-
1 week ago | 
sandiegoreader.com | Spike Steffenhagen
Tinkersmith brings a little darkness into a sunny lunch hour “Fuck kale.” I declare to Cari Veach, the hostess at Nate’s Garden Grill on Euclid in San Diego. It seems that I’ve been unable or unwilling to let go of my grudge toward this “superfood” ever since the McDonald’s in Anaheim offered it in a laughable attempt to appear more health conscious. They didn’t fool me then, and I’m not going to start eating that shit now — on principle.
-
1 month ago | 
sandiegoreader.com | Spike Steffenhagen
“American Idiot by Green Day was the first CD I remember stealing from my sister, and I listened to nonstop,” says Louis Petrella of Sorry, It’s Over. Petty theft from siblings is a rite of passage for both swipers and swipees — the youngers see what's cool and aspire to possess it by any means necessary, simply because it's cool. The elders get the privilege of dictating taste. For Petrella, the album sparked a Green Day obsession fierce enough to make him plunk down his own coin.
-
1 month ago | 
sandiegoreader.com | Spike Steffenhagen
Lament for Queen unseen gives way to gladness for Kahlil Childs Quartet “I had the chance to see Miles [Davis] when I was in High School and didn’t — I still kick myself,” Brad tells me while we’re waiting for refreshments at The Conrad Prebys Music Center, home of the La Jolla Music Society. We’re attending a free courtyard show, part of the QRT.yrd series where Kahlil Childs Quartet is performing.
-
2 months ago | 
sandiegoreader.com | Spike Steffenhagen
“Let’s get some glitter on you and bring that inner little kid out,” Megan Harper says to me on the second floor of Spin Nightclub in the Midway District. Vendors are selling clothing, bartenders are serving from behind a lighted bar reminiscent of the cantina in Star Wars, and Megan and Bethany are applying glitter to patrons.
-
2 months ago | 
sandiegoreader.com | Spike Steffenhagen
One-man band gives even "Hotel California" new life, thanks to flamenco leads “Occasionally, we need to chase the younger ones out, they have no fear of people,” Katie tells me when asked the oddest thing she’s seen as a server at Duke’s La Jolla. She’s referring to the seagulls, which I have since discovered are a protected species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, something I never thought about.
-
2 months ago | 
sandiegoreader.com | Spike Steffenhagen
Flashback: I was dubbed a “daft cunt” by Napalm Death bassist Shane Embury at Spanky’s café in the early '90s. Earache Records had signed several grindcore bands and sent them on tour. This particular event included Nocturnus and the band I was most excited to see, Godflesh. I don’t have enough experience with Embury to know if he was just in a shit mood that day or if his personality lends itself to crankiness.
-
Mar 27, 2025 | 
sandiegoreader.com | Spike Steffenhagen
Grooving at Cordova Bar's monthly Bay Park Funktion “Prince was just okay,” says a man I’ll call Troutface. We’re sitting at The Cordova Bar on the edge of Linda Vista and Bay Park, waiting for the house band to start the monthly jam session known as Bay Park Funktion.
-
Mar 20, 2025 | 
sandiegoreader.com | Spike Steffenhagen
Grand opening slated for mid-April “If I hadn’t broken that string, we might not be married today,” says Cat Curry Hasz of her husband Jon. “I went in to Ramona Music Center [previously known as Blue Horse Music] in high school, after breaking a guitar string at band practice. Jon and I met and became close friends for six years before realizing best friends make great significant others.” Today, Jon is still married to Cat, and still running his business with co-owner Todd Allen.
-
Feb 20, 2025 | 
sandiegoreader.com | Spike Steffenhagen
There's no place quite like Dizzy's “Gerbil porn will be the instrument of my demise,” I mutter in the parking lot of Dizzy’s on Morena Boulevard, where Stephanie Trick and Paolo Alderighi are performing this evening. Getting to the club, which is housed in the Musician’s Association Union building's Arias Hall, has been arduous because of the rain and the corresponding lack of road skills on display, not to mention the closure of chunks of Morena and the confusing detours.
-
Feb 13, 2025 | 
sandiegoreader.com | Spike Steffenhagen
“It wasn’t something grand or unique outside of the actual simplistic meaning of friendship,” says Justin Pearson of the upcoming Swing Kids reunion show. “John Brady, the band’s bassist, is turning 50, and he decided to throw a mini-fest for himself as a celebration for making it that far in life.” That celebration is taking place on both sides of the border: Brady’s active band, Agonista, will play one night in Tijuana, with the Swing Kids reunion the following night in San Diego.
