month-long Monday night residency with local psych/pop rockers Barbarian. Barbarian was cited as a band to look out for in 2013 by two local taste-makers in a recent Pacific piece. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6xw2bfrRZzA January 7 …

Experimental art and music monthly relocated to East Village

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/05/37916/ Following nearly a year of monthly installments at the Kava Lounge, Stay Strange presents their first night at East Village venue Space 4 Art (325 15th Street) on Saturday, January 26. Sam Lopez, who curates the annual San Diego …

"Nothing has changed from your company's article a few weeks ago. Just a careful reminder: I won't hesitate to slap the Reader with a defamation lawsuit should you write untruths... There is no additional news here." That was what Anthology …

One of San Diego's longest-running EDM monthly celebrates a birthday

One of San Diego’s longest-running electronic dance music monthlies, Dragon Lounge, celebrates their 15 year anniversary with a party at the Kava Lounge next Saturday, January 12. The evening features the crispy glitch production of HeavenlyFather (Looney Moon Experiment-LA): https://soundcloud.com/heavenly-father/heavenly-father-gift …

Verdi's Four Sacred Pieces were the last things he composed.

Verdi's Four Sacred Pieces are something I've been meaning to listen to since 1993, or so. This 365 idea is the perfect excuse to finally check them out. The four pieces were written separately but published together. The texts aren't …

I'm still mulling over my top-ten jazz releases for 2012, but here's an advance tip: Tiresian Symmetry is number one.

Tenor saxophonist/composer Jason Robinson represents the best hopes one could have in the generation of players entering their maturity in this age where cookie-cutout, music-factory sameness seems to dominate the plethora of jazz releases. Robinson is a schooled musician who …

“Tennessee Waltz,” “Old Cape Cod” and “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?” singer was 85

RIP San Diego music legend Patti Page, known for hits like “Tennessee Waltz,” “Old Cape Cod,” and “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?” She passed away this week at the age of 85. Her musical success spawned several …

How about a new piece of classical music every day for a year?

What to do for the New Year? I was thinking about listening to a piece of music I’ve never heard every day. Yes, 365 new pieces of music this year. I’ve probably heard about 60 of Schubert’s 300 songs so …