FYI
For Your Information: August Edition
This month we take get details on two amazing festivals happening in San Diego this August, Tiki Oasis and International Pop Overthrow, plus a new edition of Strange Stage Stories, featuring tales from Dave Koz, Henry Ortiz (Sandollar), Travis Oliver, and Jeff Bloom (Army of Love).
Tiki Oasis: It’s a Party!
The Loons will be playing at Tiki Oasis.
A celebration of Tiki Culture, Tiki Oasis has become one of the most anticipated events of the year in San Diego. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year, expect things to ramp up even more than usual. Music is a big component of the event, but that really just scratches the surface of all the activity going on. Pool parties, DJs, burlesque, art displays, costume contests, room parties, seminars on amazing libations and a curated marketplace are just part of this amazing immersive experience.
And as always, it’s a killer lineup, with an amazing array of performers including The Bomboras, Jason Hanna & the Swinging Bananas, Slack Key ‘Ohana, The Ghastly Ones, and many more!
This year’s Tiko Oasis has possibly the strongest closing night show to date, featuring legendary guitarist/music historian Lenny Kaye, performing songs from the iconic 1973, Kaye-curated completion album, Nuggets. Making the night even more special, Kaye will be joined by several members of San Diego’s music royalty, including Mike Stax (The Loons), El Vez, Ron Silva (The Crawdaddys) and Carl Rusk (The Nashville Ramblers).
www.tikioasis.com
International Pop Overthrow Returns
Power pop fans won’t want to miss two nights of cool tunes when the International Pop Overthrow Festival returns to San Diego for two nights at the Black Cat Bar on August 15 and 16. Helmed by David Bash, the fest has become an annual favorite for music fans who like an extra dose of melody with their tunes. The two shows are a great way to take in a good cross section of talent, with short sets from each group and a backline to keep transitions between bands to a minimum. With decades of IPO experience behind him, Bash has things down to a science. Friday includes Casino Spanish Eyes, Michael Culhane, The RAZ Band, Tamar Berk, and Scott Samuels & Friends, while Saturday will feature Bat Country, Courtney McKenna, The Nephews, Evil Maria, Vurv, and Super Buffet. It’s an impressive lineup, with Tamar Berk playing in support of her new album, OCD, and you can also expect new tunes from longtime favorites, the Nephews, who have recently been in the studio.
www.internationalpopoverthrow.com
Strange Stage Stories
Jeff Bloom/Army of Love. “One night in 2004 during a visit to Thailand with Mikko Flemming, I started playing guitar on the street after midnight. Every time I broke a string (three times), someone went upstairs and brought me another guitar. People from many different countries were singing along in different languages to Beatles and Rolling Stones songs with me. Yet, the biggest request was for The Scorpions!”
Dave Koz
Dave Koz. “There was one time in front of 15,000 people, I was opening up for Barry Manilow in Chicago at the United Center; it was sold out. I was playing a song on my tenor saxophone and in like a sort of a dramatic thing that I did, taking the sax and pushing it down, my strap broke and the saxophone came out of my hands, and flew, I swear to you, ten feet on the stage and wound up lodged next to one of the monitors. I was horrified. In front of all those people and I could hear a gasp go out. Can you imagine 15,000 people all gasping at the same time? That’s loud! So, I went over to the instrument, and I realized very quickly that it was not going to be playing. And wouldn’t you know it, the saxophone player in Barry’s band was on the side of the stage watching and during the song he got his horn out and gave it to me, and I was able to finish the show using his tenor sax, which was amazing.”
Travis Oliver. “A service truck pulled up next to our stage one year near Winstons. It was very loud and a bit disruptive. So, we just rolled with it trying to make music with the clickity clack of the engine.”
Henry Ortiz/Sandollar. “A few summers ago, there was a fundraiser/tournament at the CaddyHack Golf Festival in Fairbanks Ranch (sponsored by the Boys to Men Foundation). Brian Witkin (Pacific Records CEO) invited Sandollar to play the golf tournament, and the band didn’t realize what kind of celebrities might be there. It was August, hot and muggy. The band sat around waiting, which was kind of a drag. After playing a set, a golfer hopped off the cart, walked up to the band, and said he liked our music. It was Trevor Hoffman. Then he asked, “How can you drink warm beer on a hot day?” He went into the clubhouse and bought the entire band a round of cold beer and handed them out. Everyone cheered, and Hoffman hopped back on the cart and rode away. Shortly afterward, Rob Machado rolled up on a cart and cheered Sandollar on, throwing “double shakas” up. It was a beautiful day.”
