Manual Scan Earth Day Balboa Park April 19 - Free!

Manual Scan will take part in the 2020 San Diego Earth Fair Celebrations - an all ages / outdoor show in Balboa Park!

Earth Day is April 19th! San Diego Earth Fair in Balboa Park is Southern CA's largest free event!  THE MOON STAGE at Park Blvd and President's Way - right next to the food court. This is going to be Awesome!! Here is the schedule:

10:15 The Spiritual Motels
11:05 Marie Haddad
11:55 Donna Larsen and Messengers
12:45 The January Berry Band
1:35 Sara Petite
2:25 Manual Scan
3:15 Julia Sage and The Bad Hombres
4:05 Network

Manual Scan - Millions Like Us Pin

Anyone interested in getting a copy of the Manual Scan pin pictured in the Millions Like Us box set from Cherry Red Records, you can find it here:  mcspookypants.storenvy.com/manual-scan

New! Manual Scan Turntable Slipmat

Italian company, Slipmats Royale has issued a special turntable slipmat featuring Manual Scan artwork! Available in felt or cork, the slipmat is part of a series that also features The English Beat, Devo, The Miracle Workers, The Nomads, Grim Reaper and more

www.slipmats.eu/manualscan

 Photo by Laura Pozzati / Courtesy Slipmats Royale

New T-shirt - Plimsouls / Manual Scan

Vintage Tees has released a T-shirt featuring a reproduction of a 1982 Plimsouls / Manual Scan / Joey Harris flyer - available in Grey, Blue and Black  https://shirtvintagetees.com/plimsouls-and-manual-scan

Manual Scan promo clip for San Diego Underground Files Volume 1

Bickerton Records has released a teaser video clip for the upcoming San Diego Underground File Volume 1 album:

San Diego Music Thing January 10

Bart Mendoza is a guest panelist at this year's Springboard West Music Conference taking place in Ocean Beach. Bart spoke on a panel discussing press on January 9 (2:25 p.m.) at the OB Playhouse and will speak on the same panel happening January 10 (10:30 a.m.) at The Holding Company.

San Diego Reader Page for January 16!

The San Diego Reader posted a page on the upcoming album and release show at the Casbah taking place January 16.
The San Diego Reader / Manual Scan January 16

Manual Scan album release show! January 16 at The Casbah

Manual Scan returns with an album release show on January 16 at The Casbah in San Diego! With Mittens and Avenue Army - don't miss it!

True Stories at the Riviera Supper Club January 10 !

New Manual Scan Release !

OB Farmers Market Set

Bart Mendoza took part in an a jam session at the OB Farmer's Holiday Drive on December 11. Other participants included Greg Vaughan (guitar), Annie Rettic (violin), Sppike Mike Muellenberg (bass), Sandra Herrera (vocals), Jeffrey Bloom (drums). Here's what they played.

1) In Your Arms (Mendoza / Morris)
2) Warm This Winter (Hunter / Barkan)
3) Wonderful Christmas Time (McCartney)

True Stories Recording Session

True Stories entered Pacific Beat Studio on December 11 and recorded three songs with producer Alan Sanderson:

After Awhile (Mendoza)
Hope Springs Internal (Fleminger)
Cast No Shadows (Mendoza / Castillo)

The line up consisted of Bart Mendoza (vocals/guitar), David Fleminger (vocals /keyboards), Greg Smith (drums/ vocals) and Scott Mathiasen (bass), with numerous friends in attendance including Sandra Castillo, Lori Aguilar Wilson, Billy Tisch, Sppike Mike Muellenberg etc. No word on when the tracks will be released, but a new album is expected in 2020.

Beatles Fair Set List

True Stories played thier annual Beatles Fair set on December 7 at Queen Bee. The band featured Ron Silva on bass and a set of rarely covered Beatles / Solo tunes + a few related songs. David Fleminger also sat in with event headliner Blac Rabbit on "Don't Let Me Down" and "Come Together," while Bart also played "Bad To Me" and "In Your Arms" on the acoustic stage.


1) Venus & Mars / Rock Show
2) Every Night
3) I've Just Seen A Face
4) Come and Get It
5) Too Many People
6) Only A Northern Song
7) Glass Onion
8) Jealous Guy
9) I'm Only Sleeping
10) That Means A Lot
11) Urban Spaceman
12) I Must Be In Love
13) No Matter What

Manual Scan Demos Collection Due Soon From Bickerton Records!

New Compilation! Power Chords Harmonies and Mistletoe II

A new compilation, Power Chords Harmonies and Mistletoe II, is out now from Spain's SNAP! Records - Available from thier Bandcamp page or on CD, the album features a wonderfully eclectic playlist, with 21 tracks. The album features a True Stories ballad, "Winter Star" and The Shambles live in studio acoustic duo (Bart Mendoza & Kevin Ring) version of "Warm This Winter," recorded for DJ Tim Pyles 91X-FM radio program, The Pyles Sessions. Other artists include The Tourmaliners, The Eddies, The Cherry Bluestorms, Yeh Yeh, Jeremy, Skid Roper, Lolas and many more!

 Snap!! Records Spain / Power Chords Harmonies & Mistletoe

Neil Innes Interview

San Diego Troubadour December 2019

A Conversation with Neil Innes: Oh Hello!

Read Here:

https://sandiegotroubadour.com/neil-innes-oh-hello/

Beatles Fair Interview w/ San Diego Union Tribune 12/03/19

The December 3 edition of the San Diego Union Tribune includes a feature on Beatles Fair 2019 by George Varga. This includes an interview with Bart Mendoza.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/Beatles Fair 2019

True Stories / San Diego Beatles Fair 2019 - December 7

True Stories will be performing a special set of solo Beatles tunes and music from related bands at the 2019 San Diego Beatles Fair! For this show the band will feature Bart Mendoza, David Fleminger, Greg Smith, Billy Tisch and Ron Silva. www.sandiegobeatlesfair.com

Writing Round Up!

Here are some recent articles penned by Bart Mendoza:

San Diego Troubadour:
The Story of Queen Bee Cultural Center / Alma Rodriguez
https://sandiegotroubadour.com/its-all-the-buzz-queen-bees-celebrates-its-10th-anniversary/

North Park News:
Interview with Lisa Domkat of Manzanita Blues
Manzanita Blues

Peninsula Beacon:
Rock Icons show preview with interviews: Jerry Raney / The Beat Farmers, Jack Butler and Jack Pinney / Glory and Richard Livoni / The Blitz Brothers
www.sdnews.com/San-Diego-Rock-Icons-show-coming-to-Winston-s-?instance=most_popular1

Uptown News:
Interview with cellist Sophie Webber
 Cellist celebrates new album at St. Paul’s Cathedral

Peninsula Beacon
Interview with Tim Norton of Moves Collective
Ocean Beach's Moves Collective closes tour at The Holding Company

True Stories - Extra Gig! November 11 at Grand Ole BBQ 1 - 4 p.m.

True Stories will be playing a last minute show at The Grand Ole BBQ Flinn Springs in El Cajon, CA on Monday November 11, from 1- 4 p.m. - A mix of covers and originals, free & family friendly - the band plays outdoors on the patio stage. www.flinnsprings.grandolebbq.com

Coming soon...

New songs?

Manual Scan debuted two new songs during thier September 27 appearance at The Adams Avenue Street Fair- a new original, "Shooting Star" and a cover of The Angels "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?" Meanwhile on October 16, True Stories debuted a new original, "After Awhile." A recent acoustic demos list from Mendoza included the songs "The World To Me," "Dim Images," Empty Spaces," "You're Gonna Miss Me," "Cast No Shadows," "First Thing," "Plastic Girl" and "She's Like Christmas," amongst other potential new tunes for the bands upcoming album.

Johnnny Valenzuela and Andy Rasmussen / San Diego Troubadour

Bart Mendoza has penned his 11th cover story for the San Diego Troubadour, on Johnnny Valenzuela (The Sleepwalkers) and Andy Rasmussen (Action Andy & The Hi-Tones). available in the November 2019 edition. This issue also includes Bart's article on the story of Alma Rodriguez and Queen Bee's Cultural https://sandiegotroubadour.com/johnny-valenzuela-and-andy-rasmussen-twisted-trails-and-two-fisted-tales/

True Stories at the Rivera Supper Club November 15

True Stories returns to the Rivera Supper Club on November 15, for two sets, with lots of news tunes in the mix - two sets starting at 9 p.m. / 21 and up.

Herb Alpert Interview

Bart Mendoza interviewed Herb Alpert in the September 16 edition of the Peninsula Beacon
Herb Alpert / Peninsula Beacon

Manual Scan at the Adams Avenue Street Fair September 21 - Free!

Here's a poster for this Saturdays Manual Scan show at the Adams Avenue Street Fair:

Recent Articles

Here are links to recent articles penned by Bart Mendoza:

La Jolla Villlage News: Evan Diamond & The Library to Play KAABOO
Evan-Diamond & The-Library-to-perform-at-KAABOO

La Jolla Village News: Inaugural Taste of New Orleans Festival
Del-Mar-Fairgrounds-to-host-inaugural-Taste-of-New-Orleans

San Diego Troubadour: interviews, with singer-songwriter Lori Aguilar Wilson and Phil Lozano of Bump City Brass, plus reviews of Julia Othmer, Gangstagrass, Popdudes
https://sandiegotroubadour.com/five-questions-with-phil-lozano-and-lori-aguilar-wilson/

North Park News: A spotlight on Mike Ruggirello
www.localumbrellanews.com/mike-ruggirello-a-multi-faceted-guitarist

Peninsula Beacon: A spotlight on Carlos Rodriguez
The-Carlos-Rock-Experience-to-play-Winstons

Peninsula Beacon: Chris Leyva named Beatles Museum Ambassador
Chris Leyva-named-ambassador-for-Beatles-museum

33 1/3 House of Dreams Pre Show Event

Bart Mendoza attended a pre-show event on August 10 for the new play 33 1/3 House of Dreams at San Diego's Lyceum Theatre. Here he is with Chris Montez ("Let's Dance" etc) and Kathy Young ("A Thousand Stars" etc)

True Stories set list August 8 2019

Here's what True Stories performed on the Spyderpop Showcase at Tio Leo's in San Diego:

Cant Seem To Make You Mine 

In Your Arms 

Who Will Play Us In The Movie? 

Bleeding 

You’re Gonna Miss Me 

I Woke Up In Love This Morning 

Hearts On Sleeve 

You Still Take My Breath Away

Runaway

Comet’s Tomorrow 

Leave My Kitten Alone

Bart also sat in for these two songs:

The Jeremy Morris Band  - "It's Getting Better"

Bill Lloyd - "What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding?"

Bill Lloyd & Bart Mendoza - Photo by Vania Zamora

Danny Wilkerson, Bill Lloyd, Jeremy Morris, Bart Mendoza 

Photo by Steve Thorn

33 1/3 House of Dreams Pre-Show Discussion

Here are photos from last night's 33 1/3 House of Dreams Pre-Show Discussion. L-R Rep Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse, George Varga (SD Union Tribune), Bart Mendoza, Chris Goldsmith (Belly Up Entertainment) - Courtesy of Vania Zamora

New House of Dreams Poster

A new image with details on the August 8 pre-show music discussion:

Spyderpop Records San Diego Showcase Aug 9 with Bill Lloyd, True Stories etc

True Stories will be part of a Spyderpop Records showcase at Tio Leo's on August 9, part of a great bill that includes Bill Lloyd, Lannie Flowers, Danny Wilkerson and Jeremy Morris. Its a free matinee show happening from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. www.tioleos.com

Paul McCartney Petco Park 2019 / 2014 - An In Depth Look

From Facebook: My latest for the San Diego Troubadour - I take an in depth look at Paul McCartney’s June 22 concert at Petco Park, pose Five Questions to Russell Ramo of The Routine, and ask Southern California musicians: Who Is Your Favorite Cartoon Character? Including: Taryn Donath, Savannah Philyaw, Alicia Previn, Danny Green, Christina Bulbenko & Rex Broome of The Armoires, Michael Jay Dwyer, Mel Hintz, Brian Witkin of Cambrian Shores, Donna Larsen, Scott Mathiasen and more:

Read it here: https://sandiegotroubadour.com/paul-mccartney-returns-to-petco-park-2019/

 

and here is Bart Mendoza's in depth look at Paul McCartney's previous visit to San Diego in 2014:

https://sandiegotroubadour.com/paul-mccartney-in-san-diego/2014

Coming Soon: Neil Innes interview

Via Facebook: Bart Mendoza interviewed Neil Innes (The Rutles, Monty Python, Magical Mystery Tour Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, etc etc) for an upcoming issue of the The San Diego Troubadour. Here he is with Innes and journalist Sandra Castillo

Photos Courtesy of Sandra Castillo

Bart Mendoza on the Palapalooza Podcast

Bart Mendoza was a guest this month on Palapalooza, a podcast hosted by Troy Cook. 

At the end of the segment, he performs acoustic versions of 

"In Your Arms," and "You Still Take My Breath Away."

Palapalooza.podbean.com / Bart Mendoza