Johnny Rad Fest summed up in three words (in no particular order): rock, skate, booze. 2010 marks the third year of the festival that merges garage/punk music with competitive skating and recreational drinking and this year will likely be the biggest so far.

The four day festival spreads debauchery across San Diego, starting with day shows at Two Roses Tattoo. Thursday night marks the beginning of the evening shows and Tower Bar will play host, while Friday and Saturday night will go down at the Ken Club. (more…)

Congratulations to Hotel St. George for being voted by YOU as Commune’s Featured Local of the month. I met up with the hilarious lead singer Matt Binder to congratulate him and the rest of the guys on winning and to see what they have going on.

1. How long have you guys been playing together and how did you come up with the name Hotel St. George?
The band started a little over two years ago when I (Matt) met Erik while doing a ride along with a SDPD officer. It was part of a probation program that I was on for when I got busted impersonating a real police officer.  It’s a long story but the short version is that a friend of mine and me had rented some police uniforms and then went out to bust up high school parties for kicks and to take their kegs, pot, whatever else we could find. Anyways, it was a long time ago and we’re much more mature and wiser now.

Anyways, Erik had had a break in at his apartment and we went to investigate. Some of his musical equipment was stolen and that got us talking about music and then boom; we started a band.

We named the band Hotel St. George because that is where Simon lost his virginity.
2. How would you describe your music?

Each member has their own influences and inspirations that are splattered across a canvas.  We put all of those styles into a song and then work collectively to mold a personality for the song.  Garage, punk, shoegaze, pop, rock, electronic, and even metal influences come into various parts of the music to really push ourselves into different and new directions.

Check out the new HSG music video “little childrens bones” below.

3. What’s one interesting fact about each person in the band? (more…)

Dan Merino, also known as Sex Mannequin is no stranger to the neighborhood.   I first met Dan a couple years ago at the Casbah and instantly knew he was a fun person to be around, but it wasn’t until I saw him dance to Maneater on vinyl in his living room, that I knew we would be friends. I was stoked to have Dan be a part of Commune last March and even more so that he won Commune Featured Local.  It was a close race between all three nominees, but Dan pulled ahead in the last couple of days of December and finished the month with 487 votes! I met up with Dan to congratulate him and see what he has going on.

1. So, we have to know. Where did the name Sex Mannequin come from?

At the time I came up with Sex Mannequin I wanted to make a name that reflected my own social commentary on the act of promiscuity and that looked good on an iPod. I had just turned 21 and immersed myself into a hedonistic lifestyle. (more…)

It’s time to take 2009 and say sayonara, good riddance, hasta la vista and f off. I know for many of us 2009 was no walk in the park. Between wars, bar take over’s, Rhianna, Tiger the cheetah, Sarah Palin, and the economy; I think we’ve had enough. Excitement shudders over my body as I think about what 2010 has in store. Whatever it is it has to be better than ’09, in the very least we are one year closer to 2012, predicated to be the end of the world, but I really think it was a just an ok mega- budget flick.

If you’re like me and wait ‘til the last minute for everything including putting the final thoughts into this blog, then you haven’t quite solidified your NYE plans. Here is some local options that will make your New Year’s a night to remember.

• The W Hotel has done it right this year, and brought some local heavy hitters together for a night of ass-shaking fun. Gabe Vega, Adam Salter, and Mikey Beats are just some of the deck geniuses set to spin into the New Year. Tickets start at $50 and go up depending on room packages.

• Ken Club is rockin’ tonight.  You don’t want to miss No Bunny, The Atoms, Jungle Fever and the Kabbs.

• The Super El Camino in Little Italy, which by the way is my new favorite spot, (take care of my girl Jasmine she’ll take excellent care of you) will be featuring one of Commune’s favorite bands Buddy Akai. Along with The Office Twins, the native SD electro-rock band is sure to set your disco night off right with some glittery tunes. Been trying to get the skinny on prices, but I’ve been told between $10 and $20; not bad for the grand opening of South Park’s sister bar.

• Finally Corey Biggs will be spinning at The Fleetwood for what is sure to be a ballpark size party. Biggs is one of our favs out in the scene, and will assuredly bring some unique and sexy beats to your NYE.

From everyone here at Commune, we would like to wish you a safe and fantastic NYE. Remember to take your vitamins and drink lots of water, cause the 1^st of the month isn’t always like Bones’ Thug’s say it is.

Commune returns January 27^th at the Whistlestop. Hope to see you there!

Keep A Breast will be at U-31 tonight as part of our Music For Awareness campaign. We have developed a unique avenue for musicians, DJs, clubs or just plain awesome people to donate their time and influence the lives of others. This campaign allows anyone to play a role with KAB and throw his or her very own benefit show in support of the cause. Keep A Breast acknowledges and enables the fact that young people do want to be activists, to play a part of a bigger and better good and inspire people to better themselves and their communities. See you there!!

Check out more from Keep a Breast at : http://www.keep-a-breast.org

Congratulations to Apes of Wrath for being voted by you as Commune’s Featured Local of the Month.

Apes of Wrath are a three-piece rock group from SD. Band members Robert Kent (vocals/guitar), Jake Bankhead (bass) and Dustin Elliot (drums) are no strangers to the SD music scene and were Commune’s featured band in June ’08.  I met up with Rob to congratulate Apes on being voted Featured Local and to get the dirt on what they’ve got going on.

How did you come up with the name Apes of Wrath?

Dustin thought of it while making fun of metal band names at a rehearsal in a warehouse behind a sex shop.

How long have you guys been together?

We’ve been playing out in San Diego since summer of 2007 and recently completed a short west coast tour.

What is one cool fact about each person in the band?

Dustin loves candy, Jake loves science and Rob loves steamed buns.

Have anything exciting coming up that people should look out for?

We’re excited to record our first full-length album this year at Blue Roof Studios and the album should be out in late Fall.

Why do you feel it is important to stand up against tobacco corporations?

I find it absolutely pertinent to stand up and stand against big tobacco. When I was 13, my mother died of cancer, making a huge impression on a highly impressionable kid. An occasional smoker, my mom would keep Marlboro Lights stashed in her purse and I was always so curious to try them. As soon as I got the chance, I began to experiment with them. That’s where our generation can actually change the state of the tobacco industry. If kids today don’t see their older brothers, sisters and cousins smoking, they won’t either. The old school tactics of trying to make the act of smoking look cool don’t apply anymore. That’s what’s so cool about Commune, it’s cool NOT to smoke and it’s ever cooler to help friends STOP smoking. I commend and thank the staff and contributors of the Commune event for the action they’re taking.

For upcoming shows and updated tweets by the guys, check out Apes of Wrath at www.myspace.com/apesofwrathmusic.

If you would like to be part of Commune Wednesdays and stand up for a smokefree scene, contact Jenny at jointhecommune@gmail.com

Adrenaline Apparel celebrates the 90’s – Wallpaper, DJ Corey Biggs and Guests

Everyone in San Diego has been to The Casbah at least once, and if you haven’t, you definitely should check it out. Pumping out great music since 1989, it’s a staple of the SD music scene.

This Friday The Casbah will be featuring one of Commune’s favorite DJs, Mr. Corey Biggs. The kid is fresh to death, and will be keeping the beats sick & neat for Adrenaline Apparel’s “Celebrate the 90’s” partay (ßnope, not a typo), while Wallpaper will bring justice to this live music demigod. $12 cover, steep by most NP standards, but this concert won’t disappoint. With Biggs on the one’s and two’s, partying to his beats are priceless. Check out www.casbahmusic.com for ticket info, doors open at 9pm, and unfortunately music dies at 2am, so get there early! It would be too cliché to say “party likes it 1999,” so let’s just leave it at “have a killer time,” and Keep Commune’s next party at the Soda Bar marked on your calendar for August 26^th.

If you can’t make it out to the Casbah on Friday check out what else is going on this weekend:

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Boys and Girls @ El Dorado w/ Adam Salter and Corey Biggs

The El Dorado Bar & Lounge has been getting mad reviews lately. From the sickest birthday parties to the best in electro turntablism, El Dorado definitley has the skinny on what to do on a Saturday night, or any night you want to let your hair down. This Saturday, resident DJs on the scene Adam Salter and Corey Biggs will be blazing up the one’s and two’s with their 1^st and 3^rd Saturday spot “Boys and Girls.” Both are out of this world talents and El Dorado is a great excuse to leave 30^th and its splendorous surroundings to hit up downtown. If you can’t get enough of Salter and all his deck glory you can check him out at Commune on August 26^th at the Soda Bar, spinning something special for all you lovelies.

If you can’t make it to El Dorado on Saturday check out what else is going on this weekend: (more…)

Rolling Stone calls him a “scenemaker,” but I like to call him my “Diggie.” Actually diggie came from a gchat typo, but it’s too funny not to keep it going.

Mario Orduno, a San Diego native, is no stranger to the neighborhood. You may have caught him at one of his DJ nights, booked a show through him, or maybe just seen him around town with his “doggies” (his closest of friends), but if you have had the privilege to hang with Mario you know that he is pretty damn hilarious. (more…)