Karmic Life

Steve Poltz's 50th Birthday/CD Release Party, Belly Up Tavern: 2/19/2010

2010-02-25T15:31:00.000-08:00

Friends, border-lining family, of both past and present gathered at the Belly Up Tavern last Friday to celebrate the aging of Steve Poltz and the release of his newest CD, Dreamhouse. Not much tweeting going on that night since everyone was living in the moment whether that was chatting with a long time friend or watch the continuous stream of musicians taking the stage throughout the night and into the morning.

Steve wanted to celebrate with all of his friends and family in one place. He was joined on stage by Lisa Sanders, Mojo Nixon, Fred Van Vactor, Patrick Dennis and Christopher Hoffee (the Cynics), Anya Marina, Cindy Lee Berryhill, Berkley Hart, AJ Croce, Gregory Page, as well as Jeff "Stinky" Aafedt, "Dr." Robert Driscoll and John Castro with The Rugburns.

Due to a crash on the ski slopes while in Rossland, B.C. he broke his left arm, which could have put a damper on things. Steve exclaimed that no shows will be cancelled and continued his tour and the planning of his birthday bash/CD release.

Shawn Rohlf of the 7th Day Buskers generously stepped up to the plate by learning a large number of Steve Poltz and Rugburns songs... and that was not an easy feat. Steve had previously commented that the new Dreamhouse album is very guitar heavy, with more complex chord combinations and picking patterns than he has ever done before. Shawn certainly pulled it off even working collaboratively with Steve for "You Were Meant for Me." If you closed your eyes, you couldn't even tell there were two people there.

Steve Poltz and Shawn Rohlf

Before the show, there was talk of a set list. A set list?! I didn't even know that Steve knew what one of those was. Here is a tweet that came from Patrick Dennis about a week before the show:

Via @Wirepony: Poltz and a 25 song set list for his guest heavy show next week. Set list?!? Don't ever believe him. Even with his broken hand.

However, the night of the show Joe Daly tweeted the following:

Via @JoeDaly_SD: Soundchecking at the BUT! @stevepoltz in top form. Just heard "Hey, do we have a set list yet?"

I guess things don't really change. Speaking of things that don't change, Julia Sanchez Harris and I spent half the show discussing if we should sneak backstage. We never ended up doing it, mainly because we didn't want to miss any of the show. And with no set breaks, there was never a good time to leave my awesome spot in the front.

I tried to be a good blogger and take photos, but if there was a time to sit and bask in the experience, it was this night. Here are the photos that I managed to take:

Mojo Nixon and Steve Poltz

Steve Poltz and Christopher Hoffee

Steve Poltz and Gregory Page

Steve Poltz, Dennis Borlek and John Castro

Steve has touched the lives of many over the fifty years he has been on this earth. And just about every one of those people were packed into the Belly Up Tavern last Friday. Included among the crowd were "Java Joe" Flammini, Frankie Lee Drennen, Kevin Hellman, Halloran, Dennis Borlek, "Happy Ron" Hill and more.

I think Rosey from SD Dialed In stated it best with this tweet:

Via @sddialedin: There is some sort of magic knowing that every single person in this sold out crowd has a @StevePoltz story or more. That's why we love him.

This is exactly how I would like to spend my 50th birthday, when it comes along... with good friends, family and a dueling drum finale.

Via @Wirepony: A dream was realized. Stinky and I sent @stevepoltz off in a dual drumming frenzy for his birthday bash two full kits flying. Goodnight!

Bob Schneider, House of Blues: 2/18/2010

2010-02-22T17:41:00.000-08:00

After an amazingly inspiring night at Bar Basic, I briskly hurried over the 15 blocks to the House of Blues San Diego to see Bob Schneider perform. Glad to see my press pass waiting for me, I rushed down the stairs, bypassing a stiff drink for a spot near the front of the stage. Sadly, I missed one or two songs of Bob's set, as well as the opening act, Smile Smile, whose music I'm sure I would have loved based on the dancy, energetic stuff that I have listened to over the internets.
Over the years I have seen Bob's sets diversify from the solo, sappy, ballad-singing songwriter to the drunken rebel-rouser, cursing and rocking with a full band backing. This show was another experience to add to the list. To understand the context of the contrast... recently, as in less than two months ago, Bob played a KPRI show solo at the Bernardo Winery to an all-ages crowd. Roger and I watched as he appeared to struggle finding age-appropriate songs, songs he could play solo and/or songs that were in his current playlist. If that was your first introduction to him, this HOB show must have come off as a shock. For the KPRI chill, happy family-types, you're probably thankful he didn't go so far as playing "Sons of Ralph" or better yet, "Ass Knockin'."

After several years of playing to Belly Up Tavern crowds, moving back to the House of Blues main stage brought the inevitable disconnect between the audience and the performer. Bob tried his best to connect with the crowd by using eye contact to those individuals he could see through the glaring stage light. I smiled as I caught a bit of that action during "40 Dogs (Romeo and Juliet)." Sweetness.

Unlike other musician-types, he is not the type to make a standard set list. He's more of just going on the fly kinda guy, rarely informing the rest of the band of the path they are taking. They just have to be ready. At one point in the set, I watched as Bob leaned over to the lead guitarist and said, "Feel Good". The guitarist smiled in acknowledgement, and started setting up for the song. However, as Bob launched into "Metal and Steel", the guitarist's smile was crushed as he rushed to catch up to the correct tuning. After "Metal and Steel", Bob did end up playing "Capn' Kirk (I Just Want to Feel Good)". Was this a case of a scatter-brained musician, purposeful prank or me, completely missing something? We'll never know.

The newest addition to the Bob Schneider band is comic relief, Ollie (I think that was his name). His primary job was playing trumpet, keytar, accordion, but attempted to add to the show by performing slip-stick comedy falls, crazy dances and a variety of extreme facial expressions during nearly every portion of the show. His behavior struck me as odd, since Bob Schneider has always served as the focal point of the performances. In essence, Bob shared the stage with Ollie, forgoing his usual ego (or just taking some sort of a break from the crowd adoration). The crowd loved Ollie, however, I was annoyed. His antics really didn't fit in to the overall feel of the show. But again, perhaps it was just me.

As for the crowd, it could be best described as a reflection of the Gaslamp scene. Club-going frat boys and shiny, skimpily dressed girls clamored toward the stage, while the typical Belly Up goers of the older, upper-middle-class-hippie variety sat up in the balcony and left well before the end of the night. Bob again catered to his perception of the crowd. Songs with mambo and other Latin rhythms provided a groove you could really dance to. Club-like beats from "Mudhouse" bounced the house and "Ready, Let's Roll" finished off the night like the aftermath of some good sex.

Continuing the awesome tradition, Bob recorded the night's performance and sold those CDs immediately after the show (also known as the Frunk collection). Every show is unique. Not a cookie cutter in sight. I usually purchase one from each show I attend but due to the long line and knowing it will eventually turn up in the archives, I skipped out on this one.

Holiday Matinee's Book Launch Party, Bar Basic: 2/18/2010

2010-02-20T21:50:00.000-08:00

For one night, Bar Basic was transformed into a place of positive collaborative discussions where creative minds could be set free. The space was packed with people interested in doing good and making a difference. This past Thursday night, Holiday Matinee launched his book, I Swear to Good You Are God at This, an inspiring look into 25 projects and individuals who are thinking beyond the four walls to, as Dave Brown says, "make awesome."

Several projects highlighted in the book were featured at the party, allowing guests to be entrenched in the awesomeness.

As you arrived to the event, a bed with a bleach blonde-haired mannequin tucked under the covers, was parked directly outside the bar. Passers by stopped in curiosity pondering the purpose of object's placement, satisfying Mark Jenkins' artistic mission.

Guest received complementary gift bags from Baggu, a maker of reusable, zip-stop nylon bags. Stylishly made and super compact, guests were given a choice of seven or eight colors, a mere percentage of the actual colors in stock.

To completely engage the guests, a section of the bar was set up where individuals could live their "Dreams of Flying" through a physical representation of Jan von Holleben's photographs. Natalie, from Too Sunny Out Here and I were given "wings" and became fairies in our own version of Jan von Holleben's piece, Peter Pan.

Both T-post and Anthony Burrill's work were displayed and Sezio was there silk screening shirts on-site.

A couple of my personal favorite things exhibited at the launch included the "Wall of Dave" (as Seth Combs from City Beat called it) , which was a visual timeline of Holiday Matinee's accomplishments, and the wall of concept cover designs for the book, each equally cool that I am not sure how a decision was made.

If you missed the launch party, that is sad. However, the real good comes not from being seen at a party but from the impact you make on the world at large. By supporting projects and people like those featured in I Swear to Good You Are God at This, you are making steps towards making the world a better place.

Upcoming Show: Samuel Stewart at The Casbah, 2/22/2010

2010-02-19T12:18:00.000-08:00

Nurtured with music and arts as a child, Samuel Stewart certainly embraces his genetics. His father is Dave Stewart from The Eurythmics & Stewart/Gaskin, and his mother, Siobhan Fahey played with both Shakespeare's Sister and Bananarama. Not to say that is the defining characteristic of his artistry. He has found his own through listening to a variety of music including Smashing Pumpkins, the Pixies, Leonard Cohen, the Beatles, Morrissey, The Smiths, Nirvana and Bowie. You can see bits and pieces of each of these bands in his music that he brings to life.

I often disagree with how publicists describe their artists' music but in this case, I really feel that this description accurately portrays what I have heard in Samuel's music: "Samuel Stewart's solo project is like a fractured waltz from that carnival troupe lurking in the shadows at the edge of town, ominous yet richly atmospheric songs with an irresistible energy that is both timely and timeless."

Take a listen for yourself. The Beginner EP is filled with melodies that trip and stumble through the dark and the fantastical. Yeah, I know that's not a word, but it seemed appropriate. His voice carries hurt and sadness, but the pop and buoyancy of the musical arrangement keeps you riveted.

Samuel Stewart plays this Monday, February 22 at The Anti-Monday League at The Casbah for just $5. Seriously, Tim, awesome find.

3rd Anniversary Show, The Casbah: 2/14/2010

2010-02-16T23:52:00.000-08:00

Roger and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary this past Sunday at The Casbah. Three years ago on the Sunday of President's Day weekend (not the 14th of February... that was just incidental this year), we said our vows into the mic on the stage of the most important music venue in San Diego (at least to us). Here is an article from the Union Tribune that tells the whole back story.

Thanks to a few friends at FM94/9 for helping us to promote the show through the concert calendar listings on the Friday before and the locals only show on the evening of. We were also amazed that the show was even listed as alternate plans for both CityBeat and the Reader. SD Dialed In listed our show in her listings and the show was featured on The Casbah website. We thank you for the extra mentions.

The best part of the evening was all of the people who came up to me telling me how much they enjoyed the bands, including ones they had never seen before. Introducing new bands/music to people is something that both of us love to do and is one of the main reasons I started blogging. So for those of you who didn't make it out, for whatever reason, we still love you and we hope that you keep reading to find out about all of the cool bands that played on our happy day.

Kicking off their West Coast tour, Tan Sister Radio finally made it to The Casbah stage for their first time ever. These young ones at 19 years of age each, from Encinitas, rock harder and tighter than most bands that have been around twice as long. I feel lucky to know these guys and to have been able to watch them grow through the years (here is an earlier post about them). They are true to their art, sticking with each other and their music even after they graduated high school. Their gritty, grunge-rock style music harks back to early Kurt Cobain but with pure innocence and honesty. Just good kids who really know how to play.

Sadly, they forgot their merch, purchase "...and The Mystery Punk" through iTunes or Napster or contact them directly through their Twitter, Facebook or MySpace profiles. Yeah, they are cool like that.

For the past two years we have talked to The Silent Comedy about playing our anniversary show, but this year the stars aligned and they were able to commit. Changing it up from their usual jumping, dancing, sing-a-long vibe, in honor of our wedding anniversary and Valentine's Day, they decided to bring the energy down by playing mostly ballads and slow jams. However, even their slow songs have a beating pulse that makes you want to move.

The change up frightened The Silent Comedy groupies, and fearful that that they wouldn't hear their favorite song (for the um-teenth hundred time), they proceeded to yell out during every song break, "Gasoline! Play, Gasoline!" Had they been sober or smart or both, they would have noticed that Gasoline was clearly written down on the set list. Roger and I are slightly fearful that the song may disappear due to fans like these.. ala Radiohead's Creep or Nada Surf's Popular. All I have to say is, don't do it... as much as it pains you, embrace the song and the people's love for it.

And the headliner of the evening was Listening to Rocks... who? That would be Roger's band with Dave Rizzuto on the Daisy Rock guitar, Jon Kanis on bass and Brad Smith on drums. In 2008, Roger formed Listening to Rocks as a one-off band to play at our first anniversary at The Casbah with Bunky and Get Back Loretta. The band, only a couple rehearsals in, asked, "Can we keep this going?" Since everyone was having fun, they kept it going.

As for the name of the band, when looking up online to see if certain band names existed, Roger came across this guy from China's MySpace page stating that he "enjoyed listening to rocks..." as in rock music. It had a good ring to it, so he kept it. Funny though, he never actually looked up that name to see if anyone already had a band by that name.

The band has certainly evolved over time. Since there are really three front men to the band, they have found that the songs didn't always flow and sets sounded fragmented with three distinctly different music styles. In this recent performance, they seemed to gel as one band. It is also evident in their new recording done at Chaos Recorders. Check out their MySpace for a listen for yourselves.

Halfway through the set, I joined the band as the harmony vocals for a Nada Surf cover of "I Like What You Say." If you missed it, so sad. But I can't say that this will be the last. I certainly had fun up there.

The night would not be complete without Roger serenading me with "Kiss Me," one of the two songs he wrote for our wedding. It sums up our feelings for each other and is another reminder of our love: "Kiss me again, like when we wed..."

Langhorne Slim, M-Theory Records & The Casbah: 2/8/2010

2010-02-16T16:00:00.000-08:00

Sweet, wholesome and so damn cute. Ok, I couldn't resist. Langhorne Slim swung back into San Diego last Monday for an in-store at M-Theory Records and a show at The Casbah to promote his new album, Be Set Free.

Roger and I can't resist a chance to take Thomas to live music shows. And this was no exception. I actually skipped the first part of derby practice to head over to M-Theory Records for this family outing opportunity. Their late arrival due to The Casbah sound check allowed us to pick up a couple CDs that we've been missing including: Contra from Vampire Weekend, The Crow from Steve Martin and Phrazes for the Young from Julian Casablancas.

Langhorne Slim takes your senses to Appalachian Mountains with the song-writing style that you can only imagine stems from backcountry love and appreciation. Many define his style as simply folk music, but hearing the tinge of banjo and passion of the words, you can easily see that it is much more. He invites participants to engage in his gospel-like performances, uplifting both spirits and "spirits" of the drinking variety alike.

The acoustic set started with "Back to the Wild" and "Cinderella," then prompted the crowd for requests. My brain was thrown for a loop since these were my two favorite songs off his newest album and I never thought they would actually play "Cinderella" in this setting. Luckily, someone else jumped in with a request from an earlier album. For this intimate session Langhorne hid coyly beneath his fedora cradling his well-worn baby guitar with a golden glittered pick guard, appearing as an artist internalizing his craft.

Returning from practice to The Casbah for an additional dose of Langhorne, I missed the opening act April Smith and the Great Picture Show. From what I have heard of them, I truely missed a good show of the old-timey variety.

The Casbah performance varied greatly from the deeply personal insight that caught a glimpse of earlier. More than toe-tapping, you could say it could be best compared to complete revelry. With the same uplift of the heart and soul, Langhorne delivered some of my favorites from his self-titled album, "Diamonds and Gold," "Worries" and "Hello Sunshine" along with newer cuts "I Love You, But Goodbye" and "Say Yes."

Satisfying my palatte for good, honest music, Langhorne definitely made my day.

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

2010-02-08T16:53:00.000-08:00

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.

Banked Track Roller Derby in San Diego!!!

2010-02-05T16:18:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow night will go down in history. It will be the first banked track roller derby bout in over 30 years at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. At 7 p.m. in Wyland Hall, over 1,800 people will witness the San Diego Derby Dolls Banked Track All-Stars taking on the Mitten Kittens from Michigan on their shiny new track.

The Mitten Kittens are a team of skaters from several leagues in Michigan that also includes nationally qualifying speed skaters in the mix (who also happen to play derby). Some of them have also had experience on a banked track as extras from the movie, Whip It!

Tickets are going fast (bleachers seats are almost gone and the party bus from Bluefoot is already sold out). The cut off for online sales is at 6 a.m. Saturday morning. If you want to be a part of history, get your tickets NOW!

For more about the banked track itself:

Check out this 14 hour time lapse video of the track being built:

Here is Cherry Blue in all her glory, named for Cherry Punch, who made this track happen. It was Cherry who worked countless hours and whose sweat and blood was sacrificed. The blue stands for the turquoise blue that is the San Diego Derby Dolls. The padded uprights and rails will be covered in black and blue fabric in its final touches.

Cherry Blue will be stored onsite at Del Mar in a movable storage unit. It will take 4-6 hours to set up before a game and 4-6 hours after. If you are interested in being on this crew cause you love us so much, contact our bout production coordinator at SDEvents@derbydolls.com.

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

2010-02-03T17:07:00.000-08:00

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

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

2010-01-29T14:06:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-21T13:09:00.000-08:00

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.

College Success Story... SF Sketchfest

2010-01-14T08:06:00.000-08:00

I am so proud of my friends from college. They took what they love and decided to share it with the world. Upon graduating from San Francisco State University in 2001, Cole Stratton, David Owen and Janet Varney decided to collaborate creating SF Sketchfest as a way to showcase the work of six Bay Area sketch comedy groups: The Fresh Robots, Kasper Hauser, The Meehan Brothers, Please Leave the Bronx, Totally False People (their own sketch group, along with our friend, Gabriel Diani) and White Noise Radio Theatre.

In January of 2002, the first festival kicked off at the tiny 300 seat Shelton Theatre in downtown San Francisco with two weeks of sketch comedy sets. Rapidly the festival has grown into a nationally recognized comedy festival mixing national headliners, local favorites and the best up-and-coming groups from throughout North America for a month of sketch, improv, stand-up and alternative comedy. The festival has grown substantially to become a favorite among critics and fans for it's artistic showcase that consistently delivers top quality comedic performances, tributes and panel discussions.

Recently featured in Paste Magazine, this year's festival starts tonight and goes for three weeks. I'm bummed I am going to miss this year's event since it features a Tribute to Conan O'Brien, Monty Python's Terry Jones, Cinematic Titanic with the peeps from MST3K, Reno 911!, Comedy Death-Ray and more (click here for the full line up)!

In the past they have had acts such as performances from Saturday Night Live, The Kids in the Hall, Mr. Show, Arrested Development, The Upright Citizens Brigade, The State, Strangers With Candy, The Simpsons, The Daily Show and more. I have been back for the festival twice: once in 2003 and once in 2008 and already have plans to be there next year for their 10th anniversary. It is an awesome experience similar to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. With multiple venues and several shows per night to chose from it is easy to hop from show-to-show to fulfill all of your comedy needs and desires. You NEED to go.

I love my friends and love to see that they are doing so well. On a side note, Cole Stratton also writes one of my favorite entertainment blogs, Riverbottom Nightmare Blog, named for the gang our favorite Christmas special, Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas.

The Future of Radio???

2010-01-05T17:25:00.000-08:00

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.

Top Ten Songs of 2009

2009-12-31T11:52:00.000-08:00

So I feel a little bad for no doing my top ten list 12 hours before the end of the decade, but really, no time. Anyhow, I have thought about it... a lot. I've done my homework and realized that I can't sufficiently give my top ten albums of 2009 (and the top ten of the decade is just unrealistically mind-blowing).

"What?!", you say... To my defense, I barely bought ten albums in the last year. Mostly of my listening time has been spent with podcasts or radio. I don't feel that I could give a list that covers what should be the top of the year. But since I have been listening to some music this year, I do feel I can give to you my top ten songs of the year. So here they are:

10. Fiction Family "When She's Near" - Bringing me into the new year... This song is like a warm fire in my soul. Yes, I mean it. I can imagine curling up on the couch next to a warm fire in the hearth on a cold winter day. Now, how's that for a song description?

9. Phoenix "1901" - I have yet to get tired of this song. So sad to have missed them at the FM94.9 Holiday Hootenanny earlier this month. I heard they blew everyone away.

8. Metric "Twilight Galaxy" - Although "Help I'm Alive" was the hit off the Fantasies album released this year, I fell in love with the lyrics and melodies of this song. "I'm higher than high, lower than deep."

7. Owl City "Fireflies" - I can't resist. As much as people have a love/hate feeling toward this band, I have fallen in love with this song just as much as I love Death Cab and Postal Service. Cute video too.

6. Company of Thieves "Oscar Wilde" - I think I fell in love with this song after Thomas was born and as my grandfather's health was fading. My recognition that time is a precious thing connected me to this song instantly. "Time keeps on ticking away, always running away, always running from time."

5. Fanfarlo "The Wall Are Coming Down" - Beautifully organic. I originally heard it on the Paste Magazine Sampler #55. I love every small xylophone tap, trumpet blow and violin pluck. I was lucky to have gotten a chance to see them as they rolled through town at the Casbah earlier this month.

4. Harlem Shakes "Sunlight" - This song was also on the Paste Magazine Sampler #55, good solid mix. Similar to Langhorne Slim but more upbeat and dancy. Love.

3. Pearl Jam "Just Breathe" - Favorite radio play of the year. Listening to this song grounds me. It makes me introspective and start thinking about those that I love. One of the DJ's from FM94.9 stated that it sounds like it should be on the "Where the Wild Things Are" soundtrack. I totally agree.

2. Flaming Lips "I Can Be A Frog" - I love this. Karen O. on the other other end of the line making the craziest animal sounds. I would love to know how this song came to be. Ultra silly and fun.

1. Jonathan Coulton "Blue Sunny Day" - I heard this song as the intro to Kevin Smith's and Scott Mosier's Smodcast a few months back. I new that I had to get it and you should too (here). It is the first time that I have bought just a song. Though if it was available on an album, I would have bought it. Super catchy. Somewhere between Ben Folds and Brian Wilson. Listen to the lyrics. It is about a vampire about to die. Awesome. PS... Ignore the cheesy video.

And with that I leave you to enjoy your new year!

Fanfarlo, The Casbah: 11/24/2009

2009-11-27T23:14:00.000-08:00

"Are there any free Twitter tickets left?" I said greeting Ben at the door of the Casbah, while rolling in late, around 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday night.

"Just say the words," he responded.

As I recited, "Free the Turkeys," he stamped the inside of my wrist, granting my entrance to my chapel.

The Casbah offers free tickets nearly every Tuesday through giveaways on Twitter, offering a secret password to gain access to the show for a limited number of entries. It slightly feels like an old speakeasy but it's all legal and no one is really hiding anything.

I arrived right after Freelance Whales finished their set. Since I had no prior knowledge of either of the bands playing that night before coming to this show (or so I thought, as you will see), I didn't really know what I would be missing. I was out on a whim. It wasn't until after the show that I found that Freelance Whales was listed as Stereogum's Band to Watch at the end of September 2009. From the conversations I had on the smoking patio and the back bar, they were a perfect match with Fanfarlo (the headlining band), and yes, I really did miss something good.

Drawn into the main room by the harking sounds of mandolin and trumpet, I was certain that I would be in for a perfromance that I actually would dig (yeah, I said dig).

The symphonic melodies surrounded your senses, knocking out your heart with the beat of two drums. The trumpet and keys fill your lungs with a sense of anticipation and hope. The lyrics and harmonies caused my mind to drift away like a small sail boat on the ocean into the setting sun.

Fanfarlo captured the audience similar to finding a lost puppy to take it back home, showing them the good in the world through their music.

It wasn't until halfway throught the show that I had figured out that I had heard Fanfarlo before. "The Walls Are Coming Down" sounded echoes from the past that I couldn't quite put my finger on. The trumpets swelled and ebbed in dreamlike sequences through your head. The violin and xylophone twinkled like stars in the night sky swirling with catchy lyrics.

It wasn't until the following day that I realized exactly where I had heard "The Wall Are Coming Down" before. I kept thinking, maybe a new song on FM94.9 but I don't recall ever hearing it while in my car which is about the only time I listen to the radio. I was also thinking that maybe it was one of the albums given to us by our friend Lyn, http://www.chickrawker.com/ as she send us a lot of albums. But if that was the case, I would have recognized more than one song in the set. Then I discovered and confirmed that it was from listening to the Paste Magazine Sampler: Issue 55 (August 2009).

The night proved to be a surprisingly positive, uplifting experience... as well as extremely cheap. I spent less then $20 for an amazing show, three beers, a CD and a poster. Ridiculous. I love my town, my bar, my life...

They Might Be Giants, Belly Up Tavern: 11/17/2009

2009-11-23T10:59:00.000-08:00

Walking out of the Belly Up Tavern last Tuesday with my fedora brim filled with confetti, my spirit soared from one of the most over-the-top, ultra-amazing shows that I have seen at that venue ever. Yes, I saw Death Cab for Cutie months ago hit me in the heart with an arrow of emotionally beautiful songs. I have seen Johnette Napolitano streaming tears down the faces of the crowd from her powerful voice. I have also seen Bob Schnieder on several occasions get the crowd in such a ferver that girls and guys are nearly crawling up on stage to get at him. All of these incredible shows I've seen at the Belly Up Tavern over the years still can not compare to the energy and playful production that They Might Be Giants brought to their stage last week in the last show on their 8 Bit Tour.

The moment Roger and I walked into the venue, we were blown away by the amount of equipment on and around the stage. TMBG brought in their own lighting, video and sound (minus the main speakers). The AV boards took up the most of the seating on stage left (the right hand side of the stage as you are looking at it). No front seats available there.

We stood with our Red Stripes in hand, in awe of the equipment, when the opening act started. Guggenheim Grotto caught our ears with a whimsical melody played on a ukeleli. I heart ukes and this tune made me want more. Sadly they switched to an acoustic electric for the rest of the set, only bringing the uke back for the closer. Even they realize that their uke songs are their best songs by far. The duo, Mike Lynch and Kevin May harmonize like blood brothers, singing songs of fancy based on literary characters and real life. It is easy to see how these two acts came together on this tour.

When They Might Be Giants took the stage, the lights went crazy in a ballyhoo and the crowd went nuts. My stomach all flittery as I realized that I finally was going to see TMBG play. Yeah, I know, I must have seen them before but somehow it never happened until now (and same for Roger).

They began by playing "Meet the Elements" off the Here Comes Science album, their newest album geared towards teaching kids about the wonders of science. Right away I felt cozy and warm with goodness. Their songs brought back a time of playing tag, digging in the sandbox to finally reach China and talking in secret languages our parents wouldn't understand.

At one point in the show, The Avitars of They, sock puppets in the likeness of John Linnell and John Flansburgh, took over the performance though live video projected on a screen in the back of the stage. Hilarity ensued with a mini comedy performance, playfully bashing They Might Be Giants by They themselves. The Avitars of They performed two songs, then returned to the regularly scheduled performance.

Disco lights spun around the room, entrancing many as they sung "What is a Shooting Star?" Probably one of my favorite songs of the night from Here Comes Science ending with confetti cannons shooting multi-colored confetti over the front half of the room. And we were no where near the encore.

The night would not be complete without hearing songs from their second album, Flood, the album that brought TMBG radio play and the "fame" that came with it (aka bringing home the paycheck). We were privvy to "Particle Man", "Birdhouse in your Soul", "Istanbul (not Constantinople)", "They Might Be Giants", and my personal favorite, "Whistling in the Dark".

The night of music came to a close after two short encores and another cannon blast of confetti over the entire room. I can only imagine what the Belly Up staff thought of the drifts of small pieces of crepe paper. The room was cleared by 11pm. Early night for most rock shows. But for They Might Be Giants, early nights are the standard. About fifty percent of their scheduled shows are geared towards a younger audience, a much younger audience of preschoolers with their hip parents. I totally would have brought Thomas to one of these shows, but the last one scheduled on this tour was in LA. Next time, oh definitely next time.

Writers Weekly 24 Hour Contest

2009-11-03T15:23:00.000-08:00

I guess I should stick to my day job. The results for Writers Weekly's 24 Hour contest came in at the end of last week. Me, not a finalist of any sort. But that does not mean I am giving up on writing (in fact I have already signed up for the Winter 2010 Contest on Jan 23). I love words and the way they can paint a picture, just as I love actual paint. So read my story, then take the time to read the winners' stories as they are definitely good reads.

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Rural Squall

Anticipation filled his chest as the cameras unloaded from the van to set up next to the entrance to the corn maze. Marcus hopped out of the passenger side of the van in his flannel shirt and jeans, trying a little too hard to fit into the rural atmosphere that he just emerged into. Today will be his first live segment interviewing a farmer in central Wisconsin in advance of next weekend’s county fair. The rains from the early afternoon made the ground underneath spongy, adding a little spring to his step.

“Hello!”

Weathered and jolly, an older man hurried towards the camera crew with two dogs trailing behind him. His chest puffed with impending pride as he introduced himself to Marcus.

They chatted about the dreary weather and the positive effects on the crops, as the crew finished setting up. Waiting for the segment to start, the farmer meticulously picked at his vest that he donned for the special occasion. Marcus envisioned how the farmer’s neurotic ways surely would earn him the blue ribbon for his biggest pumpkin.

As the farmer shared his tales of obsessive tending and gentle turning with the camera, Marcus instinctively turned his head toward an infant's cry. At the top of the hill, under an old maple, a pretty girl was shielding a bundle from the wind, fumbling with her blouse. Distracted by the sight of the woman’s ordinary behavior, Marcus stumbled through the rest of the interview.

As the camera equipment was being loading back into the van, Marcus glanced back up the hill observing only the silhouette of the old maple as the clouds turned shades of orange and pink from the sun setting.

“She is stuck up,” the farmer disclosed, irritated that the woman had interrupted his moment of glory.

“Who is she?” asked Marcus still gazing up at the painted clouds.

“That’s Elle, the daughter of the Hagens, who live next door,” He said conclusively. “She cares for no one but herself. Like I said, she’s stuck up.”

The cold wind started again and he shivered, watching the sky darken too quickly Marcus ambled into the town’s only pub to get out of the weather and have a cold one before heading back to the inn for the night.

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was playing on the jukebox while a number of local farm boys on the far end of the bar pounded drinks like the frat boys did back in Madison.

Marcus pulled up next to a girl with her head down on the bar, soggy hair flowing around her ears. She looked vaguely familiar.

“Elle?”

She turned in his direction looking through him, not at him. The farm boys were now pretending to shear the bar stools as if they were sheep with wooden legs.

She giggled, prompting Marcus to look in the direction she was staring. He laughed along.

“I saw you on the hill today overlooking the Altenburg Farms. Where is your baby?”

Without blushing, she answered assuringly, “With my parents.” She cautiously continued, “I am living with them for a while, until I can get on my feet.”

Prompted by Marcus’s prodding questions, Elle continued to speak about life in a small town and her dreams of leaving the rural life to become a hair stylist for a fancy salon. With each question she became more intense, divulging more than he asked. Marcus was fascinated by her wisdom for such a young age. She was maybe 21 or 22.

He found out that she had grown up in Wisconsin Rapids her whole life. Her parents had been supportive when she became pregnant after being raped by some local farm boys, not unlike the rowdy boys at the end of the bar.

Even with all of her troubles, she seemed to have her life in order including step-by-step plans for fulfilling her passions.

It was late when Marcus walked Elle back to her car. Walking along the tree lined Main Street, he noticed for the first time that she was barefoot. She carried her shoes in her right hand swinging them in time with her stride, allowing the rain soaked sidewalks to wrinkle her toes. This prompted a smile on his face.

“It was great to talk to you tonight,” she said seriously. “I really needed that.”

She hugged him tightly, squeezing his chest to where he thought he wasn’t breathing. Before he could open his eyes, she was in her car driving away.

The tires splashing through small puddles of rain was the only sound on the town’s quiet streets as Marcus made his way back to his hotel.

Frigid morning air flowed through the van’s open window stinging Marcus’s face, as the crew headed back towards Madison. Marcus reflected on the evening with Elle and how he may have just ruined his chances for any future live segments due to his inability to focus during the interview. His thoughts were so distant that he was completely unaware of the news report on the radio stating police had found an infant drowned in the Wisconsin River.

Fiction 101

2009-10-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

Every year, San Diego City Beat runs a contest called Fiction 101 (now in it's seventh year). The goal is to write a fictional story in 101 words or less. That is pretty much it. This was the first year that I entered and while I didn't win or have an honorable mention (psst... there really isn't a prize besides seeing it in print anyhow), I did want to put my stories out there for people to read. So here are the two short stories I sumbitted for your enjoyment:

Second Life
Behind the wooden bookcase, through the paneled wall in the study hides a door to the room where he spent his nights alone. His wife would never understand if she discovered the room he built to hide his deepest secrets. His second life gave him autonomy and power that his real life at home and working in the factory had always lacked. In his room, the Lilliputian people with their painted on smiles frozen in their stance waved up at him in his blue and white striped conductor’s hat, as he prepared the next miniature train for departure. All Aboard!

The above story was the first one that came to me. It really is inconclusive with no depth. I think I just really wanted to use the word "Lilliputian."

The Bouquet
An elderly man sat on the patio of a café savoring each sip of his wine. He arrived in Madrid that morning. Watching the pigeons scavenge crumbs from the cobbled streets, he thought about his family left behind, wars fought, and miracles witnessed. A young boy on a bicycle stopped to smell flowers at a cart across from the café. The man reminisced returning from the war, embracing his wife and the floral essence of her perfume. “It is time,” he whispered, as he walked back to his hotel, to swallow the pills that will take him back to her.

The second story sort of stem from my grandfather's trip to Spain. He flew to Spain for one day and then came home (no, he did not commit suicide). His trip to Spain at 82ish years old is one of my favorite stories from his many life stories and a true testament to who he was. Adventurous and caring (he went there solely to teach a friend to fly via Space A - military flights). The man was amazing. We charged me with helping him finish his biography/memoir when he passed away. I don't know if I could ever do him justice, but I will try.

Watching the Wheels

2009-10-02T15:49:00.000-07:00

I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round. I really love to watch them roll...

Driving back down from LA this past week, I was listening to John Lennon's "Watching the Wheels" on the radio. I believe it was KPRI but that doesn't really matter. The song sent me into a spiral of memories of when I was 16 years old living in San Diego and many of the people who made impact on me. It is amazing that a song can throw you back in this way.

People say I'm lazy dreaming my life away...

Hearing that song, made me think of the great rock writer, Paul Williams and his experience being a part of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Bed-in". I had the honor of meeting Paul when I was 16, prior to his bicycle accident and hearing many of his great stories of interviewing Bob Dylan and Brian Wilson. I remember sitting on the floor of my friend's apartment stapling copies of Crawdaddy! to get ready for mailing at a time when the magazine's budget was near it's lowest. I remember feeling that I was a part of something greater but also the normalcy of the occasion.

Emma Dennis, a budding rock journalist for the current incarnation of Crawdaddy! who also just happens to be Patrick Dennis's daughter, wrote an amazing piece on her blog, Whimsy in Dive Bars, about her first meeting with Paul which brought me to tears.

People asking questions lost in confusion. Well I tell them there's no problems, only solutions...

Thinking about Paul prompted me to think about the other individuals who helped shape me into the music-loving, community oriented being that I am today. I thought about Jackie Starr, a spunky musician who lived here in North Park, who I can directly pinpoint as the reason that I love the Pixies and Elvis Costello. Listening to Frank Black while petting her cat on the floor of her living room (I guess I spent a lot of time sitting on the floor as a teenager), I could only imagine the doors that were opening regarding musical influence. After I ran away from home (a story for another time), I continued writing Jackie. Yes, the handwritten letter type of writing. I am not sure if she realizes the impact that she had on me, but I still want to thank her.

When I returned home in the wee hours of the morning, I searched online for my past. Finding Jackie on facebook it made me smile to see her happily married in Massachusetts.

Surely you're not happy now you no longer play the game...

I also thought about Veronica Boyer who assisted in my escape plan and was a true friend. It was her floor that I sat on while stapling Crawdaddy! magazines. She introduced me to Guinness and the close knit community that is the San Diego Music Scene. I remember going to shows and walking through shops downtown with her. She always made me feel like I belonged and never treated me like I was just a kid.

I remember her telling me that she was moving to Washington state, where I never heard from her again. I tried to look her up but have been unsuccessful. I hope that one day I will get the chance to tell her

No longer riding on the merry-go-round. I just had to let it go. I just had to let it go.

Whip It! Jucket!

2009-09-29T16:33:00.000-07:00

Junket is my new word for the week. I had never even heard of the word (amazingly) until yesterday when I actually went to one in LA for the movie, Whip It! starring Ellen Page and directed by Drew Barrymore.

Yesterday's junket for Whip It! was a larger-than-life event that took place in the LA Derby Dolls' Doll Factory in Historic Phillipino Town.

The excitement started out with Har Mar Superstar, aka Sean Tillman, performing the national anthem. I really didn't pay much attention at the time so I didn't realize that he was one of the actors in the movie (playing the coach to Juliette Lewis's team) and that he has a song on the soundtrack called "Never My Love".

Then the LA Derby Dolls Tough Cookies took the track against the Varsity Brawlers in the most publicized, over-the-top production for a practice bout ever. It was a thrilling bout that included a leg whip by Crissy Crassy and Leguna Beyatch, and at least one skater, Jacq Pot, flying over the rail. They will be playing again this Saturday for their regular season. The Tough Cookies won over Varsity Brawlers, one hundred and something to something less than that. Tough Cookies are currently undefeated, as are The Swarm (San Diego team).

Singer and actor, Landon Pigg, who plays Ellen Page's boyfriend in the movie, performed the song "Hightimes" from the movie during half time. Again, I really didn't pay much attention here, I was taking a look at the production booth, watching the emails fly in with questions for Drew.

At the end of the bout, the cast of the movie and Shauna Cross (aka the real Maggie Mayhem), skater and author of the book "Derby Girl" of which the movie is based, came out into the middle of the track for a Q&A session moderated by Axils of Evil, a popular KPCC radio host.

Here is the best photo I could get of the Q&A session with my camera phone right before it ran out of batteries.

Director and actor, Drew Barrymore plus Eve, Alia Shawkat, Landon Pigg, Zoe Bell, Har Mar Superstar, Juliette Lewis, Shauna Cross, Ellen Page along with LA Derby Dolls' Rachel Piplica (aka the real Iron Maivon) and Kristen Adolfi (aka Crissy Crash) all shared the mic for an inspirational Q&A session. My favorite moment was when Juliette Lewis shared that she really just wants to work on her form (getting low and her starts to be specific).

Over 2,000 people watched the event online at www.derbydolls.tv. You can watch the entire event (in two parts) on Justin.tv. Check out some photos from the event HERE.

I managed to walk away from the event with a a prize pack from Fox Searchlight that included promotional items including the soundtrack, the book (renamed to "Whip It!), pins, sweatbands, a cup and a t-shirt. Definitely a sweet package, but no celeb meetings. That's fine, I would rather see them on the track.

I did find out that the reason that celebs don't skate is that the insurance with the movie studios doesn't allow or cover it. I guess Patricia Arquette tried to join LA Derby Dolls in the past.

The Whip It! soundtrack comes out today via Rhino Records and the movie also officially premieres today at the Grauman's Historic Chinese Theatre.

Writing Like Crazy But You Wouldn't Know It

2009-09-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks I have started writing just for writing sake. I entered two short stories competitions: Fiction 101 with City Beat and 24 Hour Contest with Writer's Weekly. City Beat should be publishing the finalists in the next couple weeks and Writer's Weekly won't publish their results until almost Halloween. Win or lose, I will post the stories once the results have come in.

Deadlines seem to help drive my imagination, as do word limits. College was great for that. How can I say a sentence the most eloquently or creatively in the least amount of words? I guess that is another reason that I like Twitter. Sometimes it feels like a puzzle, re-arranging words and using the thesaurus to get the right phrase to give the right feeling.

I have always wanted to write a book, but I am a bit of a procrastinator. It is also hard to imagine writing on one subject for 100 plus pages. That is where blogging and short story writing comes in.

Ray Bradbury is my favorite author of all time. Well known for his novels "Fahrenheit 451" and the "Martin Chronicles", Bradbury composed most of his stories as chapters or short stories to be published in journals (he could make more money that way too). His short stories are descriptive and captivating. The endings are never what you imagine.

He also wrote a book on writing called "Zen and the Art of Writing". Inspiring, yet simple. He talks about why he writes and where he gets his inspiration from. You can see common threads that run through each of his stories that allow you to see pictures of the whole from only reading pieces.

If you have never read anything of Ray Bradbury's except for "Fahrenheit 451," try something new for a change. Here are my favorite novels and short story compilations:

"Dandelion Wine" My favorite novel of all time about a boy and one summer of his life. Horrible description on my part, amazing story from a child's mind.

"Something Wicked This Way Comes" The carnival comes to town and the dark things that come with it. Again, from a child's view.

"The Veldt" Short story published in "Illustrator Man" and "The Vintage Bradbury"

"The Small Assassin" Short story published in "Dark Carnival" (Ray Bradbury's first published book of short stories, now out of print and pricey), "October Country", "The Vintage Bradbury" and "A Memory of Murder"

"Skeleton" Short story published in "Dark Carnival", "October Country", and "The Vintage Bradbury"

"The Gift" Short story published in "A Medicine for Melancholy" and "R is for Rocket"

"The Anthem Sprinters" Short story published in "The Machineries of Joy" and "The Vintage Bradbury"

"Yestermorrow" A collection of essays from Bradbury on projects that he worked on including Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln at Disneyland and the design of Horton Plaza mall. This one is hard to find since it is out of print.

Don't Let Concerts Pass You By: Tips for Concert Going with Your Baby

2009-08-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

After going to this weekend's Flaming Lips concert at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and being complemented on our parent planning skills and concert preparation, I thought I would share a few tips about getting out to see shows with a small one.

Research the Venue
First off... is the venue all ages. This will help answer the first question of whether you should take him or leave him. There are lots of all ages venues in San Diego: the Marquee, Lestats, SOMA, Epicentre, Java Joe's at Café Libertalia, Club 8Teen (formerly Avalon, now called something else) and ChannelTwelve25. The Del Mar Fairgrounds holds concerts throughout the summer as do a number of communities (Bird Park Concerts, Trolley Barn Concerts, etc.)... Plus there are many street fairs and festivals that are open to everyone.

Take in consideration that you will need a place to change the baby that is inoffensive (sorry, no changing on dinner tables). The ground always a place as long as you have a quiet corner and the proper changing tools mainly a blanket or pad.

Make sure there is a place you can step away from the action for fussiness. This could be outside, another room, or just distancing yourself from the action. This is important in smaller venues where cries could potentially disturb the show.

Ear Protection
If you think the music isn't loud, you're wrong. You want your child to grow up with his or her full capacity to hear even the softest of noises. I have been to so many concerts and bouts where parents think that if they are sleeping or if they aren't reacting, that the noise must not be bad for them. I don't personally have a link to the research on this, but I know that theory is wrong.

There are options for protecting your child's hearing even as early as 2-3 months (before that you should really avoid taking you kids to places with loud music/noises... get a sitter). We use the Peltor Kid Ear Muffs. They cost less than $20, they last until your child is about 7 years old, and they come in three colors (pink, blue and black). If you start your kid young in these, they would be bothered wearing them. They can still hear the music but it takes the edge off. Thomas has enjoyed listening to Roger's band practice and has even fallen asleep while wearing them.

Pack Your Bags
Just like going out for the day, you need to be sure to pack food, milk or formula, diapers, wipes, clothes, a bib, a burp cloth and toys. Make sure that you think about the food temperature. In many concert situations you won't have access to heat a bottle. My child is not picky about temperature, so leaving milk or food out at room temperature is good enough.

Also don't forget about your needs. Often when I am packing for Thomas, I forget that I need a jacket or food. It will happen, but here is another reminder to take care of yourself too.

Your Arms Can Only Hold So Much
It really does suck if you have to hold a sleeping baby for hours. Consider the venue again. Think about whether a sling or stroller is more appropriate. If you are standing room only, a stroller is better towards the back of the room while a sling allows you to get closer to the action.

Bonus/luxury items include having a backpack style carrier or a wagon. We are lucky to own both (as gifts). The backpack we have yet to use but believe it will come in useful during street fairs. It will be great place to feed him on the go too.

The wagon we have is a portable, fold up wagon called Fold-It & Go Portable Wagon. It folds up like a PacknPlay to load in and out of your car. The wheels are large making it easy to go over rough terrain (like sand). It claims to hold up to 150 lbs. We use it as a playpen (for now) and a portable crib. The only thing it is lacking is brakes so supervision is heavily needed.

At the Flaming Lips concert we loaded up our wagon with a small cooler, a couple of chairs, and a bags of our stuff. On the way out, we hauled Thomas, passed out in the wagon with the earmuffs still on, back to the car while carrying the rest of the gear. It was perfect for this occasion. It should be also be useful for the Bird Park Concerts.

The biggest takeaway for me is all of the preplanning. It is no longer possible to just leave the house on a whim. Before I would preplanning for comfort, now it is a necessity.

If you have any additional tips on concert going with kids/babies, feel free to comment.

Alex's Lemonade Stand @ The Miller's House

2009-07-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the 4th annual FM94/9 live broadcast of Alex's Lemonade Stand at the Miller Family home on the corner of Redwood and Thorn. Roger and I have wanted to make it out for this event pretty much every year since it started. Now that we live five blocks from the Miller Family, it will become an annual tradition for us too. That is, if they able to keep it there.

Of the four years they have been doing this event, this is the biggest yet. The stands take over three of the four corners of the intersection, selling lemonade (both pink and yellow varieties) to passers by for donations to pediatric cancer. They also had a silent auction, live local music and guests from the local Star Wars Society, all part of the event.

Their fundraising goal was $10,000 which they had raised the previous year. By 11am, only one hour after they started, when our family stopped by, they had already raised $2,000. One of the big draws was the family four pack of Legoland tickets that they were giving away if you donated $80 to the cause. By 11:30am, the tickets they had on hand where gone and they had to start taking IOU's. As FM94/9's DJ, Hilary put it best "It is so California of us," referring to the the state tax returns.

According to Amy Miller, the event had much more press than in previous years including on-air segments on both KUSI and NBC 7/39. It was overheard Amy saying that she doesn't want this event to get any bigger. And neither do the neighbors. The cops came by at least twice in the hour that we were there, responding to neighbor complaints regarding music volume and crowds in the street and sidewalks. If it does get much bigger, they would have to look at a different venue, which would be a sad prospect to both the Miller Family and the community as a whole.

Our family hopes they continue this successful fundraiser at their home for years to come. Not just because it is within walking distance, but because it shows the collective power of good in our community.

--Thomas playing with his lemonade cup--

So much for being backblogged...

2009-07-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

I have been out living life. Those shows I said I would get around to writing about... sorry. Not gonna happen. Not the kid's fault. Just been too busy with life's happenings to take the time to write thing down. Here are some of the things that have kept me from writing over the last few weeks:

1) Work: Yeah, I know it is a lame excuse but I am in a transition phase at work that doesn't give me time to even check my personal email let alone blog.
2) Shows and other fun events: These include... Get Back Loretta CD Release @ the Casbah, FM94/9 Beer for Breakfast event @ Stone Brewery, Death Cab for Cutie Secret Show @ the Belly Up, Smart Brothers & The Wrong Trousers @ Lestats, Alex's Lemonade Stand broadcast.
3) Personal stuff: My grandfather was in the hospital for two weeks, my iTouch was stolen, famliy BBQ's

So yeah, busy. What that mean is that I will get to what I feel like getting to instead of putting expectations on myself to type up everything. I guess this is a personal release of thoughts since I know that my blog is low on readers. It feels good to get it out none the less.

Derby on TV, Not Exactly

2009-06-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I sat in front of my computer screaming at the monitor, not cause my computer crashed but because my teammates in the San Diego Derby Dolls were kicking ass at the Battle of the Banked: Capital Punishment Tournament in Austin Texas. They came home with the 1st place trophy, rightfully claiming their place as the best team in California on any surface and the best in the nation on banked.

But I realized as I was watching these intense games, we are just about there. Who really needs a TV to watch derby. As it stands now, I don’t have cable anyway. I have to go to the bar or over to my friend’s or family’s houses to watch the Chargers play or the Lakers game. Nearly everyone I know has a computer with the Internet. Streaming videos is common place now with sites like YouTube and UStream.

About a year ago, Derby News Network started broadcasting bouts as text-casts; enlisting the help of local derby fanatics to text the updates from a game. Slow and lacking the same intensity, the text-casts offered the derby community an outlet to see how your team was doing in a game that you could not be at. They got the points, penalties, lead jammer status and maybe when a key player took a spill. Viewers could give their two cents or shout outs like a standard moderated chatroom.

For nearly every tournament since August 2008, Derby News Network has broadcasted video boutcasts showing the true excitement and intensity of the sport. Text-casts still continue to this day as an entertaining communication tool to the eyes on the track.

This weekend is the East Coast Extravaganza in Philly, a large-scale flat track derby event featuring teams from across the US and Canada. And guess what that means? A weekend of watching roller derby streaming live straight to you. Derby News Network will be broadcasting (video and text) HERE both Saturday and Sunday, all games starting at 10:30am EDT.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the country, the LA Derby Dolls are streaming live the their double header for the first time in five years (or is it six). The Rookie skaters will duke it out in the Baby Doll Brawl. In between bouts, the Junior Derby Dolls will take the track showing off their moves. Kids in derby, priceless. The second match up will be the LA Derby Dolls B Bracket Team, the Aftershockers who will take on a combination of skaters from local Flat track leagues called the Prom Queens. HERE is the link that will take you to this west coast action. Bout starts at 3:30pm PDT, don’t be late!

I think this signifies a new era. We may not be on TV but the Internet reaches a wider audience and is much more portable. So if you haven’t got a chance to go see your local derby league play, check out the action online. Who knows, you may find you actually like it.