RANTS of a writer...Where did you all go?

Seems like the music scene in San Diego is taking a turn for the worst.  I dont want to blame anyone.  Well maybe promoters, the club owners, the bands and the audience; at this point even music writers/bloggers/reviewers.   Everyone in the music business in San Diego is to blame.

I have been attending shows and I keep asking myself:   "Are Bands Really Overexposing themselves? Or is the Economy just that shitty that attendance is so low, even at free shows?"   or another question I have been trying to figure out; "WHY!? OH DEAR GOD, WHY is the same line up with the same band at the same venue being done again?"  Don't get me wrong I love watching the same bands over and over.  However seeing the same bands in the same venue for 10 to nothing bucks is getting a little boring! Something about promoters and bands double booking each other hasn't really stopped the over exposure going on in the nine venues along the strips.  North County Bands really don't play here and and touring acts are a hit or miss.  

Sunday night the line up was great The Growlers (OC), The Dabbers (SD), and Kurt Vile and the Violators (PA).  Great line-up.  The Growlers are one of my new favorite bands from OC. The Dabbers are just an awesome 2 piece; drums and bass.    The whole time I was there; I kept wondering to myself why there was no one at the Casbah.  The line up was great.  Where are all the bodies that normally come out to the shows to check out the music and be known in the scene. No Rosey, No Seth, No Naj, NO one was there so so sad! By the end of the show I was able to count more people reading my blog then going to the shows.  75 people total including bandmates and employees of the venue.  

I understand its a Sunday night, but with excellent line ups like this one; there should be no reason why people arent coming out.  Oh wait; could it be that some people refuse to pay 10 bucks?  Not to mention the drink factor, the cab fare.  Your total cost of the night might end up being 60 bucks?  For that price some people would rather grab a bottle of liquor and pay for a big venue show.  Not very fun.  When you have 2000+people in one place and the band looks like 2 inches large from where your standing.... 

Looking at all the listings around town.  Have you ever noticed the same line ups with the same bands.  Long and Short of It with Archons.  Old In Out with Apes of Wrath.  The Widows at Tower all the time.  I know that the promoters here have a good ear for booking shows.  I ask again why oh dear god why the same fucken line up?  Can we please get a little creative?  I just got the invite for the new Rumble SD.  Guess what.  Its Apes of Wrath and Old In Out again.  I love those bands.  But the SAME line up?  Although its a free show, there is a good chance I might not show up and call it an early night.  Either too many promoters just booking their friends or people trying to suckle the very last of the music tit in San Diego.  Its getting dry.

I had a chance to talk to a few artist about why they dont support the venues or the bands coming in.  It came down to a few things, PAY TO PLAY, the venue wont book us so we wont support it; my favorite i only support free.  Two out of three are null excuses.  Stop being a baby about your situation and support your scene.  In the mid to late nineties bands were always supporting each other.  This whole "I am better than you attitude needs to stop!"  Bands are doing the same thing, so why not support each other?  Maybe if a few bands support the other bands and it kept going back and fourth the money made at shows would actually be spread around.  Some of us call it "Spreading The Love."  

PAY TO PLAY- This is basically what most of the bands do.  Bands get booked.  It is their responsibility to make flyers and posters.  Drive around and put them in bars, record shops, bathroom stalls, and you name it.  If your an out of town band then you have to pay for shipping of the posters and flyers.  Lets do a calculation here 40 bucks for posters and flyers, 40 bucks for driving around the damn city to promote, 2-4 hours of their time promoting online. Now lets not forget the gas between their space to the venue.  That just cost the band 80-100 dollars.  The day of the show they made 50 bucks.  Now split that between all the bandmates.  They just lost anywhere between 50-80 bucks.  This band just PAID TO PLAY.   If you can only see me nodding my head right now.  

San Diego and all the other Towns around Please Please do something to fix this situation.  Other writers wont mention it, However I will.  I like to call it like I see it!

Till the next show review or listing

Thanks for Reading Rockn' Roll Never Looked So Good

-Bullet McKenzie

Its a Rumble and a Show Review!

To tell you the truth, im not sure what is better. A note written on a napkin or a my cheap ass phone. I'm at the Casbah. Its a Saturday night Rumble. The Rumble SD is a free once a month show that brings in a few local acts and a few out of town. This Saturday it was The Blakes, Lady Dottie and the Diamonds and my new favorite band Fitz and the Tantrums.

As the night began I made my way amongst the crowd. Hellos and how are yous are always proper when going to a venue that reminds you of home. Grabbing my usual poison of Jameson and PBR to chase the whiskey down. The Blakes went on. I will have to say its been a while since a band opened the Casbah that I have never heard of and really enjoyed. If BRMC and We are Scientist had a love child. Yes it would be the Blakes. They are a 3 piece band from Settle, WA. The rainy city brings great music sometimes. It might be the over depressed musicians that live there due to the lack of sunshine that we get here in lovely San Diego!


The crowd is grow as the minutes pass. Its almost surreal and movie like. Its like a soundtrack that was meant for the night. I have met Scheff prior to seeing him tonight. The lad was nice enough to keep me company as i did show up alone like always. Great conversations with great people at Casbah always makes my night. The Blakes at this time have finished their set. Its time for Lady Dottie and the Diamonds.

As Lady Dottie take the stage. Joey would actually be missing in action. The band is all set up except for him. As the crowd grows antsy for some good rockn roll. Lady Dottie and The Diamonds can not wait any longer. The first song begins to play. Mid song, in comes Joey in a hurry to set up. Normally I would say what a bunch of amateurs. However, Joey and the band were able to play it cool. What a bunch of little Fonzys'. Nathan Beale is playin guitar as Dirty Sweet is home from tour. The Soul and Funk that is coming out of the monitors is running hard through the veins of the Casbah. What is it about Lady Dottie that keeps everyone movie the way they do? This lovely Saturday night, it had to be the high high energy of the band. Giving it their all! As I talked to Nathan later after the show. I mentioned that this was one of the Hottest Gigs i have seen them do. I didnt mean temperature wise either. Of course what I see in the front isnt the same as what the band sees on stage. To him it was a Jalopy of a mess, however still able to pull off some great stunts for the audience.

Fitz and The Tantrums went on stage. By this time the venue was over loaded with people. To my dismay a wedding reception arrived where the hell did they come from? Does it matter? Not really. Fitz and the Tantrums are a pop soul band. They really impressed me. The presence of the band was more mellow, however enough to keep my toes tapping. Another great night at Casbah. Check out these bands on their myspace for tour information.

http://www.myspace.com/theblakes
myspace.com/ladydottieandthediamonds
myspace.com/fitzsoulmusic