When you read the history of the Casbah on its website you’ll see its address at Kettner Boulevard Laurel Street described as its “new” location — their quote marks, not mine. Well, though one of San Diego’s pre-eminent music clubs has been there for 30 years (after five years on Kettner in another, smaller location), the Casbah continues to be new to emerging generations of patrons.
When owner Tim Mays made the move in 1994 he gained not only more square footage and a full liquor license but an outdoor patio (never mind the jets landing overhead) and a separate back room, the Razzmatazz Room, which is named after Mays’ former partner Bob Bennett’s original vintage clothing store from the ‘80s.
That website I mentioned lists the who’s who of artists who have performed at the Casbah over the years. Shows that Mays says stands out for him? “Morphine, Social Distortion, The White Stripes, The Black Keys, Death Cab for Cutie, X, The Jesus Lizard, Link Wray, Arcade Fire, Joan Jett, Wire, the Slits, Gang of Four, Modest Mouse … to name a few.”
Just wondering, Tim. Could another move for the Casbah, to an even bigger space, be in the cards someday?
“We’re not going anywhere,” Mays said. “This location is perfect for us.”
This weekend at the Casbah: new romantic artist Riki on Friday, Scottish singer/songwriter Midge Ure on Saturday and “1984 – New Wave Dance Party” on Sunday.casbahmusic.com.
Classical music
Is “Tchaikovsky Spectacular” a redundant name for a concert? Those devoted to the famed Russian composer would say so.
In any event, a concert by that title closes the San Diego Symphony’s 2024 Summer Season on Friday at the picturesque Rady Shell at Jacobs Park on San Diego Bay. Symphony music director Rafael Payare will conduct the orchestra in an evening of Tchaikovsky’s works that features the iconic “1812 Overture.”
Do you have even have to ask? Yes, there will be a fireworks display and cannon blasts accompanying that one. Limited tickets are available at theshell.org.
Pop music
Until I gave myself over to iTunes and Amazon Alexa, I was in the process of replacing my favorite LPs with CDs (the latter two seem like ancient history). But one of the albums I never replaced was my vinyl copy of the four-sided “Chicago Transit Authority” from 1969.
Chicago Transit Authority was the original name of the band that shortened that to just Chicago soon afterward. In spite of including the songs “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” and “Beginnings,” the “CTA” album is largely forgotten today. That’s a shame. Besides being intensely political on Side 4, it featured throughout searing guitar by the band’s late, founding guitarist Terry Kath.
I don’t imagine much from “CTA” will be performed Saturday night when Chicago plays Saturday night at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista. Maybe those two songs I mentioned, if you’re lucky. I’ll just have Alexa play the whole “CTA” record for me at home.
Theater
Seeing the Old Globe’s epic production of “Henry 6” this summer got me in a Shakespeare mood, and I’m still in one. That’s why it was a pleasure to discover the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s “Museum From Home” features online.
The site’s “Shakespedia” section offers factoids about The Bard and his works plus inside looks at the original Globe Theatre in London that was built in 1599. Also of note: an exploration of the music that was used in live production of Shakespeare’s works in Elizabethan and Jacobean theaters, and a look at some of the actors who have brought those works to life onstage in modern times, like Judi Dench – she made her Shakespearean debut at 22 in Liverpool playing Ophelia in “Hamlet.”
Maybe all of this is for Shakespeare nerds, but count me among them.
Movies
I know I recommended something at Media Arts Center San Diego’s Digital Gym Cinema last week (its CatVideoFest), but I must go there again. On Tuesday night, as part of its DGC Video series, the ultra-campy kinda creepy cult film “Phantom of the Paradise” from 1974 will be screened at 7 p.m. Visit digitalgym.org.
No less than Brian DePalma directed and wrote this much-overlooked contemporary retelling of the “Phantom of the Opera” tale with shades of “Faust.” Paul Williams, who stars as a record producer in one of the more bizarre screen turns you’ll ever see, composed the music for the film. Its highlight is Jessica Harper as an aspiring singer named Phoenix crooning a haunting ballad titled “Old Ones.”
A tip: Listen for Rod Serling, who does the film’s introductory voiceover.
U-T arts stories you may have missed this week
- Exclusive: San Diego Symphony set for new era, after $125 million-plus concert hall redesign
- Inside the San Diego Symphony’s eye-popping $125 million-plus concert hall redesign
- San Diego Symphony’s season is most extensive in orchestra’s history
- Def Leppard, Journey, Steve Miller Band: 15 things to know if you are going to Friday’s Petco Park concert
- Review: Felder’s masterful ‘Rachmaninoff’ play a dark, fascinating drama
- Chef Tara Monsod is cultivating the French nouveau at Le Coq in La Jolla
- The Beach Boys are still celebrating ‘Endless Summer Gold’ on the road
- Review: Nostagia reigns in New Village’s ’70s musical revue ‘8-Track’
- Where to watch your favorite college football team at San Diego restaurants and bars
- The Dish: 5 new restaurants and a new chef at Books & Records
- Michelin-starred culinary star Drew Deckman opens the doors of his North Park restaurant
- Vantage Theatre’s world premiere play ‘Best Laid Plans’ to explore triumphing over adversity
UCTV
University of California Television invites you to enjoy this special selection of programs from throughout the University of California. Descriptions courtesy of and text written by UCTV staff:
“Discussion of the Film ‘Nowhere’”
In this conversation, filmmaker Gregg Araki discusses his 1997 film “Nowhere,” often described as “Beverly Hills 90210 on acid.” Known for its vivid depiction of disaffected youth and exploration of nihilistic themes, “Nowhere” is a prime example of Araki’s 1990s work—a blend of dark humor, surrealism, and raw emotion. Araki reflects on the post-punk and DIY subcultures that heavily influenced the film, as well as the cult following it garnered. He also delves into the enduring legacy of independent and new queer cinema on his career, and how new wave film movements and the city of Los Angeles shaped his cinematic style and storytelling.
What is craft? This program revisits Plato’s concept of craft, or technê, which encomes not just handicrafts but also skilled practices like housebuilding and navigation. Rachel Barney, a philosophy professor at the University of Toronto, explores how Plato and other Greek thinkers viewed moral virtue and political wisdom as crafts — skilled practices akin to shoemaking or carpentry. Comparable concepts emerge in classical Chinese philosophy, where Daoist and Confucian thinkers developed them in distinct and contrasting ways. Today, craft is often marginalized, yet ancient perspectives highlight its enduring significance. A of experts s the discussion to explore crafts such as carpentry, medicine, and traditional Polynesian navigation, and their relevance to contemporary ethical and political thought.
“Innovation and Equity in the AI Revolution”
The AI revolution, along with other innovations, is driving equitable, community-centered solutions to critical societal challenges, from disease to wildfires. At UC San Diego, cutting-edge technologies are paving the way for a brighter future. In this program, a of experts discusses the crucial role of public higher education in ensuring that AI advancements remain ethical and people-centered. They highlight the need for U.S. investment in infrastructure that empowers institutions to collaborate effectively with industry and government, fostering the next generation of AI technology while advocating for responsible development, regulation, and investment.
And finally, top weekend events
The best things to do Labor Day weekend 2024 in San Diego
