Staring at the Sun XIV Album Release Show! Free!

 

A Free 2-Disc San Diego Compilation!
Staring at the Sun XIV

Cover Art By Mary Fleener and Featuring: The Farmers, Slack Key Ohana, Matthew Phillips, Mark Langford, Nathan Hubbard + 42 more!

 SAN DIEGO, Calif. – On September 8 the latest edition of the FREE San Diego-centric compilation album series, Staring at the Sun XIV, will be released to the public, with a FREE album release show at the world-famous Casbah.

Celebrating both the local music and comics art community, this collectable two-disc CD set features a six-panel foldout jacket with cover art by iconic artist, Mary Fleener, and 47 tracks from San Diego’s burgeoning music scene. Past cover artists include Scott Shaw, Lee Kohse, Chynna Clugston Flores, Jeromy Cox and Batton Lash.

Staring at the Sun XIV features tunes from longtime favorites such as The Farmers, Roni Lee and Jeff Berkley, as well as rising talent, including Matthew Phillips, Lissa Dee and The Film Company. This editions flashback / bonus track is Blue Wind’s 1977 powerpop classic, “Earthquake.”

The album is FREE and only available from the artists, at release events, and at the front counter of two locations: Vespa Motorsport and Rock and Roll San Diego.

Listen to a preview of the album on famed radio program, 91X’s Loudspeaker, at 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 7.

Don’t miss the Staring at the Sun XIV album release show on Monday, September 8, with The Tourmaliners, Swive and more TBA!

The Casbah
Monday, September 8
8 p.m. – 11 p.m.
21 and up.

Free Show. Free Album. Free Food from Lefty’s Pizza. More Surprises TBA

True Stories August 3 Standley Park Set List!

True Stories returned after a yearlong hiatus with a special all British Invasion show, as part of the annual Standley Park Summer Concert Series. The band consisted of Bart Mendoza, David Fleminger, Greg Smith, Billy Tisch, Martin Martinarena and Donna Daly. Special guests were Laurie Beebe Lewis of The Mamas and Papas, Adam Gimbel of Geezer and Kevin Ring of Manual Scan. Here's what they played:

Eight Days A Week
Bad To Me
I’ll Cry Instead
I Feel Fine
Putty (In Your Hands)
Heartful of Soul
For Your Love
Glad All Over
I Should’ve Known Better
I Saw Her Standing There
From A Window
Eleanor Rigby
Do Wah Diddy
Theres A Kind Of Hush
Yesterday's Gone
World Without Love
Route 66
The Last Time
Nowhere Man
I’ve Just Seen A Face
Ticket To Ride
All My Loving
In My Life
Satisfaction (with Kevin Ring)
I Can’t Explain (with Kevin Ring)
Kids Are Alright (with Kevin Ring)
Twenty Flight Rock
Bad Boy (with Adam Gimbel)
I Call Your Name (with Laurie Beebe Lewis)
No Matter What (with Laurie Beebe Lewis)
Sunny Afternoon
I Want To Hold Your Hand
With A Little Help From My Friends
Roll Over Beethoven

Times of San Diego Concert Previews: Heart, Tiki Oasis, Robin Henkel, Full Strength and more

Bart Mendoza's latest for the Times of San Diego (print: La Jolla Village News / Beach and Bay Press) includes info on Tiki Oasis, Robin Henkel at the La Jolla Community Center, Jeff Bloom at Pacific Beach Concerts on the Green, Heart at Pechanga Arena San Diego, Full Strength at La Jolla's Concerts by the Sea, and the The Tourmaliners and Kela Sako at Humphreys Backstage Live. Read here: timesofsandiego.com/arts/2025/07/30/live-from-san-diego-music-on-the-coast-this-week-5

Manual Scan in the Studio!

Manual Scan is working on the follow up to their "Shooting Stars" EP, with work begun on five tracks recently at Earthling Studios, and Mike Kamoo at the board.

Photo by Billy Tisch

True Stories at Standley Park August 3 - Free, All Ages

From Facebook: A fun, free, all ages, outdoor show this Sunday August 3, 5 - 7 p.m. at Standley Park in University City, San Diego. True Stories will feature Bart Mendoza, David Fleminger, Greg Smith, Martín Martiarena, Billy Tisch and several surprise guests, with lots of tunes we've never played before. By request, we'll be playing all British Invasion (stretching the timeline a smidge) hits from 1963 - 1970 :-)

The SceneSD: Spotlight on Gayle Skidmore

Bart Mendoza's latest for the SceneSD is a spotlight on Gayle Skidmore's new album, The Ashtabula River Railroad Disaster.
Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/gayle-skidmore-neo-classical/

Bart Mendoza San Diego Music Hall of Fame Induction September 27

Bart Mendoza will be inducted into the San Diego Music Hall of Fame on September 27 alongside Rosie Flores, The Dinettes, John Reis, Kamau Kenyatta, Bob Magnusson and Eulogio Fos. More details at www.sdmhof.com

Times of San Diego Concert Previews: Fitz & The Tantrums, The Soto Six, Abbey Road, The Cream of Clapton and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the Times of San Diego (print: La Jolla Village News / Beach and Bay Press) with concert previews of Fitz & The Tantrums at Humphreys Concerts by the bay, The Soto Six at dizzy's, The Cream Of Clapton Band with Nathan East at the Epstein Family Amphitheater at UC San Diego, Full Strength at Pacific Beach Concerts on the Green, Beatles tribute Abbey Road at La Jolla Concerts By the Sea, and RosaLea Schiavone's birthday bash with Nathan James etc. at Humphreys Backstage Live Read here: timesofsandiego.com/2025/07/14/live-from-san-diego-music-on-the-coast-this-week-4

The Scene SD July Concerts with Gary Puckett, The Church, Mosh Eisley, Fishbone, George Thorogood, Sandollar and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐒𝐃, with concert spotlights on the Happy Together tour with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, Ron Dante, The Turtles, The Cowsills etc. at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, Fishbone at the The Observatory North Park, The Church at the Belly Up, Britain's Finest at the The Magnolia, Mosh Eisley at the Music Box, George Thorogood & The Destroyers at the Belly Up, Laurie Beebe Lewis & The Electric Underground at Humphreys Backstage Live, Stick Men (Official) at the Bornemann Theater, and Pacific Records Fest with The Tourmaliners, Sandollar, Shane Hall and more at Kate Sessions Park Read here: thescenesd.com/event-scenesd/top-5-concerts-spotlight-concerts-8

The SceneSD: July News Round Up w/ Pierce the Veil, Alison Brown, The Zeros, Ratt and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐒𝐃: July's music news round up, with info on Blame Betty, The Zeros, Ravi Shankar, Pierce The Veil, Ratt, Spud Davenport, Alison Brown / Steve Martin and more. Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/san-diego-music-news-july-2025

Bart Mendoza Fox Rox TV Intros with Jason Mraz, Berkley Hart

Joining regular host, Troy Johnson, Bart Mendoza co-hosted late night music TV show, Fox Rox, three times. Here are intros to the shows live segment, featuring Jeff Berkley & Calman Hart, Jason Mraz and The Displaced.

The SceneSD: The Scientist Dub Orchestra featuring Alicia Previn

Bart Mendoza's latest for The SceneSD is an interview with violinist Alicia Previn about her new album with reggae legend, The Scientist.
Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/alicia-previn-scientist-dub-orchestra

The SceneSD: New San Diego Releases w/ Slightly Stoopid, The Zeros, The Tell-Tale Hearts and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the The SceneSD, with the latest new release news from San Diego related artists, with new albums featuring The Tell-Tale Hearts, The Zeros and Slightly Stoopid pictured. Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/san-diego-music-release-news-june-2025-2

Pacific Records Fest July 13 at Kate Sessions Park with The Tourmaliners, Sandollar and more - Free!

Bart Mendoza will MC the Second annual Pacific Records Showcase on July 13 at Kate Sessions Park in Pacific Beach. The event is free and will feature a selection of artists from the Pacific Records label, including Sandollar, The Tourmaliners, Slack Key Ohana, Kela Sako, Shane Hall and more. All ages.

The SceneSD: An Interview with Comics / Animation legend Scott Shaw!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the The SceneSD: An interview with comics / animation legend Scott Shaw, detailing his music related projects, including Rhino Records, The Ramones, The Flintstones and more. Read here: thescenesd.com/art-scenesd/scott-shaw-the-musical-side-of-a-comics-animation-legend

Strange Stage Stories! Jerry Raney / The Beat Farmers, Pip Lewis, Kimmi Bitter, Baron Lunbeck / Sandollar and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the San Diego Troubadour: Strange Stage Stories with Jerry Raney, Jeff Bloom, Christopher Leyva, Pip Lewis, Baron Lunbeck / Sandollar, Nicolas Peters, Dave Gilbert, Kimmi Bitter and more! Read here: sandiegotroubadour.com/strange-stage-stories-5

The Raspberries / The Shambles 2005

The Raspberries were due to perform in San Diego on October 22, 2005, with The Shambles opening. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled, but not before the show was listed in various publications and a poster was designed. Here's a recently discovered listing included in the October 2005 edition of the San Diego Troubadour. The show is listed on various online sites as having happened, but it never took place.

Times of San Diego: Pacific Records Fest with Sandollar, Gary Puckett, Yachtley Crew, Big Time Operator and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the Times of San Diego (print: La Jolla Village News / Beach and Bay Press), includes previews of Pacific Records Fest on July 13 at Kate Sessions Park with Slack Key Ohana, The Tourmaliners, Sandollar and more (free!), a celebration of life for Fattburger drummer Kevin Koch at Humphreys Backstage Live, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap on the Happy Together tour alongside the Turtles, Ron Dante, The Cowsills and more at Humphreys Concerts by the bay, The Magic of Motown Show at Baker Baum Hall, Yächtley Crëw at Epstein Family Amphitheater at UC San Diego and Big Time Operator at Scripps Park in La Jolla (free!) Read here: timesofsandiego.com/arts/2025/06/30/live-from-san-diego-music-on-the-coast-this-week-3

The SceneSD: Concert Previews Elvis Costello, Gong, Daring Greatly and more!

A look back at June's Spotlight Concerts including the Smooth Jazz Festival, Gong, Mike Keneally, Daring Greatly, The Farmers, Elvis Costello and more.
Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/top-spotlight-concerts-of-june-2025

Times of San Diego: The Chili Cook-Off with Mike Akey

Bart Mendoza chats with Mike Akey, founder of the annual Chili Cook-Off taking place at this weekend's Ocean Beach Street Fair.
Read here: timesofsandiego.com/6/23/chili-cook-off-bigger-ever-two-dozen-competitors

The SceneSD: The 45th Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair

Bart Mendoza speaks to Michael Head (co-booker with Ted Wigler) and bluegrass musician Travis Oliver about the Ocean Beach Street Fair
Read here: thescenesd.com/event-scenesd/ob-street-fair-2025-45-years-of-music-chili-fun-and-sun

The SceneSD: New Release News Anna Troy, Taz Taylor, Thee Allyrgic Reaction and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐒𝐃: June's San Diego-centric new music releases, with info on Anna Troy, Thee Allyrgic Reaction, Taz Taylor and more! Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/san-diego-music-release-news-june-2025

The SceneSD Music News: Nathan Hubbard, Vurv, Blame Betty, Creepxotica and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest San Diego music news round up for the 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐒𝐃, with info on Nathan Hubbard, Vurv, Ravi Shankar, Creepxotica, The Zeros, Blame Betty and more! Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/san-diego-music-news-june-2025

Times of San Diego OB Street Fair Preview!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the Times of San Diego (print: Peninsula Beacon) - a preview of this weekend's Ocean Beach Street Fair, with info on everything happening on the day: the chili cook-off, bands, the Seaside Family Fun Zone, ADA parking, Artists Alley, bicycle valet etc., the details are here: timesofsandiego.com/life/2025/06/23/annual-ob-street-fair-chili-cook-off-set-for-june-27

New Staring at the Sun XIII shirt from Scott Shaw!

It's official! Here is the new Staring at the Sun T-Shirt from Scott Shaw- This is Scott's fantastic art for the cover of Staring at the Sun XIII, featuring a concert at the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The perfect addition to your summer wardrobe! More info here: www.teepublic.com/user/the-shaw-shop

The SceneSD: 2025 San Diego Music Awards

From Facebook: "The 34th annual San Diego Music Awards, edited for TV broadcast, airs on Saturday, June 14 at 8pm on Fox 5 in San Diego. Over $65,000 was raised at this years event, for our Guitars in Schools program. Tune in to catch all of the great performances and the winners announcements!" Here's Bart Mendoza's wrap up article for the SceneSD, with words from Josh Weinstein, Riston Diggs, Matthew Phillips and Deven Berryhill of The Tourmaliners. Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/the-2025-san-diego-music-awards

True Stories at Standley Park / University City on August 3

From PR: "On August 3 True Stories returns after a live hiatus with a special show as part of the Standley Park Summer Concert Series. The all-star band normally focuses on original music, but for this show True Stories will perform a special 2-hour, all British Invasion set, with songs from the likes of The Beatles, The Kinks, The Who, Them and more, including tunes the group has never played before. True Stories will include Bart Mendoza (Manual Scan / The Shambles), David Fleminger (Alvino & The Dwells / Manual Scan), Billy Tisch and Martin Martiarena (The national touring company of The Simon & Garfunkel Story), with a special appearance from Laurie Beebe Lewis of The Mamas and Papas and more tba. Info here: www.universitycitynews.org/summer-concerts-in-standley-park

Times of San Diego Concert Previews: Elvis Costello, Mike Keneally, Martin Martiarena and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the Times of San Diego (print: La Jolla Village News / Beach and Bay Press): with previews of upcoming shows from Elvis Costello at Humphreys Concerts by the bay, Martín Martiarena at the La Jolla Community Center, Mike Keneally / Nathan Raney at the The Holding Company, Jimmy Patton & Enrique Platas at the Athenaeum, Jeff Ousley's Live showcase / Wookie Garcia at Humphreys Backstage Live and a Piano Competition at Baker Baum Hall Read here: timesofsandiego.com/arts/2025/06/16/live-from-san-diego-music-on-the-coast

San Diego County Fair 2025 with Lissa Dee, Blame Betty, Stone Horse and Matthew Phillips

Bart Mendoza's latest for The SceneSD: A preview of the upcoming San Diego County Fair, with quotes from Lissa Dee, Blame Betty, Danielle Spade of Stone Hors and Matthew Phillips.
Read here: https://thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/san-diego-county-fair-june-11-july-4

R.I.P. Brian Wilson

 From Bart Mendoza's Facebook page: 

"A sad day. R.I.P. Brian Wilson, the architect of so many memories and so much incredible music. I've been going to Beach Boys shows since the mid-1970's and was lucky enough to see Brian live many times as well, always a great time. In 2015 Manual Scan was heading to Spain for a festival date and we ended up in the same airport lounge as the Brian Wilson Band. With thanks to the late great Nick Walusko, being in that circle with Brian Wilson, Blondie Chaplin and others is one of my life's highlight's. But my fondest memory is probably circa 1975 and the first dance I attended at Muirlands Jr. High, where the first song played was The Beach Boys "All Summer Long." Every time I hear that song, I'm instantly transported back in time, part of the magic of Brian Wilson's music. Thanks for everything Brian, it's a great understatement to say, you will be missed."

Manual Scan "Shooting Stars"

 The title track from Manual Scan's EP, Shooting Stars

Bart Mendoza, Shotgun Tom Kelly, Dave Mason to MC

On August 23 Bart Mendoza will be part of a special concert at The Grand Ritz Theatre in Escondido. He will be one of the event hosts alongside radio legends Shotgun Tom Kelly and Dave Mason, with an amazing lineup of Laurie Beebe Lewis and the Electric Underground + award-winning surf combo, The Tourmaliners and surprise special guests! 

The SceneSD: Beat Farmers Springsteen Comp + Hootenanny!

Bart Mendoza's latest for The SceneSD is a feature on The Beat Farmers appearance on an upcoming Bruce Springsteen tribute album, plus the annual Beat Farmers Hootenanny at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, with words from guitarist Jerry Raney.
Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/the-beat-farmers-springsteen-hootenanny

The SceneSD: Seawall Prophet on Tour With Sandollar and more!

Bart Mendoza's latest for the 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐒𝐃: Seawall Prophet, Sandollar, and Skyler Lutes are heading out on tour, with a kickoff show tonight at WinstonsOB! Aaron Markland of Seawall Prophet gives the details. Read here: thescenesd.com/music-scenesd/from-the-water-tour-2025

Manual Scan Covered: Sugarplum Live!

The latest blog post from Anthony Meynell / HiLo Records feature details on cover songs, including Sugarplum's version of Manual Scan's "Confidence and Love." The post includes a live version.
Read / Watch here: www.hilorecords.co.uk/blogs/new-blog-post/cover-versions-the-latest-newsletter