Stories | Musician Interviews
Like an Eagle
Published Dec. 30, 2008
“I’ve lived in San Diego all my life,” says singer-songwriter Jack Tempchin, “and I consider it my city — although I don’t mind sharing it with a few million people.” Before writing songs for the Eagles ...
Nuke the Atoll
Published Dec. 23, 2008
Christmas Island was formed in August 2007. “Lucy [Wehrly] and I had already been dating awhile when we decided to play music together and record some songs,” says Brian Island. Brian’s on guitar; Lucy’s on ...
We Got Nuthin'
Published Dec. 17, 2008
I saw a band called the Dateless Losers at the Ould Sod on Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. I liked their songs and their sense of humor. After their set I asked Tim Curns to ...
Heartfelt and Saucy Published Dec. 10, 2008
Melissa Vaughan writes hopeful, heartfelt piano ballads reminiscent of Norah Jones by way of Tori Amos. “My songs have a lot of genres all crumpled ... More Comments (11)
Cool Clip King Published Dec. 3, 2008
It turns out that there are thousands of hours of vintage American jazz, blues, rock, and folk performances dating as far back as the ’50s ... More Post a comment
Darkwave Batcave Published Nov. 25, 2008
Robin Roth can be heard on Rock 105.3 FM Monday through Friday from 10 p.m. to midnight, but she’s best known for the Friday night ... More Comments (2)
Punk Ethic Published Nov. 19, 2008
“San Diego is definitely a cool place to be from,” says Mower front man Brian Sheerin. “We get a lot of love from local people ... More Comment (1)
Eclectic Electric Published Nov. 12, 2008
Matt Resovich is one of those musicians who keeps busy and often commits to many projects at a time. He’s performed with the Black Heart ... More Post a comment
My Music, Real Music Published Nov. 5, 2008
“This is how I rock, this is how I roll Black, Puerto Rican brother with some soul. Though it took a while to accept my ... More Comments (2)
Not Christian Published Oct. 22, 2008
Local record label Single Screen Records was launched in 2007 by Jackson Milgaten (singer-guitarist for the Vision of a Dying World) and Craig Barclift (bassist ... More Comments (2)
S.D. O.G. Published Oct. 15, 2008
“I’ve been a musician since I found out what musicians do for a living,” says guitarist Joey Harris. “I tried being a salesman once, and ... More Comments (4)
More Is Better Published Oct. 8, 2008
The origin of Hotel St. George dates back to a night at the Casbah in November of 2007. “Erik [bass] and I met and had ... More Post a comment
Jet-Set 'J Published Oct. 1, 2008
When asked about her stage name, DJ Miss Lisa says, “I used to be a go-go dancer, and when I was at Taxi in La ... More Comment (1)
Friends Like These Published Sept. 24, 2008
The Modlins wear suits and skinny ties and play what they call “oldies-influenced indie-pop.” That may lead you to assume that the band plays obscure ... More Post a comment
I Want to Be in a Boy Band Published Sept. 17, 2008
“Lestat’s is my favorite spot to hang out and perform,” says singer-songwriter Josh Damigo. “I’m pretty much there every night. I’m a huge fan of ... More Comments (5)
Monkee Business Published Sept. 10, 2008
Forty-two years ago today — September 11, 1966 — Del Mar was renamed “Clarksville” as part of a promotion for the Monkees’ TV show to ... More Comments (2)
Marriage and a Band Published Sept. 3, 2008
I took my girlfriend to see the Creepy Creeps at the Casbah. She had never seen these local legends, and they were playing with two ... More Comments (4)
Groove and Jam Published Aug. 20, 2008
With a band name like Moontucky Risin, you might expect to hear Southern-fried or Cajun-cooked rock, perhaps with a side of bluegrass or a pinch ... More Post a comment
Hot Mess Published Aug. 6, 2008
“I’ve always enjoyed music and singing,” says singer/songwriter Jodi V, “but I grew up in a religious household, so singing anywhere else but at church ... More Post a comment
Air It Out Published July 30, 2008
The spotlight lit up Erik Peterson as he stepped onto the stage at Dreamcatcher at Viejas dressed in a plaid kilt accessorized with shaggy fur ... More Post a comment
Tugboat Morin Published July 23, 2008
“My checkered past includes skippering a tugboat on the San Francisco Bay and sinking boats as a brown-water river sailor with the Vietnamese Navy,” says ... More Post a comment
Donkeys in the Gig Rig Published July 16, 2008
A brief mention in the May issue of Spin provided San Diego band the Donkeys with some national exposure, but the A&R reps at the ... More Post a comment
Girls on Deck Published July 9, 2008
Back in the early ’90s my roommate and I spent hours in my apartment near Balboa Park watching and listening as our British friend Eugene ... More Comments (2)
So Ill on the Mic Published June 25, 2008
Brendan Bohan (aka Brendan B) is a rapper out of Ocean Beach. Like many San Diegans, he’s a transplant. Brendan grew up in Chicago — ... More Post a comment
Rock That Bears Its Soul Published June 18, 2008
Nautical Disaster plays bluesy pop with a dose of ’80s new wave to keep things clubworthy. The three-piece rose from the ashes of the Daffodils, ... More Comments (5)
Time to Kill Published June 11, 2008
“I know it sounds lame, but I actually did come down here [to San Diego] seven years ago to follow my dreams of grandeur,” says ... More Comments (4)
Rock On and On Published June 4, 2008
You may not be familiar with guitarist Greg Douglass, but you’ve probably heard him play — he cowrote and played on the Steve Miller Band ... More Post a comment
Weirdos Rocking Our Name Published May 28, 2008
War Stories is fronted by singer-keyboardist Evan Robinson who, though he wasn’t born in San Diego, has lived here for most of his life and ... More Post a comment
The Sound Is Music Published May 21, 2008
San Diego’s Trummerflora Collective is intended to “provide a network of support for San Diego’s experimental and improvised music community.” The musicians seem very sincere, ... More Post a comment
Metalminded Published May 14, 2008
Cory Oliver lives in Pacific Beach and attends High Tech High Media Arts in Point Loma. He is 16 and plays guitar in Oden’s Fist, ... More Comment (1)
Jingle Hit Published May 7, 2008
What San Diego musician can claim the title of Most Local Airplay? Pinback? P.O.D.? Jewel? The honor goes to Leonard Tucker. You many not recognize ... More Post a comment
Which One’s Steely, Which One’s Dan? Published April 30, 2008
Hank Easton is the guitarist for the Steely Damned, a local Steely Dan tribute band also featuring members of Rockola. The New York native began ... More Post a comment
The Piano Thief Published April 23, 2008
Growing up, Greg Laswell says he confiscated his sister’s upright piano after she showed no interest in the instrument. “It was my sister’s 13th birthday ... More Comments (2)
Scaring the Natives Published April 16, 2008
Hellyeah is a rock “supergroup” featuring members of Mudvayne, Pantera, and Nothingface. Their self-titled debut sold 45,000 copies in its first week. Hell Yeah is ... More Post a comment
Fresh Every Time Published April 9, 2008
Young Mass (a.k.a. Fifth Element) is, at age 21, the youngest member of the rap and hip-hop collective Digital Underground. His family moved from Chicago ... More Comment (1)
Stevie Ray, with Feeling Published April 2, 2008
Alan Iglesias says his Stevie Ray Vaughan show is more a “recreation” than a tribute. “Looks, appearances, and body language are extremely important if you ... More Post a comment
Strength in Numbers Published March 26, 2008
Miki Vale hails from Oxnard, California, making her musical debut on The Awakening, a 2004 compilation album from SGM (Sleeping Giant Music). In 2006 she ... More Post a comment
Crazy Enough Published March 19, 2008
There’s been a buzz about Grand Ole Party for a while now. The band recently released their first CD, Humanimals. The artwork was done by ... More Post a comment
Revolutionary Stepladder Published March 12, 2008
Many hip-hop artists describe themselves as activists, but Southeast San Diego native Bennie Herron fits that bill more than most. With a master’s degree in ... More Post a comment
Mystically Influenced Published March 5, 2008
Originally a three-piece band, Merkaba Bandits moved here from Washington D.C. last year and added a fourth member. Their sound is a mixture of contemporary ... More Comment (1)
Rare Attack Published Feb. 27, 2008
The Swedish Models formed in early 2007 after guitarist Andrew Bernhardt, original bass player Mark Wiskowski, and drummer Dustin Paul called it quits with their ... More Post a comment
Pre-Bummer Haight-Ashbury Published Feb. 13, 2008
“Ultimately, this music is our attempt to add a tile or two to the fluid mosaic that is California and its mythology,” says Eric Nielsen, ... More Post a comment
No Rehash Published Feb. 6, 2008
Vegitation is San Diego’s solution to keeping reggae fresh and green. They produce original reggae songs instead of rehashing those Marley tunes that most reggae ... More Post a comment
Techno Pioneer Published Jan. 30, 2008
DJ and recording artist Jon Bishop has been at the forefront of the Southern California techno scene since 1991. His radio show Sounds of the ... More Post a comment
Barely Legal Published Jan. 23, 2008
The Atoms are a young band, barely old enough to play the bars around town. The members came together at Bonita Vista High School in ... More Post a comment
Drawn to Dive Bars Published Jan. 16, 2008
Singer/guitarist Kyle Phelan was honing his rock chops while still in high school, crafting his first album at the age of 17. After graduation he ... More Post a comment
Sinatra Speaks Published Jan. 9, 2008
José Sinatra is a good-time party and music man around town, first as front man for the former José Sinatra and Troy Dante Band and ... More Post a comment
Hunky Dory Published Jan. 2, 2008
Louis XIV formed in early 2003 when former members of alt-country locals Convoy chose sexed-up pop over redneck rock. In January 2005 the Illegal Tender ... More Post a comment
Hear Me Roar! Published Dec. 27, 2007
Jenn Grinels grew up in Northern California before landing at UC Irvine to study musical theater. After graduating she moved to San Diego and began ... More Comment (1)
Paul Has Contributed the Most Published Dec. 20, 2007
Steven Ybarra is a Texas-born Carlsbad resident who began studying music when he was three. He was the front man for 34Below, which released five ... More Post a comment
Daily Rant Published Dec. 13, 2007
'When it comes to politics, sometimes I get a bit carried away," says singer/songwriter and activist Bill Farkas. "I started 'The Daily Rant,' my political ... More Post a comment
The Hi-Lites Published Dec. 6, 2007
Album: Hi-Altitude (2007) Artist: The Hi-Lites Label: self-released Where available/price: Online at hilitesgoska.comfor $10. Songs: 1) Time Has Come 2) Best of Your Abilities 3) ... More Post a comment
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