Staring at the Sun Volume 12

The latest edition of Staring at the Sun is set to be released on Sunday March 26, 2017 with a special FREE event, co hosted by 91X DJ Tim Pyles and Bart Mendoza - this will be a real party with sets from numerous bands and performers as well as musical comedy from Pony Death Ride and a stand up set from cover artist (and comedian) Jeromy Cox + giveaways, with 91X broadcasting live from the show! - more details including location, times and artists soon!

Pony Death Ride in Ukulele Magazine!

Husband & Wife comedy duo, Pony Death Ride hae a nice review in the latest post from Ukulele Magazine ! Here's a song from their latest magnum opus, Cat Sounds - "I'm A Cat Guy"

 www.ukulelemag.com / Reviews 

Normandie Wilson - Cinema Spartan Interview

Normandie Wilson is interviewed in the blog Cinema Spartan by Barry Benintende - November 17

www.cinemaspartan.com/interview-w-normandie-wilson

 Here's her terrific video for the song "Dressed In Pink"!

Dave Humphries & Friends live at Rebecca's Coffeehouse on November 27

A great reason to get up early on a Sunday! Dave Humphries and friends will be performing at South Park / San Diego mainstay, Rebecca's Coffeehouse on November 27 at 10 a.m. A great mix of originals and covers by the likes of Lennon, McCartney, Dylan, Marvin, Welch and Farrar and more! 

www.rebeccascoffeehouse.com

Pony Death Ride with El Vez and The Bassics December 23 at the Casbah!

The El Vez Merry Mexmas show returns to the Casbah on December 23, topping a bill that also includes the Bassics and Pony Death Ride!

www.casbahmusic.com

Normandie Wilson & The Joyelles at Bar Pink Nov 18 - FREE!

Normandie Wilson & The Joyelles will be performing a - FREE - show at San Diego's Bar Pink on November 18. It's a great bill also featuring singer-songwriter Saba and indie pop quartet, Mittens!

www.normandiewilson.com

www.barpink.com

Brogue Wave with Patric Petrie at the Belly Up Tavern on October 15 !

On Saturday, Oct 15th, Irish Outreach San Diego and Guinness are proud to present the inaugural Bogman at the Bellyup – A Festival of Irish Music, featuring San Diego’s finest Irish musical talent, with a little Americana thrown in for good measure.

Taking place at the iconic Bellyup in Solana Beach, which has hosted some of the world’s greatest performers from the Rolling Stones to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bogman will see this famed venue turn Irish for the day. This event will sellout so get your tickets early and share this event with your friends! Tickets are just $20, with limited Reserved seating available at $35. This event is 21+. There will be buses running from Central San Diego for this event or take the Coaster to within two blocks!!

Brogue Wave, formed just 18 months ago, features some of San Diego’s most renowned Irish musicians including David Lally, Patric Petrie, Tim Foley, and Matt Hensley of Flogging Molly fame. No Irish music event in San Diego would be complete without Tony Cummins and his band’s raucous show. San Diego Music award winner Sara Petite brings her unique brand of bluegrass, country, folk, and rock & roll, while Neil Morrison and Aidan Hanley open proceedings with authentic Irish folk to kick off Bogman at the Belly Up. The event will be emceed by Máirtín de Cógáin, renowned actor, musician, playwright & storyteller from Co. Cork, Ireland.

This events benefits the work of Irish Outreach San Diego in the community.

Brogue Wave at the Belly Up Tavern Info 

Brogue Wave at O'Sullivan's, Carlsbad

The Joyelles at the Merrow Oct. 4

The Joyelles, featuring Normandie Wilson, David Fleminger, Symea  Solomon and Danny Cress perform at the Merrow on October 4 + Citrus & Katie and Julia May & The Penguin Players!

The Merrow
1271 University Avenue
San Diego, CA 92103
21+ / 9pm / $5 at the door or...
FREE with your RSVP here: http://tktwb.tw/2cZkHKC

Normandie Wilson - new song "September Child"

Normandie Wilson's terrific new song "September Child" is available now via her Bandcamp page - the track was recorded in Nashville on her reecent tour and includes:

Guitar: David Fleminger
Drums: Ben Jackson
Vocals: Symea Solomon
Bass: Travis Vance
Vocals, piano: Normandie Wilson

Normandie, Symea and David are the core of the group, The Joyelles

Normandie Wilson music

Pony Death Ride interviewed in Vancouver's The Snipe! More tour dates!

Pony Death Ride play the Big Pine Comedy Festival in Flagstaff, AZ Sept. 24 and San Diego, CA Nov. 11 with Har Mar Superstar at The Casbah. A Christmas tour is in the works. In the meantime you can read a very cool interview with the comedy duo in Vancouver, Canada's music mag, the Snipe. Below is a photo of the raffle segment of thier CD release event at BFD Sanwiches on Sept 6:

Pony Death Ride in the Snipe / Vancouver 

 

Pony Death Ride CD Release @BFD Sandwhiches! FREE! Sept. 6

Pony Death Ride celebrates the release of their new album, Cat Sounds, with a special show at BFD Sanwhiches! "Possibly the first CD release show at a Sandwich shop - Don't miss this historic event!" This is free and all ages - details on the poster:

Dave Humphries News & Dates!

Acclaimed troubadour Dave Humphries is currently in the studio, \working on finishing an upcoming album, the New Hollywood Project 2. Meanwhile, he has a pair of upcoming dates:

August 28 at Rebecca's Coffeehouse in South Park / San Diego (10:30am-12:30 p.m.)

September 24 at the Adams Avenue Street Fair w/ The Bass Clef Experiment

Pony Death Ride Listening Party September 6 / 8 p.m. at BFD Sandwiches

Acclaimed humor and music duo, Pony Death Ride, will host a special FREE, all ages, listening party for their new album, Cat Sounds, on September 6 at BFD Sandwiches, 4135 Park Blvd, San Diego, California 9210,  in Hillcrest / San Diego! The fun will run from 8-10 p.m. with a mini set from Pony Death Ride, the albums playback, plus food and cake!  

"Come celebrate the release of Pony Death Ride's new "Cat Sounds" CD with a listening party at BFD -- our favorite local neighborhood gourmet sandwhich shop! Not only will you get to hear "Cat Sounds" for the first time on BFD's kick-ass sound system, there will be much more to look forward to including a smattering of live acoustic songs by yours truly and a special appearance by Mimi Le Uke "The Sailor Mouthed Sweetheart from Saint Louis" -- currently on a cross-country tour of ukulele naughtiness! Plus, there will be snacks, games, balloons, door prizes and more!"

The Shifty Eyed Dogs to play Cityfest August 14 - FREE!

Blues rocking trio, the Shifty Eyed Dogs (with frontman, guitarist Scott Mathiasen) will be performing at the annual Cityfest in Hillcrest / San Diego, on August 14 - it's FREE and all ages! 3 p.m.

Normandie Wilson in Canada August 11 !

"Normandie Wilson, alongside guitarist David Fleminger (Manual Scan / Alvino & The Dwells)  and vocalist Symea Solomon are performing in Toronto, Canada at Revival." Don't miss it! 

Revival Bar Info 

New Pony Death Ride video - "Grumpy Cat"!

Here's the new video  from Pony Death Ride's new album, Cat Sounds - it's "Grumpy Cat"!

Celtic fiddler Patric Petrie live with Skelpin and Brogue Wave !

Celtic fiddler Patric Petrie is playing gigs in Southern California throughout the summer!:

July 22 - Brogue Wave at O'Sullivan's / Carlsbad;
July 29 - Brogue Wave at O'Sullivan's / Escondido
August 12 - Skelpin at Java Joe's / San Diego

Here's Skelpin live on San Diego's KUSI-TV in 2009

The Shifty Eyed Dogs - Live Dates and More!

Blues rockers The Shifty Eyed Dogs have sold out of the first batch of their new self titled album! Look for more soon, but in the meantime don't miss this great trio when they are in your neighborhood. They'll around the Southland Coast this summer for shows including:

July 30- Crush in Solana Beach 
Aug. 5- The Manhattan in Chula Vista 
Sept. 9- Mothers Saloon in Ocean Beach

The band was recently reviewed in Boogie Magazine! Shifty Eyed Dogs Review!

Here is a video of frontman Scott Mathiasen singing a solo acoustic version of John Lennon's "Crippled Inside."

Out Soon! Pony Death Ride - Cat Sounds!

Pony Death Ride's, Cat Sounds, will be available via Blindspot Records soon! Pre-order link is below. The music and comedy duo have two Los Angeles area dates ahead: 

July 29 Burlypics Burlesque Olympics at Fais Do Do 5257 w. adams 9pm 

July 30 LA Musical Comedy Fest  at The Clubhouse 1607 n. vermont LA, Ca 730pm

Here's a video all about Pony Death Ride's new album!

Pre Order Pony Death Ride's "Cat Sounds"!

The Joyelles (with Normandie Wilson and David Fleminger) - Summer Formal Tour 2016!

The Joyelles will be on tour around the U.S. this summer!! This incredible group includes , Normandie Wilson, Maggie Taylor, Symea Solomon, Danny Cress and David Fleminger, playing Normandie's terrific originals, including songs from her ace new album, Is Tired of Being Nice, and awesome covers, from the likes of Bacharach, Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield and more! - this is a dress to impress show, complete with mobile art display, perfect for a photo back drop - don't miss the Joyelles or Normandie Wilson when they come to your town!

The Summer Formal Tour!

West Coast:
Sunday, July 17 - Hemlock Tavern - San Francisco, California
Tuesday, July 19 - Sweet Spot - Redding, California
Wednesday, July 20 - Crush Bar - Portland, Oregon
Thursday, July 21 - Lo-Fi (w/ Birch Pereira, Prom Queen & The Gin Joints) - Seattle, Washington
Friday, July 22 - The Conway Muse (w/Ben & Mia) - Conway, Washington
Saturday, July 23 - Johnny B's Rockin' Diner (w/Elly Swift) - Medford, Oregon
Thursday, July 28 - Sky Bar - Tuscon, AZ

East Coast:
Saturday, July 30 - The Proletariat Public House & Gallery - Galveston, Texas
Thursday, August 4 - Urban Artifact Brewery - Cincinnati, Ohio
Sunday, August 7 - The Elbo Room - Chicago, Illinois
Thursday, August 11 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, August 18 - CAKE SHOP (w/It Was Romance) New York, NY

 Normandie Wilson / The Joyelles Website

Here's a lyric video for Normandie Wilson's "Nobody Love You Like I Do"

Alvino & The Dwells monthly residency at Bar Pink! June 21 - Free!

Awesome surf trio, Alvino & The Dwells, featuring David Fleminger (Manual Scan / The Joyelles), Tony Saurez (ex- Manual Scan) and Didier Saurez (ex- Furious IV) has a monthly residency at Bar Pink in North Park / San Diego!

Check them out Tuesday, June 21- Free! All Ages. 10 p.m.

Watch Alvino & The Dwells play "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue"

The Joyelles with Normandie Wilson 2016 Tour Dates!

Normandie Wilson's new band, The Joyelles will hit the road soon for their first U.S. tour this summer! Plus there will be a few select duo shows with guitarist David Fleminger (Manual Scan / Alvino & The Dwells). This is all in advance of the upcoming album, Water Signs.

West Coast:

Sunday, July 17 - Hemlock Tavern - San Francisco, California
Wednesday, July 20 - Crush Bar - Portland, Oregon
Thursday, July 21 - Lo-Fi (w/Prom Queen) - Seattle, Washington
Saturday, July 23 - Johnny B's Rockin' Diner (w/Elly Swift) - Medford, Oregon

East Coast:

Saturday, July 30 - The Proletariat Public House & Gallery - Galveston, Texas
Thursday, August 4 - Artifact House - Cincinnati, Ohio

The Joyelles - Water Signs Advance video 

Art Around Adams Music & Arts Festival June 4 - Free / All Ages!

There will lots of music in the air at the 13th Annual Art Around Adams Artwalk, taking place on June 4 along a two mile stretch of Adams Avenue in San Diego. Music will be seen in venues such as Rosie O'Grady's, DeMilles's and Lestats's, with outdoor stages at Kensington Park, Smitty's Garage, Adams Avenue Car Wash, and Cafe 21. It's a wildly diverse bill with indie rockers Hills Like Elephants, trumpet led big band, Jason Hanna & The Bullfighters, explosive garage punk rockers Schizophonics and psychedelic rockers The Cherry Bluestorms (featuring ex-Dickies guitarist Glen Laughlin!) amongst the highlights. The streets are not closed off, the point being to wander from one stage and art event to the next. There is a free trolley that runs between stages, with comedians hosting the trips, circus acts in the lodge parking lot and art in all the shops and galleries, as well as the sidewalks. Look for street performers thoughout. A complete list of musical performers and stages is below. For more info check the website or you can pick up a program at the Blindspot Records Stage / Smitty's Garage

 Art Around Adams Website

 

Blindspot Records / Smitty's Stage

Hills Like Elephants, Jason Hanna & The Bullfighters, Schizophonics, The Cherry Bluestorms, Bit Maps, Hiroshima Mockingbirds, Elements, Gabriela y La Buena Onda   

Beer Garden Stage / DeMille's Stage

Country Rockin' Rebels, Shifty Eyed Dogs, Static Halo, Alvino & The Dwells, Harpo, Roger, JuJu Satori, Scott Samuels

Indie Rock Stage / Café 21

Falling Doves, Broken Stems, League of Liars, The Peripherals, Captain Viejo, CYKA, Hocus, Surly Bonds

Playground Stage / Kensington Park

Mittens, Great States, Super Buffet, Cardinal Moon Band, Imagery Machine, Chris Carpenter, Skyler Lutes, Kimm Rogers, Rock ‘n Roll San Diego All Stars

Acoustic Stage / El Zarape

Jonny Tarr, Christopher Leyva & Cantu, Red Velvet Gypsies, Nick Crook, Josh Jack Jones, Jim Ryan,

Mountain View Stage / Get Fit On Adams

The Ordeal, Julia May & The Penguin Players, The Benders, The Suburbans, Nina Francis, Rob Deez and Kenny Eng

Arts Stage / Carwash

Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra, Sal Filipelli & Friends, Kitty Plague, Ugly Boogie,  Ernie Orosco, Misc Ailments + Kruciaal Element Dance Company

Whisper Stage / Lestats

Nina Francis, Tony P, Home, Kennedy Tracy, MacKenzie Wrap, James Cavern, Dan Gindling, Raena Jade, Nathan Olesen, Samer Bakri

Rosie O’Grady’s

Lexington Field, Finnegan Blue, AMpS, Mark Goffeney (Big Toe), Eric Freeman & Zach Cole, Diane Marie & Randy Lane, Fusebox,, Mario Esteban & The Blessed Hellhounds

Outdoor Stage / Adams Avenue Integrative Health

Brothers Gow, NST + in the lounge: Gregory Page (12:45)

+ a Circus Stage in the Masonic Lodge Parking Lot with contortionist /clown, Scarlet Checkers, Sleeveless the Magician, hoop artist Krystin Railing, Those Damn Dirty Mimes and more!

Art Around Adams June 4 - FREE! All Ages - 9 Stages of music and more!

Blindspot Records is once again hosting a stage and helping with the booking of Art Around Adams, a new mile music and art walk in San Diego. Free, All Day, All Ages, with 9 stages, plus art galleries, a comedy trolley traveling between spots, sidewalk art exhibits, circus acts and more! Highlights includes garage rockers Schizophonics, The Cherry Bluestorms (featuring Glen Laughlin ex-the Dickies), Mittens, Arizona indie rockers Great States, Herb Alpert inspired combo,

 Jason Hanna & The Bullfighters and more!  

www.artaroundadams.org

New Releases Ahead! Pony Death Ride and Staring at the Sun Volume XII

In addition to recent releases from Normandie Wilson ("Is Tired of Being Nice") and the Shifty Eyed Dogs (self titled) pending releases include a new album from Pony Death Ride, Cat Sounds, and Volume 12 of the Staring at the Sun compilation series - 40 artists will be included on the 2 Disc set with The Bassics, Skid Roper, Normandie Wilson, The Country Rockin' Rebels, Manual Scan, Sometimes Julie, Sierra West, Diana Death, Wayne Riker and many more! More details soon...

Normandie Wilson on CBS-TV / San Diego

Here is Normandie Wilson's recent appearance on CBS-TV's morning show, with the debut of The Joyelles (minus Danny Cress) who perform "Wishin' and Hopin'"

Normandie Wilson on CBS-TV / San Diego

Gory Details reunion at the Casbah 06/06/16

Diana Death's song, "Longer Lashes" will be available on the forthcoming compilation album, Staring at the Sun XII, coming soon from Blindspot Records. In the meantime, her band the Gory Details is having their first show since 1998 on 06/06/16 at the Casbah. Also on the bill are Zombie Surf Camp and The Blood Ponies.

www.casbahmusic.com

Coming Soon: Staring at the Sun XII

Coming Soon: Staring at the Sun XII - A Compilation of San Diego Artists
 FREE CD / FREE CD Release Show
 Details Soon...

Normandie Wilson interviewed in the San Diego Reader / New band debut April 21 - FREE!

In advance of the debut show of her new group, The Joyelles and an accompanying art show, Jay Allen Sanford has spoken with Normandie Wilson - the show takes place at the Lafayette Hotel on April 21 from 7- 9 p.m. It's all ages and FREE - with an immersive art gallery as described in the article linked below.

Normandie Wilson interviewed at the San Diego Reader

Skelpin returns May 22 at the Belly Up Tavern

On May 22 Skelpin will make a rare appearance at The Belly Up Tavern as part of "Revival of the Singer-Songwriter"- this looks to be an amazing show with music from Billy Galewood, Rhythm Rose Turner & the Benders, Skelpin with Patric Petrie, Tim Foley, Enrique Platas and Jimmy Patton, Gregory Page and Daring Greatly. Opening the show will be Joel Rafael.  6 p.m. 21 and up.  

  

The Belly Up Tavern 

Forty One Sixty: The Songs of the Shambles - 2009 Video Ad

Forty One Sixty: The Songs of the Shambles (Blindspot Records 109) is a compilation album featuring 22 songs written by Bart Mendoza + 2 by Kevin Ring. Notably, the title refers to songs written by members of the Shambles, not necessarily songs recorded by the band, so several of the tunes here are exclusive to the artist.  A brief video was made to promote the album, featuring clips of Anna Troy, Sugarplum with Anthony Meynell, Jeremy Morris, The Kingpins, Mod Fun, Eva Braun and more. You can see it here:

Forty One Sixty: The Songs of The Shambles at Discogs

Static Halo– The American Way (Mendoza)

Yeh-Yeh– And We Still Feel The Same (Mendoza)

Mark Le Gallez & The Eddies - Don't Know Where To Start (Donaker-Ring)

Liebling–  Survive* (Riddervold/Mendoza)

Happy Losers– Blurs Somewhere (Mendoza/Morris)

The Lola's – I Can't Don't Want To Faster (Mendoza)

The Sleepwalkers featuring Action Andy – Days & Maybes (Mendoza)

The Kingpins (Canada) – Plan of Action (Mendoza)

The Anna Troy Band– 31968 (Mendoza)

 Eva Braun – Blindspot (Mendoza/Morris)

The Andersons – Rain or Shine (Mendoza/Morris)

Mod Fun– Nothing Can Be Everything (Mendoza)

The Ringles– Innocence Becomes You (Mendoza)

Rachael Gordon– Fun at Your House (Mendoza/Morris)

Jeremy– I Believe (Mendoza/Morris)

Marie Haddad – Where You Are (Mendoza/Morris)

 The Hipnotes – Change (Donaker-Ring)

Sugarplum featuring Anthony Meynell – Confidence & Love (Mendoza)

Herb Eimerman – All Sorts (Mendoza/Morris)

Afterglow – Of Heart & Soul/For Jamie (Mendoza) 

The Eddies – Jungle Beat (Mendoza) version 1

The Truckee Brothers – The Waiting Game (Mendoza)

Cockeyed Ghost – Brilliant (Mendoza)

Mega Super Ultra – Confidence & Love (Mendoza)

Beatles Fair 2016 to feature Dave Humphries and True Stories - March 26 - All ages!

Two Blindspot records artists will be performing at this year's San Diego Beatles Fair being held at Queen Bee's in North park / San Diego on March 26. The Dave Humphries Band and True Stories will join a great bill that includes former Moody Blues / Wings member Denny Laine,
singer -songwriter Cody Lovaas, The Baja Bugs and much more. Info can be found here:

sandiegobeatlesfair.com

New Shifty Eyed Dogs website + New dates!

The Shifty Eyed Dogs have a new website and a lot of gigs coming up - their new album was also reviewed in the March issue of the San Diego Troubadour!

Shifty Eyed Dogs Review at the San Diego Troubadour

SHOW DATES

03/19 Sat House of Blues

03/22 Tue 91X Showcase

03/29 Tue Winston's

04/02 Sat Mother's Saloon

04/23 Sat Tribute to the Jam @ Bar Pink

05/07 Sat The Manhattan

05/12 Thu The Merrow

New Shifty Eyed Dogs Website

Here's the band performing their song "Hard Case" live at the Merrow

Notable Guest Musicians on Blindspot Albums - including members of Deep Purple, Tesla, Flogging Molly, The Tubes and more!

Some notable guest musicians show up on albums from Blindspot Records:

Legendary rocker Tony Sheridan, a Beatles compatriot, can be heard on Dave Humphries album, and so it goes...

Power pop hitmaker Greg Kihn and keyboardist/producer Paul Fox (XTC, Yes, etc) can be heard on the Four Eyes album, Anthology 1977-1988

Deep Purple keyboardist Don Airey can be heard on Taz Taylor's track, "Straight Up," on the compilation album Staring at the Sun X

Flogging Molly's Matt Hensley performs on the Skelpin album, A Trip To Skye, as well as the Patric Petrie album, Transit of Venus.

Stevie Ray Vaughn's Rhythm section, Double Trouble (Tommy Shannon & Chris Layton) appear on Scott West's track "Stevie Ray" as heard on the compilation album Staring at the Sun X. 

Meanwhile Staring at the Sun XI included two tracks from Scott West:
1) "Japanese Garden" features Frank Hannon and Troy Lucketta of Tesla.
2) "The Victory Grill" features Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats and Prairie Prince of the Tubes and Todd Rundgren's band as well as many other projects!.

Steve Miller Band guitarist Greg Douglass performs on Anna Troy's album, Wait Another Day

Johnny Vernazza's album, Lions and Thieves features an all star cast including blues legend Elvin Bishop and  country music icon Charlie Daniels and ace guitarist Albert Lee (Hot Band, Clapton, Everly Brothers etc). That's Johnny Vernazza playing guitar on the 70's Elvin Bishop Group classic, "Fooled Around and Fell in Love."

Dave Humphries played with Tony Sheridan numerous times - his recordings with Humphries were likely the last studio recordings and the first in decades to not harken back to his early  days in rock 'n' roll. Here is a song featuring guitar and backing vocals from Sheridan, as heard on Humphries album, Retro.

 Dave Humphries at CDBaby

Blindspot Records Discogs page updated

The Blindspot Records page at Discogs has been updated to include every compilation album released by the label to date. This means that almost every artist to have released a track on the label now has a Discogs page! You can look them up via this page. Individual artist releases will be up soon

Blindspot Records Discogs Page

Normandie Wilson Art Show + the debut of The Joyelles at the Lafayette Hotel April 21 - Free!

Normandie Wilson will have an art show at the Lafayette Hotel in San Diego on April 21. Making the event extra special, the night will have a soundtrack from The Joyelles, featuring guitarist David Fleminger! Best of all the whole thing is free and all ages- 

Here is a sneak peek at her upcoming video for her song, "I'm Doing Fine."

Normandie Wilson Website

Lafayette Hotel Website