Dan Faughnder has the eye of the tiger

Sledding with Tigers frontman can write, record and release a perfect song in three hours

The frontman of the local folk-punk group Sledding with Tigers, Faughnder has nearly two hours of music available to download—mostly for free—on his band's website.

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The gospel of Merle Haggard

If you don’t know what to ask a country-music god, start with his boots

"Hello," says a voice on the other line. "Is this, uh, Mr. Haggard?" "Why, yes it is." Holy shit! I think. What do I ask?! This is Merle. Fucking. Haggard! 

Words on the street

Graffiti’s made it on gallery walls, but for artists Neko and Persue, nothing beats the real thing

Neko grew up around that scene and has been participating in it since 1991, after he was initially inspired by the Old English graffiti lettering he saw at Grant Hill Park. He points out the Golden Hill mural at the beginning of a nearly two-hour tour of some of his favorite street art around San Diego.

Dustin Illingworth steps out of the wilderness

Scene vet channels his grief into a gorgeous folk-pop tribute

Dustin Illingworth has always been a scrupulous songwriter. He has an innate, some would say God-given talent for pop hooks and composition, but it doesn't always come easy to him.

In painter Kelly Vivanco’s work, the eyes have it

The stories behind the artist’s characters can be found in their peepers

There’s just something about Kelly Vivanco’s eyes. Well, not so much her eyes, although they are a striking bluish-gray. Rather, it’s the eyes in her signature mix of pop-surrealism and Renaissance portraiture. 

Prime sounds

10 San Diego bands we love

In no particular order, we give you the artists we couldn’t stop listening to from 2002 to 2012.

Straight shooter or total jerk?

10 best (worst) local demo reviews

1. Mean Nothings, Dead TV News (2004): Described as a combination of “music, theatre and spoken-word,” this rough cut of an impending album is the musical equivalent of taint. 

Justin Pearson plunges into electro

Memoir finds hardcore-punk luminary in a strange new world

In 2010, The Locust and All Leather frontman Justin Pearson made his literary debut with autobiography From the Graveyard of the Arousal Industry. Now, he’s back with another memoir, which can be summed up in one line: “I grabbed the mic just in time for me to lip sync in front of a bunch of fuck heads.”

The last Shot on Scene

It’s a bit annoying when your photographer’s trying to take a photo of the two of you for the last Shot on Scene and you’re photobombed by two hipster cuties making duckfaces. Thanks, l

Mrs. Magician drop a fantastic debut

Locals are more than just another garage-rock band

One could argue that every “garage rock” band throughout history was actually nothing but a wannabe pop band that didn’t have the pipes or   the chops to make something wholly original. They know how to craft a hook, and they can harmonize a little, but they sure as hell ain’t The Rolling Stones.