Where have all the Postings gone..

Dear readers,

I would like to thank you all for your continued support over the blank pages of this blog.  No, I have not decided to abandon my blog.  The past few months have been a bit hectic on my end, but in a great way.   After the many many years of helping out in the music scene and paying my dues for the past 10 or so odd years.  My dues decided to pay me back.  I have in the past month taken over the responsibility of booking shows in San Diego, going on the road with a a couple of legendary bands, and just being the eyes and ears of all Rockn' Rollers in the world.

In the past two months I have seen more of California with two amazing bands The Dragons and The Zeros, then I have alone.  The road treated us well.  The first weekend it was Thee Parkside and Benders with The Dragons.  Merching is always a great time.  Those guys know how to treat a lady.  At least one who (and this is still up in the air) can maybe, possibly out drink the band. Again it hasn't been put to the complete test, but who knows.

The weekend after that The Zeros!  Hector Penalosa came to my house at 9am, and it felt like a kidnapping situation.  A green creeper soccer mom van with two out of the four Zeros.  Back up to San Francisco again for a show at the Elbo Room and Sacramento for the show at The Blue Lamp.  A place that I always found interesting is the city of Sacramento.  Tweeker galore. Kind of creepy, but still had a blast.

The final weekend of the mini weekend tours was the Vegas Shakedown.  There is no place like Vegas.  Crazy fun times with some amazing bands.  Both The Dragons and The Zeros took me along (in the same creeper van) with Captain M as the driver.  This man kept us all in order when it came down to taking care of some business all three weekends.  When we got to Vegas, it was towards the 4 Queens.  In our rooms, we rest up and shower from the hotter than hell ride towards the desert. Two nights two venues.  The Las Vegas Country Saloon and The Beauty Bar.

Now back home and your truly had a few shows I was already booking for Bar Pink.  Now I have my own proper venue.  Eleven (www.elevensandiego.com) This is the old Radio Room/Zombie Lounge.  The nice people at Hamilton's have taken over the management of the amazing now renovated location.  If you do not get Eleven then watch Spinal Tap.   The bar is open daily from 3pm-2am Monday-Friday.  12pm-2am Saturday - Sunday.

Again, just cause I book here does not mean I will only pick those nights as my pick of the nights.  Well, wont lie, if I booked them, that probably means you should really check it out!  More road stories, more highlights will continue to do the weekly picks.  All in due time. Until then thanks for the patience and support!

The North Park Music Thing...

3 years ago NxNP was one of the first music festivals that actually caught more than just my attention.  It caught also my eyes and ears. I have been to many festivals over the years. However, this one is in my city.  Representing San Diego while helping you (the musician) understand the whole dynamic we call the music industry. The NxNP changed their name during the second year to North Park Music Thing.  It is similar to the world famous SxSW that occurs every year in Austin Texas.  As many of my readers remember, I did attend

You might be asking yourself, is it that time of the year again?  Yes, my good friends and comrades, it is.  Changing the name from NxNP to North Park Music Thing, the event is now spread out for two days.  Before it was two days of panels guest speakers, questions, demos so on and so forth.  One day of 150-200 artist in 15 venues and panels.  Second day of panels and a large music stage in front of hotel.

This year, it is going to be so much better.  I can feel it. It's two days of music and two days of panels!

I was asked to book an "Official Showcase" and help finish rounding up the line-up for another showcase.
Taking a lot of bands into consideration.  What better than to book a good rockn' roll band that was in one of my first rosters ten years ago.  Back when the only venues I was able to book was my backyard and a coffee shop, it was hard to find cool bands that weren't made up of young kids my age. (Mind you I was 16 years old)

They say things come back in full circles.  I believe it when it comes to the music scene in San Diego.  When The Displaced first moved to San Diego as a band.  They came to me for a show.  I booked them at a coffee shop and here it is a full circle.  The Displaced will be headlining the official showcase for RRNLSG.  Also on the bill is Gun Runner, Little Hurricane, Centerlight Pop (a debuting band from Ryan Blue)  and Shawn Rolhf and The 7th Day Buskers.  This is an All Ages show so bring the kids down and show them what good rockn roll sounds like.

If you decided to want to drink and listen to music, by all means please stop by the Ken Club for "A Night of Whiskey Drinkin and Shitkickers."  Yes you heard it right,  The Ken Club will be hosting the only Honky Tonk/Cowpunk/Country Rockn' Roll showcase during the NPMT.  Headlining that showcase will be The Screaming Yeehaws and Behind The Wagon, The Palominos, Stephen Rey and The Slicks, and El Monte Slim.

Be sure that you picked up your passes for both days.  This event goes off the wall every year! I would hate for you to miss it.

For more information go to The North Park Music Thing Website

Weekly Picks.. I Recommend you go here!

Rain, misty nights, and clouds? Really in the middle of July?  I thought this was "sunny" San Diego.  Let's not let this weather get us down.  There are way too many good shows this week to allow this weather to make you a homebody.  So get up; get moving; get rocking.  These are you weekly picks:


July 22
Johnny Rad Fest Day 1 w/ The Grids and The Embalmers & More @ Tower Bar
The Black Diamond Riders @ Bar Pink 
Ghetto Blaster, Dead Ghost, Fkenal @ Ruby Room
Blessure Graves, Eyes, Jesus is Angry @ Soda Bar
Street of Little Girls, Chappo (NY), Long Claws @ Tin Can Ale House


July 23
Johnny Rad Fest Day 2w/ The Zeros, NoBunny, The Boy Toys and More @ Ken Club 
Le Butcherettes, Marquez, Shapes of Future @ Soda Bar (should be one HELLVA SHOW)
Loons (CD release party), The Creepy Creeps and The Deep Ones @ Casbah
Bagdad, Slipping Into Darkness (The Desert), Zodiac Death Valley (SF), Doves and Desperados@ Tin Can Ale House
The Insiders (UK) and More @ The Ruby Room


July 24
Johnny Rad Fest Day 3(day show) The Fast Takers @ Two Roses Tattoo
Johnny Rad Fest Day 3 w/ THe Spits, Tokyo Electron, Half Rats @ Ken Club
Longsleeves, Bobby Pena and the Stowaways, Mark Haeck, David Romirez @ Tin Can Ale House
The Burning of Rome Comic Con After Party @ Soda Bar
A Scribe Amidst The Lions, Gunrunner, Ryan Blue @ Ruby Room


July 25th
Sunday with CJ , Roxy Jones, Behind the Wagon and more, Free BBQ @ Bar Pink (starts at Noon)
Silian Rail, The Burning of Rome @ Bar Pink (late night show)


July 26th
Scitzophonics, The Mashtis, The Canton Mudders, and Happy Ron @ Casbah
The Styletones @ Bar Pink
Lady Dottie and The Diamonds @ U-31
Zombie Surf Camp @ Soda Bar


July 27th 
Breaker Breaker One Niner, London's Falling, Sic Waiting @ Casbah
TIKI Tuesdays W/ Craig Prior @ Bar Pink
Gayle Skidmore and guest @ Soda Bar
Nena Anderson and Friends @ The Turquoise Room (La Mesa)


July 28th
Nathaniel Rateliff w/ Pearly Gate Music @ Bar Pink
NORMANDIE WILSON (CD Release!), The Preteens, The Endless Bummer @ Soda Bar
Black Mamba, Aunt Dracula, D/Wolves @ Tin Can Ale House.  


With some breaks in the clouds, this week will be great!  See ya at the shows!

They Call Them Blackout Party For a Reason......

Want to go fishing?  How about the bottom of the sea?  Ever heard of a blackout party?  Besides what Blackout Party defines in drinking? If you haven't ever seen this band, then you wouldn't understand what I am talking about.

For a while the Monday night residencies at the Riviera Supper Club and Turquoise Room would belong to no other than Blackout Party.  Playing all the known favorites from their self release album Bottom of the Sea.  It was a night to be sitting at the bar or in a booth with friends while eating a steak and drinking whiskey.  It would be one of those nights where you know what was going on till you woke up with a tiger in the restroom and a baby in the closet. ( Hangover reference for those confused)


As Mondays came and went the band finally decided to go on a small hiatus.  Leaving their usual gigs to Melly Francis and The Distilled Spirits.  (Another band that is worth noting.)  During the bands' hiatus they will be working on a new fall album. Recording at three different locations, his will be another DIY recording by Blackout Party.  The songs that will be featured on the the new album will be some that the regulars at the Riviera Supper Club might be familiar with.  Also featuring new songs by Tim Lowman and Jeff Hawthorne.  As Brian mentioned, " im hoping to get everyone singing lead on at least a song or 2 in the future, like the Band."  That would be a special album made by this band.  


The song writing collaboration between all the members of the BOP had gotten Brian excited.  Mostly everyone writes their part in for a song, so everyone is involved no matter what.  There first day of official recording begins at the end of July.   Starting with drum tracks.  No leaks yet, but when they happen I will be the first to let you all know.  


Although, they are on hiatus, Blackout Party will be playing shows sporadically  through out San Diego.  Such as Saturday July 17th at Casbah with The Howls, and Silent Comedy headlining.  Something new that you will see at this show is a new and bigger sound with the help of Ben Simonetti playing trumpet and flugel horn and hopefully Gabriel Sundy on saxophone.  


Make sure you show up for all the new tricks this band has up their sleeve.  You do not want to miss out on what Blackout Party has in store.  If you have not picked up their last record make sure you do on Saturday.






Blackout Party Official Website

Official Myspace

New Picks..I recommend you go here!

Normally I do weekend picks.  Whats worth watching and where you should go.  Well, I think I'm no longer going to have that and do weekly picks instead.  Starting Wednesday nights I will be posting the weekly picks.  This will actually allow me to not worry about the weekend and also give you (the reader/rockn roller/awesome person) a chance to see where I'm normally floating around on a daily basis.  Stalkers please stay over twenty feet away from me at every show.  Thanks.


So starting today I give you my weekly picks!


Wednesday July 14th

MASHTI'S @ The Riviera Supper Club and Turquoise Room 

Signals (feat. members of MAE SHI) and Softlightes @ Bar Pink

Antibalas , The Sway Machinery, DJ SK @Casbah San Diego 

THE VICIOUS GUNS (ex-Von Bondies), Beat Panther, Rock Paper Tiger @ Soda Bar

Thursday July 15th
Third Thursdays with Brawley @ Bar Pink
Mahjongg , Vaginals, 60 Watt Kid @ Casbah
STILL FLYIN', Snuffaluffagus, Miniature Tree @ Soda Bar
Pauhana - Hawaiin/Island Reggae @ The Ruby Room
Gun Runner, Ryan Blue, Spirit Animal @ Beauty Bar


Friday 16th
BUMBKLAAT RECORD RELEASE PARTY, GRIDS, BARRIO TIGER, KUNTZ @ Radio Room 
Get Back Loretta w/ Wirepony @ Bar Pink
CEDAR FIRE, Black Bone Child, Of Sons and Ghosts @ Soda Bar
Slick Idiot Tour ft En Esch and Guenter Shulz of KMFDM/Pigface, Mona Mur, and more @ Ruby Room
Dirty Sweet , Family Wagon, The Tender Box @ Casbah
Lessons from Zeke w/ For Days, Roswell that Ends Well, Eclipse 79, DJs @ Beauty Bar
JOHN MEEKS @ The Turquoise Room


Saturday July 17th
The Silent Comedy , Blackout Party , The Howls @ Casbah
BLACK FAG, Milli Vanilli's, Pussy Cow, Joyce Manor, French Exit @ Soda Bar
THE SMART BROTHERS @ The Turquoise Room 


Sunday July 18th
3-year Anniversary feat. Black Diamond Riders and Hypernova @ BAR PINK ~ HAPPY THREE YEARS!!!!!!!  
Lady Parts / Lauren De Rose / Guests @ The Ruby Room
Teenage Bottlerocket , Banner Pilot, The Bombpops!@ Casbah

Monday July 19th
DRINK UP BUTTERCUP, Cousins, Street of Little Girls @Soda Bar
WITCHAVEN, DEGENERATED, VAMPIRATES, RAZOR MAZE, TRASHER @ The Ruby Room
Styletones @ Bar Pink 
Lady Dottie and The Diamonds @ U-31
Melly Francis and The Distilled Spirits @ The Turquoise Room 


Tuesday July 20th
Tiki Two's Day with Adrain Demain and Guests @ Bar Pink (you know ill be going down the Tiki List!) 
Jace Everett, 7th Day Buskers, Matt Haeck @ Casbah
NENA ANDERSON AND FRIENDS @ The Turquoise Room


See ya'all at the Shows!  Remember the first recommendation in bold is normally where I'll be floating the most around!   Make sure you attend the Three Year Anniversary at Bar Pink. You don't want to miss Black Diamond Riders, its going to be a riot! 

Weekend Picks ... what to see and where!

The Weather Channel has mentioned that this whole weekend will average between 75-80 degrees.  This normally means summer is soon to come!  Shows are getting better by the minute.  It has been hard to decided were to go and who to see.  Well don't worry I have your weekend picks here.  Please allow me to decide your weekend plans for you!  


Ladies and Gents the Weekend Picks are here:


Thursday June 3rd
Greg Gibson w/ Rio Peligroso @ Bar Pink

The Entrance Band, The Growlers, Space Nature @ Beauty Bar

Vision of a Dying World, Miss Erika Davies, Jehovas Fitness, Lonesome Sparrow @ Tin Can

Pelican Sam, Life Deposits, XIV @ Ruby Room

Immovabale Objects, Kris Special, Monster Hand @ Soda Bar

Friday June 4th

The Bloodflowers, Dead Feather Moon, Republic of Letters, Hooves @ Ruby Room

Dan Black, Samuel @ Casbah

Red Pony Clock, Eux Autres, Le Ra, The Endless Bummer @ Tin Can Ale House

Josiah Wolf, Cars & Trains, Cousins @ Soda Bar

Roman Numerals, Open Hand, Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra @ Radio Room

Saturday June 5th

Art Around Adams @Adams Avenue, Normal Heights/Kensington

Midnight Rivals, Spider Fever, Skyline Union @ Soda Bar

Inspired Flight (CD release), Jamuel Saxon, f.u.z.z. @ Casbah

Snuffaluffagus (CD release), Mothlight, TeamAWESOME, The Dusty Highway @ Tin Can Ale House

Sunday June 6th
Swore, Roswell That Ends Well, Wanted Dead, Ad Seg @ Casbah
Atlantic Line and guests @ Ruby Room
Amanda Carrington's "Prisoner of Love" @ Bar Pink




Now ready set go!  see ya at the shows! 

Come Out Tonight......

Lord Howler started as a solo project by Charlie McRee who drums for variety of bands (currently MEX and Wirepony).  He started recording music that he enjoyed to play. Doing lead vocals and lead guitar,  McRee needed a band to capture the love of thrash and classic rock.  Recruiting drummer Jake Najor, bassist Pete Pisaturo, guitarist Mike Shultzman, Lord Howler came about.  They just released a 10 song self titled album recorded in no other than Chaos Records.   


It's gritty, it's grungy, it's one album that is proper for the 2010 upcoming summer fun.  Ladies and gentlemen when you hear the song "Come Out Tonight."  Lord Howler means it.  From the moment you press play all you want to do is jump over the hood of the inferno red '69 Camaro drop top down, and gun it across the country fist pumpin into the air. 


This heavy, dirty, southern rock album should be praised correctly.  When this album hit my cd player, all I could think about was a cross breed between, ZZ Top, Turbonegro and old school Metallica (when they didn't suck). Each song delivers it's own unique madness for high speed driving.  The fast heavy hitting songs such as "Come Out Tonight"  is almost the new Friday night theme song.  Also, songs like "WMSP" and "Space Terror" are in the top list of songs that I have enjoyed from this album.  One song however put me in to utter shock on the way it was not only arranged, but the vocals as well.  "Before the Cold" had a very Alice In Chains sound to it.  A melodic song that starts very somber and half way through it picks up enough beat and tempo as the old 90's grunge ballads. 


The gritty style hard rock album is a great pick of albums for fast driving through the open road.  Please don't get a speeding ticket.  Next show that Lord Howler plays please make sure to pick up an album.