Weekend Picks! What's Worth Watching and Where!

Shaking, rattling and rolling, not just a song, but the way the earth has been moving lately. Don't be scared just roll with it. If you think thats all the rattling from those St. Andres fault lines then your crazy! The weekend picks are enough to create more shaking with this rockn and rolling that beautiful San Diego does.
Check it out the Weekend Picks:

April 8th
Ride the Sun, Snail, Archons, Across Tundras @ Ruby Room
Rats Eyes, Stab City @ Bar Pink
Fever Sleeves, X-Ray Press, Fkenal @ Soda Bar
Melly Frances and The Distilled Spirits, The Cutaways @ Tin Can Ale House
Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich & Fussible, Illuminauts, Revulab @ Casbah

April 9th
Geezer, A Little Big Star (Alex Chilton tribute), and Secret Seven @ Bar Pink
Cattle Decapitation, Phobia, Destroyed in Seconds, Warkrusher, Dead Ghosts @ The Ruby Room
Stereo Summer, The Red Ribbon Army(LA), Save Amos, The Inheritance @ Radio Room
JOY, Low Volts, The Smart Brothers @ Tin Can Ale House

April 10th
Mashtis (CD Release) / Black Hondo / Cozy Corners / Joey Harris and The Mentals @ The Ruby Room
Los Straitjackets , Big Sandy and His Flyrite Boys , El Monte Slim@ Casbah
Firethorn, Petticoat, Swore, Breakhouse@ Radio Room
Rumble San Diego w/Pepper Rabbit, Writer, Black Mamba, DJ sets by Jamuel Saxon@ Bar Pink
Jungle Fever, The Watusis, The Sharp Objects, Mermaid@ Soda Bar
One I Red, Bella Novela, The Flowerthief@ Tin Can Ale House

April 11th
Murder By Death , Ha Ha Tonka, Linfinity @ Casbah (nuf said!)

April 12th
Andrews Avenue/Spero Lumina @ Ruby Room
The Styletones@ Bar Pink 

Serena Ryder , Ryan Star , Cuff the Duke@ Casbah

Can't wait to get this weekend started with tonight!!! I will see ya'll at the shows! 

Weekend Picks! What's Worth Watching and Where!

Hello San Diego. Guess what? Im back into town.  Fighting this horrible jet lag, But here I am still bring you the weekend picks.  Scotland was exactly what I remember it being, snow, rain, a bit of break in the clouds and a bit of green.    New things are coming up for RRNLSG and myself.  I am currently booking a tour for a local band which will be announced soon.  Also next Thursday get ready for a awesome show that will be announced. I will keep you all in suspense till then.  For now here are the weekend picks!  


April 1st
The Bloodflowers, Lord Howler @ Bar Pink
Serengeti Rocks, the Beautiful View, Bella Novela, Gun Runner @ Ruby Room
The Hot Moon, Manuok, The Flying Objects (DJ set) @ Soda Bar
The Wedding Present, Ringo Deathstar @ Casbah
Aaron Swanton, Spencer Rabin, Randy Hernandez @ Tin Can Ale House


April 2nd
MR ROCK DUDE! w/ Lights On, The Death Eaters, The Franks@ Soda Bar
A Scribe Amidst The Lions, Day of Anomie,Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra @ Radio Room
The Silent Comedy , Doll and the Kicks, Links@Casbah
Illuminauts, The Paddle Boat @ Whistle Stop
Hyena @ El Dorado.  (and thats if your desperate) 


April 3rd
Gram Rabbit , Blackout Party, Black Hondo @ Casbah
The Dabbers, Captain Ahab, @Soda Bar
The Goddamn Gallows(MI), The Strikers, Hands Down South, Jody Wayne Wood Band @ Radio Room
Lanterns,Da Bears, D/Wolves Cover @ Tin Can Ale House


April 4th 
The Dabbers , A Punch And Judy Puppet Show, Mission: Valley , Myth, DJ Nightrocker @ Casbah


April 5th
Primitive Noyes, Mousefire (Florida), Manta Rae, Samhears @ Tin Can Ale House

See ya at all the shows!  

Long Hard Road outta Austin .. SXSW recap

The drive to Austin, TX is not as bad as people say.  It is just a gruesome twenty hour drive if you got it in you to gun straight through each state.  Don't  forget about the check points on the way to Texas.  Dogs sniffing through all the bags and slobbering all over the pillows and blankets.  Sometimes its just well worth all the traveling hell just for the week long music that occurs yearly.

Years ago the recommendation of getting a badge and a hotel room, eat all the fancy BBQ in Texas would guarantee the best time of your life.  Probably also spend over 2000 dollars.  This year was a little different.  Take 300 dollars, volunteer and sleep in a car or find a place to crash.  By the end of the trip I had twenty dollars left.  (It was a budget made specifically for myself in order not to spend more money than I wanted to).  

From the moment the van arrived with all 5 passengers it was game time.  First stop was  The Lustrepearl.  Checking out the San Diego Ho-Down sponsered by Bar Pink, CityBeat, The Loft and Stone Brewery.  This un-official show case had some of San Diego's up and coming musical acts such as The Nervous Wreckords, Tape Deck Mountain, and El Ten Eleven.  Let us not forget your favorite acts such as Steve Poltz, Dirty Sweet and Transfer.  The free show included free Wahoo Fish Tacos and free Stone beer and Trumer Pilsner.  

As the night went on, the walk around the city.  Music was coming from every part of the main drag.  6th street Austin, Texas is the place to be this week.  This unfamiliar city has left everyone in awe.  (For those who have not been to Austin, please do yourself a favor and check this beautiful city out.)  So many shows to catch. So many bands to watch.  Stumbling around the city we walked into the One 2 One Club where The Twalls from Austin Tx was playing.  This band is composed of local musicians.  Dancing the set away, it was getting towards the time that Steve Poltz would be playing at the Hilton Garden Inn on the 18th floor.  

After watching Poltz played we decided to  walk the strip again.  Just to see what was going on.  Food, decided was the best thing at that point.  Beer's in hand, phillycheese sandwiches in the other and Chad (my partner in crime) walked our merry way around.  

Meeting up with the rest of the crew at The Hideout, a local coffee shop that included free WI-FI and nice Italian sodas.  Back to the van and back to the place we were crashing out at.  


The next day was more about checking out the strip and waking from venue to venue.  Seeing who was playing when and what time.  The morning started with breakfast taco.  I do not know what it is about texas but they are big on wrapping food as tacos.  This is however the craze during the whole trip.  Tacos and BBQ.  


At mid day my partner in crime went in to Darwin's Pub to check out what seemed to be an LA rock back.  No my mistake.  It was a pop-rock Los Angeles wanna be generic band from Nashville.  This band was not worth seeing.  November was the name of the band.  They had five members, one who looked like an overgrown 16 year old in leather pants and bleached streaked hair.  Their keyboardist was wearing sunglasses and a hoodie trying to cover up the fact that he might have been way to old to play in the band.  Again a band that thought they were too cool for school.  We walked right out.

Right across the road was Leslie and the Badgers playing at another bar.  5 bucks to get in.  Well, we decided against paying due to the fact that they had open windows and you can still hear them from the outside and see their back side.  It was really because we had open containers of alcohol in our hand.  
The night ended on a positive note.

The next day while the boys went around putting up flyers for a record company that they decided to volu volunteer nter for, I went down to the lawn party to check out Dum Dum Girls and Yellow Fever.  This isnt really my cup of tea when it comes to music.  So I just sat and wrote about the experience that i have been going through in two journals.  Mason and I went back to The Hideout to meet up with the rest of the crew.  We left Mason as my partner in crime, the dreamy Ryan Blue and myself went off putting up more posters.  By ten pm Ryan mentioned the Hilton Garden Inn again.  We all walked over that direction to catch the show.  When we walked up the lady at the door said "7 dollars." I mentioned that I would go in as soon as I found out if the band we are here to see is actually playing. She noted that I took out a journal and stared jotting down the names of the artist for that showcase.  She looked over at me and said "You guys don't have to pay.  If you guys wanna come in its free for you."  

We walked in right in time to see Correatown play.  Their set was very folky.  A genre that I normally don't get tired of.  After that set a sweet Julie Feeney from Dublin Ireland get ready.  With the snaps of her fingers her set begins. She starts the first song a-capella.  She has the voice of an angel.  She can whisper a fairy tale with her voice and sing it almost in a rhythmic lullaby with a harp to accompany her beautiful voice.  

I looked at the clock and it was soon to be midnight.  No we were not turning into pumpkins.  However, DANKO FUCKEN JONES was about to take the stage.  I would not miss this show for the world.  With the quickness of our feet we walked right back to the Texas Rock Fest stage right as Danko Jones went on stage.  This is the kind of music that gets me antsy for rockn roll.  They played "Code of the Road, "Lovers Call," and a few new tunes off their up coming release Below the Belt. Once they were done, Broken Teeth took on the stage next to them.  Another great rockn roll band from Austin.  With in a few tunes in, lead singer Jason McMaster called up Danko Jones to help him out with “Viva la Rock, Fantastico!” an amazing rock song that is to debut in Broken Teeths' new album. 


To much rocking and rolling, I dont think so, but it is bed time the next two days will be to die for!  
Wake up the next morning.  (i believe this is day 3.)  By this time all the days are meshed in together the whiskey is no longer taking effect!  Hello Requiemme Showcase!  

The Aquarium is the place to be for the first unofficial showcase for Requiemme, The Call the Office, and Bar Pink conjoined showcase.  Featuring some amazing bands.  The line up (in order they played) Lady Dottie and the Diamonds, Maren Parusel, The Bellrays, Nico Stai, Broken Gold, Darlings of Chelsea, MadJuana and The Zeros.  I, of course am behind the merch table.  With Mario and the Requiemme artist, doing merch for the guys is always fun!  The highlight of this showcase was The BellRays and MadJuana.  Of course my west coast heroes and now friends The Zeros.  Free Beer, loads of friends and a great time ahead.  The BellRays have the energy of a ADD crack baby and its all over the place.  It sounds bad, but infact it is some amazing vibing going on when lead singer Lisa get that microphone in her hand.  Jumping,dancing, swaying, and rockin the day away.  Thats the BellRays way.  

 After this show case, it was time to hit up Alejandro Escovedo at the San Jose motel.  When your intoxicated a mile and a half walk isnt that bad intill you realize holy shit.  We have been averaging a total of 5-6 miles a day of walking.  By this time, I think I hit my "im done" button.  Passed out on the backseat of a car while everyone watched Broken Bells at the Lustrepearl. Granted I was able to hear them since it was only about 100 feet where I passed out for the night.  

Next morning we started off at Sam's BBQ. Yeah it was about time we tried the very popular Texan BBQ everyone raves about.  It was tasty I will admit.  We went to Over Coffee to check out the handsome Ryan Blues' friend.  Singer song writer Devon Sproule.  Entertaining funny, witty songs.  Folky and with a country twang.   After that set we all took the Austin Metro back to 6th street.  Went into a bar and just relaxed.  This was the last day of the 4 day leg of the SXSW  "Freelance Writers Tour."  What happens when alcohol doesnt have effect on you.  The drinking doesnt stop but your not sure if you want to continue?  You grab some street food and keep on trucking!  The Last showcase of the night.  

The Requiemme official show case.  The line up (in order they played) Transfer, Maren Parusel, Darlings of Chelsea, MadJuana, Lady Dottie and The Zeros.  In this show case Michael Monroe, Ginger from the Wildhearts, Sami Yaffa (who is in MadJuana) all were hanging out while Darlings of Chelsea played.   Sami Yaffa who used to play in bands like Hanoi Rocks, New York Dolls, and Michael Monroe new band.  Plays guitar for MadJuana, and killed it on their set.  First time ever seeing them play live, however have all ways been a big fan of them. Their music is best described as gypsy folk with balls.  Not exactly Gogol Bordello, however in that similar genre.  Karmen Guy's vocals makes the band a different from what is normally noted for similar bands.  


Again, behind the merch table, I sold out of Maren Parusel ep's.  All of Darling of Chelsea Albums, and  all their shirts except for 2 which Jay Millette said its cool to keep. (Thanks Jay) A few Zero's items.  Once the Zeros finished their set.  They did two more encore songs.  The audience was not wanting them to end.  However, it was over the the club was not wanting them to continue.  The rest of this night has declared off the record due to the adventure in a van and what was an after party with 8 cases of beer.


Recap on this whole adventure :  Unofficial Shows and street food, Breakfast tacos.  Please beware of the Border patrol going to the festival.  Look out for Free Beer shows, they fuck you up! and Make friends with Canadians they are fucken amazing people. Till next year! 

Weekend Picks! What's Worth Watching and Where!

Hola San Diego, Im sitting here on a train going to London.  I was absent last week due to SXSW (review to come soon).  I decided to take a small week and a half trip to Scotland to visit family and have a little bit of me time.  When your a workaholic, tension builds within your head.  Leaving the city, state or in my case the country is the best thing to do sometimes.  Yes right now im siting down getting ready for this train to leave Aberdeen, Scotland and take me to London, England.  Don't worry San Diego I will be back next week in time for some great shows including Gram Rabbit and Blackout Party.  I am also still looking out for you as in what shows to go to. 


Ladies and Gents I give you the Pick of the Weekend!  (Remember I am there in spirit.) 


March 25th
Weatherbox w/ Italian Japanese @ Bar Pink
Dying to wake/Arms Entwined / Rock Paper Tiger @ Ruby Room
Heart Fall Hearts,Tumbledown(Mike Herrera MXPX),The Brandy Alexander Band @ Radio Room
Otis Heat, Starcrossed, The Morning on Fire @ Soda Bar




March 26th
The Morning Benders , Miniature Tigers , We Barbarians @ Casbah
Surfer Blood, Turbo Fruits, Lanterns @ Bar Pink
The Fleshies, Stones at Heart, Street Eaters, Tubers@ Soda Bar
The Donkeys, Space Nature @ Tin Can Ale House

March 27th
The Dabbers, The Hot Moon, Sunday Times@ Tin Can Ale House
CKY, Year Long Disaster, Warner Drive@ Casbah

Reverend Mothers, Cidro Punks, La Corde@ Soda Bar

Four Minutes Til Midnight / Fight From Above (LA)/Cat party(LA) @ Ruby Room

March 28th

Fever Sleeves , Helen Earth Band , The Tall Ships, Greg Gibson @ Casbah

JEFF The Brotherhood w/Splinters @ Bar Pink

I will keep you all updated on more shows to come.  Hope you can all make it to these shows although I will be there in spirit, I will see you all when I return. 

Limbs and Treasure

The Mashtis  might be the next best thing to come out of this era.  Not just saying that because CityBeat announced it during their "Great Demo Issue of 2010."   Prior to the demo  issue coming out, I had the album in my hand.  They were "pick of the weekend" many times for this blog.  Now it is time for my review of their self title album to be released!  


If you think their name looks familiar, it may be due to the fact that they were named after LA's famous Mashti Malone's Ice Cream shop located at La Brea Ave.  Only a year together and The Mashtis have been sprinkling their fairy dust into everyones ear for something new and creative on the scene.  This is not your hard heavy rock band.  Not a pop-rock-clap-your-hands and tap your feet band.  Not something that you would hear out of the ordinary.  It is best described as a dreamy jangly almost Pixie style band.  Influences such as Pavement and Sonic Youth are very much heard in their music. 


From the moment you press play on your cd player, your automatically hooked.  Their catchy dreamy tunes could be called rockn' roll hymns.  If there truly existed a church of rockn' roll, you would see "Limbs and Treasure," " Harmony Circles," and "Sympathetic Pearl" some where in the one million page book of hymns.  It may also have to do with intertwining male-female harmonies and evocative, almost cryptic lyrics.  The Mashtis, it's music for all occasions. 

The formation of this stellar three piece band started four years ago when lead vocalist and guitarist Itai Faireman posted a simple craigslist ad looking for people for a drummer to experiment with.  Neal was the only one to respond.  They played a hand full of gigs together before Itai moved back to the east coast.  A year ago Itai moved back to San Diego with a brand new solo album entitled The Sunbed Tapes.  With a quick jingle and jangle of the phone; Neal was invited to the cd release party.  Erica was an addition to the band.  Itai met Erica through a mutual friend and together they formed what is now The Mashtis.  


The recording of this album was done at Chaos Recorders with Christopher Hoffee, master engineer and producer (Truckee Brothers, Robin Henkel, Transfer, White Buffalo, and more). With Hoffee recording the album was both challenging and comfortable in this creative situation.  Due to time restraints the album was recorded in 3 days (15 hours per day mind you).  "I'm very happy with how it came out. We recorded the album live..a snapshot of The Mashtis moment." Itai mentioned when asked about the recording process.  "I'm real pleased."


The CD release is April 10th at the Ruby Room with Black Hondo, Cozy Corners and Joey Harris and the Mentals.  Make sure when your there to grab one of their albums.  

Weekend Picks! Where to go and whats worth watching!

Did you all see it?  The Great Demo Issue.  It came out yesterday.  Yes in one day I read the whole thing. I believe this year all the music contributors decided to be nice to all musicians.  I don't understand why.  The past few demo reviews have been more critical than this years.  Maybe Citybeat was feeling generous.  Well on the bright side of it all the weekend is here.  This weekend I will be posting more than I should.  So be on the look out for quite a few reviews.  


Ladies and Gents The Weekend Picks:


March 12th
Hotel St. George, Riddim Saunter, Softlightes @ Tin Can Ale House
Thee Oh Sees, Baths, So Cow @ Bar Pink
Irradio, The Slants, Silent Scream @ Radio Room
No Bunny, TV Ghost, Stalins of Sound @ Tower Bar
Cave Singers, The Duchess and The Duke, The Moondoggies @ Casbah
Casbah Presents Tim Barry, Possessed By Paul James, John Meeks/Brian Holwerda @ Soda Bar
Dave Howard, Bart Mendoza @ Java Joe's at Cafe Libertalia


March 13th
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Whigs @ House of Blues
Little Boots, Dragonette, Class Actress @ Casbah
The Paragraphs, Scarlet Symphony, Apes of Wrath @ Beauty Bar
Lauren DeRose, Sharon Hazel Township, The Dirty Legs, Mermaid @ Ruby Room
Gregory Page @ Java Joe's at Cafe Libertalia
SD: Dialed In Presents The Burning of Rome, Judgement Day, Battlehooch, Boyscout@ Soda Bar


March 14th
Or, The Whale, The Maldives @ Bar Pink
A Sunny Day In Glasgow, Tropical Depression, Primitive Noyes @ Soda Bar
Hunx & His Punkettes, Shannon & The Clam, The Kabbs @ Ken Club
Quasi, Explode Into Colors, Pivot, Little White Teeth@ Casbah


March 15th
Animal Ancestors @ Ruby Room
Mathew Good, Automatic Loveletter @ Casbah
Rum Rebellion, Abject, Brian Congerjo @The Handsome @ Radio Room


Ill see you guys at any of these shows.  BRMC at HOB is giong to be killer and i cant wait for that show alone!  
Beat the Devils Tattoo is such a great album completely recommend that you all get it! 

Weekend Picks. What's worth Seeing and where!

Ah yes the weekend.  It is finally here and of course there are a lot of great shows within the next few days.  To be honest, there are good - great to not so great shows on a nightly basis.  Tonight is the Sounddiego Launch Party.  With performances by Gregory Page, The Silent Comedy, and other.  I'm excited for this as much as I am for Wirepony being member of the day today!  Yes, Fm94.9 played Wirepony's Some  Lighting off their lastest release Wirepony.  

Ladies and Gents the weekend picks! 

March 4

The Clientele, The Wooden Birds, Tropical Depression @ Casbah

The Nervous Wreckords @ Bar Pink

Kevin Martin, Gayle Skidmore, Jackson Price @ Tin Can Ale House

March 5

Michael Klayman Photoshow feat. A Scribe Amidst The Lions, Irradio, The Tractormen, Seesaw Ensemble @ Queen Bee's
The Bloody Hollies (CD Release), Fkenal, The Dead Ghost, Knives! @ Ruby Room

Leslie and The Lys, Christopher The Conquered, Lion Cut @ Casbah

River City, Little Hurricane, The Western Set @ Soda Bar

Christmas Island, Jeans Wilder, Dreamboat @ Tin Can Ale House

The Big Decisions, Ellamae, The Steelwells, Lisa The Lush @ Beauty Bar

March 6

Mike Watt and the Missingmen, Lite, The Hot Moon, Rats Eyes (Atari Lounge) @ Casbah

The Green Stamps, DJs Tony The Tyger & Go-Go Guillermo @ Tower Bar

The Amalgamated, The Revivers, DJ Skarina @ Radio Room

The Rumble: Twin Tigers, Birds & Batteries, Beaters, DJ Mikey Face @ Bar Pink

Mr. Rock Dude with Scarlet Symphony, Drug Wars @ Soda Bar

March 7

The Zeros @ Bar Pink

Sister Crayon, Syndicate @ Beauty Bar

Spero Lumina, Hocus @ Ruby Room

See ya at the shows!