Stories | Blurt
Still Smokin’
Published Aug. 13, 2008
“Dangerous” Dick Spenneberg does stand-up comedy at local clubs in San Diego five nights a week, most often at the Comedy Store. From July 30 to August 2, he emceed the Cheech and Chong reunion shows ...
Pete Surfs
Published Aug. 13, 2008
Twenty-five years ago today (8/14/83), Peter Gabriel performed at SDSU’s outdoor amphitheatre with the Call as opening act. Though battling marital problems and dealing with financial trouble due to his failed Womad festival, Gabriel pulled ...
Feeding the Monster
Published Aug. 13, 2008
Real estate developer Orrin Day, who has owned the Ramona movie theater on Main Street for six years, stopped showing films two years ago because people weren’t coming. So, he put the 6000-square-foot theater (built ...
The Dues Published Aug. 13, 2008
“We’re gonna play a cover [song]. If you are from ASCAP or BMI, you can fuck off.” That’s how Jackson Milgaten, singer/guitarist/bassist with Vision of ... More Post a comment
Mess with the Bull… Published Aug. 13, 2008
Moondoggies in PB has been found in contempt of court for substituting generic energy drinks for Red Bull without telling patrons who order the beverage ... More Post a comment
Organically, If You Will Published Aug. 6, 2008
Acoustic guitarist Shawn Rohlf has played Sunday mornings at the Hillcrest farmers’ market for 11 years. “It’s the most difficult gig of the week for ... More Post a comment
It Worked for the Three Tenors… Published Aug. 6, 2008
Local hip-hop artists Kayo, Play B, and Young Mass are joining forces as the Three Rappers. “We’re doing it mainly because there is a lack ... More Comments (2)
Hip-Hop Away Published Aug. 6, 2008
“The Jumping Turtle is a mainly metal place,” says rapper Bryan Mason of the San Marcos venue. “They are paying national headliners thousands of dollars. ... More Comment (1)
Now Listen Up Published Aug. 6, 2008
“Dance, like words, is a form of expression, a way of explaining who we are,” says Adelaide of the Shimmy Sisters, a belly-dancing duo she ... More Comment (1)
Defiling Jack’s Place Published Aug. 6, 2008
Twenty-nine years ago this week (8/5/79), Jack Murphy Stadium hosted Blue Öyster Cult, Cheap Trick, UFO, Pat Travers, and Shakin’ Street. To launch the all-day ... More Comments (3)
Let It Ride on Greene Published July 30, 2008
Local power trio Off Track recently paid for a recording session with A-list producer Ryan Greene (NOFX, Megadeth, Guitar Hero 3). “We looked briefly at ... More Post a comment
Slim Summer at Avalon Published July 30, 2008
Last summer, Marc Shannon opened the Avalon in North Park. His plans for the almost-100-year-old building included hosting bands in an all-age, alcohol-free environment. The ... More Post a comment
Define Combat Zone Published July 30, 2008
After performing in over 100 countries, San Diego—based Liquid Blue thought they might have a world record. The band spent months researching the possibility of ... More Comment (1)
Love It, Hate It, Need It Published July 30, 2008
Former Viper Room booker Joe Rinaldi says he will continue to give San Diego bands the same love when he takes over one of the ... More Post a comment
Knocking Bush Published July 30, 2008
Local singer/songwriter Charlie Imes’s new album includes the song “Worst Presnadent Ever,” featuring the George W. Bush impersonator from Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo ... More Post a comment
The Struggle Published July 23, 2008
Two well-connected music-biz professionals say they have been told that the local House of Blues may be in trouble. “I heard that if they don’t ... More Post a comment
Clothing Maketh the Goth? Published July 23, 2008
It’s been almost a year since James Benham, a former Navy SEAL, was found guilty of two felony counts of assault. He’s still yet to ... More Comments (6)
Sweetness Published July 23, 2008
The events of September 11, 2001, precipitated a career change for Carla Sweet, who was at the time a Navy doctor. Outraged, and “disgusted with ... More Post a comment
Of Mouse, Men, and Mayer Published July 23, 2008
Before hip-hop duo Gnarls Barkley plays the Infield Stage at the Del Mar Racetrack on Saturday, July 26, the venue is required to purchase one ... More Post a comment
Genius Published July 23, 2008
Singer/guitarist John McLeod designs bikinis. “Five years ago I was designing men’s clothes. My girlfriend at the time was a model who was really skinny. ... More Post a comment
Big in China (Cabinet) Published July 16, 2008
Sandollar, together for two years, is a five-piece “beach rock” band that plays original reggae/jam music. Drummer Henry Ortiz works by day at a Trader ... More Post a comment
Throat Surgery Season Published July 16, 2008
Village People policeman Victor Willis underwent surgery at a local hospital on July 7, reportedly to remove nodules from his vocal cords. The former singer ... More Post a comment
Keanu and Gerard and Ogre… Published July 16, 2008
Several music-themed events will take place at downtown’s Comic-Con International, beginning July 24. Rapper Method Man will promote his upcoming eponymous comic book from the ... More Post a comment
Gong Showmanship Published July 16, 2008
Comedy Central debuts its new version of The Gong Show tonight with host Dave Attell. In 1980, local band Four Eyes appeared on the original ... More Post a comment
Cool as Veggie Chili Published July 16, 2008
Founded in 1980 as an all-age vegetarian eatery and gathering place for those interested in radical politics, the Ché Café at UCSD quickly became a ... More Comment (1)
Tough Times for Mexican Musicians Published July 9, 2008
According to Tijuana’s La Prensa newspaper, on June 21, Mexican federal agents raided the Little Devil social hall in Tijuana. They reported seizing thousands of ... More Post a comment
Bad Luck o’ the Irish Published July 9, 2008
“I bought it from an old hippie in Washington the summer Jerry Garcia died,” says Bleeding Irish fiddle player Rhy Thornton of the 1964 school ... More Post a comment
How to Break Up a Band Published July 9, 2008
Dynamite Hack was a late-’90s, Austin-based alternative rock band that is best remembered for their tongue-in-cheek acoustic cover of Eazy-E’s “Boyz-n-the-Hood.” The song can still ... More Post a comment
The Muzak Experience Published July 9, 2008
At the beginning of June, Greg Laswell’s songs were picked up by the Muzak canned-music firm, which is developing what it calls the “audio architecture” ... More Post a comment
Recession Radio Published July 9, 2008
One radio veteran says the recession may be good news for people who want to hear more music on the radio. “Radio advertising was down ... More Post a comment
No Giggling Matter Published July 2, 2008
On June 20, Not British, a three-piece rock band, was playing a party at a house in the College Area at around 9:00 p.m. “As ... More Post a comment
Some Country for Young Men Published July 2, 2008
Many songs have been written about brothels, from “House of the Rising Sun” and “La Grange” to the musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. ... More Comment (1)
The Last Farmer Published July 2, 2008
On June 6, bassist Rolle Love left the (Beat) Farmers after 25 years. Love helped found the band in 1983 alongside Buddy Blue, Jerry Raney, ... More Post a comment
Drinkin’, Drivin’, Cyclin’, Rappin’ Published July 2, 2008
Rappers measure success in different ways. Some purchase four-finger rings and 24-carat gold ropes. For local rapper Rob Deez, success came with the appearance of ... More Post a comment
Unplugged Published July 2, 2008
After five years playing at Canes, Winstons, and Blind Melons, the guys in 3against1 decided to move north to try to make it big. In ... More Post a comment
Great, Just Fabulous Published June 25, 2008
The Fabulous Rudies, a seven-piece North County ska band booked to return as the “BBQ band” on this year’s Vans Warped Tour, have had a ... More Post a comment
Dust Up Published June 25, 2008
“By the time we went on stage, everybody had been drinking all night,” says singer Richard Gwaltney of a recent House of Blues gig featuring ... More Post a comment
Stone Temple Crises Published June 25, 2008
Atlantic Records filed a lawsuit against Scott Weiland and Eric Kretz of Stone Temple Pilots on June 12, demanding that the reunited band live up ... More Post a comment
Hellacious L.A. Published June 25, 2008
A Scribe Amidst the Lions singer/guitarist Kristofer Towne says the band was unloading before a recent gig at L.A.’s Viper Room when… “Out of nowhere, ... More Post a comment
Far Out, Man Published June 25, 2008
While the music industry waits for something that will lift the business out of the doldrums, San Diego—based Passmore Lab has found the new in ... More Post a comment
Take Note, High-Five Idiots Published June 18, 2008
Steve Weinberger wants to keep you from embarrassing yourself at the next concert. In his new book No Air Guitar Allowed, Weinberger runs down nearly ... More Post a comment
Death of the Zombie Published June 18, 2008
“I heard from one of our customers that the Zombie Lounge was going to be for sale,” says Chris Heaney, owner/operator of the Kadan in ... More Post a comment
It Started with Karaoke in Krakow Published June 18, 2008
“As a singer, I sound like Elvis Presley, no matter how hard I try not to,” says James Kruk, who disbanded his former group Fake ... More Comments (2)
You Rock…No, You Don’t…Yes, You Do Published June 18, 2008
For about five years, singer-guitarist Joe Rathburn has played on the outdoor patio at the Tin Fish restaurant and bar at the foot of Fifth ... More Post a comment
Divine Dough Published June 18, 2008
Because money from both major and indie labels is drying up, bands have had to get creative to raise funds. Eve Selis offered six “levels ... More Post a comment
Dreadful News Published June 11, 2008
A radio station doesn’t usually have the same DJ on for 20 years,” said Makeda Dread in 2003, the 20th anniversary of her Reggae Makossa ... More Comment (1)
Metal Moratorium Published June 11, 2008
In February, the all-age music venue Channel Twelve 25 opened its doors in down town El Cajon. Adam Paul helps book hip-hop, acoustic rock, blues, ... More Post a comment
Guitar Man Published June 11, 2008
I had the opportunity to catch Bo Diddley’s show at the Belly Up back in June of 2005. I have been collecting guitars since the ... More Post a comment
Drummer Man Published June 11, 2008
On June 2, 2008, 79-year-old Bo Diddley suffered heart failure and passed away in his Archer, Florida, home. One night in Fresno about ten years ... More Post a comment
Freakin' Neighbors Published June 11, 2008
Although music on local television has not had much staying power, KNSD-TV resumed its weekly “Concerts on the Square” last month. Taped outdoors at Horton ... More Post a comment
Who Charted? Published June 4, 2008
Though overall music sales have been in a death spiral for several years, San Diego artists have been having their best year ever on Billboard’s ... More Comment (1)
Scene Stir Published June 4, 2008
“I moved to San Diego in the 1980s and intended to earn a living as a musician,” says author R.J. McDonnell, whose just-released Rock & ... More Post a comment
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