Stories | Blurt
The Struggle
Published July 23, 2008
Two well-connected music-biz professionals say they have been told that the local House of Blues may be in trouble. “I heard that if they don’t have a rapid turnaround [in business] by March they might be ...
Clothing Maketh the Goth?
Published July 23, 2008
It’s been almost a year since James Benham, a former Navy SEAL, was found guilty of two felony counts of assault. He’s still yet to be sentenced for those crimes and two misdemeanor counts related ...
Sweetness
Published July 23, 2008
The events of September 11, 2001, precipitated a career change for Carla Sweet, who was at the time a Navy doctor. Outraged, and “disgusted with the resultant Iraq War,” Sweet became a novice filmmaker. In ...
Of Mouse, Men, and Mayer Published July 23, 2008
Before hip-hop duo Gnarls Barkley plays the Infield Stage at the Del Mar Racetrack on Saturday, July 26, the venue is required to purchase one ... More Post a comment
Genius Published July 23, 2008
Singer/guitarist John McLeod designs bikinis. “Five years ago I was designing men’s clothes. My girlfriend at the time was a model who was really skinny. ... More Post a comment
Big in China (Cabinet) Published July 16, 2008
Sandollar, together for two years, is a five-piece “beach rock” band that plays original reggae/jam music. Drummer Henry Ortiz works by day at a Trader ... More Post a comment
Throat Surgery Season Published July 16, 2008
Village People policeman Victor Willis underwent surgery at a local hospital on July 7, reportedly to remove nodules from his vocal cords. The former singer ... More Post a comment
Keanu and Gerard and Ogre… Published July 16, 2008
Several music-themed events will take place at downtown’s Comic-Con International, beginning July 24. Rapper Method Man will promote his upcoming eponymous comic book from the ... More Post a comment
Gong Showmanship Published July 16, 2008
Comedy Central debuts its new version of The Gong Show tonight with host Dave Attell. In 1980, local band Four Eyes appeared on the original ... More Post a comment
Cool as Veggie Chili Published July 16, 2008
Founded in 1980 as an all-age vegetarian eatery and gathering place for those interested in radical politics, the Ché Café at UCSD quickly became a ... More Comment (1)
Tough Times for Mexican Musicians Published July 9, 2008
According to Tijuana’s La Prensa newspaper, on June 21, Mexican federal agents raided the Little Devil social hall in Tijuana. They reported seizing thousands of ... More Post a comment
Bad Luck o’ the Irish Published July 9, 2008
“I bought it from an old hippie in Washington the summer Jerry Garcia died,” says Bleeding Irish fiddle player Rhy Thornton of the 1964 school ... More Post a comment
How to Break Up a Band Published July 9, 2008
Dynamite Hack was a late-’90s, Austin-based alternative rock band that is best remembered for their tongue-in-cheek acoustic cover of Eazy-E’s “Boyz-n-the-Hood.” The song can still ... More Post a comment
The Muzak Experience Published July 9, 2008
At the beginning of June, Greg Laswell’s songs were picked up by the Muzak canned-music firm, which is developing what it calls the “audio architecture” ... More Post a comment
Recession Radio Published July 9, 2008
One radio veteran says the recession may be good news for people who want to hear more music on the radio. “Radio advertising was down ... More Post a comment
No Giggling Matter Published July 2, 2008
On June 20, Not British, a three-piece rock band, was playing a party at a house in the College Area at around 9:00 p.m. “As ... More Post a comment
Some Country for Young Men Published July 2, 2008
Many songs have been written about brothels, from “House of the Rising Sun” and “La Grange” to the musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. ... More Comment (1)
The Last Farmer Published July 2, 2008
On June 6, bassist Rolle Love left the (Beat) Farmers after 25 years. Love helped found the band in 1983 alongside Buddy Blue, Jerry Raney, ... More Post a comment
Drinkin’, Drivin’, Cyclin’, Rappin’ Published July 2, 2008
Rappers measure success in different ways. Some purchase four-finger rings and 24-carat gold ropes. For local rapper Rob Deez, success came with the appearance of ... More Post a comment
Unplugged Published July 2, 2008
After five years playing at Canes, Winstons, and Blind Melons, the guys in 3against1 decided to move north to try to make it big. In ... More Post a comment
Great, Just Fabulous Published June 25, 2008
The Fabulous Rudies, a seven-piece North County ska band booked to return as the “BBQ band” on this year’s Vans Warped Tour, have had a ... More Post a comment
Dust Up Published June 25, 2008
“By the time we went on stage, everybody had been drinking all night,” says singer Richard Gwaltney of a recent House of Blues gig featuring ... More Post a comment
Stone Temple Crises Published June 25, 2008
Atlantic Records filed a lawsuit against Scott Weiland and Eric Kretz of Stone Temple Pilots on June 12, demanding that the reunited band live up ... More Post a comment
Hellacious L.A. Published June 25, 2008
A Scribe Amidst the Lions singer/guitarist Kristofer Towne says the band was unloading before a recent gig at L.A.’s Viper Room when… “Out of nowhere, ... More Post a comment
Far Out, Man Published June 25, 2008
While the music industry waits for something that will lift the business out of the doldrums, San Diego—based Passmore Lab has found the new in ... More Post a comment
Take Note, High-Five Idiots Published June 18, 2008
Steve Weinberger wants to keep you from embarrassing yourself at the next concert. In his new book No Air Guitar Allowed, Weinberger runs down nearly ... More Post a comment
Death of the Zombie Published June 18, 2008
“I heard from one of our customers that the Zombie Lounge was going to be for sale,” says Chris Heaney, owner/operator of the Kadan in ... More Post a comment
It Started with Karaoke in Krakow Published June 18, 2008
“As a singer, I sound like Elvis Presley, no matter how hard I try not to,” says James Kruk, who disbanded his former group Fake ... More Comments (2)
You Rock…No, You Don’t…Yes, You Do Published June 18, 2008
For about five years, singer-guitarist Joe Rathburn has played on the outdoor patio at the Tin Fish restaurant and bar at the foot of Fifth ... More Post a comment
Divine Dough Published June 18, 2008
Because money from both major and indie labels is drying up, bands have had to get creative to raise funds. Eve Selis offered six “levels ... More Post a comment
Dreadful News Published June 11, 2008
A radio station doesn’t usually have the same DJ on for 20 years,” said Makeda Dread in 2003, the 20th anniversary of her Reggae Makossa ... More Comment (1)
Metal Moratorium Published June 11, 2008
In February, the all-age music venue Channel Twelve 25 opened its doors in down town El Cajon. Adam Paul helps book hip-hop, acoustic rock, blues, ... More Post a comment
Guitar Man Published June 11, 2008
I had the opportunity to catch Bo Diddley’s show at the Belly Up back in June of 2005. I have been collecting guitars since the ... More Post a comment
Drummer Man Published June 11, 2008
On June 2, 2008, 79-year-old Bo Diddley suffered heart failure and passed away in his Archer, Florida, home. One night in Fresno about ten years ... More Post a comment
Freakin' Neighbors Published June 11, 2008
Although music on local television has not had much staying power, KNSD-TV resumed its weekly “Concerts on the Square” last month. Taped outdoors at Horton ... More Post a comment
Who Charted? Published June 4, 2008
Though overall music sales have been in a death spiral for several years, San Diego artists have been having their best year ever on Billboard’s ... More Comment (1)
Scene Stir Published June 4, 2008
“I moved to San Diego in the 1980s and intended to earn a living as a musician,” says author R.J. McDonnell, whose just-released Rock & ... More Post a comment
Uncle Ted's Victuals Published June 4, 2008
When Ted Nugent appears at the House of Blues on June 10, his catering contract states, “Absolutely no takeout meals will be deemed acceptable, i.e. ... More Post a comment
Tickets to Slide? Published June 4, 2008
Although tickets for the August 27 Radiohead show at Cricket Amphitheatre are selling well, local concert promoters may be facing a tough summer. “AEG is ... More Comment (1)
Disrespected Published June 4, 2008
Local hip-hop artist Young Mass says he “… can’t take this disrespect from none of them stick-up-the-ass Aftermath niggas.” He’s talking about onetime collaborators Dr. ... More Comment (1)
For All Those Ladies Out There Published May 28, 2008
“I had show offers before I even had band members, as far away as Texas,” says drummer Doug Smith of Nite Romantics, a Duran Duran ... More Comments (2)
¿Elvis? ¿Maricón? ¡Mentira! Published May 28, 2008
While Elvis Presley’s popularity in the U.S. was high in May 1959, Mexico was in the midst of a huge anti-Elvis backlash. Tijuana tabloids called ... More Post a comment
Skate or Die or Go into Radio Published May 28, 2008
“Right after I turned pro in ’99, I had a bad break at the YMCA skate park in Escondido,” says Sayvinyl singer/guitarist Jesse Fritsch. “I ... More Post a comment
Full Force Published May 28, 2008
“I was trying to keep it on the down low,” says Defamation League vocalist Chaz Lomack of his arrest in SDSU’s recent federal drug sting. ... More Comment (1)
What’s in a Name? Published May 28, 2008
“We kicked 2 Live Crew off the tour today,” said local musician-turned-promoter Willie Carter (aka Willie Psycho) on May 20. Just days before, he’d sent ... More Comments (7)
Batty Published May 21, 2008
Last month, the Guana Batz played a sold-out Belly Up show opening for Mike Ness. Last week, the Escondido-based band accepted an opening slot on ... More Comment (1)
Undead Kennedys Published May 21, 2008
Bay Area punk band the Dead Kennedys still get airplay for their classic thrash anthems “Holiday in Cambodia” and “California Über Alles.” Though the band ... More Post a comment
Dispatches from Crackerville Published May 21, 2008
A craigslist post by the San Diego Repertory Theatre is generating controversy online. An upcoming production of The Princess and the Black-Eyed Pea musical was ... More Comments (5)
Cut Teeth on Ratt Published May 21, 2008
Fairfield Fats Band guitarist George Davis is probably best known by his artistic alias Geo, a longtime local-concert-poster artist whose work centers around hard-rock shows. ... More Post a comment
Good God, Y'All Published May 21, 2008
Happy Songs About the War, a one-man musical developed by local singer-songwriter J.D. Boucharde, debuts May 25 at Compass Theatre (formerly 6th@Penn) in Hillcrest. “It’s ... More Comment (1)
Popped Published May 14, 2008
Last week, Defamation League cofounder MC Chas Lomack, 22, who performs as Khemical Ali, was one of the people arrested in SDSU’s federal drug sting. ... More Post a comment
True Idols Published May 14, 2008
Guitarist Stevie Salas appeared last Wednesday at the Sports Arena, fulfilling his role as musical director for American Idol finalist Jordin Sparks (on tour opening ... More Comment (1)
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