Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, February 20-Wednesday, February 26, 2025: Jon Spencer | Ty Segall & King Tuff | Sam Outlaw | Emo Nite | Chat Pile | Grieves | Kool Keith | Orions Belte | Abi Carter |

David Gray at The Events Center, Harrah's Resort SoCal (Taken 2.15.25)

I'm not sure if I mentioned that I did a mostly dry January. After a NYE camping binge on prosecco and Jager (I do not recommend this combo), and ending it a night early with some drinks at Seven Grand and Black Cat. But all in all, I haven't been drinking much at all and I expected to feel invigorated and thought my sleep would get normal, that whatever this lingering wheezing and chestiness (people online are calling it THE COUGH, but I have all the symptoms except an actual cough). Anyway, all that to say that I had to do listings on Wednesday and now for me it's almost 4am and I'm exhausted and I know the second I lay down, I'm not actually gonna fall asleep. It's unfun. I would love to get back to normal normal, but for whatever this is, I'm still trying to find my daily joy, trying to catch shows here and there, and not let whatever TFG is doing get to me because that just launches my stress beyond, as it does for most of us.  

All that said, it was a pretty good week, overall. On Thursday, Darren and I went to watch Toby's last pep band performance of his senior year (which wasn't actually the last because the ladies basketball made it to playoffs), and then had an amazing dinner at 777 Noodle House, one of our favorite spots that we've been neglecting in our drastic cutback on eating out. On Friday I went to the zoo for most of the day and then met my mom and sister up at San Elijo for a night of camping. This time I just had some pinot noir and kept it chill, and didn't feel like total shit the next day. On Saturday, we went to Harrah's Resort to see David Gray at the Events Center. This was his "Then And Now" Tour, so he played a ton of stuff from White Ladder and A New Day At Midnight, which was pretty special, even if those casino show crowds are always a little weird. I got some time at the Alpaca Ranch in, as well as time at Sea World and the Zoo and then of course, Tuesday was a grind after a holiday weekend, but I had fun working at Quartyard for the sold out BALTHVS show. So yeah. Finding joy. Need sleep. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, February 13-Wednesday, February 19, 2025: Lomelda + Tomberlin | Video Age | David Gray | Adolescents | Steve Poltz | Cursive | Hippo Campus | BALTHVS | Jeremie Albino | Grizfolk |

I decided to dig up this old photo of me, Rhett Miller (of the Old 97's) and Steve Poltz for this week's photo. I think it's from 2003 or so...Rhett was performing solo at 4th&B and maybe Steve opened? It was a KPRI event...thus Rhett's shirt and lanyard, and it's also notable because I'm wearing my David Gray t-shirt...full circle, right? Because Steve's having his 16th Annual 50th Birthday Party this weekend. (Crazy to think we've known each other for 31 years!!) And also, David Gray is playing this weekend at Harrah's. And to keep on with it, The Old 97's are playing April 2 at the Belly Up. So yeah. A lot going on in this pic for me. It was like 3 or 4 years before I even started this site!

It's nice that San Diego finally got a big rain, though I'm not watching much news these days to know if it had any dangerous or negative repurcussions. Though I suppose a Navy jet nose-diving into The Big Bay is kind of a big deal, whether rain related or not. But rain or not, it feels like the Super Bowl is a marker for change in seasons in a way, and suddenly the music calendar is jam-packed all over again, which tends to continue in the run-up to SXSW and Coachella, then there's usually a little lull before summer. I've been looking at some shows, however, and something seems like it's all about to crumble. The amount of big shows with expensive tickets with half or more of their seating charts still available is kind of shocking, so there is going to need to be some major recalibration that maybe people's nostalgia isn't strong enough to make them fork over $60, $80, $100 for tickets, knowing that doesn't cover $15-$20 beers, $50 rideshare or parking, and $40 t-shirts. It's bananas and it isn't sustainable. Fortunately, we've got our small venues and small tours to keep us satiated and not tryna break the bank. And if you're into theatre, there's some great small theatres that offer affordable tickets for great performances. I've seen Other Desert Cities at the Cygnet and The Half-Life of Marie Curie and Love, Linda at New Village Arts, all in the past couple weeks, and all were deeply moving in their own way and I would recommend seeing any or all of them. 

Anyhoo...lots to do. Happy Valentine's Day and President's Day Weekend. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.  

Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: $14 County Dog Adoptions | Zoo Baby Watch | US Wall Broke Treaties | Gaslamp's Car-Free Promenade Ends | WTF Is TFG Even Doing? |

Lupe & Amahle Having Fun On A Rainy Day (2.12.25)

I almost feel like I have to stop newsy things because how can we even keep up?? But there are enough things that don't have to do with TFG that it's still my little chance to vent and share some things. I'll probably repost these a lot, but since the general media is completely complicit in the immoral, wrong, and straight up illegal activities of TFG and F-Elon, ESPECIALLY the New York Times and Washington Post, it is critical to hear legitimate reporting and valuable commentary. In particular, I read Rebecca Solnit, Letters from an American by Heather Cox Richardson, Popular.info by Judd Legum, Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance, and Steady by Dan Rather. Wired is also very much worth the subscription price right now. There are probably 50 other subscriptions I have and read regularly, but it is all so overwhelming all the time that it's important to give everything a minute...not respond to every stupid and ignorant proclamation or EO, every press statement from the State Department, or every Facebook reaction to whatever stupid headline wins the day. I'm trying to watch the courts, the lawsuits, the injunctions, the stays, the tiny little belief that somehow checks and balances will work out and this jackhole and the worse-than-the-Taliban team behind Project 2025 will be stopped. In the meantime, just trying to keep our heads above water, one foot in front of the other, and find joy in the days we have. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

Peaceful Protest February 9th at 9am

This is supposed to be a peaceful march and rally, but nobody faults you if you sit this one out because of the threat of violence by supporters of TFG and F-Elon (don't have to name the groups but you know who they are, and you know there is always the threat of violence, CCAs, etc.) or cops or ICE.

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, February 6-Wednesday, February 12, 2025: Maro + Nasaya | moe. | Eric Hutchison | The Meteors | Ozomatli | Inspector | Tommy Stinson | Tuxedo | Wild Pink |

The news this week just keeps getting crazier and crazier and I can't even believe this is real life and yet, we carry on hoping that there are checks and balances in place that prevent a full-on takeover by the American taliban that are occupying the government at the moment. So, I'm gonna bury my head in the sand, worry about why the hell I'm feeling sick --- now I'm convinced it is still and not again, and that maybe I did, in fact, have RSV, which is why I'm once again wheezing at night and don't feel like I can catch my breath but still feel fine enough...say 80%... to go do life while women are still allowed in public spaces without burkas or male escorts. Ugh. 

This week has a lot of amazing shows, so you, too, should bury your head in the sand and go experience live music or a farmer's market or a play or musical or engage in protests or do anything to feel a part of this great American experiment. I'm looking forward to seeing Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter at New Village Theatre and Other Desert Cities at the new Cygnet. I'm also hoping to do some Lunar New Year fun things that I skipped last weekend. It all depends how I feel, though, because being able to breathe is kinda critical. I can tell you I won't be sitting on the couch for a four hour football game, but you do you. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, January 30-Wednesday, February 5, 2025: Amerikan Bear | The Wildwoods | Emo Night Karaoke | ALO | Gregory Page | Cadiallac Hearse | Benjamin Booker |

Matt Molarius of Transfer at the Casbah (1.25.25)

I am trying really hard to wrap up listings and go to bed without watching news but holy shit, the firehose of information just doesn't stop. But, we'll keep it to the listings over here because there's some fun stuff happening around town all week and I gotta say, I've been so thrilled to wear my cold-weather gear, which I bought so much of last year when it actually rained around here. I'll be seeing The Half Life of Marie Curie at New Village Arts, which I'm pretty excited about because all the productions I've seen there have been great and the theatre itself has big, wide, comfortable seating and every seat is a great view. I hope to bounce around to check out some Lunar New Year festivities, too, even if that means mostly at San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, or Sea World. On Saturday night, I'm gonna see my friend and old neighbor, Gregory Page, at the Brooks Theatre. I haven't seen a music performance there since Colin Clyne played there several years ago, so that should be pretty great, too. 

I hope everyone finds something fun to do regardless of the weather and in spite of the madness happening in the world around us. The arts are what is going to keep us sane as long as TFG is implementing the worst of P2025. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: SD Finally Raises Parking To 2025 Pricing | County Raises Park Fees | TFG Throws Out Constitutional Law | "Anti-Crime" Pres Pardons Felons | Federal Government Stops Working For The People |

Lauren Mayberry at House of Blues (1.28.25)

God damn. It has been a really hard couple of weeks. In my little bubble, things have been great...I've been really loving my zoo time, the shift to colder weather in San Diego including a little spattering of rain here and there, and I've felt like I've gotten into a better groove for work and play and sleep. In addition to my daily zoo trips, I did the alpaca ranch back to back days, I did a couple "Inside Look days" and the Mardi Gras kickoff at Seaworld. I saw Lady Lamb at Lou Lou's, watched Toby perform with San Diego Youth Symphony, went to the Transfer show at the Casbah on Saturday night, worked for Tank and the Bangas at Music Box on Sunday, and went to see Lauren Mayberry of Chvrches at House of Blues on Tuesday. All is good. 
And then I look at the news and we're legit looking at a fucking total coup of the US government and the whole country is like, "nah, he can't really do that" and then they're fucking doing it and we are just eyes wide open in total shock and rage and wondering if our other two branches of government are going to fucking step in and say YOU CAN'T FUCKING DO THAT, YOU FUCKING TREASONOUS TRAITOR and then do something about all of this. Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years...
We met with Toby's counselors a couple weeks back and it was really productive and helpful and cathartic and illuminating and then this week we see TFG trying to ban transness and we're just trying to keep this kid alive. I was trying to do a news roundup and found my own breathing strained, my heartrate exploding...I can't. But there's a running list of everything TFG has done or attempted to do and it is really bleak.

Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, January 23-Wednesday, January 29, 2025: Yesness | Lunar New Year Celebrations | Casbah Anniversary | Olive Krug | Transfer | Tank & The Bangas | Foghat | Lauren Mayberry | Haley Hendrickx |

January is always the month that the Casbah gets to celebrate its anniversary. We've done big things for the 10th and every subsequent 5 years, but now we're on 36 and while maybe not a whole month of ragers, there are a lot of great shows. Friday is being designated as the official anniversary, but Saturday with Transfer is gonna be pretty special, too. 

This has been a super weird week, TFG is back in office and the grift is on and people's lives are already being destroyed by his policies and we're being told not to believe what we see with our own eyes, and it's infuriating. But it's also gross because when we experience personal joy or triumphs or things worth celebrating or sharing, we feel like we have to preface with " I know things really suck in the world right now, but..." and we shouldn't feel that way. Find joy. Live your best life. Be grateful you live here. Celebrate the wins. Nolite te Bastardes Carborundorum.

There's a lot going on this week -- I'll be at the SeaWorld Mardi Gras preview on Friday, going to Toby's San Diego Youth Sympony Concert on Saturday, maybe checking out Lunar New Year, and then trying to get to the Casbah for Transfer. On Sunday I'll be working for Tank and the Bangas, and I'm working on getting a photo pass for Lauren Mayberry on Wednesday. Gotta keep busy and keep the TV off as much as possible. 

Stay safe out there.

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, January 16-Wednesday, January 22, 2025: Brainiac | Futurebirds | Lee Fields | Phantogram | Bright Eyes | Flatten Manhattan | LA Fire Benefit | Lady Lamb | Alan Sparhawk | Ani DiFranco |

photo courtesy SPIN/Torrey Bailey

The start to 2025 has already been bonkers and it is kinda hard to wrap our heads around it. Human brains can only absorb so much trauma and we have natural defense mechanisms that help protect us. The fires, the whiplash of the incoming administration, the absurdity of TV pundits...it can all be a lot. A friend of mine told me about a free preview weekend of Apple+ a couple weeks ago, and quickly found myself bingeing Shrinking and finishing Ted Lasso with Toby, which we'd started back on season one. Then I found out my Roku had a three month preview, so then I got into The Morning Show (S1E6), and was literally on the episode about LA fires the night before the current LA fires started. So I've been watching TV to escape real life and then TV mirrors real life, all while attempting a Dry January! At least we still have the escape of music. This weekend I'll be at Bright Eyes and Lady Lamb, and probably the Casbah benefit on Sunday before Lady Lamb...still probably finding a way to cry my eyeballs out. 

I did want to share some news that SPIN is under new ownership, by Brandon Colt, who has been manager for the past 10 years, and Brandon Garva of drum n' bass collective SD Union. They've updated some light and sound but mostly seem to be bringing back the rave vibes with late nights and after-hours parties, with some nights going until 4am. If that's your scene, you should definitely give a revisit back to the historic Hancock Street venue. 

Stay safe out there.  

Rosey's Diary & Newsy Things: County District 1 Will Get Special Election | SeaWorld Fireworks Face Lawsuit, Averse Council Pres | Fires Ravage LA | Billionaires Kiss The Ring of TFG |

Lupe (L) and Amahle (R) at San Diego Zoo (1.14.25)

I'm sitting at the Zoo as I write this. I usually do these late at night, but tonight I'll be doing listings and Wednesday night I'll be working for Satsang at Music Box. I was coasting during the holidays, but I forgot about the whiplash when everyone gets back to work and everyone decides that the first week of the year is a great time to announce new albums, new tours, and thus my email was bananas. So I'm trying to get this post up before diving into all the other things coming my way. 

It has been really hard, both in writing and in person, to be optimistic. When people ask how I'm doing, it's hard to be like everything is great personally, but TFG is about to be inaugurated, the billionaires are lining up to suck his dick, and the LA fires are a clear demonstration of what fucking crooks his party is all down the line. So like, I'm trying to find my joy, to be happy within my family and household, and also be completely terrified at the prospect of the next four years. Like we're just trying to keep our kid alive as he goes through the roughest time of his life. Trying to find hope and joy. It's all we can do. 

Stay safe out there.