Apes of Wrath, The Luxury, Cold War Kids Casbah Show 9/22

Sarah and I rolled up to The Casbah last night around 9 PM to catch Apes of Wrath. They opened for The Luxury for Tim Pyles' Anti-Monday League night. Only thing was, they were double booked...with The Cold War Kids. Instead of combining everyone together to have a typical 3 band show they charged $7 to get into Anti-Monday then said we'd have to leave and go to the back of the line to get into CWKids who's doors were at 11 PM. WTF??? There was a pretty hearty line waiting when we got there at 9 PM and by 10 PM there were already around 100 in line for a show that had a 225 person capacity. They were forcing us to make a choice between supporting local music or seeing CWkids in a small intimate setting. NOT COOL. Especially for The Casbah, huge proprietor of local music. It's not even like I didn't want to pay twice, I was DOWN for that. But at least give the people who came early to catch Apes and The Luxury the option of staying or maybe have a separate line for us. And then,again, there's the "Why the hell did you not combine the shows, charge a bit more, and make money on all the people drinking till the headliner went on?? There was like 12 people there for the first shows! Weird. Luckily, being a Casbah rat comes with perks and the good men of The Casbah door let us back in to see CWkids before it became the cluster fuck of happy fans that it became.

Apes of Wrath: FUCKING AMAZING. It's been awhile since I've heard new local music that has impressed me. The Apes somehow found a way to marry all the best types of punk in one sound. Pop flowed to post flowed to hardcore flowed to classic seamlessly. They had this INSANE intricate, out of NO WHERE, key/beat change that made me grab my head. Did I mention I was dancing and moving the whole time?? Awesome show, and for whats it's worth it's not just the music that's top notch, these guys are very legit friends. I can't wait for the next show!! Check out at The Beauty Bar with The Death Set and The Lanterns on October 24th!!

The Luxury
: They are blowing up all over the East Coast and I'm bummed their Casbah show had about 15 people at it due to the whole show double booking fiasco. I heard they chose playing that night over doing a high paying black tie gig. But I gotta admit, I wasn't that into it. Sounded like refined Cock Rock.

Cold War Kids
: DAmN. We were like 3 people from the Casbah Stage to see a band I really really love, that's pretty speical. Im into the first album especially, it sounds like nothing else, and how hard is THAT these days? Super Hard. It's soulful minimalism that's done so right it sounds lush and full. The place was packed to the brim and the dancing was going off. At least in the area around me and Sarah. We were both three double cocktails down at this point and just let LOOSE. I haven't danced like that in awhile (ok since Street Scene) and you have to with CWK. Their lead singer( totally looks like Woody Harrelson haha), commands your attention with soulful shouting and he's got this drummer that's just insane, they've got great beats under very well mastered guitar and base lines. They only played three songs from the old album (Hospital Beds, Old St. John, Hang Me out to Dry), the same ones they played two days ago at Street Scene, come on, give a couple more gifts to your fans in the way of visiting the old album a bit more. BUT I did find a few new ones I really liked and that's what CD Release Parties should be about, the new album, the new direction, if there is one. I'm stoked I got the special opportunity to see a new local band Im instantly in love with and check out a growing national band I love in an intimate space. Damn Good Casbah Night, classic, tequila laden, cigarette smoked filled, rock and roll fucking night.

Album Review: TV On The Radio- "Dear Science"

TV on the Radio's follow-up to 2006's Return to Cookie Mountain-- a dense and textural album with an optimistic core-- Dear Science is catchier, but thornier. Musically, it's shit-hot but also brainy and ambivalent, and more engaging for it. TV on the Radio remain a true Event Band, and the sign o' the times they capture here isn't audacious hope, or fierce revolution: it's confusion. They're the house band for a country that has no idea what'll hit it next, and Dear Science is a jagged landscape of self-doubt, Bush-hate, and future-fear. Read the rest of the Pitchfork Review Here.

The First Day of Fall Is Here!!

Which means the last day of summer was yesterday. Got a slight aching in my heart. Until I realized the sun would be shining non stop for months to come in this city. And at a more comfortable temperature no less. Fall is my favorite season and even though it's not evidenced by any of the normal glorious changes that other regions experience you can feel it in the air...

R.I.P. Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower's Willy Graves

Truly a dark moment for the SD Music Scene and more. I'm thankful for the pleasure of knowing Willy, even in a small capacity, while he was here. A very sincere, disarming person. Condolences to his friends and family. A tribute show is planned at The Casbah on October 4th.

From the Pitchfork Website:
Willy Graves, onetime bassist for disbanded San Diego noise-punkers The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower, has passed away. No cause of death was given.

In a MySpace bulletin entitled "WILLY GRAVES 1980-2008", Graves' former bandmate Brandon Welchez paid tribute to his fallen friend, noting that "Willy brought so much to our band artistically, aesthetically, and in terms of general morale. When the going got tough (and believe me, things would get fucking rough), we could always count on Willy to be the eternal optimist."

Added Brandon, "We discovered so many things together, went through so many things together-- it's unbelievable that he is gone so young. He had a lot more love, humor, and art to give the world. This is everybody's loss."

Thanks to Saxon Baird for the tip.

Street Scene: A Job Well Done

Damn. I thought Street Scene was really fun, well organized, great selection of artists, reasonably priced (both tickets and concessions) and not too crowded. The decision to add younger kids was disappointing until I realized they made up 95% of the people who were dancing. Oh man there was tons of dancing. We ended each night exhausted, sore and in music bliss.

BEST OF FESTIVAL: DEVO. NO fucking lie. It really made you see how music and concerts USED TO BE and how they are now. Devo had a video before their show, costumes, props, really cool stage banter and visual effects. And it isn't like they needed it. This show was one of the most lively put together acts I've ever seen. Who cares if most of them would qualify for the senior discount at Denny's, they fucking ROCKED out and sounded amazing, so put together, so tight. The music was so relevant, it sounded like a lot of the music we had danced to the night before but better. No one could stop dancing. Geez, a huge toast and cheers to DEVO. You guys totally rule.

Best of Runners Up: TV on the Radio, Diplo, Hot Chip, Tegan and Sarah, Justice, The Muslims

Dissapointments:
Man Man: Possibly only because their set was late and we were missing some of the action at Devo to stand around for sound checks.
Cold War Kids: If you know their first album the best and none of their new album you'd be dissapointed too. They gave us only three of their old songs in their set. I fucking went to street scene early that day despite aches and pains so I was a bit pissed.
Cat Power: Do your sound checks before your show, not mid song during every song. That shit is so distracting. If youre not vibing out on your music how can I??

I Just Saw Two Bums Getting Each Other Off

I've been scarred by a very dirty, very homeless man and woman. In broad daylight on a main street in Barrio Logan they thought it'd be could get DOWN. I didn't realize I had so much innocence left to lose....

We've All Been To A Tacky Wedding or Two Right??

STREET IS GOING GREAT

Non stop DANCE PARTY FOR HOURS. Last night was really great. At first I was pissed about underagers being there but one thing they are always good for is keeping the dance party up. I'm proud of you San Diego for keeping those feet moving. Justice was insane and I really regret not seeing Diplo, heard it was so great, we were at TV on The Radio though so fair trade, fair trade. Also $2 waters, $5 beers and it's not super crowded. Can't wait for tonight!!

Travis Barker and DJ AM In Critical Condition After Plane Crash

Say what you will about either of them. I like Blink-182, I like Travis Barker, and DJ AM is the second best DJ I have seen after Mixmaster Mike. And together? A fucking amazing dance party show. Travis drums while DJ AM spins the best shit out from the 60's to that second. I sincerely hope both of them are all right and condolences to the family and friends of the four others that died in this tragic crash.

The Whole Story

Pink Floyd Member Richard Wright Dies At Age 65

LONDON (AP) -- A Pink Floyd spokesman says founding member Richard Wright has died. He was 65. Wright died Monday after a battle with cancer at his home in Britain. His family did not want to give more details about his death.
Richard Wright met Pink Floyd members Roger Waters and Nick Mason at college and joined their early band Sigma 6. Sigma 6 eventually became Pink Floyd and Wright wrote and sang some of the band's key songs. He wrote "The Great Gig In The Sky" and "Us And Them" from Pink Floyd's 1973 "The Dark Side Of The Moon."
He left the group in the early 1980s to form his own band but rejoined Pink Floyd for their 1987 album "A Momentary Lapse of Reason."

-Tribute Suggestions:
-Go shrooming in the forest. Listen to a "Best of Pink Floyd" CD you've put together prior to the trip and laugh at the natural splendor and simplicity of existence.
-Put on The Wizard of Oz, when the lion roars before the movie starts, start Dark Side of the Moon. Supposedly, the songs line up with the action in the movie? Probably best to smoke a bowl before this...
-Listen to the reggae version of Dark Side of The Moon. Seriously, It's called
Dub Side of the Moon and I actually like it better. Smooth, trippy but accessible.

Seattle Mayor Offers Tax Break For Live Music

SEATTLE (AP)-- Seattle claims Quincy Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana and Death Cab for Cutie in its musical history.
It's a tradition Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels says he wants to encourage by proposing an exemption of the 5 percent admissions tax at nightclubs with live music. The exemption would apply to 65 locations in the city and result in a total tax cut next year of $300,000. It's part of the budget the mayor will present Sept. 29 to the city council.

I think what is most sad for me is comparing this simple legislation that furthers culture to legislation in our city. Cabaret License?!?! A license to fucking dance and play records? Its' expensive, limited and hard to get at that. It's so sad. Times are a changing in this city. The old people and the conservatives are claiming it for their own. Shutting down our dives, music, parties, and revelry.....

How do you know when you've won at Phone Tag?

I dunno...things got really complicated when I was mulling it over. I think you win when you PICK UP the call that allows you to finally have a phone conversation.

On This Day in History: Jimi Hendrix dies at 28

Ramp up your music knowledge and get to know the iconic great Jimi Hendrix.

Five Things You Might Not Know about Jimi Hendrix:
-Named #1 Guitarist of All Time by Rolling Stone
-From Seattle
-Got an F in Music Class in High School
-Served a year in the military
-Played the guitar up-side down (left handed)

Whatever happened to the Ford Windstar???

Ok, like EVERY family in the the mid-1990's had a fucking Ford Windstar. Think about it, they were everywhere. Now I have not seen ONE on the road for like a year!!! Not a huge mystery, just another uber shitty car by Ford...

Devo Replaces The Black Crowes for SD Street Scene

The Black Crows had to cancel their headlining set on Street Scene 2008's closing Saturday night due to illness. Sad News. UNTIL they announced their replacement: DEVO!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!!

The worst global financial crisis since the Great Depression

Lehman Brothers went bankrupt, AIG had to be bailed out for billions and now WaMu might be sold. Shit's getting really bad. Best to know your lingo so you can understand why you might start seeing bread lines and soup kitchens set up all over town. Ok, maybe it won't be THAT bad but this is no joke. Even if the stock market doesn't crash, it will probably get worse and things won't heal for a long, long time. Let's start with:
The Fed (Or, The Federal Reserve Bank)
This is not a government sector, office or national bank per say and up until recently I have always thought so. The system was designed out of a compromise between the competing philosophies of privatization and government regulation.While planning the design of the system, some people wanted the system to have generally private aspects whereas others wanted more government involvement. The system that resulted ended up being a compromise between these two philosophies. In the current system, private banks are for-profit businesses but there are restrictions on what they can do. These restrictions placed on private banks are government regulations. The Federal Reserve System is the part of government that regulates the private banks. The balance between privatization and government involvement is also seen in the structure of the system. Private banks elect members of the board of directors at their regional Federal Reserve Bank while the members of the Board of Governors are selected by the President of The United States and confirmed by the Senate. The private banks give input to the government officials about their economic situation and these government officials use this input in Federal Reserve policy decisions. In the end, private banking businesses are able to freely run a profitable business while the U.S. government, through the Federal Reserve System, oversees and regulates the activities of the private banks. Great. Wish it worked. Check out the scary chart below....


Market Crash 1929, 1990, 2000 - 2008

Choke comes out on September 26th

Plot: A sex-addicted con-man pays for his mother's hospital bills by playing on the sympathies of those who rescue him from choking to death. Starring: Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly Macdonald, and Brad William Henke. Based on the bizarrely excellent novel by Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club author).
Choke hits theaters on September 26th, Watch the trailer here.

Oh yea, and check out the sountrack:

Radiohead - “Reckoner”
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - “Satan Said Dance”
The Fiery Furnaces - “Navy Nurse”
Ben Kweller - “The Rules”
The Twilight Singers - “There’s Been An Accident”
Rogue Wave - “Lake Michigan” (which plays out in the film’s final credits)
Nathan Larson (Boys Don’t Cry, Palindromes) composed the film’s score
Alap Momin (a.k.a. The Oktopus) from the outré New Jersey hip-hop group, Dälek also scored one musical cue in the film.

Camel Crush: New Crazy Cigarette

I've gotta hand it to Camel, they are always coming out with new cigs to keep us smoking and interested. I LOVE their Turkish Silvers, glad those stuck around. The No. 9's totally blow, they quit out half way through the damn thing. I'm sure the Camel promoters will be at a bar near you with this new one, The Camel Crush. It's basically a customizable cigarette that contains a small blue menthol capsule in the filter. By squeezing the filter before or while smoking the cigarette, a small blue capsule is crushed and releases chemicals into your filter, transforming a regular cigarette into a menthol one in a matter of moments. You can go light on the flavor of full force. Too be fair, these were tested in Japan first and then Camel put their own spin on it. I have one friend who loves menthols and I don't so now maybe we can split a cig? I dunno, sounds like the novelty is gonna wear off this one pretty damn quick. I've got coupons from my good friends at Camel if you want to try these!!

Tartine: European Bistro on Coronado's Coast

I got a text from one of my best friends, Sarah, this morning a bit after 7 AM. My alarm had gone off but I was doing what we call goooing in bed (i.e. rolling around in bed, in and out of sleep, with little intention or desire to wake up). All she had to do was put the word "Coffee" in her text and I was at Tartine on First and Orange (right across the street from the Ferry Landing on Coronado Island) in no time. Only four of the many tables were taken, the place was serene with great soft lighting and seating indoor and out. There was a huge case of the most delicious pastries and baked goods you've ever seen and all your favorite coffee drinks, exotic and classic, ready for your ordering. I always choose salty over sweet so I went with a Spinach and Tomato slice of quiche and a drip coffee. Sarah sat down to join me and I dug in.


Right off the bat: Best Quiche of My Life. I don't even SUPER like quiche but I've had it a lot. It looks like pizza...sometimes I get confused...BUT this slice made me a believer. Two reasons: It had equal parts of delicious gruyere cheese and egg and the crust was exceptional. Somehow they made a thick, dense crust flaky? I dunno, but I tore right through it and I'm a person weary of eggs, especially coupled with morning grogginess and only into the first 1/4 of my coffee. I also loved the fruit salad that came alongside. I work right under the Coronado bridge so I got to hang out and enjoy the view of the harbor skyline and wake up without being late for work. Tartine is open for three meals a day and features tasty Euro Cafe items ranging from an assortment of paninis to Roasted Duckling! Whether it's for coffee and creme brulee in the morning or Curry Chicken Salad and Steak at night, Tartine is a great place to dine alone or with friends any time of the day. Say HEY! to Sarah if she's working there :)

Almost Famous Outdoor Showing at Stone Brewery

I just saw the Dr. Dog/Delta Spirit show at The Casbah has sold ut. BUMMER, why do I always wait too long to buy tickets? If your shut out like our crew check out Almost Famous at the beautiful Stone Brewery. Yes, it's all the way in Escondido BUT this place is really cool, has great food and beer of course, free prizes and is showing not only one of the best movies EVER but a cool Academy Award Wining short called I Met The Walrus. Check it Out!!

Another Reason to Read: Free Food

In observance of National Library Card Sign-up month, just show your library card from any public library in San Diego at any San Diego Area Chipotle on Tuesday, September 16th and you'll receive a free burrito, bowl, order of tacos, or salad. DONE!!! I might hit a few of these today and stock up for lunch and dinner tomorrow. Ahhh being poor in your 20's...GO GET A CARD AND READ AND EAT GRATIS!!

Jose Gonzalez covers "Heartbeat" in a Sony Bravia Commercial

This is an oldy but goody, not only is this commercial for the Sony Bravia television visually magnificent, both irie and sober, but the song backing it is equally as breathtaking: Jose Gonzalez doing a gorgeous cover of top notch song "Heartbeats" by fellow Swedish musician buddies, The Knife. The video was made by shooting over 250,000 brightly-colored rubber balls (real, not computer-generated) from a cannon down a San Francisco street and then slowing it all down. Perfect mix of visual and sonic bliss.



The advertisement was made by Danish photographer Nicolai Fuglsig.

House Down Side Up German A

Pictured is an upside down house built in Trassenheide, Germany. The house belongs to an entrepreneur from Poland and is part of the project, "The World Upside Down." The house was built to enable an alternative view on everyday life. The building is expected to open its doors for visitors in the upcoming week.

AHH! Scarier than 9-11!!

Yeah yeah yeah, we all know most of Hollywood is liberal and loves to spout off about their political views. But watch this clip of Matt Damon as he compares Palin's VP ticket to a really bad Disney movie. Pretty scary and possibly true.

Also, just food for thought on only ONE WEEK of dirt on Palin:

--Anti-Women's Right to Choose
--Pro- Death Penalty
--Anti-Sex Education (Has a pregnant 17 year old daughter FYI)
--Believes in a Young Earth
--Voted for Creationism to be taught in school
--Used taxpayer money 300 times in one year (Claimed it was for a “traveling per Diem”, which she sat on her stupid hockey mom ass in her own home)
--Fired a Public Safety Commissioner who refused to fire her sisters ex-husband, a state trooper
--Son has been accused of cocaine and OxyContin abuse
--Less than 2 years of governance experience
--Was mayor of the meth capitol of Alaska.
--This meth haven has only about 9,000 people (Chula Vista has17,3556 People)

IS THIS FUCKING REALITY?

9-11

Even Google didn't jazz up its main page for what my planner has pre-labled as "Patriot Day"?! True or False: There was a violent coup de etat in Chile on September 11, 1973 that the Nixon Administration spent over 6 million dollars to support? True. It kicked off a horrific dictatorship in Chile that lasted till 1990 resulting in thousands of exiled citizens, arrests, torture and death. BELIEVE that our government will, has and DOES take lives to carry out its agenda.

ter·ror·ism [ter-uh-riz-uhm]–noun
1.the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.

Start Reading Again, It's So Rare It's Almost Ironic

All the books you could ever want FOR FREE. The library blows my mind, there are books on everything. I haven't been in forever because I ran up quite a tab in late returns, BUT, I want to start reading regularly again, and buying books costs as much as paying off my debt to San Diego. Leave your suggestions for great reads on the comment board. Confederacy of Dunces, Pride and Prejudice and The Poisonwood Bible are some of my favorites. And OF COURSE non-fiction books rule. The library also has live music and shows some awesome films both super current mainstream ones and cult classic greats.
Official SD Library Site

Review: Fringe Series Premier

With Alias, LOST, and Cloverfield in the can, it seems that mystery master J.J. Abrams can do no wrong. Save maybe annoying some fans with his "solve one mystery, create 3 more" signature story-telling style.

So when Abrams approached Fox for his new sci-fi series "Fringe", they jumped at the chance to be a part of the much-deserved hype.



The series premier finds our hard-shouldered faithful heroine, FBI special agent Olivia Dunham set to unravel a terribly odd case of a flesh-devouring virus aboard a 747. The set-up is simple: she's in love with her partner Agent Scott who catches the insane flu and immediately becomes transparent and on the verge of death.

With just a moment's use of her awesome FBI "google" search, she's found "fringe" doctor and scientist John Noble--a questionable doc from the 70's who's been (unduly?) hidden away in a mental institute for the past 17 years. Dunham must find the doc's estranged son--a sarcastic-as-usual Joshua Jackson (aka Pacey Whitter from Dawson's Creek)--in order to get the loon released and working once again to help save her man.

So what types of weird science might we find throughout the season? In one scene Dunham tells us that the Doc had secretly studied "invisibility, re-animation, mind control" amongst other controversial methods. In one scene, one of the leads even experiments with LSD. Awesome.

From Lost, we have tall, dark and overall scary-as-shit actor Lance Reddick who plays the no-bull head of the special investigation unit. I was pretty stoned when I watched this, but for a minute I could have sworn that this show was just a tool by which to integrate LOST-with its almost visceral mysteries and conundrums- yet even more into our collective consciousness, awaiting the time in 2012 when we're finally told the Truth. Not only about the Island, but reality itself.

Either way--whether great new weekly show or master tool of revelation--Fringe has made its way into my heart in a mere 80 minutes. Abrams has promised that the show will be easier to follow, allowing addicted viewers to tune in each week and follow a large mythology, or casual viewers to watch here and there and still get an interesting story by the end of the hour. Just like the classic and one of my old time favorites, The X Files.

*Sidenote: During the show, when Phillip Broyles shows Olivia Dunham a folder of incidents around the world, Sri Lanka was a location amongst it, with the Lost Dharma logo located on the bottom right corner of the photo (possibly a card).

Fringe airs Tuesdays at 8pm on Fox
Official Website

Straight Up Scenster Missed Connection

Live Wire, caught my fire - w4m
Reply to: pers-833422054@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-09-08, 8:57PM

You, man, skinny jeans, rat tail, bandana, holding a tall can of pbr, tapping foot by the juke box, tattoos, and easy on the eyes. Me, woman, platinum blonde hair with a blue stripe in back, tall, skinny, cut off shorts, tank top, and eyeing you. outside you let me borrow your lighter. we struck up a conversation about our fixies. i still want to cut your hair.

* Location: Live Wire
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

Lee "Scratch" Perry Live at The Belly Up 9.2.2008

I've been super excited about this one for a long time. I love reggae, dub is my FAVORITE, and Scratch Perry happens to be one of the most legendary reggae artists of all time both in performing and producing. Influencing the music of Jamaican greats such as The Maytals and The Wailers, he also produced ground breaking work for biggies like The Clash and Linda McCartney. Far from being retired, Lee "Scratch" Perry is currently working on a new album, due out in 2009, and produced by "the king of party music" and television personality Andrew W.K. Read more about the man they call The Upsetter and impress the crowd at your next smoke session.

Alarming Craigslist Add

Dissolution of Marriage - m4w

Reply to: pers-818921627@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-08-29, 5:14PM

This is Bryan C. Pittman and I am looking for Beverlee E. Palmer in San Diego, CA... Guess what, we are still married. Please contact me so we can dissolve the marriage.

Location: Austin, Texas
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests