Show Review: The Prayers/The Roots/K23 Orchestra

Fifty on Their Heels in Mexicali 10/13!!!, originally uploaded by catdirtrecords.

I have recently gotten comments, from presumably new readers, about my show reviews that are a variation on the theme "hey, idiot, what kind of a show review doesn't talk extensively about the bands that played." invariably, it's about a band i've seen and written about a million times, so your comment, stupid commenter, merely indicates that you never read this blog & don't know what you're talking about.


I went to check out the Prayers opening for the Roots last night @ UCSD. Love the college environment, and the fact that Kevin Highland does more to pair local acts with touring headliners then any other booker in San Diego. Shame on you, professional bookers. I think it is important to emphasize the significance of local bands playing "big stages". How else are they supposed to practice working that "big stage magic"?

The Prayers sounded great last night, playing before a crowd that... um... crowd surfed, not to CSS or Rage Against the Machine, but to the Prayers. God bless the college kids. The Prayers are heading to the UK next week with SESAC Josh and I'm sure it will be a "laddish" affair. A charming group of gentlemen, really. They played some new songs, the new songs were very good. Interesting. And of course there's the cover of Madonna's "Cherish" that you've listened to on myspace yeah? So consider this my unqualified endorsement.

I'm driving out to the Imperial Valley today to go see some clients, and then to join fifty on their heels at Plaza Sol in mexicali (hint! Mapquest has a non searchable, but viewable and scaleable map of Mexicali for your driving pleasure). I'll be staying at the John Jay Best Western in El Centro. El Centro's newest hotel! That's key when your talking about the lower end of the chain hotel spectrum.

I might go check out a flick at the Ultrastar Imperial Valley Cinemas or take creepy pictures at the new mall that opened in El Centro. I swear, the Imperial Valley is fucking terra incognita for google.

Ha there are only eight yelp reviews for the whole city of El Centro.

And then Mexicali. I represented Mexicali pretty hard back in May. Round 2.

Show Review: Wild Weekend @ Swami Sunday Mass (Bar Pink Elephant)

Wild Weekend!, originally uploaded by catdirtrecords.

I think I probably should have taken the chance to introduce myself to John Reis, but I just don't want to bum him out with my uncoolness. I FINALLY made it to the Bar Pink Elephant, San Diego's new alt-hot spot. Pink Elephant is located on the 30th street north park corridor, which is turning the corner in my mind. Let's see, Linkery, Zensei, Blue Foot, Commonwealth Cafe, Lefty's, Chasers(!), Union Bank, Bar Pink Elephant, Scolari's, Rancho's veggie mex joint and coming very, very soon, Mike from Jezebel's new boutique Pop! (on Lincoln). And I'm not even counting Off the Record.

Pink Elephant has markedly improved from the sorry "Dino's" which preceded it. I read one or two reviews questioning the viability of the location, but those writers are way off. Personally, I think it's a great location. Sunday they're doing Swami's Sunday Mass, which is a matinee show featuring one local band. So far, John Reis's taste has been impeccable: The Sess, The Atoms & Wild Weekend. Un chapeau, Mr. Reis. I quite enjoyed myself this afternoon.

I think it's fair to say that Pink Elephant represents the only possible threat to the Casbah's monoply on "venues that don't suck nuts" in San Diego. I think it's also fair to say that the booking policy is, shall we say, a tad predictable. Given ten minutes, I bet I could draw up a list of every local band that will book a show there between now and the end of the year. Certainly, I admire the restraint, and I think the taste overlap is probably in the neighborhood of 50% or higher, but I'd like to see a little bit more. More shows, more frequently, etc.

But who am I to complain? The Pink Elephant is a clear "winner". And it's nice to be able to listen to John Reis dj in person at 2 in the afternoon on a sunday. I think, in all honesty, that John Reis is as close to a viable role model that a San Diego musician can possess, and for that he deserves respect.