Interview with the Steely Damned

Bart Mendoza interviews guitarist Hank Easton and singer Larry Grano of The Steely Damned in the December 2016 issue of The San Diego Troubadour.

www.sandiegotroubadour.com/2016/12/Steely Damned Interview

Tickets on sale now for Manual Scan / Los Fantasmas at the Casbah December 21

Manual Scan will be playing at San Diego's famed venue, the Casbah on December 21 - it's a great bill that includes the debut of Los Fantasmas 

http://www.casbahmusic.com/Manual Scan Tickets

New Band! Los Fantasmas debuts December 21

Los Fantasmas is a new four piece band featuring singer / guitarist Diana Death (Chinese Rocks, Little Richards), drummer Carlos Mendez & bassist Vino Marttinez (both of The Bassics) and Bart Mendoza (Manual Scan) that performs rock 'n roll classics -  in Spanish! The band performs songs by the likes of Los Ovnis and Los Brincos, with some like minded originals thrown in the mix. The debut gig will take place on Dec 21 at the Casbah on a bill with Manual Scan.

www.casbahmusic.com/Los Fantasmas Tickets

Bart Mendoza upcoming dates

From Facebook:

"Here are some upcoming events you will find me at:"

12/07 OB Farmers Market Holiday Drive (acoustic)
12/11 Elements @ The Irenic / Boogie Magazine Concert for Charity
12/13 Elements @ Grassroots Oasis Fundraiser
12/16 The BLVD Market - 3rd Fridays
12/21 Manual Scan @ The Casbah
12/27 Morning Show (TBC)
12/30 Fab Four New Years Party @ Queen Bee
03/21 San Diego Music Awards
03/25 Beatles Fair (host)
03/26 TBA @ The Casbah 
04/20 City College
06/03 Art Around Adams
June    San Diego County Fair

Tonight In San Diego - Bart Mendoza to guest with the Mondaze November 21

Bart Mendoza will be sitting in with the Tonight in San Diego house band, The Mondaze on November 21 - the night will include guests Joe Cardillo, Cirque du Soleil and Amy Burkman. The show will be "taped" at 8 p.m. for broadcast later in the month

www.tonightinsandiego.com

Chuck Perrin interview

Bart Mendoza interviewed Chuck Perrin about the move of his San Diego music venue, Dizzy's to a new location, Arias Hall as well as details about a new collection of unreleased demos, from the mid 1960's and early 1970's, recorded as part of a brother /sister duo, Chuck and Mary Perrin

Interview with Chuck Perrin

Greg Douglass interview

Bart Mendoza interviewed guitarist Greg Douglass in the Peninsula Beacon. Douglass is the former guitarist for The Steve Miller Band, Greg Kihn, Eddie Money, Van Morrison and more!

Greg Douglass Interview

San Diego Music Thing Press

Bart Mendoza was interviewed twice for the annual San Diego Music Thing Event

November 10 / CW6-TV - an on air interview alongside singer-songwriter Jimmy Ruelas
November 10/  San Diego Union Tribune - an interview by George Varga
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/sd-et-music-thing-20161102-story.html

Beatles Fair Pre party December 30 at Queen Bee

A fundraising event for the 2017 Beatles Fair will be held December 30th at Queen Bee. it will be a  great way to start the NYE weekend - featuring The Rollers, The Baja Bugs and the Dave Humphries Band, the night will be hosted by Bart Mendoza. More details soon:

www.sandiegobeatlesfair2017

San Diego Music Thing November 11-12

Bart Mendoza is hosting the Music Conference side of San Diego Music Thing 2016

www.sandiegomusicthing.com

The Shambles - "It's Getting Better"

The Shambles version of the Jeremy Morris powerpop classic, "It's Getting Better" will be included in the fourth installment of the Sweet Relief compilation album series. Funds raised by the disc this time out are earmarked for cancer research. More details soon.

www.jamrecordings.com 
Here's a "needle drop" video (aka playing the actual vinyl) for the band's most recent song
 "More Than This" on Bickerton Records

Bart Mendoza's latest San Diego music spotlights for the Beach & Bay Press 10/07/16

Bart Mendoza's latest for the San Diego based newspaper, the Beach & Bay Press includes spotlights on "the Carly's Cause Fundraiser at Brick By Brick with Get Groovin', Points North and Lords of Sabbath, Sue Palmer at the PB Library (free!), The Fred Benedetti Trio's tribute to John Lennon at Dizzy's, Dirty Taxi & Copy Cat Killers at the 710 Beach Club, David Shyde at Firefly Restaurant and Bar, and the Chargers own Joe Barsdale's blues jam at Humphreys Backstage Live with proceeds from the show going to the Fender Music Foundation," 

Beach & Bay Press Oct 7 2016  

True Stories in the studio!

From Facebook: "Just spent the afternoon at Pacific Beat Studios with (Grammy winning producer) Alan Sanderson at the board and David Fleminger and Danny Cress joining me - taped four new tunes: "Just To See Your Face Again," "Dim Images," "Skywriting" and "Windmills"

Sanderson has worked with many top artists including Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Switchfoot and many more

Pacific Beat Studios

Bart Mendoza's FYI music column returns to the San Diego Troubadour!

Bart Mendoza's column for the San Diego Troubadour, FYI, returns after a nine month hiatus and this time out includes:

"Five Questions For Doug Booth" 

+ album reviews for Daddy Issues, Mittens, Jeremy Morris, Les Madres, Los Imposibles, Mark Montijo and Briatore 

+ the latest edition of "Strange Stage Stories" with Tom Araya of Slayer, Whitney Shay, Jesse Egan host of TV's "Tonight In San Diego", Craig Schreiber of The Verigolds, Russ Noel of HELP - A Beatles Tribute etc., Brent Meyer of Strangelove- tribute to Depeche Mode, Melissa Barrison and Skid Roper with a Yes / Steve Howe related story.

FYI at the San Diego Troubadour October 2016

Manual Scan Oct 3 Tonight In San Diego TV Show Taping!

Manual Scan will perform - LIVE - on San Diego's late night variety / talk show, Tonight In San Diego on Monday, October 3:  Manual Scan / Tonight In San Diego Tickets

Season 4 - Episode 90 - Taping Monday Oct 3rd 2016

San Diego's premiere late night variety talk show! Join us LIVE as part of our studio audience at the Geoffrey Space as we bring you the best and brightest of what San Diego has to offer. Join our host Jesse Egan and co-host Keith Foster along with The Mondaze ft Dj Teelynn.

Studio audience members will be receiving gifts and prizes from the Belly Up Tavern, House of Blues and more!

We are looking forward to seeing YOU on our Oct 3rd  taping!
Kimi Evans - Meteorologist
David Moye - Staff writer/ Weird News at The Huffington Post
Manual Scan - Musical Performance

Manual Scan 40th Anniversary set list! September 24 2016

Here's what Manual Scan played at their 40th Anniversary show, September 24, 2016 at the Adams Avenue Street Fair:

 

1)      I Can’t Don’t Want to Faster

2)      Nothing Can Be Everything

3)      Ain’t Got You **(Kevin vocals, Zach Cole harmonica) 

4)      I Can Only Give You Everything

5)      And We Still Feel The Same

6)      Leaving Here

7)      New Difference  

8)      American Way

9)      Jungle Beat  

10)  Nothing You Can Do 

11)  Shake & Shout  **(w/ Samuel Martinez of the Bassics on vocals, Jason Hanna of the Bullfighters on trumpet)

12)  For Those

13)  She Said It’s Late

14)  All Night Stand

15)  Sorry (w / Brad Wilkins drums)

16)   High Heeled Sneakers **(w/ Johnny Vernazza of the Elvin Bishop Group on slide guitar, Brad Wilkins drums)

17)   Biff Bang Pow (w/ Brad Wilkins drums)

18)  I Want To Hold Your Hand (w/ Brad Wilkins drums -not the Beatles song, its a vintage original)

19)  Fire

20)  She May Call You Up Tonight **(Dave vocals)

21)  Like Wow Wipeout 

22)  She So Fine

23)  Innocence Becomes You

24)  Plan of Action **(Kevin on vocals)

25)  Walk The Beat **(w/ Chris Davies of the Penetrators)

26)  Come See Me

Manual Scan in the San Diego Reader and Union Tribune!

Manual Scan's show on September 24 / 7 p.m. at the Adams Avenue Street Fair has earned a pair of articles and airplay!Click on the links below to read.

September 14: The San Diego Reader included an article on Manual Scan by Dave Good.
Manual Scan in the San Diego Reader

September 19: 91X played Manual Scan's "Plan of Action" on their Loudspeaker program to promote the festival appearance.

September 21: The San Diego Union Tribine featured an article on Manual Scan by George Varga
Manual Scan in the San Diego Union Tribune

Adams Avenue Street Fair Info

The Shambles on Television! - "Cachitos de Hierro y Cromo - Yeah, Yeah!" Sept 18 2016

From Facebook: "Just found out  The Shambles are included in this new television show in Spain! "Cachitos de Hierro y Cromo" is a series exploring music - this edition, called "Yeah, Yeah!" takes a look back at Spanish bands of the 1960's and includes footage of the Shambles performing a version of Los Brincos "Nadie Te Quiere Ya" live on the Spanish television show "Los Conciertos de Radio 3" in 1999" The line up of the band for this tour was Bart Mendoza, Mark Zadarnowski, Mike Kamoo and Francisco "Paco" Poza, with Kevin Ring and Frank Barajas also playing at some shows. Paco Poza most recently joined Manual Scan onstage at the Purple Weekend Festival in Spain in December 2015. As for the TV show,  its not available for viewing yet in North America , but the link here should work everywhere else: 

Cachitos de Hierro y Cromo - Television Show

Set List: Elements September 16, 2016

Elements played a brief set at the Navajo Inn, as guests at Jeff Ousley's weekly open mic night. Here's what was played:

In Your Arms
Bleeding
You Still Take My Breath Away
Problems of Her Own
Clouds All Day

Music Industry: Monday Mixer with Bart Mendoza September 26

Bart Mendoza will be guest speaker at a Music Industry: Monday Mixer event on September 26 at Queen Bee's Arts & Cultural Center in North Park at 7pm. The events MC will be Gaby Aparicio, with music from The Ezikiel Jay Band. Here is the info:

Elements set list September 10 / Suprise Party set list

On September 10 Elements, featuring David Fleminger, Sppike Mike Mullenberg, Greg Smith and Bart Mendoza, played a surprise party for good friend Jackie Estrada, with a special all covers set:

Set 1
In My Life
Route 66
Twenty Flight Rock
Little Sister
Runaway
Bad Boy
Folsom Prison Blues
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
Ticket To Ride
High Heeled Sneakers
Gimme Some Lovin'

Set 2
I'm A Believer
Secret Agent Man
Kissin' Cousins
Marie's The Name (Of His Latest Flame)
Summertime Blues
Walk Don't Run
Eleanor Rigby
C'mon Everybody
That's Alright Mama
Seventh Son
Twist & Shout

Dancing in the Street: A Celebration of Soul Music September 14 with Bart Mendoza & Steve Thorn + The Amandas!

On September 4, City Colleges World Cultures  Fall 2016 program presents, Dancing In The Street: A Celebration of Soul Music. Hosted by Bart Mendoza with Steve Thorn, there will be a short presentation before getting to the heart of the event - a set of classic soul tunes from the Amandas! Don't miss this FREE / ALL AGES event! This is a special matinee event 12:45 pm

The Shambles covered "She's Electric"

The Shambles rarity "She's Electric", a cover of the Oasis classic, has turned up on Youtube. The song was originally recorded in 1997 for a proposed tribute album from Flavour records in Japan. It ended up being released in 2003 as a bonus track on the Spanish edition of the Shambles "Chelsea Smiles (and more)" album. From the albums liner notes:

11)  She's Electric* (Gallagher) this Oasis song was recorded for a flurry of tribute albums circa 1997. Amongst other tunes considered at the same time for various projects, U2's "Angel Of Harlem", the Beatles "Fixing A Hole", The Cure's "Friday I'm In Love", Graham Gouldman's "Upstairs Downstairs" and a few others. Naturally odds are a few of those will turn up eventually…

Bart Mendoza & Friends set list August 21 2016 / Rebecca's Coffeehouse

Here's the song list from Bart Mendoza's set at Rebecca's Coffeehouse on August 21. The first 9 songs are originals. Mike Mullenberg joined in on bass for songs 6-11, Scott Mathiasen joined in on lead guitar for songs 10-11. This was the first time songs 4 and 5 were played live:

1) All Sorts
2) Blindspot
3) The Patron Saints of Could've Been
4) Skywriting
5) Tilting
6) In Your Arms  (with Sppike Mike Mullenberg)
7) Problems Of Her Own (with Sppike Mike Mullenberg)
8) Bleeding (with Sppike Mike Mullenberg)
9) You Still Take My Breath Away (with Sppike Mike Mullenberg)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10) Eleanor Rigby (with Sppike Mike Mullenberg & Scott Mathiasen)
11) Ticket To Ride (with Sppike Mike Mullenberg & Scott Mathiasen)

The Shambles "Clouds All Day" featured in Cinema Spartan!

On the albums 20th Anniversary, website Cinema Spartan's Barry Benintende has penned a look back at the Shambles Clouds All Day, with both Kevin Ring and Bart Mendoza interviewed.

Cinema Spartan - Clouds All Day

Manual Scan 40th Anniversary Show September 24 - FREE! All Ages!

Manual Scan will perform a special 40th Anniversary Show on September 24 as part of the Adams Avenue Street Fair! This show will feature special guests and surprise songs. 7 p.m. on the Casbah Stage, outdoors, at 33rd & Adams Avenue. The day will feature a lot of other great garage, mod, R&B and powerpop bands on September 24 including The Little Richards, The Bassics, Lady Dottie & The Diamonds, The Baja Bugs and more

Manual Scan / Adams Avenue Street Fair Info

 

True Stories and The Shambles in Goldmine Magazine's "Vinyl Round Up"!

True Stories and The Shambles latest EP's show up in Goldmine Magazine's "Vinyl Round Up" this month! Both get great reviews alongside The Flamin' Groovies (who feature former Shamble, Victor Penalosa), The Cherry Bluestorms and Squire!

The Shambles & True Stories in Goldmine's "Vinyl Round Up"

Bart Mendoza on Facebook

Music fans may want to check out Bart Mendoza's Facebook page, constantly updated with links to news on cool music, especially the Beatles, musician obituaries, San Diego music happenings and more... plus of course lots of stuff on the bands covered in this blog!

Bart Mendoza on Facebook

Elements & Friends at Artwalk / August 2016

Dave is still out of town, so Elements will have a few friends sitting in for a special show at

 Artwalk / Liberty Station - more details soon!

Artwalk at Liberty Station Info

New Sounds 2016 Aug 4 with Bart Mendoza, The Stanleys, Jeremy Morris, Scott Samuels

News Sounds 2016 takes place August 4 at the Chico Club in La Mesa. Four bands will take the stage with:
Scott Samuels & the Bonafides
The Stanleys (direct from Australia)
Jeremy Morris (from Michigan) with Todd Borsch and Dave Dietrich. Jeremy and Todd are 2/3 of the Lemon Clocks!
Bart Mendoza with Greg Smith and Sppike Mullenberg

The Chico Club

Manual Scan postpones Tonight In San Diego taping

Manual Scan's taping of Tonight In San Diego has been rescheduled for later this summer. Details soon

Bart Mendoza on 91X Sunday May 15 9 p.m.

Bart Mendoza will be a guest on 91X's Loudspeaker program on Sunday May 15 at 9 p.m.
Listen Live to 91X

May 11 - Beyond Belief: A Tribute to Elvis Costello / Greenfield Middle School / True Stories / Mr. Holland's Opus

Greenfield Middle School in El Cajon, CA has been selected by the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to be the recipient of $5,000 worth of musical instruments, thanks to funds raised via the sale of a tribute CD to rock musician Elvis Costello, released on SpyderPop Records. The instruments will be officially presented to the school on Wednesday, May 11 at 2:30pm in Greenfield’s music room (located at 1495 Greenfield Dr., El Cajon, CA 92021).

www.mhopus.org

The 50-song, three-CD collection, titled Beyond Belief: A Tribute to Elvis Costello was released in early 2015, and features musicians from around the world will pay tribute to the words and music of Costello. The collection was co-produced by longtime Costello fans Olivia Frain and John M. Borack,

100% of all proceeds from the sale of Beyond Belief have been donated to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, a non-profit organization that keeps music alive in schools by donating musical instruments to under-funded music programs, giving youngsters the benefits of music education, helping them to be better students and inspiring creativity and expression through playing music.

In July 2015, a check for $5,000 was distributed to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation by the producers of Beyond Belief and SpyderPop Records, and after going through the application process with the Foundation, the Greenfield Middle School music program was chosen as the recipient of instruments for the school’s band program.

Scheduled to assist in distributing the instruments on May 11 are Beyond Belief co-producer John M. Borack; SpyderPop Records Marketing Director Victor Erwin; and San Diego-area musicians and Beyond Belief contributors Bart Mendoza and Danny Cress, who recorded the song, "Blue Chair," for the compilation.

Beyond Belief has been released digitally as well as via a limited run of CD's.  More information can be found at spyderpop records and www.facebook.com/costellotribute.

For more information on The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, visit www.mhopus.org

Other artists on the compilation include Matthew Sweet, Bill Lloyd, The Rubinoos, Sparklejets U.K., Walter Clevenger, The Tickets, Nelson Bragg and more...

 

Elements debut

Elements is a new band, featuring Bart Mendoza, David Fleminger, Mike Mullenberg and Greg Smith. They made their debut at San Diego's Artwalk May 1.

New project! The Elements - FREE outdoor festival dates: May 1 and June 4

In addition to recording and performing with Manual Scan and True Stories, Bart Mendoza has assembled a new project - the Elements - to play at festivals through out the summer of 2016, with two dates announced so far:

May 1 Artwalk - Little Italy / San Diego 

11 a.m. India & Fir Stage

June 4 Art Around Adams - Normal Heights / San Diego

1 p.m. Blindspot Records Stage / Smitty's Garage 

 Artwalk Info