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Entries
Twin Cabins: Nostalgia That Could Never Be
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/sep/07/31116/ I'm Sure, the newest effort from La Jolla via Mexico City bedroom dreamer Twin Cabins (Nacho Cano), is the definitive soundtrack to star-crossed late adolescence. While Cano’s earlier releases explored more introspective, ambient textures, I’m Sure finds footing with …
Paul Ryan the runner
Much has been made of Republican vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan's fitness. He is reputed to be into P90X. P90X is a popular fitness program. It claims to transform your body in 90 days. I've tried a few of the workouts …
40 Years Ago Today: Jefferson Airplane @ Sports Arena, more Week in Local Rock History
Forty years ago today -- September 7, 1972 -- the Jefferson Airplane played the San Diego Sports Arena. This was one of the Airplane's final concerts with their "classic" lineup, which split up two weeks later following a San Francisco …
Electronic Mayhem in the East Village
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/sep/06/31036/ In celebration of the 100th birthday of iconic 20th Century composer John Cage, Bonnie Wright curated an electronic music extravaganza last night in a well-attended concert held outdoors at Space4Art in the East Village. Cage was a brilliant, renegade …
Local Band Comp Staring at the Sun Debuts 9-24 Casbah, 10-6 Lestat's
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/sep/05/30936/ Following last month's comprehensive new local band compilation from Ship Records, Against the Current (see this week's Blurt column) is the tenth volume of the long running Staring at the Sun series, with two local release parties, preceded by …
Grampadrew Giving Away Free Song (& Story) Each Day For 13 Days
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/sep/04/30804/ “I’m a singer-songwriter with alt-country leanings, but a punk rock spirit,” says acoustic troubadour Grampadrew, aka Drew Douglas. “Think John Prine and Neil Young, jamming on a sawdust-floor hoedown with Wilco.” Grampadrew was nominated Best Alt Country and Best …
Butterworth
In a rare fit of pastoral sentiment, I gave George Butterworth’s The Banks of Green Willow a listening to. The piece was written in 1913 and was based on folk tunes that Butterworth had collected in Sussex in 1907 and …
Fresh Sound: 4 sets of multi-generational electronic music, Sept. 5
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/sep/03/30803/ There is no person in San Diego that does more to bring cutting-edge, experimental music onto the stage than concert promoter/record label operator Bonnie Wright. Over the years she has worked tirelessly to bring a stunning array of the …
Szell and Cleveland
Concerning orchestral transparency, it is difficult to surpass George Szell and his Cleveland Orchestra. Yes, it was his orchestra. Almost 20 years after he died, his name was still lauded in reviews of the Cleveland players. I will never forget …
Toscanini
If there was a conductor who welded the 19th and 20th Centuries together, it was Arturo Toscanini. Born in 1867, Toscanini lived until 1957. He died shortly before his 90th birthday. At 19-years-old, Toscanini was the principal cellist in an …
Doing Joni Proud
Last night's Robin Adler & Mutts of the Planet concert celebrating the music of Joni Mitchell was huge success on every conceivable level--and like a classical music performance--much of the credit is due both to the performers and the composer. …
Astra Kelly Debuting Torch Song Concept Album Sept. 7 at House of Blues
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/sep/01/30692/ Astra Kelly will debut songs from her new torch-singer concept album Parlour Songs: Love and Heartbreak at House of Blues on September 7. The full-length finds her pursuing a new less-rock and roll sound, with songs written around universal …
Valle Group 'Heads Wes' at Tango Del Rey
Guitarist Jaime Valle is one of the San Diego jazz scene's most valuable players and distinctive musicians. Last night, he assembled an incredible group of veteran performers to pay tribute to the music, and spirit of jazz icon Wes Montgomery …
So How Come, 17 Years Later, Overheard in San Diego is Still Black and White??
The Reader's Overheard In San Diego comic strip made its debut in the Blurt column almost 17 years ago. Here's the tryout strip I submitted with my original sales pitch: http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/sep/01/30651/ As you can see, little about the format has …