San Diego Troubadour: Tiki Oasis, International Pop Overthrow + Dave Koz, Sandollar, Travis Oliver and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest FYI column for the San Diego Troubadour includes details on Tiki Oasis and International Pop Overthrow + Strange Stage Stories from Dave Koz, Sandollar, Travis Oliver and Jeff Bloom! Read here: sandiegotroubadour.com/for-your-information-august-edition

The SceneSD: Concert Previews with Burton Cummings, Weird Al Yankovic, Tamar Berk and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for The SceneSD: Concert spotlights on Tiki Oasis, The Strangulators! debut at The Casbah, Jeff Bloom at Pacific Beach Concerts on the Green, Earl Thomas at WinstonsOB, "Weird Al" Yankovic at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, Burton Cummings at Humphreys Concerts by the bay, The Tourmaliners and Kela Sako at Humphreys Backstage Live, and International Pop Overthrow San Diego at the Black Cat Bar, with Vurv, The Nephews, Tamar Berk and more! Read here: thescenesd.com/concert-scenesd/top-concerts-spotlight-concerts

The SceneSD: San Diego New Music Release News with Shane Hall, Slightly Stoopid and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for The SceneSD - San Diego Music Release News, with news from Slightly Stoopid, Shane J Hall, Split Rail Fence and much more. Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/san-diego-music-release-news-9

The SceneSD: San Diego Music News with Alison Brown, Ratt, Spud Davenport, Cattle Decapitation and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for theSceneSD: San Diego music news,including info on Alison Brown & Steve Martin, Cattle Decapitation, Earl Thomas, Ratt, Pierce the Veil, Spud Davenport and more!
Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/san-diego-music-news-9

The Slightly Jaded Black Cat Bar Debut!

On August 15 a new band debuted at IPO 2025 / The Black Cat Bar: The Slightly Jaded, which includes Bart Mendoza (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Be Reilly (lead guitar), Matt Mielczarek (bass), Simon Leader (drums) and Billy Tisch (keyboards, harmonica, flute), with Donna Daly sitting in on a cover of the Velvet Undergrounds song "Femme Fatale."

                                                                Photo by Eileen Tisch

                                                                  Photo by Donna Daly

Photo by Tim Ellison

Photo by Donna Daly

The SceneSD: An Interview with Doah Lee of Doah's Daydream

Bart Mendoza's latest for the SceneSD: An interview with Doah Lee of Doah's Daydream
Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/doahs-daydream-girls-girl/

The SceneSD: An Interview with Dave Koz

Bart Mendoza's latest for the SceneSD is an interview with saxophonist Dave Koz
Read here: thescenesd.com/concert-scenesd/dave-koz-a-party-with-summer-horns

At Tiki Oasis

Left to right, Gary Warth, Bart Mendoza, Donna Daly and Cindy Lee Berryhill at Tiki Oasis, with various Loons onstage in the background. Photo by Gary Warth
                                         

Times of San Diego Concert Previews: Gilbert Castellanos, Burton Cummings, Keni Yarbo, Rob Thorsen and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the Times of San Diego (print: Beach and Bay Press / La Jolla Village News), includes spotlights on Gilbert Castellanos at Dizzy's, Holly Hofmann and Rob Thorsen at the La Jolla Community Center, Keni Yarbro at the La Valencia Hotel, Burton Cummings at Humphreys Concerts by the bay, The Shenanigans at Humphreys Backstage Live and Nathan Chester and the Old Souls Motown Revival at the Epstein Family Amphitheatre. Read here: timesofsandiego.com/arts/2025/08/12/live-from-san-diego-music-on-the-coast-this-week-6

New Band! The Slightly Jaded Debut at IPO San Diego

While True Stories was advertised as performing at this year's International Pop Overthrow San Diego at the Black Cat Bar (August 15), instead, Bart Mendoza debuted a new band, The Slightly Jaded. The band includes Mendoza (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Be Reilly (lead guitar), Matt Mielczarek (bass), Simon Leader (drums) and Billy Tisch (keyboards, harmonica, flute), with Donna Daly sitting in on a cover of the Velvet Undergrounds song "Femme Fatale." Here's what was played: I Can't Don't Want to Faster Blurs Somewhere You're Gonna Miss Me Nothing Can Be Everything Glass The Girl With The Violet Eyes Femme Fatale (Velvet Underground) with Donna Daly 99th Floor (Moving Sidewalks)

Promoted by David Bash, the night featured a great bill including Tamar Berk and a Scott Samuels led Kittens Pharmacy reunion.

Bart Mendoza with Johnny Echols of Love

Bart Mendoza attended the Tiki Oasis closing party on August 10, featuring Lenny Kaye and the San Diego Nuggets, aka The Loons and friends, including Johnny Echols of legendary band, Love. 

                                                                      Photo by Donna Daly

Staring at the Sun XIV Album Release Show! Free!

 

A Free 2-Disc San Diego Compilation!
Staring at the Sun XIV

Cover Art By Mary Fleener and Featuring: The Farmers, Slack Key Ohana, Matthew Phillips, Mark Langford, Nathan Hubbard + 42 more!

 SAN DIEGO, Calif. – On September 8 the latest edition of the FREE San Diego-centric compilation album series, Staring at the Sun XIV, will be released to the public, with a FREE album release show at the world-famous Casbah.

Celebrating both the local music and comics art community, this collectable two-disc CD set features a six-panel foldout jacket with cover art by iconic artist, Mary Fleener, and 47 tracks from San Diego’s burgeoning music scene. Past cover artists include Scott Shaw, Lee Kohse, Chynna Clugston Flores, Jeromy Cox and Batton Lash.

Staring at the Sun XIV features tunes from longtime favorites such as The Farmers, Roni Lee and Jeff Berkley, as well as rising talent, including Matthew Phillips, Lissa Dee and The Film Company. This editions flashback / bonus track is Blue Wind’s 1977 powerpop classic, “Earthquake.”

The album is FREE and only available from the artists, at release events, and at the front counter of two locations: Vespa Motorsport and Rock and Roll San Diego.

Listen to a preview of the album on famed radio program, 91X’s Loudspeaker, at 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 7.

Don’t miss the Staring at the Sun XIV album release show on Monday, September 8, with The Tourmaliners, Swive and more TBA!

The Casbah
Monday, September 8
8 p.m. – 11 p.m.
21 and up.

Free Show. Free Album. Free Food from Lefty’s Pizza. More Surprises TBA

True Stories August 3 Standley Park Set List!

True Stories returned after a yearlong hiatus with a special all British Invasion show, as part of the annual Standley Park Summer Concert Series. The band consisted of Bart Mendoza, David Fleminger, Greg Smith, Billy Tisch, Martin Martinarena and Donna Daly. Special guests were Laurie Beebe Lewis of The Mamas and Papas, Adam Gimbel of Geezer and Kevin Ring of Manual Scan. Here's what they played:

Eight Days A Week
Bad To Me
I’ll Cry Instead
I Feel Fine
Putty (In Your Hands)
Heartful of Soul
For Your Love
Glad All Over
I Should’ve Known Better
I Saw Her Standing There
From A Window
Eleanor Rigby
Do Wah Diddy
Theres A Kind Of Hush
Yesterday's Gone
World Without Love
Route 66
The Last Time
Nowhere Man
I’ve Just Seen A Face
Ticket To Ride
All My Loving
In My Life
Satisfaction (with Kevin Ring)
I Can’t Explain (with Kevin Ring)
Kids Are Alright (with Kevin Ring)
Twenty Flight Rock
Bad Boy (with Adam Gimbel)
I Call Your Name (with Laurie Beebe Lewis)
No Matter What (with Laurie Beebe Lewis)
Sunny Afternoon
I Want To Hold Your Hand
With A Little Help From My Friends
Roll Over Beethoven

Times of San Diego Concert Previews: Heart, Tiki Oasis, Robin Henkel, Full Strength and more

Bart Mendoza's latest for the Times of San Diego (print: La Jolla Village News / Beach and Bay Press) includes info on Tiki Oasis, Robin Henkel at the La Jolla Community Center, Jeff Bloom at Pacific Beach Concerts on the Green, Heart at Pechanga Arena San Diego, Full Strength at La Jolla's Concerts by the Sea, and the The Tourmaliners and Kela Sako at Humphreys Backstage Live. Read here: timesofsandiego.com/arts/2025/07/30/live-from-san-diego-music-on-the-coast-this-week-5

Manual Scan in the Studio!

Manual Scan is working on the follow up to their "Shooting Stars" EP, with work begun on five tracks recently at Earthling Studios, and Mike Kamoo at the board.

Photo by Billy Tisch

True Stories at Standley Park August 3 - Free, All Ages

From Facebook: A fun, free, all ages, outdoor show this Sunday August 3, 5 - 7 p.m. at Standley Park in University City, San Diego. True Stories will feature Bart Mendoza, David Fleminger, Greg Smith, Martín Martiarena, Billy Tisch and several surprise guests, with lots of tunes we've never played before. By request, we'll be playing all British Invasion (stretching the timeline a smidge) hits from 1963 - 1970 :-)

The SceneSD: Spotlight on Gayle Skidmore

Bart Mendoza's latest for the SceneSD is a spotlight on Gayle Skidmore's new album, The Ashtabula River Railroad Disaster.
Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/gayle-skidmore-neo-classical/

Bart Mendoza San Diego Music Hall of Fame Induction September 27

Bart Mendoza will be inducted into the San Diego Music Hall of Fame on September 27 alongside Rosie Flores, The Dinettes, John Reis, Kamau Kenyatta, Bob Magnusson and Eulogio Fos. More details at www.sdmhof.com

Times of San Diego Concert Previews: Fitz & The Tantrums, The Soto Six, Abbey Road, The Cream of Clapton and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the Times of San Diego (print: La Jolla Village News / Beach and Bay Press) with concert previews of Fitz & The Tantrums at Humphreys Concerts by the bay, The Soto Six at dizzy's, The Cream Of Clapton Band with Nathan East at the Epstein Family Amphitheater at UC San Diego, Full Strength at Pacific Beach Concerts on the Green, Beatles tribute Abbey Road at La Jolla Concerts By the Sea, and RosaLea Schiavone's birthday bash with Nathan James etc. at Humphreys Backstage Live Read here: timesofsandiego.com/2025/07/14/live-from-san-diego-music-on-the-coast-this-week-4

The Scene SD July Concerts with Gary Puckett, The Church, Mosh Eisley, Fishbone, George Thorogood, Sandollar and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐒𝐃, with concert spotlights on the Happy Together tour with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, Ron Dante, The Turtles, The Cowsills etc. at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, Fishbone at the The Observatory North Park, The Church at the Belly Up, Britain's Finest at the The Magnolia, Mosh Eisley at the Music Box, George Thorogood & The Destroyers at the Belly Up, Laurie Beebe Lewis & The Electric Underground at Humphreys Backstage Live, Stick Men (Official) at the Bornemann Theater, and Pacific Records Fest with The Tourmaliners, Sandollar, Shane Hall and more at Kate Sessions Park Read here: thescenesd.com/event-scenesd/top-5-concerts-spotlight-concerts-8

The SceneSD: July News Round Up w/ Pierce the Veil, Alison Brown, The Zeros, Ratt and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐒𝐃: July's music news round up, with info on Blame Betty, The Zeros, Ravi Shankar, Pierce The Veil, Ratt, Spud Davenport, Alison Brown / Steve Martin and more. Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/san-diego-music-news-july-2025

Bart Mendoza Fox Rox TV Intros with Jason Mraz, Berkley Hart

Joining regular host, Troy Johnson, Bart Mendoza co-hosted late night music TV show, Fox Rox, three times. Here are intros to the shows live segment, featuring Jeff Berkley & Calman Hart, Jason Mraz and The Displaced.

The SceneSD: The Scientist Dub Orchestra featuring Alicia Previn

Bart Mendoza's latest for The SceneSD is an interview with violinist Alicia Previn about her new album with reggae legend, The Scientist.
Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/alicia-previn-scientist-dub-orchestra

The SceneSD: New San Diego Releases w/ Slightly Stoopid, The Zeros, The Tell-Tale Hearts and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the The SceneSD, with the latest new release news from San Diego related artists, with new albums featuring The Tell-Tale Hearts, The Zeros and Slightly Stoopid pictured. Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/san-diego-music-release-news-june-2025-2

Pacific Records Fest July 13 at Kate Sessions Park with The Tourmaliners, Sandollar and more - Free!

Bart Mendoza will MC the Second annual Pacific Records Showcase on July 13 at Kate Sessions Park in Pacific Beach. The event is free and will feature a selection of artists from the Pacific Records label, including Sandollar, The Tourmaliners, Slack Key Ohana, Kela Sako, Shane Hall and more. All ages.

The SceneSD: An Interview with Comics / Animation legend Scott Shaw!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the The SceneSD: An interview with comics / animation legend Scott Shaw, detailing his music related projects, including Rhino Records, The Ramones, The Flintstones and more. Read here: thescenesd.com/art-scenesd/scott-shaw-the-musical-side-of-a-comics-animation-legend

Strange Stage Stories! Jerry Raney / The Beat Farmers, Pip Lewis, Kimmi Bitter, Baron Lunbeck / Sandollar and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the San Diego Troubadour: Strange Stage Stories with Jerry Raney, Jeff Bloom, Christopher Leyva, Pip Lewis, Baron Lunbeck / Sandollar, Nicolas Peters, Dave Gilbert, Kimmi Bitter and more! Read here: sandiegotroubadour.com/strange-stage-stories-5

The Raspberries / The Shambles 2005

The Raspberries were due to perform in San Diego on October 22, 2005, with The Shambles opening. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled, but not before the show was listed in various publications and a poster was designed. Here's a recently discovered listing included in the October 2005 edition of the San Diego Troubadour. The show is listed on various online sites as having happened, but it never took place.

Times of San Diego: Pacific Records Fest with Sandollar, Gary Puckett, Yachtley Crew, Big Time Operator and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the Times of San Diego (print: La Jolla Village News / Beach and Bay Press), includes previews of Pacific Records Fest on July 13 at Kate Sessions Park with Slack Key Ohana, The Tourmaliners, Sandollar and more (free!), a celebration of life for Fattburger drummer Kevin Koch at Humphreys Backstage Live, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap on the Happy Together tour alongside the Turtles, Ron Dante, The Cowsills and more at Humphreys Concerts by the bay, The Magic of Motown Show at Baker Baum Hall, Yächtley Crëw at Epstein Family Amphitheater at UC San Diego and Big Time Operator at Scripps Park in La Jolla (free!) Read here: timesofsandiego.com/arts/2025/06/30/live-from-san-diego-music-on-the-coast-this-week-3

The SceneSD: Concert Previews Elvis Costello, Gong, Daring Greatly and more!

A look back at June's Spotlight Concerts including the Smooth Jazz Festival, Gong, Mike Keneally, Daring Greatly, The Farmers, Elvis Costello and more.
Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/top-spotlight-concerts-of-june-2025

Times of San Diego: The Chili Cook-Off with Mike Akey

Bart Mendoza chats with Mike Akey, founder of the annual Chili Cook-Off taking place at this weekend's Ocean Beach Street Fair.
Read here: timesofsandiego.com/6/23/chili-cook-off-bigger-ever-two-dozen-competitors

The SceneSD: The 45th Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair

Bart Mendoza speaks to Michael Head (co-booker with Ted Wigler) and bluegrass musician Travis Oliver about the Ocean Beach Street Fair
Read here: thescenesd.com/event-scenesd/ob-street-fair-2025-45-years-of-music-chili-fun-and-sun

The SceneSD: New Release News Anna Troy, Taz Taylor, Thee Allyrgic Reaction and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐒𝐃: June's San Diego-centric new music releases, with info on Anna Troy, Thee Allyrgic Reaction, Taz Taylor and more! Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/san-diego-music-release-news-june-2025

The SceneSD Music News: Nathan Hubbard, Vurv, Blame Betty, Creepxotica and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest San Diego music news round up for the 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐒𝐃, with info on Nathan Hubbard, Vurv, Ravi Shankar, Creepxotica, The Zeros, Blame Betty and more! Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/san-diego-music-news-june-2025

Times of San Diego OB Street Fair Preview!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the Times of San Diego (print: Peninsula Beacon) - a preview of this weekend's Ocean Beach Street Fair, with info on everything happening on the day: the chili cook-off, bands, the Seaside Family Fun Zone, ADA parking, Artists Alley, bicycle valet etc., the details are here: timesofsandiego.com/life/2025/06/23/annual-ob-street-fair-chili-cook-off-set-for-june-27