Band-branded cocktails

We asked a local bartender to mix drinks inspired by five local acts

One of the highest honors a performer can receive is to have a menu item named after them, like the Woody Allen sandwich at Carnegie Deli in New York City or the Salma Hayek at Chicago’s Hot Doug’s.

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Wednesday, June 19,2013
Notes from the Smoking Patio

The Ruby Room to become The Merrow

Plus, prankster gives Drive Like Jehu fans false hope

By Peter Holslin, Jeff Terich

Hillcrest venue The Ruby Room closed its doors Monday, and will reopen July 1 as The Merrow. The Ruby Room co-owners Sean and Brittni Cute an nounced last week that they’re selling their shares to a business partner, Paul Joseph Smith, who’ll take over the space and give it a revamp.

Wednesday, June 19,2013
Music Feature

Bosnian Rainbows’ metaphysical graffiti

Post-punk group cultivates a psychic understanding

By Jeff Terich

It’s no exaggeration to say that Bosnian Rainbows is the most pop-oriented project Omar Rodriguez-Lopez's ever been involved in.

Tuesday, June 18,2013
If I Were U

Holy Grail, Hooded Fang and more San Diego concerts

She & Him, Sole, Bosnian Rainbows and other bands we’re stoked about this week

By Jeff Terich

Toronto's Hooded Fang have been around since 2007, but with their fuzz-heavy, super-catchy new album Gravez, it looks like 2013 is the year the buzz catches up to them.

Tuesday, June 11,2013
If I Were U

Blu & Exile, Boyd Rice and more San Diego concerts

Dancing Strangers, The Burning of Rome and Rhett Miller are just some of the bands we’re jazzed about this week

By Jeff Terich

Hip-hop has a tradition of unstoppable MC/DJ duos—Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth, Guru and DJ Premier, KRS-One and Scott La Rock—and Los Angeles team Blu & Exile bring "back in the day" up to the present day, via rich, crackly production and Blu's laid-back, everyman lyrics.

Tuesday, June 11,2013
Notes from the Smoking Patio

Stay Strange launches cassette label

Sam Lopez expands his brand with new analog-based record company

By Jeff Terich

The peculiar world of Stay Strange is expanding. Sam Lopez, founder and curator of the regular live-music series, is launching a new tape label, also called Stay Strange.

Tuesday, June 11,2013
Notes from the Smoking Patio

Author & Punisher seek big melodies on new album

Metal musician is more accessible and graceful than ever

By Jeff Terich

Some of the most crushing sounds of the last half-decade have come from local noisemaker Tristan Shone, aka one-man industrial-metal act Author & Punisher.

Wednesday, May 29,2013
Music Feature

For Parquet Courts, Camus can do, but Sartre is smarter

Brooklyn post-punks are full of existential angst

By Jeff Terich

Listening to Light Up Gold, Parquet Courts’ widely buzzed about debut album, it’s easy to take Brown at his word. A 16- track set of jittery, up-tempo post-punk rockers, the album is musically upbeat—even fun!—but frequently tends toward pessimism.

Wednesday, May 8,2013
Summer guide

Discounts for San Diego cyclists

The bike shop that started the program is gone, but the perks remain

By Jeff Terich

In San Diego, cyclist commuters have the added privilege of being able to take advantage of discounts at a long list of businesses throughout the city.

Wednesday, May 8,2013
Music Feature

Charli XCX explores the dark side of love

U.K. electronic-music songwriter proves pop can be interesting

By Jeff Terich

English electro-pop singer-songwriter Charli XCX is still a few months shy of her 21st birthday, but she’s already built up one hell of a musical résumé.