music

$5 off Bob Schneider, House of Blues: 2/18/2010

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I wish I was in collage again. I was really good at writing essays and partying all night while still getting to class on time. But one of the things I miss the most is thelittle piece of plastic with your photo on it, provided by your school, that got you discounts galore. On Thursday, February 18, Bob Schneider, a virtuoso of singing/songwriting based out of Austin, Texas will be playing the House of Blues with $5 dicount tickets to students.

Discounted tickets can be purchased at HERE or will be honored at the door with proof of student ID.


I might have to scrounge around my files to look for my student ID from days of yore (I think my school was stupid/smart enough to not put a date on the thing).

If you want to learn more about my love of Bob Schneider:

Roger and I pretty big Bob Schneider fans, owning nearly every album plus some live performances to boot. We try to see him perform each time that he comes to town which is at least 2-3 times per year. His song writing style is similar to Steve Poltz, with the ability to write entertaining songs off the cuff. Actually, the two of them are friends and challenge each other to write songs in 24 hours with particular words in them. Steve’s songs, Cold German and Sewing Machine came from these games. And I am fairly certain that Bob’s song Trash and Steve’s song Trash are related in a similar way.

Anyhow, Bob released his latest album called Lovely Creatures on September 29, 2009 through Kirtland Records. Although there are tracks I have been waiting for studio recordings of, such as “Tarantula” and “40 Dogs (Like Romeo and Juliet),” Lonelyland and I’m Good Now continue to be my favorvite albums.

If you haven’t had the chance to see him live, you really need to. He has a cult-like following similar to an older, less red-neck crowd of Lucero. He can be beautiful and a train-wreck all in the same night. The words and melodies are catching and he can’t resist a few sing-a-longs. For certain it will give you a few laughs. So have your neighbor’s college kid purchase you a few tickets for a $5 discount for the show on February 18th.

Transfer, Wirepony & Hong Kong, The Casbah: 1/29/2010

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From the positive reviews and airplay of Transfer‘s new album, Future Selves the show was sold out two days prior.  If you missed this one, you should be feeling bummed. It is shows like this one that make me energized about music in San Diego. This show had everything: sweat, lights, good friends rocking the stage and hanging out, new bands I never heard of blowing my mind, and incredible performances all the way around.

Artwork from P. Drohan – D5ive Design 

For photos and a detailed show review:

Talking to a few of my musician friends about going to this show, I was explicitly told not to miss the first band. It was pretty much an order. I had to be there front and center when the show began. In their first ever performance, Hong Kong took the stage. I mean they took the stage. This well-dressed, three-piece band energized the crowd with their instrumentals of something between 70s soul and 50s surf rock. Many commented that it would be their soundtrack of choice if they were the star of a film, walking down the streets of downtown or along the railroad tracks of California.

I wish I could direct you to when and where they are playing next, but since there seems to be another band in this world with the same name, they are pretty much impossible to search for. Hint: you may want to consider another name.

The only time I have seen Wirepony, the next band on the bill, was at a solo show at Lestat’s. NOT AT ALL the same. Patrick Dennis (from the Truckee Brothers and other projects) has put together an awesome line-up for this band. On lead guitar is his son, Aaron Dennis (from Tan Sister Radio). O is on bass (from Fluf, Reeve Oliver, and many other bands past, present, and future) and Charlie McCree on drums (from bands fromerly known as Hatchet Brothers and Momma/Vertibird). Incredible talent separately, but together they have audible power that could trigger a revolution.

This night was the release of their physical album, Right Hook of Love recorded and mixed in just two days at Chaos Recorders. Here is video of “Willing to Break,” that is on the album, shot by Aaron using a camera hidden in the back of the stage:

Their energy and passion for the music prevented me from taking quality photos. Look at that, I’m blaming the band for my poor photography skills. The only time I could get a good photo of Aaron was while he was tuning.

Patrick Dennis
Aaron Dennis
O

The high level of emotion and energy did not stop there. Oh no. Transfer stormed through their set filling the room with heart drenching resonance. Waves of unassailable harmonies drifted through the air into the minds of the crowd causing them to lurch and shake. Their live performances can never be duplicated. Although great, both albums (Future Selves and Sunken Eyes) do not compare to seeing them in person. 

With the sold out crowd and awesome tour lined up, I imagine that seeing them play at the Casbah and smaller venues may be a rarer thing in the near future. Catch them while you can.

Matthew Molaris
Shaun Cornell

Michael Cooper
A perfect ending to a perfect night, Transfer played “Sinking Sailing”/”Sailing Ships” a song that lifted my head out of the musty room onto the waters off the coast and happens to be my favorite of all of their songs. Thank you all for an amazing night.

Dorkdom

Sara 2 Comments

Straight from the Urban Dictionary:

Dorkdom (Not to be confused with geekdom, or nerdocracy)comes from achieving a mere fraction of the coolness that one believes they are emmulating.*

I believe that everyone has a bit of dorkdom — i.e. Knows way too much about something in particular, be it a movie, TV series, author, game, toy, location, time period, etc.

Lately I have been pondering my own geekiness while listening to The Dork Forest with comedienne, Jackie Kashian. This show focuses on the dorkdoms of various guests on her program. Most are comedians but some come from the comic and gaming industry while others have science and engineering backgrounds. The past few shows have included a cat dork and a food dork.

Here are a few of my dorkdoms, the proud and the lame:

Music: specifically local San Diego music. I have been known to be the wiz kid in answering music trivia on our local music artists. My husband and I own about 200 albums of local music. (Note: I don’t count my CD’s so I really have no idea how many we actually have. 200 sounded reasonably correct). Compared to the likes of Rosey of SD Dialed In, Tim Pyles from the Local 94.9 and Bart Mendoza, I can’t compare. But it is a subject and an art that I love and know a little too much about. And I don’t mind sharing.

Local San Diego History: One of my collections (of which I have very few), is a library of books focused on the history of San Diego. I love the city I live in and it’s history, although short is very rich of interesting tales. From the Spanish to the Mormons to the Navy, cultures shaped the ideals. From Wyatt Earp to Ulysses S. Grant to Dr. Seuss, individuals shaped the landscape and identity. My favorite of all of my collection is San Diego Legends: Events, People, and Places That Made History by Jack Scheffler Innis. Although, not a comprehensive history, it is a good read.

Disney: I worked for Walt Disney World for a month at the end of 2000. I was already a bit of a Disney dork before working there, but they really do brainwash you. I was always interested in the behind the scenes stories, but never a collector of Disney stuff. I feel anyone who likes Disney is a bit of a Disney dork. Walt hides so much in the magic that people are compelled to know what is behind the curtain.

Ray Bradbury: This man is my hero and really should be at the top of my list for dorkdoms. I have read nearly all of his works (except for the newest stuff). Last September, I shared about my inspiration from his writing genius. He is connected to San Diego through his design of Horton Plaza and connected to Disney through his animatronics creations. He is the reason that I am a dork.

Semi-Dorkness: Muppets, Roller Derby, Beer

I am aware that I am not an extremist or an expert on any of the above. There are many more individuals in this world that take dorkdom to new heights including the collection of random crap, interrupting conversations with random facts, and sometimes stalking others to “understand them more”.

I am one of those people that retain various little factoids about a variety of topics so as to remain somewhat aware and knowledgeable in various discussions. This sometimes gets me in trouble with true dorks, where they truly believe I care about their collection of comic book action figurines. Sorry, really, no offense.

*Note: Emulating is spelled incorrectly. What does that say about me?

Coachella 2010

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I love me a festival. Art festivals, comedy festivals, film festivals, any large scale massing of purpose. Of all festivals, music festivals top them all. Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the biggest and baddest of them all happens each spring (April 16-18, 2010), kicking off the summer music festivals. I have yet to go, but man, at some point, I’ve gotta make this happen.

The excitement and speculation begins at the start of each year, as bands begin to post their tour dates. Is there a gap during the festival? Who is reuniting for this year’s festival? Lots of rumors flying on blogs and Twitter. Everyone wants to know.

The day finally comes. Tuesday, January 19. Bloggers and music nerds alike were on the edge of their seats as fake event posters with fake line ups circulated late Monday. The anxiety grew as people who wanted to be in the know, stayed up past midnight to find out who was playing. Coachella organizers chimed in on Twitter stating,

@coachella: “when we said tuesday, we really meant Tuesday, like during normal waking hours. xxoo”

After waking twice during the night, due to a fussy baby, we awoke in the morning to the ominous message:

@coachella: “the time has come”

Radio stations and media outlets were released the line ups to be broadcast out to the masses.

Diversity in the schedule means that there is something for everyone. Just like Kristian with SD Dialed In, Sunday is my preferred choice out of any of the days. I have seen Muse on several occasions and can’t imagine  I really could care less about Jay-Z.

I remember the first time that I heard Gorillaz, “Clint Eastwood” off of their first album (self titled), when I was in New Zealand. Knowing that most music varies per country, I bought the CD, soaked in what I could and came back to the states. The second album, Demon Days took over the airwaves in the states with Dirty Harry, DARE, and Feel Good, Inc. So excited to see these guys.

Some of the other bands I am excited to see on Sunday’s line up: Phoenix, Spoon (love, love), Julian Casablancas, Sly and the Family Stone, MUTEMATH, the Big Pink, and Sunny Day Real Estate.

The rest of the weekend is decent with my interests including: MGMT, Coheed and Cambria, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Frightened Rabbit, Vampire Weekend, She & Him (I’ve been wanting to see them since they started), Them Crooked Vultures, Lucero, and Hockey.

“So are you going?” you ask. I would like to. But I will not be the first on in line to by tickets this Friday, January 22 at 10am. $269 for a 3 day pass, plus $55 for camping, plus money for food and drinks is way outta my league right now. Although… I am always looking for a sponsor, let me know if you can score something, otherwise, I will be forced to attend EarthFair for the um-teenth time in my life.

The Future of Radio???

Sara 2 Comments

The new year (and the end of last year) has so far brought a bit of chaos and rumbling in the air waves with the departures of radio personalities: Dave, Shelley and Chainsaw, Jeff and Jer, and Mikey. In addition, the contract for Halloran from FM94.9 was not renewed in the new year. I know that much of the San Diego community has been shaken by one or more of these not-so-fond-farewells. I know I have. Here are a few insights on the current situation and the vision for the future:

Chris Cantore’s appearance on NBC capturing the the state of things perfectly.
SD Dialed In sharing her empathy and vision.
SDRadio’s Tribute to the DSC with comments on the various parties to blame for the ducks being shot out of the water.
Chick Rawker re-post of the ChrisCantore video and details of Halloran’s departure (coming soon).

All of this madness made me go digging through my archives to find a previous post on the subject. Here is
Radio Nowhere from October 7, 2008.

I will end with what I said then:

So those in radio, I feel for you but this is the life you have chosen and I admire you for it. It is definitely not for me. Those who listen to radio keep on… it is you who drive the market.