Local Bands

Like painters, sculptors and playwrights, musicians are among those creative architects that can build a city’s reputation by simply rolling out their craft to localized audiences. Whether they remain solo or synchronize their skills with other musicians, audiences of all ages have historically kept an open ear for bands, instrumentalists and singers that they can call their own. Here in San Diego, one need only peek into a neighborhood club or watering hole, or a residential garage for that matter, to hear what’s bubbling on the music scene.
It comes as no surprise that the San Diego Music Awards was formed more than a decade ago to showcase the ever-flowing stream of acoustical talent grown right in our own backyard. While keeping a watchful eye on fresh and established talent capable of spring boarding into the national spotlight, the organization also provides funds to purchase musical instruments for school programs, allowing aspiring musicians to join the ranks of hundreds of others who have already enriched our musical landscape. This month’s Out on Town highlights a few of them.

Cash'd Out
Like painters, sculptors and playwrights, musicians are among those creative architects that can build a city’s reputation by simply rolling out their craft to localized audiences. Whether they remain solo or synchronize their skills with other musicians, audiences of all ages have historically kept an open ear for bands, instrumentalists and singers that they can call their own. Here in San Diego, one need only peek into a neighborhood club or watering hole, or a residential garage for that matter, to hear what’s bubbling on the music scene.
It comes as no surprise that the San Diego Music Awards was formed more than a decade ago to showcase the ever-flowing stream of acoustical talent grown right in our own backyard. While keeping a watchful eye on fresh and established talent capable of spring boarding into the national spotlight, the organization also provides funds to purchase musical instruments for school programs, allowing aspiring musicians to join the ranks of hundreds of others who have already enriched our musical landscape. This month’s Out on Town highlights a few of them.

Cash'd Out
Headed up by Douglas Benson and Kevin Manuel, this four-man local band has become Southern California’s tribute to the late Johnny Cash, having mastered nearly every Cash song possible with precise authenticity. The group has culled a devoted fanfare with their repertoire of country and rockabilly songs over the past two years, performed at such local joints as the Belly Up Tavern, Winstons and The Casbah, not to mention regional street fairs.

Alfred Howard & the K23 Orchestra
A favorite among hiphoppers, jazzheads and poetry lovers, this dynamic, six-piece band gives local and regional audiences an earful of powerful crescendos and structured improvisation by blending hiphop, rock and Latin rhythms into a funky and un-definable end result that effectively transcends all musical genres. What started out as a single appearance at The Whistle Stop five years ago has blossomed into a full schedule of electrifying gigs statewide for the group, with Howard fueling the shows with his rapid-fire lyricism. Next San Diego gig is Sept. 23 at Winston’s in Ocean Beach.

Fighting for Nineveh
Self-taught lead guitarist and band founder Sam Miller brings to the local music scene a versatile brand of original rock based in blues and jazz that is belted out by four 20-something musicians. The group’s prolific songwriting abilities and mature musical scope appeals to their own generation and Baby Boomers alike. Miller, who started playing the guitar at the age of 12 without any formal lessons, teamed up more than a year ago with lead singer D.J. Marx and two other band members for gigs three times a month. Look for them at The Last Call on El Cajon Boulevard, the Second Wind in Santee or at youth events held at local churches. With all the ambition and talent in place of a famous band in the making, the guys funnel 100 percent of their profits into a bank account designated to recording their first CD.

B-Side Players
This 15-year-old band’s infectious delivery of Latin, funk, rock, reggae, and soul has earned its members several local San Diego music awards and numerous bookings from Mexico to New York City. With a few acclaimed albums under their belts, they favor the stage between studio sessions, where they often arm themselves with percussion tools and Latin instruments such as timbales and shekeres for giving exposing the crowd to a blistering range of syncopated polyrhythms. The group will appear at Street Scene on Sept. 22.

Gadfly
Places such as the Ocean Beach Street Fair, Brick by Brick and Martini Ranch have given way for this enticing musical duo (Pino and Tommy) known for their iconoclastic trademark of blending rock, reggae and folk into their songwriting. With instrumentation that hints towards traditional music (upright bass, electric and acoustic guitar and drums), their performances are nothing short of a surprise when they break out with some of the most convincing rock and ska music born out of avid experimentation.

Married by Elvis
Look for this rousing five-piece, country-rock band fronted by female vocalist Julia Garlington at The Wave House on Sept. 22 and at the Adams Avenue Street Fair on September 29. Garlington’s bluesy voice epitomizes the group’s proficiency of throwing down a mix of country-rock and honky-tonk originals and handpicked covers with the kind of energy that keeps audiences on their toes. The singer formed the band in 2001, when she and the group’s bassist, Dan Herzberg, were “married by Elvis” in Las Vegas.

Cirque du Soul
Freestyle jazz that crosses genres in to funk and Latin remains the signature sound of this Oceanside-based group, which a few years ago recorded a CD titled “The Bean,” based on a series of gigs at the Nautical Bean Coffee Company in Oceanside. The band consists of well-traveled players: the guitar wizardry and rap lyrics are provided by Seth Blumberg; keys and tenor saxophone by "Generalissimo" Leo Dombecki; alto sax master by Ryan Montana; bass by Kevin Cooper and drums by Bill Ray. Check the web site for upcoming shows throughout Southern California.

Electric Waste Band
Diehard fans of The Grateful Dead wax sentimental when this five-member group takes to the stage with their improvisational interpretations of cover songs by the Dead. Based in Ocean Beach, the group has been rocking San Diegans since 1989 and performs regularly at Winston’s. Their mantra is convincing to those who haven’t yet experienced a show: “Where the Dead would guide you safely up the hill and back down, The Waste Band, once leading you up the hill, pushes you over the cliff!”
Like painters, sculptors and playwrights, musicians are among those creative architects that can build a city’s reputation by simply rolling out their craft to localized audiences. Whether they remain solo or synchronize their skills with other musicians, audiences of all ages have historically kept an open ear for bands, instrumentalists and singers that they can call their own. Here in San Diego, one need only peek into a neighborhood club or watering hole, or a residential garage for that matter, to hear what’s bubbling on the music scene.
It comes as no surprise that the San Diego Music Awards was formed more than a decade ago to showcase the ever-flowing stream of acoustical talent grown right in our own backyard. While keeping a watchful eye on fresh and established talent capable of spring boarding into the national spotlight, the organization also provides funds to purchase musical instruments for school programs, allowing aspiring musicians to join the ranks of hundreds of others who have already enriched our musical landscape. This month’s Out on Town highlights a few of them.

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