Bart Mendoza interviews Ingrid Croce and Jimmy Rock for the San Diego Troubadour

Here is an indepth interview with Ingrid Croce and Jimmy Rock conducted by Bart Mendoza for the San Diego Troubadour

An Interview with Ingrid Croce and Jimmy Rock

Jetset Tribute Album out Sept. 15 featuring the Shambles

The Jetset tribute album, Do You Want To Be In The Show?, is being re-released by Twist/Detour Records in England on Sept 15. The album includes a track from the Shambles, "Hard To Say Goodbye" as well as extensive liner notes from Bart Mendoza. The band on this recording is Bart Mendoza (piano/guitar/all vocals), Mark Zadarnowski (bass), Mike Kamoo (drums/organ) and Kevin Ring (guitar).

Order the Jetset Tribute Album

Playing John Lennon's long lost J-160

Bart Mendoza was part of a group of very lucky musicians who got a chance to play John Lennon's long lost and very historic Gibson guitar, on which many of the Beatles early hits were written, at a special send off gathering for the instrument in San Diego. He played "Bad to Me" and one of his own compositions, "You Still Take My Breath Away."

Beatles in San Diego 50th Anniversary article

Bart Mendoza penned this article on the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Beatles performing in San Diego the-beatles-dream-from-50-years-ago

New Shambles EP - "Radio Daze - The Pyles Sessions" out Oct. 15 on Spain's Bickerton Records

Pre orders are now being taken for the new Shambles EP, "Radio Daze - The Pyles Sessions" out October 15 on Spain's Bickerton Records! Vinyl or digital only- Tracks are:

"More Than This"

"Brilliant"

"Clouds All Day"

"(She's Used To Playing With) Fire"

Order the new Shambles EP

New True Stories EP due October 15 from Spain's Bickerton Records

Pre-orders are now being taken for the new True Stories EP, "Pop" - vinyl or digital only, out October 15 from Spain's Bickerton Records - The disc features 4 tracks: 

"You Still Take My Breath Away"

"In Your Arms"

"What You Mean To Me"

"Bleeding"

Order True Stories EP

The Riot Act - "This Town" - new video!

A new video has been posted for the The Riot Act - "This Town" featuring all the San Diego music scenes from the film Bring It On including posters from such San Diego acts as the Riot Act, Rocket From The Crypt, Inch, The Chasers, The Loons, Cindy Lee Berryhill and more! The band in the video features Ray Brandes, Hector Penalosa, Victor Penalosa, Peter Meisner and myself , as well as the SDSU campus and a cameo from good friend, Steve Aldana.  Live footage shot in Ponferrada, Spain in 1999. Logo by Rex Edhlund, track produced by Richard Livoni at Blitz Recording Studios and was released as a 7" 45 by Spain's Snap! Records.

Upcoming Releases!

Here are a few upcoming releases:

Fall 2015 - Various Artists - Sounds of the Stratosphere - A 7" Vinyl EP with picture sleeve, splatter vinyl and tracks from Pony Death Ride, Blaise Guld, Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra, Super Buffett and Manual Scan! Blindspot Records

Fall 2015 - Various Artists - Staring at the Sun XII - will feature more than two dozen artists including True Stories song, "Who Will Play Us In The Movie?"

Winter 2015 - True Stories - Pop - a 7" Vinyl 4 track EP. Bickerton Records

Winter 2015 - The Shambles - Radio Daze - a 7" Vinyl 4 track EP. Bickerton Records

Winter 2015 - Manual Scan - Pyles Sessions - a 10" 9 track album. Snap! Records

Bart Mendoza has also penned liner notes for a powerpop anthology series, details tba soon

Bart Mendoza Radio (8/26) and TV 8/28

Bart Mendoza will be a guest on the Gurlz Talk Rawk radio program on Wednesday August 26 at 9 p.m. Then on Friday August 28 he will be a guest on the CW-6 TV's Morning Show, in a segment about the Imperial Avenue Street Festival at 8:15 a.m. www.sandiego6.com

True Stories to perform at Imperial Avenue Street Fest August 29

True Stories will join Rebecca Jade and the Cold Fact, Chunky Sanchez, Missy Anderson and many more at the Second Annual Imperial Avenue Street Fest - We play at Noon  - free, all ages!

True Stories Imperial Avenue Street Fest

Casino Royale to perform at the Lafayette Hotel August 20 - Free

Now a quartet, featuring Normandie Wilson, David Fleminger, Bart Mendoza and Danny Cress, lounge group Casino Royale, will perform two sets at the historic Lafayette Hotel on August 20, starting at 7 p.m. - No cover!

Casino Royale to perform at Panama 66 on August 9

Casino Royale, featuring Normandie Wilson, David Fleminger, Danny Cress and Bart Mendoza, makes a rare appearance at one of the most beautiful venue's in San Diego- Panama 66, located in the Sculpture Garden of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Balboa Park! This is a free, all ages show - Sunday, August 9 from 6 pm to 8 pm - a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon in the park - Food and drinks, craft beer and music in a family friendly outdoor summertime venue! Free!

Germany's Bear Family Records Box Set to include The Shambles

The Shambles song, "Wouldn't You Like to Be A Bear?" will be featured on the 4-Disc 40th Anniversary Box Set from Bear Family Records - it's a great bear themed line up including Ry Cooder, Chip Taylor, Swamp Dogg, Frankie Miller, The Fuzztones, Ray Campi, The Kennedy's, Deke Dickerson, Johnny Tillotson, Ian Whicomb, Riders in the Sky, Narvel Felts and 60 more on 3 CD's. You also get a DVD and a 308 page hardcover book, which includes a spotlight on the Shambles and the songs lyrics.

Bear Family 40th Anniversary Box Set (click on "Tracks" to get the full song listing)

 

True Stories Fourth of July - 5 to 7 pm Standley Park!

The band will be playing an all request set!

Sounds Like San Diego VII July 11 at The Museum of Making Music Hosted by Bart Mendoza

Blindspot Records / The Museum of Making Music Present 

Sounds Like San Diego VII   - July 11 2015

Celebrating San Diego’s Musical History 1940 -2015

Today’s Artists Performing Yesterdays Hits +

Carlsbad, Calif. –  The seventh edition of Sounds Like San Diego presents another once in a lifetime gathering of musicians, celebrating hit songs written or recorded by San Diegans.

Held once more at the Museum of Making Music, the night is a musical journey through San Diego’s music history. It’s a fast paced show with trivia and stories from host Bart Mendoza in between tunes and the museum to explore before the show. Performers will include:

·         Greg Douglass – guitarist with the Steve Miller Band / Greg Kihn,  co-writer of “Jungle Love”

·         Lester Abrams – Doobie Brothers co-writer of  “Minute by Minute” and “Open Your Eyes”

·         Kimm Rogers – the return of Island Records artist “Will Work for Food” “Right By Your Side”

·         Roni Lee – Runaways co-writer of “I Wanna Be Where The Boys Are”

·         Josh Weinstein – celebrating the music of Tom Waits

·         Jim Ryan – 70’s punk pop pioneer from the Cardiac Kidz “Find Yourself A Way”

Plus interpretations of classic songs from 

·         True Stories – featuring David Fleminger, Danny Cress and Orrick Smith

·         Gayle Skidmore –

·         Tolan Shaw -

·         Normandie Wilson –

·         Diana Death -

·         Scott Mathiasen –

·         Patric Petrie –

·         Marie Haddad -

It’s a unique show! Possible cover choices include songs by Iron Butterfly, Stephen Bishop, Ratt, Jim Croce, The Kingston Trio, Jason Mraz, The Cascades, Juice Newton, Barbara Mandrell, The Nashville Ramblers, Jack Tempchin, The Beat Farmers, The Lyrics, Chris Hillman, Rosie & The Originals, Switchfoot, The Nashville Ramblers, Gary Puckett, Jewel, Mojo Nixon, The Monroes and many more

The Museum of Making Music 5790 Armada Drive Carlsbad CA 92008

Tickets for Sounds Like San Diego VII

Get Wet Fest This Friday July 3 w/ True Stories + The Bassics, Flaggs, Shady Francos and more...

This Friday! The First -  Get Wet Fest - in Imperial Beach - This show is being promoted by the amazing new Mod group, The Bassics! It's all ages with a beer garden and has a great line up! From the Facebook page:

DOORS: 5:00pm

Traffic Bear (members of Big Bad Buffalo ): 5:30pm
Bad Kids: 6:15pm
Fake Tides: 6:35pm
True Stories: 7:15pm
The Cardielles: 8:00pm
Flaggs:8:45
The Schizophonics: 9:30pm
The Bassics: 10:15pm
Shady Francos: 11:00pm

CLOSING: 11:30pm   ALL AGES $8. Event Location:
Boys & Girls Clubs of South County - Odermatt Clubhouse
847 Encina Ave. Imperial Beach, CA 91932

July 15 - A Birthday Tribute to Johnny Thunders with Chinese Rocks at Bar Pink - FREE!

July 15 - A Birthday Tribute to Johnny Thunders with Chinese Rocks at Bar Pink, 3829 30th Street in San Diego / North Park - FREE! Presented by Bar Pink and Blindspot Records. 21 and up.

Bart Mendoza to play final Kona Kai Acoustic Music Series show June 14

The Kona Kai Resorts weekly acoustic music series is hosting a final edition this Sunday - June 14 - the free, all ages show will feature acoustic music from Bart Mendoza, Cassie B, Rhythm Turner, Hugh Gaskins and The Brothers Burns with J Phatts. "The venue is right on the water, with both indoor and outdoor seating, making it a unique location to hear live music"

Manual Scan August 29 / The Irenic with the Bassics and Action Andy!

On August 29 Secret Society Scooter Club is hosting a 32nd Anniversary Party at the Irenic in San Diego with a great bill that includes Manual Scan, The Bassics and Action Andy & The Hi-Tones! Tickets are on sale now for this all ages happening! Beer and drinks available for those over 21. Only $10

 Tickets for Secret Society's 32nd Anniversary Party

Upcoming performances:

Here are some of the dates Bart Mendoza will be playing this summer, either solo or with one of the bands he's in - check back for updates!

Bart Mendoza

06/19 San Diego County Fair
06/29 The Office / Ramones Undercover
08/15 Art Walk NTC

True Stories

06/20 Blindspot Event
07/03 Boys & Girls Club of Chula Vista
07/04 University City 4th of July Picnic
07/11 Museum of Making Music / Sounds Like San Diego
08/29 Imperial Avenue Street Fair

 Manual Scan

08/23   91X Loudspeaker
08/29   The Irenic / San Diego
12/4-7  Spain

The Shambles

06/27 Ocean Beach Street Fair

Casino Royale

08/09 Panama 66 / Balboa Park

True Stories to perform at the North Park Festival of the Arts May 16 / 4 p.m.

Just added! True Stories will perform at the FREE North Park Festival of the Arts on May 16 at the Queen Bee Stage - 4 p.m. It's located on Ray Street - lots of other great artists to check out that day as well, such as Flaggs, The Schizophonics, Swamp Dogg, The Rosalyns, Jesse LaMonaca & The Dime Novels, The Midnight Pine... (we're replacing a band, our name will be included soon - but it's on:-)

North Park Festival of the Arts

True Stories at FREE Art Around Adams Festival June 6 / Noon!

True Stories is part of an incredible line up of talent at this year's Art Around Adams Music & Arts Festival. It's a free, all ages event which runs from Noon until 8 p.m aong a two mile stretch of Adams Avenue in Kensington and City Heights.Mod, Surf , Hip-Hop, Americana, Indie rock, Celtic Fusion, singing robots, a Motley Crue tribute band, blues, country, a band that sings about cats, a Wizard of Oz kids play, and much more! yep, something for just about everybody:-)  true Stories kicks things off at noon on the Blindspot Records / Smitty's Garage Stage.

Art Around Adams 2015

Blindspot Stage / Smitty’s Garage:

Lyrical Groove, The Bassics, Generik, Rhythm & The Method,Cherry Bluestorms, Patric Petrie & Friends, Viva Apollo, Lightning Starts Fire, True Stories with David Fleminger

Pizza & Beer Garden / DiMille’s

Country Rockin Rebels , Shifty Eyed Dogs, Alvino & The Dwells, Action Andy & The High Tones, Savannah Philyaw, Sierra West, Donna Larsen, Rich McGee

Indie Stage / Café 21

Hocus, Bloodflowers, Too Fast For The Devil, Triton Eye, League of Liars, Little Fixtures

Acoustic Stage / El Zarape

Rosewood & Rye, The Peripherals, Isaac Cheong, Trent Hancock, The Flowerthief, Diane Marie & Randy Lane

Playground Stage / Kensington Park

Podunk Nowhere, Marie Haddad, Mittens, Normandie Wilson

Experimental Stage / Carwash

Ryan Schraer, Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra

True Stories at IPO / San Diego July 17

The fifth edition of International Pop Overthrow / San Diego will take place on Friday, July 17 at the Chico  Club and it's a pretty cool line up!

Chico Club / 7366 El Cajon Blvd
619 465-4190 $10  21 and up

7:30 Gayle Skidmore
8:15 Steve Rosenbaum
9:00 Scott Samuels
9:45 Super Buffet (with Pete Bayard)
10:30 My Revenge  (with Hector Penalosa)
11:15 True Stories (with Bart Mendoza, David Fleminger, Orrick Smith, Danny Cress and Normandie Wilson)

The Chico Club

True Stories on new Cheap Trick tribute album!

True Stories version of the Cheap Trick classic "Oh Caroline," will be included on the forthcoming tribute album, Never Surrender. Available from Australia's Zero Hour Records, the album includes:

True Stories • The Cry! • The Heartless Devils • The Running Jumps • honeychain • Chris Richards and the Subtractions • Steve Lawrenson • Cheap Tribute • Lannie Flowers • Beekler • Words • Jensen Bell • Lisa Mychols • Matt Keatting • The Shellye Valauskas Experience • Sophomore Meat • The Wrong Dots • The Slingsby Hornets • Joe Giddings • The Spyderz • Bill Lloyd • The Affections • Bubble • Jeremy Morris • The Hounds Of Winter • Tipsy In Chelsea • Easterly • Wyatt Frame • Rob Bonfiglio • Chris Degnore • Rob Smith and Danny McCarthy • Plasticsoul • Spike Priggen and C.P. Roth • Popdudes • The Klank • The Southern Girls • Erik Collins and The Ilk • The Kiss-Offs

Pre-orders get extra goodies - only $14.95 (plus shipping) for:   The 2xCD Tribute in a mini-LP gatefold sleeve + CT Pinup Poster + CT Sticker + CT Postcard + I Love Power Pop wristband.

 Cheap Trick Tribute "Never Surrender" Pre Order

The Shambles reunite for June 27 all ages show in Ocean Beach - Free!

The Shambles will be performing a one-off show this summer, at the Ocean Beach Street Fair, June 27. The show is all ages and FREE! The band will perform on the Bacon St. Stage at 3 p.m. and will be playing a "hits" set covering all their singles and songs such as "Nadie Te Quiere Ya," "Innocence Becomes You," "(We've Got A) Groovy Thing" and many more!

Ocean Beach Street Fair Info

Manual Scan = Purple Weekend, Leon Spain, December 2015

Manual Scan will be amongst the top bands taking part in the annual Purple Weekend festival in Leon, Spain, more details soon!

Lydia Loveless at Queen Bee April 23 / Bart Mendoza to MC

Country singer Lydia Loveless returns to San Diego with a show at Queen Bee in North Park - Bart Mendoza will be on hand to do a bit of stage managing and band intros. Loveless is a major emerging talent, this will be a fun show which also includes performances from Old Salt Union and Samantha Aiken.

Lydia Loveless at Queen Bee Tickets

Kim Fowley Tribute April 25 to feature Trues Stories, the Loons, The Rosalyns, The Schizophonics and Roni Lee

The first 20 people through the door at the Kim Fowley tribute show April 25 at the Casbah get free limited edition vinyl! The show will feature short sets from Trues Stories, the Loons, The Rosalyns, The Schizophonics and Roni Lee - a great night of rock 'n' roll guaranteed!! All proceeds go to the Kim Fowley Memorial Fund.  

Kim Fowley Tribute Tickets

True Stories at Adams Avenue Unplugged April 26 - FREE 6 - 7 p.m.

True Stories will appear at Adams Avenue Unplugged on April 26 - The band will perform a FREE show at the Air Conditioned Lounge, 4673 30th St, San Diego, CA 92116 - Lots of great artists on hand this year, including Cody Lovaas, David J, Tim Flannery, Bart Davenport, Gregory Page, Dead Rock West, Dave Humphries, Three Chord Justice, Tom Ward, Digital Lizards of Doom, Josh Damigo, Folding Mr. Lincoln, Joey Harris, Cindy Lee Berryhill, Sierra West, Dawn Mitschele, Joe Marillo, The Sleepwalkers and many more!

 Adams Avenue Unplugged Website

The Down Lights to perform at Celebrate the Boulevard Awards April 24

The Down Lights are a one off band that will perform at the is years, Celebrate the Boulevard party, set to take place on April 24 at the historic Lafayette Hotel in North Park / San Diego. This year's banner honorees will include David Fleminger of True Stories, alongside Alfred Howard of the Midnight Pine, blues singer Candye Kane, Celtic fiddler Patric Petrie, guitarist Joey Harris (ex-Beat Farmers, Powerthud etc), folk pioneer Lou Curtis  and more. The Down Lights will showcase all aspects of David Fleminger's long storied career, from surf classics to mod rock with a group of musicians set to include Tony Suarez, Danny Cress, Normandie Wilson and vocals on one song from Bart Mendoza.

 Celebrate the Boulevard Tickets

True Stories performs at Dave Howard CD Release April 12 House of Blues San Diego 4 p.m.

Dave Howard celebrates the release of his new album, Helluva Highwya, with a CD release show at the House of Blues on April 12. Bart Mendoza (really True Stories) will open the show with a short set from True Stories - it's an all star show - free, all ages!

4:00 True Stories (Bart Mendoza, David Fleminger, Danny Cress Orrick Smith)

4:20 Matt Silvia and Cathryn Beeks

4:40 Mary Dolan

5:00 Folding Mr. Lincoln 5:20 Spud Davenport 5:40 Nathan Weldon 6:00 Joey Harris

6:20 Lisa Sanders 

6:40 Carolann Ames 7:00 Berkley Hart 

7:30 Dave Howard

The return of Casino Royale SD to Java Joe's Friday April 10 !

Casino Royale, featuring David Fleminger, Normandie Wilson and Bart Mendoza, returns to Java Joe's for a special show on April 10! Featuring classic songwriting, including the best of Bacharach, Brian Wilson, Lennon / McCartney, Argent, Carole King, albert Hammond and more! All ages - 8 p.m.

www.javajoessd.com

Upcoming Dates for Bart Mendoza March - December 2015

Here are some confirmed dates for March through December - much more ahead!

March 21 / 9 am KUSI TV - Good Morning San Diego TV Show - Bart interview
March 22 / 7 pm 91X -Loudspeaker radio program with host Lou Niles - Bart interview
March 26 / 1 pm ESPN / San Diego - Bart interviewed
March 26 / 9 pm Bar Pink - The Zombies Tribute with True Stories + Shake Before Us, Diana Death etc
March 28 / Noon Queen Bee - Beatles Fair with True Stories, Baja Bugs, Joey Molland of Badfinger etc
April 10 / 8 p.m. Java Joe's - Casino Royale
April 12 / 4 p.m. House of Blues - True Stories
April 18 / 9 p.m. Riviera Supper Club - True Stories
April 24 / 7 p.m. Lafayette Hotel - Banner Unveiling - Bart Hosts
April 25 / 9 p.m. The Casbah - Kim Fowley Tribute with True Stories + The Loons, Roni Lee, Schitzophonics
April 26 / 6 p.m. Adams Avenue Unplugged at the A.C. Lounge with True Stories
June 6 / Noon - Art Around Adams Festival - True Stories
July 11 / 7 p.m. Museum of Making Music - Sounds Like San Diego with True Stories etc
December 4-5 - Purple Weekend with Manual Scan / Leon, Spain

Burger Revolution this Saturday March 7 with True Stories

True Stories - featuring Danny Cress, Orrick Smith, David Fleminger and Bart Mendoza, will play their first gig of 2015 on March 7 at the Stronghold in Barrio Logan / San Diego - part of the Burger Revolution music fest - all day, all ages! with Javier Escovedo and the City Lights, the Shady Francos, Digital Lizards of Doom, Big Bad Buffalo and more!

Gayle Skidmore San Diego Troubadour cover story by Bart Mendoza

Bart pens the cover story to the March issue of The San Diego Troubadour, a feature on singer-songwriter Gayle Skidmore

The San Diego Troubadour