Reports from the scene

Locals Only

Kleege Industries filed a lawsuit Thursday, Oct. 15, in state court against Rob Hagey Productions, the promotions company in charge of Street Scene, claiming breach of contract. Kleege has provided all the stages, rigging and staff to operate the music festival since 1984. Calls and e-mails to both companies were not returned by press time, but according to court records, the lawsuit is categorized as “unlimited,” which means that Kleege’s claim is in excess of $25,000. This lawsuit is in addition to a breach-of-contract suit filed in August by Southern California Sound Image Inc. against Hagey Productions.

The Album Leaf has finished the soundtrack for filmmaker Tisha Blood’s documentary Torey’s Distraction, about Torey Harrah, a young girl born with Apert syndrome, a rare genetic condition marked by a prematurely fused skull that results in skeletal mutation.

Folk-rockers Buried Under Carrots will celebrate the release of their debut EP, Victims of the Butter Age, on Friday, Oct. 23, at Tin Can Ale House. The Jediah Band and Shapes of Future Frames will also play. Jam band Shoebox Records will play a release show for their new album on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Lestat’s, with Happy Ron and Paul Zepol supporting.

Some benefit shows of note: Bands Cantua and UBUV and DJs Ricker and Cario Crush will play a benefit for Alicia Bailey on Sunday, Oct. 25, at Beauty Bar. Bailey suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident, leaving her in a coma. The $10 cover will help pay for around-the-clock care. Also, Matt Curreri, Rheanna Downey, Caleb Pheiffer, The Kingsmen and others will play a benefit for Banding Together on Friday, Oct. 23, at Lestat’s. Proceeds will benefit music-therapy scholarships for kids with special needs, such as autism. 

—Seth Combs

The Enrique experience

It was standing-room-only last Saturday as walking corpses and half-dead divas gathered at Technomania Circus’ Barrio Logan performance space, The Center for Amusing Arts, to take part in “The Zombie Show,” the latest spectacle to ooze from the sick minds of Bruce Cartier, aka Dr. Techno, and his merry band of misfits. 

“We did a gig for LEIF(kolt)’s Dead is the New Rich release party six weeks ago filled with zombie acrobatic shit, and people really seemed to like it, so we ran with it,” the good doctor told CityBeat.

The murky autumn weather managed to infuse the sheets and rugs that envelop the impromptu backyard venue with a strong, humid bouquet, giving the proceedings just the right rockabilly graveyard stench—that, along with the “slab city” style restroom facilities (orange Home Depot bucket behind a velvet curtain), helped set the mood. The musical stylings of house band Aquapuke—who, in keeping with the theme, played their instruments with the dexterity of Betty White on Ambien—completed the trifecta.

“You must excuse me, but I accidentally poured hydrochloric acid in the fog machine, thus killing the whole cast,” Dr. Techno told the audience before the show. “Not to worry,” he continued, “we’re built over an alien burial ground, so nothing really dies here.”

The panoply included severed-body-parts juggling, fire breathing atop a 10-foot ladder and a shadow-puppet show that told the story of Dr. Jan Soenso—a mad scientist who, by accident, created a lover made out of “celery, lobster, cauliflower, bacon ’n’ eggs, mosquito, chocolate-chip cookie, sheep, olives, pickle, Brontosaurus and a fish taco.”

Euphoric “ehhh!” sounds from the undead audience followed in lieu of applause, the loudest coming form Earl and Kathi, Dr. Techno’s parents. “He’s always been our little clown,” a beaming Mrs. Cartier said.

The night reached its peak during a TV-show parody titled “The Newly-Dead Game,” during which couples where asked queries like “What’s the strangest thing that’s happened while making whoopee?” One zombie’s answer included formaldehyde and a fire hydrant.

Man, I miss college.

—Enrique Limón

View from a Stool

A hundred or so sweaty punks crammed into Che Café last Friday for a night of hardcore music. Local band Lewd Acts celebrated the release of their new record, Black Eye Blues, by playing the album from start to finish. The band set up in front of the stage, and frontman Tyler Densley repeatedly urged the crowd to close in around him, so to blur the line between the performers and the crowd. Densley, who created all the artwork for the new record, embodies the band’s willingness to take risks. The lyrics are richly poetic and allusive, a significant departure from the genre’s steadfastly straightforward approach, and some of the songs feature long instrumental sections with numerous time changes. Though covered in tattoos, Densley presented a surprisingly vulnerable figure during the show, hurling himself into the crowd, collapsing on the floor, wrapping the microphone cord around his neck. Lewd Acts is definitely a band to watch.   

Meanwhile, across town at Tower Bar in City Heights, a different kind of celebration took place at a tribute show for San Diego punk rocker J.J. Orsborn, who died in January. Oct. 15 would have been Orsborn’s birthday, and an older and worse-for-wear crowd packed into the tiny bar. The show featured performances by The Widows and a J.J. Tribute Band that played covers of Orsborn’s favorite songs. The night was capped by a set from the legendary Orange County band The Stitches. The mood was anything but somber, and that’s just the way Orsborn, who lived and died by the creed “Here for a good time, not a long time,” would have wanted it.

—Jim Ruland

Night Moves

Our semi-regular guide to the after-dark events we’re either crazy about or just really looking forward to.

The Most Interesting Show in the World @ 4th & B—Angelo Moore (aka Dr. Madd Vibe, aka that crazy dude from Fishbone) will host what looks to be a wild night of performers, including burlesque dancers, stand-up comics and a woman who calls herself The Human Slinky. Interesting, indeed. RSVP to get in for free at www.showclix.com/event/gloryboundproductions. Thursday, Oct. 22.

San Diego Hip-Hop @ Kava Lounge—Some of the best in beats, rhymes and life the “Daygo” has to offer. Includes Parker & The Numberman, The Kneehighs, Addiquit and Pseudo Slang taking turns on the mic. Friday, Oct. 23.

Shinichi Osawa @ Voyeur—This one’s gonna be a banger! America finally caught up to the Japanese producer, DJ, composer and overall badass when Steve Aoki signed him to Dim Mak earlier this year. See what artists like Justice and Ed Banger are in awe of. Saturday, Oct. 24.

—Seth Combs