Author: Sara

Comedy weekend

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I think I like to theme my weekends. I guess when I get in the mood for something, I really have to go all out. I love watching comedy. Unfortunately, as I have said to many, San Diego has a horrible comedy scene. I has to do with a number of factors including lack of good clubs, it’s proximity to LA and the audiences that really are not trained to watch comedy. So the fact that I watched two great shows this weekend, was awesome.

Friday Night
I hardly ever pay attention to the supposed deals that show up in my junk mailbox. They usually include 2 for 1 deals to HOB or a ladies night to some club I have never heard of (but the way, I HATE nightclubs). I was surprised and excited to see 4 free tickets to see Greg Behrendt listed on Thursday. I love Greg Behrendt’s style of performance… he is intelligent and honest. It feels sort of like your best friend is telling you about an embarrassing story from college; you feel like you were there and goddamn was it hilarious. The connection he makes with the audience is on that personal level. I know much of the audience was there because of his books, his TV show or the fact that he has some connection to Sex in the City (he wrote for the show). But everyone had a great time… and kept their cool.

Saturday Night
We had friends come in from out of town that day. They wanted to go to Comic Con but realized that they need to plan ahead a bit better (as many realized). Anyhow, big comedy fans themselves, they had bought tickets to the Riff Trax Live! show at the Balboa Theatre downtown. I figured since our choices were 1) Royal Crown Revue at HOB with the Derby Dolls, 2) game night with the Derby Doll refs in East county or 3) see Riff Trax Live! at the historic Balboa Theatre doing Plan 9 from Outer Space with friends from college… I went with the third option since I have never been to the Balboa Theatre since it was renovated, I wanted to hang out more with my college friends and I liked Mystery Science Theatre 3000, so this should be awesome live.

Watching Plan 9 (the color version), was hilarious in itself, but adding the subtext of the Riff Trax crew was gut busting. I had seen the movie before, of course making fun of parts (since it is the “worst movie of all time”). But I guess there were details of the movie that I hadn’t seen before… I was rolling. If you ever have a chance to see them live… (like perhaps at San Francisco’s Sketchfest), do it!

So you didn’t get tickets to Comic Con…

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There is still plenty to do this weekend outside of Comic Con… of course if you want to check out all the local music listings visit San Diego Dialed In.

Saturday
The Music of Billy Joel – Featuring Michael Cavanaugh of Movin’ Out @ Summer Pops at the Embarcadero (7:30pm)
Del Mar Race Track Micro Brew Festival feat. perf by Gnarls Barkley @ Del Mar Race Track (2pm post time, show after races)
Zombie Walk @ Downtown (5:30pm)
RiffTrax Live! – Plan 9 from Outer Space @ Balboa Theatre (7pm and 9:30pm shows)
The Merry Wives of Windsor @ the Old Globe’s Outdoor Festival Theatre (8pm)
The Phantom of the Opera @ San Diego Civic Theatre (2pm & 8pm)
Comedians of Comedy @ Spreckel’s Theatre (8pm)
Arizona Dream @ Cinema Under the Stars (8:30pm)
The Shining @ Ken Cinema (12 midnight)
PBR: Professional Bull Riding @ Del Mar Fairgrounds (8pm)

Sunday
The Music of Billy Joel – Featuring Michael Cavanaugh of Movin’ Out @ Summer Pops at the Embarcadero (7:30pm)
Lady Dottie & the Diamonds @ the Handlery Hotel poolside (12-5pm)
Romeo and Juliet @ the Old Globe’s Outdoor Festival Theatre (8pm)
The Phantom of the Opera @ San Diego Civic Theatre (1pm & 6:30pm)
Arizona Dream @ Cinema Under the Stars (8:30pm)
PBR: Professional Bull Riding @ Del Mar Fairgrounds (8pm)

If none of these options sound appealing to you, my suggestion would be to go to the beach, have a picnic, visit one of San Diego’s many attractions (Sea World, the Zoo, museums, hiking trails, etc.) or just hang out at home and drink a beer.

Lucero @ the Casbah SOLD OUT!

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The last time that Lucero came to San Diego was last October when they played Brick by Brick to a modest-sized drunk crowd. I remember this because it was the evening when the fires were just beginning to spread to Poway where my parents live and where my friend lives, who I was at the show with. Last night they played to a sold out crowd (who was probably equally as drunk) at the Casbah.

Personally, I didn’t bother getting tickets ahead of time since the last show did not seem to warrant buying ahead of time. Actually, I made a conscious decision NOT to buy tickets ahead of time. So we were shut out on the street like many others.

In the end, I was tired so it was fine to go home and just curl up in bed to sleep. There is always next time.

Burt Bacharach at the Summer Pops

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At about 4 p.m. on Sunday I get a call from one of my friends saying that he has an extra ticket to see Burt Bacharach at the Summer Pops at the Embarcadero. I LOVE Burt Bacharach. He has been among the artists that I would like to see before they pass away (or quit touring altogether). Among this group includes Etta James (who I am seeing in September), Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Robert Plant… I am sure there is more that I am forgetting.

Burt Bacharach is a legend in songwriting and composing. He is the man behind many popular songs that were sung by Dionne Warwick, Luther Vandross, Tom Jones, the Drifters and many more. He has influenced many artists over the history of his career. I really shouldn’t need to tout him. His music speaks for itself, especially when accompanied by the San Diego Symphony. I could feel the rises and falls of the power and emotion that he consiously put behind each song. This is how it is supposed to be heard.

Halfway through the program, my now drunk friend convinced me to move to the front. I was hesitant, but knowing that he was pissing off the people where we were sitting, I felt maybe we could find a more tolerable neighbor. And we did… two rows from the front. The first two songs of the second set I was fearing that we may be removed from our seats since my friend was now singing loudly and poorly along with the music… as well as taking time in between one of the sets to shout “Your the man!!!” to Burt Bacharach, who graciously smiled in our direction.

Luckily for me and the rest of the crowd (sadly for my friend), my friend fell asleep until the last couple of songs. My friend ended up missing Burt Bacharach singing “A House is Not a Home” and “Alfie” as well as small parts of other pieces in his weak, fading voice. It was serene and sad all at once. I got the feeling that he would not be singing much longer and that hearing his voice in song was something that I needed to cherish. Seeing someone age in front of your eyes brings sadness but also appreciation for what that person has gone through to get this far. I can’t turn back the clock to have seen him and other acts in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s but I can let everything that is happening right now sink in, so I can share my stories with future generations.

Laddy Dottie & the Diamonds poolside

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Sunday, I woke up not wanting to do anything. Laying around the whole day in bed sounded like a great plan to me. Roger and I had talked about finding time to make it down to the Handlery Hotel (yes, in Hotel Circle) to watch Lady Dottie & the Diamonds perform poolside. Sunday seemed like the perfect opportunity to do this, if I could just make it out of bed.

Once out of bed, around 11:30 a.m. or so, we ate a bit of lunch before heading down. We made it there around 12:30 p.m. just in time to get the last lounge chairs available. I believe that having the lounge chairs was key in the lounging part of my day. It was sort of mellow at that time. The band had not started playing, athough the scheduled time to start was posted as 12 noon. In fact Nate was the only one there, with his gear set up and ready to go.

By the time the rest of the band rolled in and set up to start playing, it was about 1:15 p.m. Nobody seemed to care. I know I didn’t. I was just happy soaking up the sun with the rest of the scensters arriving.

The day was pretty much like that. The size of the pool area is much bigger than that of the Lafayette. There is bar with wait staff that come to you for orders (much less often then you want them to) and very limited choices of food. I estimate that there was about 150 people there by the time that we had left including hotel patrons (though few), scensters with and without kids, and some Casbah staff including Tim Mays. We left around 4:15 p.m. as they were starting their third set.

At one point this 13 year old kid, Miles, took over drumming for Nucci for half of a set. He was incredible. If you didn’t know any better, you may have thought that he was a regular part of the band. Meanwhile, Nucci got a break from drumming to drink. Perfect.

In the end, I managed to leave with a toasted stomach but awake enough to head out to the Summer Pops that evening.