Cat Dirt Events in December: BBSD, Che, Mexicali...

You may be wondering what I've been up to at Cat Dirt HQ. Well, other then waiting for the rest of the world to catch up to the stuff I was was telling you about in 2006, it's just been a total case of "chillaxing", dwelling in the lab, what have you.

For those of you inclined to calendar events, here are some:

Thursday, December 6th, 2007
Cat Dirt Presents
The So So Glos of New York City
& Special Guest
w/ DJs Edgartronic, CDW & Jah Metro
$5/21+ (ample guest list available!)
@ Beauty Bar San Diego
21+/ Doors @ 9 PM
If you are inclined to take an interest in news events regarding san diego based bands, this would be a show to attend, since there will be a newsworthy event occurring.

Friday, December 7th, 2007
Branden Atoms & Cat Dirt Present
The Sess
The So So Glos of New York City
Chango Rey Y El Moreno
Mermaid
@ The Che Cafe in La Jolla/UCSD
ALL AGES/ Doors @ 8 PM

Saturday, December 8th, 2007
Lipstick Terror
The So So Glos
Manilow Lazer
@ The Veloria in Mexicali, BC
40 pesos/9 PM
Calzada Aviacion 100, Centro Commercial Sol Mexicali

So there you have it. Please contact me for beauty bar guest list status. Thank you.

Show Review: MIA @ 'Canes (San Diego, CA.)

I must have read about fifteen thousand reviews of this tour before last night. I'd heard complaints about the lack of an opening act at the New York City Terminal 5 show. I'd watched You Tube videos of MIA climbing the stage lights at Lollapalooza in Chicago & At the Treasure Island Event in San Francisco. I'd watched video of her performance of Paper Plane on Letterman. I've searched her lyrics on the Internet, posted MP3s, and taken pot shots at her critics. Fair to say, I was fully prepared for the MIA experience.

And honestly, if it wasn't for the INEXPLICABLY CRAPPY SOUND at 'CANES, she would have delivered "it." By "it" I mean: shouted choruses, gun shots, four line verses and various related stage antics. It's a heady cocktail. MIA has her detractors, for sure (really, 2 and half stars for kala in the San Diego Union Tribune? That is simply an embarrassment.) but I'm not one of them. I love MIA. And after last night, I still love her, though the patented 'Canes experience tested the limits of my ardor (and then some!)

I suppose after seeing her first US performance at Coachella (and by "seeing" I mean actually watching the entire performance from a position near the stage) 'Canes couldn't help but disappoint, but what really stood out was the AWFUL SOUND. Honestly, the sound quality last night pretty much assures that MIA will NEVER COME BACK to San Diego. I mean, she was aware of it, she mentioned it repeatedly from the stage. Not enough to interrupt her performance, she soldiered on like a professional, but it was hard not to wince at the frequent feedback during EACH AND EVERY SONG. Are you fucking kidding me? 'Canes? (snap of fingers)

Is there some complexity to the DJ/three volcalist set up that I missed. What is that? One insturment and a vocalist? That sound guy should be fired, and 'Canes should issue an apology to all of us who paid $25 to see a well produced, professional show. Because last night- that was amateur hour- and now I doubt MIA will ever come back, and it's ALL 'CANES FAULT.

The bottom line is that it was hard for me to really focus on the show because the sound was so fucking piss poor.

The turn out was great- Timmy Pyles (holla!), Andrew Prayers, Mario Art Fag and a friend, MC Flow, Nicky Shingles from Fifty on Their Heels, Heather San Diego House Parties, The sax player for Mr Tube, Preston Habitat Sound System, and assorted girls in sparkly hats (really now? are you sure about that?) The douche factor was "medium" I felt comfortable, although I want to upload the video I took of a couple taking photos of themselves at the bar. That's funny.

And althought I'm a big San Diego booster, the sound at 'Canes last night was a fucking embarrasment for the city of san diego. 'Canes, you fucking suck. We had better sound at Sessions Fest and we didn't charge $25 a head, oh, wait - Sessions Fest was free and we managed to have better sound than you. shame on you.

Also, the "Cool Kids"? There is only one cool act right now that ends with "kids" and that is "the black kids". And it's ironic, because cool kids is an afam throwback hip hop crew, but there you have it.