North Park Music Thing is Upon Us
Writer (photo by Brad Swonetz)
If you’re a local musician, a friend of a local musician, or otherwise dipping your toes in the San Diego music scene, then you don’t need us to tell you about the North Park Music Thing. But if you haven’t heard of it, here’s what’s worth knowing: NPMT is a combined conference and music festival in the style of Austin’s South by Southwest, albeit on a much smaller scale. This year, the event starts on Friday, August 13 and continues all the way into the wee hours of Sunday morning.
Non-industry folk won’t be too interested in the conference portion, which consists of lectures and panel discussions aimed at bringing budding musicians up to speed on the quirks and pitfalls of the industry, but for the rest of us there’s a huge lineup of local acts lighting up 14 music venues scattered across Midtown.
Personally, we’re stoked – stoked enough to actually use the word stoked — that a ton of our favorite local bands, and lots that (we’re embarrassed to admit) we have yet to see, are all playing over the course of two nights. Here’s where you’ll find us, obvious schedule conflicts notwithstanding: Continue reading…
Review: Mumford & Sons with the Middle East; June 6, 2010; Belly Up Tavern, San Diego
All photos by Eleanore Park
Three folk acts descended upon the Belly Up Tavern on Sunday night, drawing a sold-out crowd that greeted them as if they were leather-clad rock stars. The enthusiastic, unlikely reception served as proof that you never can predict what kind of music people will fall in love with. Continue reading…
Mumford & Sons Sell Out
English folk band Mumford & Sons seemed to come out of nowhere last year, capturing people’s attention and hearts with their sweeping debut, Sigh No More.
Blending the homespun sincerity of The Avett Brothers with the Celtic stomp of Flogging Molly, the London four-piece are an unlikely phenomenon. But thanks to the cathartic, pint-waving choruses of songs like “The Cave,” “Winter Winds” and “Little Lion Man,” the band are now the subject of adoration from both sides of the pond. Continue reading…
O&B Exclusive: World Premiere of ‘Footnotes’ by The Silent Comedy (Video)
The Silent Comedy may be known for their foot-stomping, barn-burning concerts, but let it never be said that they’re afraid to show their tender side. Case in point: the video for “Footnotes,” the closing track from their newly-released album Common Faults, brought to you exclusively by your friendly neighborhood Owl and Bear.
Comprised largely of behind-the-scenes footage of the band, “Footnotes” is a rare and intimate look into the lives of not just The Silent Comedy, but professional musicians in general. From the recording studio to the stage to the long van ride home, the Kevin and Rebecca Joelson-directed video captures the weary beauty behind each fleeting moment.
Singer/bassist Joshua Zimmerman was overwhelmed when he saw the finished product. “The recording of Common Faults was a drawn-out process, so it is strange to see that period of time compressed into several minutes,” Zimmerman said. “We went through dramatic changes and learned a lot over the months that it took us to make the record.” For more insight into the making of the album, check out our recent interview with the band.
The Silent Comedy will be celebrating the fruits of their labor tonight at El Dorado with a special, band-hosted Mustache Party. The 21+ event will feature screenings of “Footnotes” and the new “’49″ video, photos by Style Shark, giveaways, and various other whiskey-fueled, facial-hairy surprises. The event starts at 9pm, so head on over to El Dorado and knock one back with the boys.
Local Musician Erick Wales Missing
Erick Wales, of the defunct San Diego band Dehra Dun, is missing.
Wales was last seen on Monday, April 19th, at 6:30am in the Mission Valley area. The blonde, slender Wales is 24 years old, 6 feet tall, and weighs 140 pounds. When he was last seen, he was wearing a black shirt, blue jeans, and a brown belt. He drives a black, two-door Saturn Ion with a broken right-side mirror, license plate number FR33BSD.
Wales’ friends and family have started a website to coordinate the search, Find Erick Wales. The site provides contact information to use if you have any information as to his whereabouts and a downloadable flyer you can print out to display in your neighborhood.
Before disbanding in 2006, Dehra Dun were a local sensation. Wales played keytar in the band, which would reform as The Silent Comedy. Anyone with information about Erick should call 619-301-9283.
Interview: The Silent Comedy
The Silent Comedy are on a roll. Thanks to their high-energy performances and whiskey-soaked songwriting, the San Diego band has amassed a passionate following, repeatedly selling out the Casbah as if it were their grandma’s basement. The stylish six-piece will return to the venue on April 2nd to celebrate the release of their sophomore album, Common Faults. We sat down with verbose singer/keyboardist Jeremiah Zimmerman to discuss the album, the problems with consumerism, and the band’s love of mustaches. (more…)
San Diego Gets Smart
Photo credit: Lambfarm
If you find yourself complaining that they just don’t make music like they used to, you need The Smart Brothers in your life. Oscillating between high-energy roots romps and tender ballads of surprising depth, the San Diego duo create charming, old-timey folk just like grandpa used to make. With their finely crafted compositions and intricate, flawless harmonies, The Smart Brothers make music to fall in love with—and fall in love to. (more…)
Review: The Silent Comedy; January 17, 2010; Bar Pink, San Diego
Few bands in San Diego inspire the kind of rabid devotion that the Silent Comedy enjoy. From their Prohibition-era wardrobes and Old West mustaches to lead singer/bassist J. John’s manic ramblings, the band have struck upon a winning combination of musical chops and good-natured theatricality that has earned them a passionate following. Celebrating their return to San Diego at Bar Pink after a brief but hectic West Coast tour, the Silent Comedy were greeted by a characteristically packed house. And, from the raucous opening song “Poison” onward, the band had the crowd exactly where they wanted them. (more…)
Black Mamba To Celebrate ‘Birthday’ at the Casbah
Up-and-coming San Diego band Black Mamba are set to release Golden Birthday, a 12-inch EP, at the end of the month on the illustrious Single Screen record label. To commemorate the event, the band will be playing a show at the Casbah on April 30th, with The Paddle Boat, Tape Deck Mountain, and Drew Andrews. Don’t miss out on what will clearly be an amazing show.
Speaking of amazing shows, San Diego blog extraordinaire Sezio has just published their review of Black Mamba’s Luce Loft performance from two weeks ago. If you weren’t at any of the five incredible Luce Loft performances—which showcased local heavies The Silent Comedy, Writer, Joel P. West, John Meeks, Calico Horse, and the ubiquitous Paddle Boat—be sure to read Sezio’s reviews so you can at least pretend you were.
Can’t read? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Check out the video of Black Mamba playing the dreamy “Smoke & Mirrors” after the jump.
Weekend Concert Lineup: August 22 – 24, 2008
^^ Broken Social Scene ^^
FRIDAY:
Toronto rock throng Broken Social Scene will be bringing their amiable brand of baroque pop to the House of Blues this Friday. Those following the antics of the prolific Canucks over the past year know that there have been two “Broken Social Scene Presents” solo albums so far, Kevin Drew’s Spirit If… and Brendan Canning’s Something For All Of Us.
SoCo Music Experience Schedule Released
^^ The Black Keys ^^
The folks behind the annual Southern Comfort Music Experience, to be held in the Ace Parking Lot at the corner of Imperial and Park this Saturday, have finally seen fit to declassify its set times. A five dollar “donation” grants you access to the event and its eleven musical acts.
Weekend Concert Lineup: August 7 – 10, 2008
^^ The Muslims ^^
THURSDAY:
It’s the first Thursday of the month, which means it’s time for TNT, the downtown Museum of Contemporary Art’s bi-fortnightly event that features everything from DJ lessons to poetry readings to artists talking about why they do all those artistic things that they do. This month’s TNT is called Optimal Illusion and it’s got photographic and video works from actual lady artists. Kelly and Maren from Wild Weekend will also be on hand to spin some 60’s girl group and 70’s girl punk. Guys, here’s your chance to impress the fairer sex by appearing to be sensitive and cultured, as well as to practice pronouncing the word weltanschauung.
Weekend Concert Lineup: July 31- August 2, 2008
^^ Jason Reeves ^^
THURSDAY:
For those of you who like your punk fast and dirty like grandma used to make, Jay Reatard is playing at the Casbah tonight. Helping blow the roof off the place will be fellow punkers Cheap Time, as well as San Diego’s very own The Sess, who are part of Single Screen Records’ batting-a-thousand roster of awesome local bands.
Those cut from a more sensitive cloth can go check out Jason Reeves at Soma tonight, who will happily help you relive the painful memory of every girl who, for one reason or another, just didn’t feel like dating you anymore. Jon McLauglin will be opening.
The Silent Comedy – The Silent Comedy (Review)
For a band whose live performances are marked by their theatricality and infectious intensity, The Silent Comedy’s recordings can be surprisingly intimate affairs. Their debut full-length, Sunset Stables, emphasized narrative and restraint over whiskey drinking and foot stomping, and now, on their self-titled EP, they pick up where that record left off.
From the opening moments of maudlin country ballad “Daisy”, The Silent Comedy draws you into a rich world of broken bottles and shattered hearts. The song nimbly swells, retreats, then swells again, a ribcage barely containing the heart within. J. John’s vocals intertwine in a tender duet with I. Forbes’ gorgeous violin, and when he begs, “Break me, Daisy”, it’s hard to believe that she hasn’t done so already.
