People Under the Stairs@ Aubergine
It's been five years since the first People Under The Stairs album "The Next Step" hit the streets, and the traditions and rules that uphold hip-hop's subculture still continue to crumble. Remember the time when hip-hop was real? When the beats were tight, the rhymes reflected the nuances of the struggles in life, and the scratching…man the scratching that melted your brain because you just couldn't keep up? This is the music that captured the sounds of a passing city, and of course, the people that made that city move. The People Under The Stairs are firmly planted in this era, and their art is much more than their music - it is the vibe they convey through it. This month, People Under the Stairs take it back to the good times of roller skates, hot dogs and fresh fades with their new summer offering "…Or Stay Tuned." A collection of new jams full of fun times, lyrics that make you laugh and more of that good living style hip-hop you love.

The People Under The Stairs' Thes One and Double K have excused themselves from modern hip-hop. "We are not MC's, producers, or DJs," Double K explains, "we are B-boys, and we do all of that naturally". Together, both members dig for records, produce the beats, rap, scratch, engineer, design the artwork, construct the albums, and in doing so, present some of the most personal music available in hip hop. According to Thes, "People can't readily define what we make, if anything, they say it sounds dated. I take that as the highest form of compliment right now." Refusing to use any keyboards, the duo construct their music completely from the records they dig out of the surrounding urban sprawl. And in every sense, they follow the traditions and standards set forth by their ancestors. "Kool Herc wasn't rocking jams with a keyboard. He had doubles of rare funk with dope breaks, and hip-hop was born. We could never evolve outside of that standard, it will forever define who we are."

In 1998 they released their full length debut album entitled The Next Step (Step One), which caught the attention of San Francisco-based Om Records, the well respected underground house label (Mark Farina, Marques Wyatt) who soon after hearing the album, offered the duo a recording contract and re-issued the album on Om. After signing in the late summer of 1999, PUTS released their second album "Question In the Form of an Answer" (Step 2). Capturing the People Under The Stairs in classic form with funky jazz loops, crisp scratching, and a refreshingly lighthearted attitude towards hip hop, Question's BUZZ in the hip-hop community brought PUTS coverage in such magazines as VIBE, URB (Next 100) and XXL. Gaining from the momentum in the media, PUTS went on to tour, playing over 200 live shows in 1999-2001, performing before crowds as large as 20,000.

The third album "OST (Original Sound Track)" (step three) was released in June of 2002 on Om Records. Packed with the spirit of dope beats, diggin' through the crates and smokin' blunts, PUTS took us all back to the time when hip-hop was about real life. The theory behind the album was to shorten the distance between artist and person listening. "Our ultimate goal with O.S.T. was to have the person listening to the album feel like they personally know us," says Thes. Critical acclaim came in bunches, from major features and reviews in URB, Elemental, Blender, Heckler, Stance, Strength and more, PUTS went on to join two massive US Tours (Cali-Comm and Family Values) and tour Europe 3 times. All eyes are now on them from the underground to the masses, with everyone thinking ‘what will they do next?'

Their stripes speak for themselves, and if you want some real hip-hop, traditional b-boy style, three ways sideways, these cats are a definite can't miss.

Phunk Junkeez@ Canes
The Phunk Junkees are Southwest rap-rock pioneers, and true purveyors of the underground – even if they don't get much coast-to-coast credibility. "Back when Bank One Ballpark was The Silver Dollar Club, illegal warehouse parties were thrown in abandoned buildings in the stagnant Phoenix industrial parks, and raves were still just called parties, The Phunk Junkeez proved and still continue to prove their notoriety as the kings of the underground music scene." The crew still throws underground parties - breaking into warehouses, bringing some kegs, and throwing down! Showcasing their original mélange of trip-hop, punk, and hardcore from their new album "Rock It Science," the Junkeez bring the noise to the Canes for what looks to be a phat paw-tay. Their last SD gig at Brick by Brick was cancelled last-minute – looks like they still retain some of that rag-tag illegal party vibe. Hope they show this time! Judge D, Mower, and Compass open.

Camper Van Beethoven@ Belly Up
Camper Van Beethoven is a classic example of a band's legend growing long after their demise. I mean, Sugar was a class indie band, but no one cared about them until after Bob Mould went solo. And the Pixies had a profound influence on so many late-90s alternative bands, but it wasn't until after Kim Deal was in the Breeders and Frank Black was in the Catholics (well, technically the Catholics backed his solo career, but I digress) that you ever heard of how revered the Pixies were. Camper Van Beethoven had come and gone, and David Lowery was already on his way to moderate commercial success with Cracker, before the CVB legend started to blossom. Then around the turn of the millennium, some demo tapes were unearthed – some old cuts of the band covering all of Fleetwood Mac's Tusk during a blizzard up in Mammoth – this was enough to rekindle some of those indie flames between the band. By 2000, the band was back together, and in 2003 we saw an unbelievable Cracker/Camper combo tour, with Mr. Lowery at the healm for both sets. Now Camper is back, to bring us their truly original blend of ska, folk, punk and world beats – one of the 80's greatest indie bands, back in action! LP opens.

Marah@ The Casbah
Marah used to be a No-Depression band that only the most seasoned alt-country shoegazer would have known about. Then, the Philly band caught the ear of the legendary Steve Earle, who signed them to his Artemis Records label. Maybe it was learning by osmosis from one of the most influential roots rock artists ever; maybe they just needed a few years under their belt, onstage and in the studio. But before you could say car wheels on a gravel road, the Boss was even showing up for Marah's now-legendary East Coast swings. "Start with the streetcorner-poet romance and starry-eyed frat-rock exuberance of the first Springsteen albums. Add dashes of Philly soul, girl-group pop, Van Morrison troubadourism, Layla's instrumental grandeur, The Faces' scrappy folk-rock, the best of Motown, doo-wop, R&B and even double-dutch chants. Now swirl it all together with tales of transvestites, streetcorner pizzerias and drug deals gone tragically wrong, and you've got 20,000 Streets Under the Sky, the latest essential masterpiece from singer-guitarist brothers Dave and Serge Bielanko, the heart and soul of Marah. Anyone who's heard their flawless 2000 album Kids in Philly -- or been lucky enough to witness one of their magnetic, evangelically charged live shows -- understands the Bielankos still believe in a world where rock 'n' roll is meant to save your soul. And as they guide you through the dark streets and seedy dives of their beloved Philadelphia on these 11 cuts, spinning everyday moments into gorgeous, life-affirming epics of valiant struggle, it's impossible not to fall under their seductive spell -- and find your own faith renewed in the process." Urban Evergreen opens.

Half Pint@ Canes
Dancehall singer Half Pint recorded some of the genre's early classics during the first half of the '80s. His appeal outside Jamaica was initially somewhat limited due to poor distribution (aka shady record labels), but the best of his work was frequently brilliant. He was the first major artist produced by Prince Jammy (later King Jammy), and together they helped establish a lighter, more relaxed, melodic approach to dancehall that made for an easy transition into the digital reggae era. While Half Pint's subject matter was mostly romantic, he also offered the occasional conscious lyrics, which for a time made him an exception in the dancehall world among both singers and DJs.

Half Pint was born Lindon Roberts in the Rose Lane area of West Kingston, and earned his future stage name early on for his small size. He paid his dues in the Kingston reggae scene by touring with various local sound systems for several years, and in 1983, he finally landed a shot in the recording studio with Prince Jammy, then a protégé of King Tubby, who was just starting to establish his own career. Half Pint and Jammy went on to produce some of reggae's most influential tracks in the mid-80s, culminating with the dancehall classic "Level the Vibes."

With dancehall tastes shifting toward slack and violent material by the late '80s, Half Pint found his bright, amiable style slipping behind the times. He continued to record steadily, but his commercial success declined at a rapid pace. He was able to recapture the public's attention in 1992 thanks to the smash hit "Substitute Lover," which took its place among his finest singles and re-introduced him to the rasta world, and beyond. Word of Half Pint's music started to spread beyond reggae fans; in 1986, The Rolling Stones covered his early hit "Winsome" on their Dirty Work album, under the new title "Too Rude." Sublime also reworked Half-Pint's classic track "Loving" into one of their biggest hits - "What I Got." Pint finally returned to action with 1998's full-length Legal We Legal, and followed it two years later with Closer to You. Since then he has restaked his claim as an ambassador to the modern era of dancehall reggae.

Opening for Half Pint will be the ever-present Dubcat – you know, those bros from Hepcat and Long Beach Dub All-Stars, which of course is the offspring of Sublime, sans Bradley. Eric and Bud are no doubt stoked to be opening for one of their biggest influences, and with Dubcat, Half Pint and a crew of openers (DJ JFX, David Gad, Stranger), Canes is bound to be irie all night.

X@ Belly Up
X were the quintessential L.A. punk rockers before they grew into a world-class live rock & roll band; however, enthusiasm for their unique, intelligent and humorous work never quite reached critical mass. "Formed in 1977 after songwriter and bassist John Doe met (and later married) Exene Cervenka at a Venice poetry workshop, with rockabilly veteran Billy Zoom on guitar and D.J. Bonebrake on drums, the band garnered an immediate underground following. "Discovered" by ex-Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, he took the band into the studio for the recording of Los Angeles in 1980. It was curious, at a time when punks were supposed to hate hippies, that X's merging with an ex-Door was not only tolerated, but earned them stature as California's preeminent punk band when the record earned across-the-board raves. 1981 saw the release of the similarly punked-up Wild Gift, while their 1982 album, Under the Big Black Sun, began what would be a long career in merging hard rock, country and folk into their fiery mix. The band successfully began to mix in their populist politics with an eye toward matters of the heart."

X suffered a sketchy off-and-on run throughout the 90s, alternating between recording as a band, breaking up and pursuing avenues as solo artists. In the 90s, Doe abandoned his punk roots to expand his solo career that focused on more acoustic, country-influenced sound. The later X records did begin to reflect a rockabilly influence, but it wasn't until his solo album Meet John Doe that he took on a full, No-Depression-type sound. X reunited, then broke up again in 1996, but John Doe continued to write, record and perform music. Now X is back to remind us why they're one of the Left Coast's most influential punk bands ever. The Waxapples and The After Party open.

Hepcat@ Belly Up
Hepcat is a legendary LA-based ska band that has done nothing but build momentum over the last year. A couple one-offs up in LaLaLand to get up the chops, a flurry of shows as Dubcat, with Eric and Bud of Sublime, and next thing you know, Hepcat is back at center stage. "Demonstrating a firm grasp of ska traditions, Hepcat crafts a rich textured sound building upon Jamaican roots rather than 2Tone or third wave styles. Employing walking bass lines carrying rocksteady melodies, guitar emphasizing an off-beat upstroke and a powerful, though not oppressive, brass section, Hepcat is one of the strongest modern ska acts." Unsteady and DJ Slowpoke open.

Burning Spear@ Belly Up
The story goes that Winston Rodney aka Burning Spear was walking the hills of St. Ann's Parish in Jamaica, when he came across a young Bob Marley, on his way back to his farm. "We just reason man-to-man and I-man say wherein I would like to get involved in the music business. And Bob say, ‘All right, just check Studio One.'" It was at Coxsone Dodd's legendary Studio One that Burning Spear recorded the first two classic records of his 35-year career, Burning Spear and Rocking Time. The albums and performances that followed and continued for over three decades have made Burning Spear one of the most brilliant and influential Jamaican roots artists ever. "Part Rastafarian preacher, part black historian, more than any other roots artist, Burning Spear has illuminated Rastafarianism in song, sharing his beliefs with an avid public."

Much of Burning Spear's music is a dedication to Marcus Garvey, a fellow St. Ann's parishioner and legendary black leader. "In performance the message is revealed by Spear in plaintive wails and hypnotically repeated choruses. Often he will spread his arms straight out and whirl across the stage, a dreadlock dervish. [Spear's music] makes the body aware of its natural breathing, both psychic and physical, so that by the end of a successful concert there is something of the ecstasy of a revival. Between the African-style call and response, and the unrelenting bassline that insinuates itself into the brain, he who has ears will surely hear the Eternity in the songs of Burning Spear." Deep, warm, rolling roots beats dripping with Jamaica, layered amongst the impassioned chants of an old wise rasta – come let your soul be free. Elijah Emanuel and the Revelations open.

Jason Bentley@ Ventanas
"It was soon after 1988, the notorious Summer of Love, the season that swept house music across Europe, that Jason Bentley got bitten by the DJ bug. After falling in love with the new sounds he heard in Europe, Bentley came back to America and began to spin. First off came a few stints at college radio, doing shows at the University of Massachusetts and then, back in Los Angeles, at KXLU. There, Illicit Groove, a program named after an early acid jazz track, helped nurture the sound that he promotes to this day as director of A&R for Maverick Records and as a radio programmer at stations KCRW and KROQ.

Championing the spectrum of club and pop sounds from house, downtempo, acid jazz and drum & bass to techno, electro, and more, on his KCRW program Metropolis, Bentley has established his show as truly an amalgamation of sounds. On the air for more than seven years, Metropolis serves up a mix of electronic pop sounds and has helped break and establish such artists as Portishead, Massive Attack, The Chemical Brothers, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Jazzanova, and Roni Size among many others, not only to audiences in Los Angeles, but worldwide.

Metropolis has also helped to nurture a thriving club scene in Los Angeles; the weekly club BossaNova! at which Bentley is a resident DJ along with Bruno Guez, and Jun of Umoja Sound System, has taken dance music from the airwaves to the dance floor for nearly five years. Besides DJing, Bentley also has worked as a producer/remixer on tracks from Garbage to Baby Namboos and is currently working in the studio on new original material. Bentley has been a music supervisor for the film City of Industry and, most recently, on the Grammy-nominated platinum-selling soundtrack to The Matrix. He currently works as an A&R executive at Maverick Records.

MergeEvents is pleased to bring an acclaimed producer and DJ like Jason Bentley to Ventanas – the club/restaurant that is poised to take over as the venue for forward-thinking, music-focused events in San Diego!

Were you there? About 700 people were at Ventanas, for the opening night of the new monthly Broadcast Sessions, presented by CultivateLife.org, Merge Events and OceanLiner Records. And "people" is about the way to quantify this beautifully eclectic crowd – rastas, dominatrix, shiny shirts, ravers, goths, techno snobs, club kids, house legends, soulbossa lounge freaks – ya know, the CultivateLife community, in all it's variety and flavor, just percolating with artistic appreciation – the warm vibes of the Soulphonic Soundsystem keeping the heat up in the lounge, the callous blasts of bass from the techno live PAs and DJs in the warehouse – live instrumentation fused with electronic beats everywhere you turn – the gear, the labtops, the white labels, the video installations….the fusion of analog and digital, the juxtaposition of sounds and vibes and rooms…THE FUCKING LASER HARP!!!

The night started as the Padre game across the street was ending, with Ventanas resident At-Sushi spinning deep soulbossa-tinged house in the lounge and Tijuana's Ejival dropping some minimal dub techno in back. As Soulphonic Soundsystem began to play up front, a couple hundred people were lucky enough to witness the first-ever performance by Soul in the Machine – if anyone has ever said "you have to see it to believe it," and meant it, 10:30 on August 7th was the time, and the Ventanas warehouse was the place. Pulsating progressive trance performed live by the metallic angels of SITM – a giant digital drum rig that exploded with neons with every beat; two 15-foot metal double-helix structures that oscillated with laser light at every keyboard stroke; a twenty-foot high harp with laser strings – no strings though, just FREAKING LASERS that played like the strings of a harp – this was the Blue Man Group on acid, millennium-electronica with overwhelming live visual instrumentation beyond anything we've seen anywhere. This was the very first of many rooms of minds to be blown by Soul in the Machine – see you at Burning Man fellas…thanks for popping your cherry with us…

As Soul in the Machine completely leveled the warehouse, The Soulphonic Soundsystem kept the Ventanas lounge chalk-full of warm pulses and shaking asses, with their gorgeous mix of latin, jazz and electronica, all performed live – and having El John from Thievery Corporation providing live percussion to Soulphonic's latin-laced electronic grooves made this night of music that much more significant. The area in front of their setup swelled with bodies as the energy escalated and the dancing undulated – the perfect complement to the cold, dark warehouse was the warm, cozy lounge, and the Soulphonic Soundsystem kept that vibe alive all night long. Whether you were cooling out in one of the plush sofas, or making your way around the beautifully diverse crowd, the front lounge had an energy all it's own, all damn night.

If ever there was a challenge in the night (aside from assembling all the gear collectively hauled into Ventanas by all the artists) it would be following the mind-fuck of a performance from Soul in the Machine. And, if there were ever a group that was more than up to the task, it would be San Diego's nominal. Live PA, minimal techno, with live bass, drums, synthesizers, melodica, synchronized visuals and a kitchen sink for good measure – don't even bother keeping track who's playing what, because they're all playing everything! nominal is at the forefront of live electronic performance, and we are happy to be working with them to produce this incredible monthly… we're just gonna keep begging for these guys to be our residents…

Then Proton Radio's Dan Mnookin grabbed the baton and blazed til close – his versatility with track selection and flawless programming showed why he's been tearing up Europe and Mexico the last year – minimal, electro, tech-house, even some low-BPM booty tech? – shit, the only way to describe it is from the man himself: "…it's good stuff." No wonder NYC's 112 Crew were dropping his tracks at this year's WMC - there were hundreds on hand, jackin' as Dan kept the warehouse crackin' – this won't be the last time he plays for us, we promise.

As the headliner for our opening night wound down, the room was still laced with people of all colors, backgrounds, motives and perspectives – and our vision for an eclectic, music-focused monthly, fusing electronic music with live instrumentation, downtown but with none of that Gaslamp attitude, was born. The first installment of Broadcast Sessions was an overload of the senses – just the way a good kickoff is supposed to be! But it was surrounded at its core by the foundation of this monthly – a home for our CultivateLife community, and the kind of focus on cutting-edge music that is often ignored in San Diego nightlife for the sake of the almighty dolla. Our club night reflected our vision as a publication perfectly – focus on what matters – the art, the music, the people, and the vibe! The first Broadcast Sessions unquestionably cultivated life – now it's time to sow the seeds! Stay tuned for the next Broadcast Sessions – Saturday, September 25th, with a very special guest from Berlin, Germany….details to follow!

Check out the complete photo gallery

Describing the Burning Man Festival to someone who has never attended is nearly impossible. How do you try and quantify something that operates from a completely idealistic, abstract perspective, and plays out like some sort other-worldly dream sequence? Most people, when asking for a description, look for the standard modus operandi that defines festivals these days: "What bands are playing?" "When does it end each night?" While there are answers to these questions, they are completely secondary to the experience itself. Burning Man is the experience – and the experience is, exactly what you choose to make it. All you can do is take your watch off and prepare to lose your shit.

Burning Man is an exercise in idealism, survival, and spirituality. It's a moment of spontaneous civilization, where the word normal becomes synonymous with diverse. Burning Man is a celebration of life. Burning Man is a place of total freedom – artistic, mental, physical, emotional, spiritual freedom. Burning Man is a place where people go to be reborn, to live in a community that operates with no boundaries, but needs none because everyone within the community of 30,000 follows the same inherent rules of respect, compassion, love, sharing. Imagine that – a world where you can count on your neighbor to lend you a hand, no matter what the task. Where any stranger you meet, will greet you with open arms and whatever gifts they can offer. You share not what you choose to, not what you try to, but just what you are, and hold back nothing. Where you can completely lose your mind, and feel completely comforted at the same time. It's a place where thousands of people return home to once a year.

So, to some maybe speaking in these abstract terms doesn't really help them any. Is there music there? Undoubtedly. How about 100-foot clubs built in the desert with more sound than most club systems. How about Adam Freeland spinning inside a 50-foot tall boom box. How about 7-hour sunrise sets from Rabbit in the Moon. Or giant tribal drum circles with hundreds upon hundreds of percussionists. And the most amazing part is – these artists are just as overwhelmed as you are by the whole experience. But Burning Man is so, so much more than that. The first sunrise that you are awoken by the sound of 10,000 people dancing the sun up. The art installations – for the sake of beautiful meaningless meaningful expression.

So what can we say for certain? Burning Man is definitely one grueling week in the harsh Black Rock Desert. This means 100+ degree days in the unforgiving heat, blinding white-outs, potentially freezing nights. There is no money exchanged at Burning Man, and absolutely no commercial sponsorship of any kind. Meaning, no concession stands, no food, no beer, no souvenirs. Everything you need, you must bring yourself, or be prepared to barter for. On the last Saturday of the festival, the ever shrinking Man completes his job as your guide and leaves all direction and purpose up to your interpretation.

Burning Man is an opportunity to completely lose yourself from the world as we know it. To embrace the ideals of love, freedom, expression, hedonism, community, and survival. To leave the rules of this world behind, and live in a place where there are no rules, and none are needed, because the community is completely conscious of one another at all times.

While there are technically no rules at Burning Man, there are guidelines to follow to ensure a safe and respectful experience. Please read the FAQand Survival Guide.

The CultivateLife family will be setting up camp at 4:30 and Mercury - please feel free to stop by and come celebrate with us!

We will have a special Burning Man Experience section in Edition 020 of CultivateLife which will be out in the middle of September…stay tuned for all the incredible details.

Ticket Price and link: $250 tickets.burningman.com

Presented by Anonymous Recordings, Goodghost and CSL, this summer music extravaganza features 2 areas of music in a secluded park. Featuring House, Techno, DnB, Hip Hop and Chill beats!

Under the shade of the trees enjoy the house stylings of:

Dizzy - Doubledown, Lowdown
Bobby Valentine - Guided Method, Greenhouse
Jaywood - Anonymous Recordings, Public Access, Scenic
Damon Clark – Scenic
Lamont Moerhaus - UST, Battlemonkey.net
Dajames - Guesswho?
Deepce – Unite

And under the gazebo your ears will hear, hip hop, dnb and old school with:

Baquai and Discoboy (tag team set) - Goodghost, CSL, Big Butt, Good Times
Jon Brae – UTN
Jon E Thin - 4486, Alaris
Jeff Kolbash - 4486, Goodghost
Plus special guest...
random k - all the way from AZ dropin so mad DnB

Just bring yourself and relax in the summer sun! There will be a BBQ with plenty of eats, and a cooler with plenty of drinks. All you need to do is have a good time on us!

All are welcome - 12am to 9pm - located at Pepper Park - 5 South, exit Mile Of Cars Way in National City, go right at end of offramp, left at Tidelands to the end.

Brew and View@ WhistleStop Bar Independent
The Brew and View returns to the fabulous with "BV-11:Industrial Revolution", films by some of 1950's best industrial videos, such as: "Duck and Cover"- this will NOT protect you from an Atom bomb- "Are you Popular?" and "Perversion for Profit" a Charles Keating production.

This month's lineup also includes local award winner "Always Tomorrow", the Award winning "The Robber", Heavy.com's "Behind the Music that SUCKS: Britany Spears" as well as videos, surprises, internet rarities (NEW GI JOE) and a gaggle of killer giveaways!

Uncovered: The War On Iraq@ Ken Cinema Documentary
Filmmaker Robert Greenwald (Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism) chronicles the Bush Administration's determined quest to invade Iraq following the events of September 11, 2001. The film deconstructs the administration's case for war through interviews with U.S intelligence and defense officials, foreign service experts, and U.N. weapons inspectorsincluding a former CIA director, a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia and even President's Bush's Secretary of the Army. Their analyses and conclusions are sobering, and often disturbing, regardless of one's political affiliations. Official Web Site

The San Francisco Sessions @ Ventanas - Fridays (San Francisco Future-Soul)
These special engagements initiate a new series of events at Ventanas, bringing to San Diego some of SF's finest Djs known for defining that ‘future-soul' sound of the Bay Area.

Friday, August 13th
Vanka (Stellar Trax / Worldwide)
Originally from Belgium, Vanka Van Ouytsel has been a SF Bay Area DJ and promoter for more than 10 years. As part of the Stellar Trax Sound System, Vanka became known for spinning dub heavy beats at parties such as the now legendary Future Primitive Sound Sessions. Lately, he's been dropping mostly Afro-Brazi-Latin grooves (from past to future) at his current San Francisco weekly parties "Misturada" and "Worldwide", as well as various other spots around the city. Vanka also spins regularly with local Bay Area Brazilian bands such as Bat Makumba and Suberbacana.

Friday, August 20th
Mike Bee (Blasthaus)
Mike Bee has been involved in the San Francisco music & club scene since 1995, and has played at nearly every venue in the city alongside talent such as Mark Farina, Grooverider, Thievery Corporation & Jazzanova. Mike currently runs "Safe" every Saturday at The Top since July of 2003, hosting the cream of future soul DJ's such as Domu, Alex Attias, John Beltran, Bugz In The Attic, Dego and more.

Friday, August 27th
Tom Thump (Cosmic Flux)
Selected this year by international "future music" journal URB MAGAZINE as one of club music's "NEXT 100". Tom first got acclaim by DJing clubs, house parties and raves in LA and SF in the early 90s becoming a resident at Metro Jazz (with Mauricio Aviles, Franky Boissy and Julius Papp), Mushroom Jazz (Mark Farina, Rasta Qtip, DJ Iz) and Release in San Francisco. He has achieved a semi-cult status on the West Coast and around the world for his underground dancefloor jazz/hip hop/jazzy house/and atmospheric drum & bass mix tapes.

This exciting line up of imported talent will join Ventanas resident dj At-Sushi for eclectic evening ranging from broken beat/nu-jazz to 2-step/UK garage, fused with the sweet sounds of soulbossa nova.

Ventanas is at 338 Seventh Ave, between J&K, downtown San Diego CA 92101, $10, 21+, 9PM-2AM.

TuesStep @ Red C Lounge - Tuesdays (House)
Tues Step has been a consistent, quality source of house in the Gaslamp for quite some time now - Red Sonya and J-Be represent quality SD house and a chilled vibe for a Tuesday session.

TuesStep is at Red C Lounge, 756 5th Ave, Gaslamp, 21+, No Cover

Process @ The Latin Room – Wednesdays - (Techno, Drum n' Bass)
Process is a bold, solid undertaking of quality techno and drum n' bass in the Gaslamp during the week – with residents Austin Speed and Tyler Hanel bringing the best from Detroit, Berlin, Stockholm and yes even our own SD, expanding their presence from techno/electro live mixes every Thursday from 7 to 9PM on DirtyRadio (www.dirtyradio.net) and alternating with bi-monthly quality drum n' bass events. The 4th features local legends Baquai? and Jeff Kolbash from 4486.

Groove Society is at Recognize, 4746 El Cajon Blvd, $3, 21+

My House. Your House. Our House Music. @ Bar Dynamite - Wednesdays (House)
Bar Dynamite Wednesdays proudly presents…A night of deeply minded, soul-fueled House music with resident DJs Duane (alluv/citydeep) and Lil RYAN (natural flavor)

Bar Dynamite is at 1808 W.Washington St , 21+, 9pm-2am, Be Yourself!

OrangeKiss @ Air Conditioned Lounge – Thursdays - (Down-tempo/Lounge)
Remember the Green Circle Bar? The place were the Allstars began, as well as the home to legendary sets from the likes of The Roots, Karen Wheller of Soul to Soul, Brand New Heavies, DJ Food and Kid Koala? Forget the 80s - what about SD in the 90s - Acid Jazz, Stepjazz, and stores like "Behind the Post Office" & Parallel Universe?

Well things in this town always seem to be circular and Paulo, one of the owners of the legendary Green Circle, just recently opened a new venue in North Park, the Air Conditioned Lounge. As downtown is completely saturated with ballpark traffic these days, it is the perfect time for hip urban lounges outside the Gaslamp to step up to the plate. When the city is bought, we are left to make the best out of the peripheral areas. Casbah, Live Wire, Kadan, Aztec Bowl (RIP), Dynamite, Whistle Stop, Local 13, Buster Dailey’s (just reworked) and Airport (forth coming) are just a few of the spots for the more the innovative and interesting music scene - original points of creativity, free of the Gaslamp commercialization. Keep it alive and support the peripheral! Every Thursday satisfy your Kitsch itch with cinematic sexadelic soundscapes and Martini sippin' citrus lips, bound to make your soul do back flips - featuring the sweetest soft player Lounge Music at the new sweet spot in town.

Process is at the Latin Room, 560 4th Ave Downtown SD 21+, Free Techno.

Broken Beat @ Kadan - Monthly, Last Fridays (Mixed EDM)
From Los Angeles, CA, Broken Beat welcomes DERU (Neo Ouija, Mille Plateaux, City Centre Offices) A review of Deru's "Pushing Air" on Neo Ouija: "Deru is the root of such words as tree and duration. With this in mind, Ben Wynn feels that music should grow roots of its own. From natural sound sources randomly manipulated to treated basslines and downbeat percussive grooves - these are all manifested with relative ease on Pushing Air, where ambient drifts roll peacefully over cascading electrical currents. While many experimental electronic artists strive at reinventing sounds, Deru manages to extract the most unusual tones to create snappy and well laid-out tracks. This approach is evident on "Din", "Protecto", and "Flux of Humor" - three tracks that all grow in their own sonic territory with subtle female vocal elements highlighting the grooves. While most of Pushing Air depends on ambient driven layers, a sheet of darker electronic frequencies appear on almost every track. Call it minimal, abstract, obscure or experimental…Pushing Air unfolds its delicate beauty with each stimulating listen.

Broken Beat this month also features M. MEHDI (outrecords) - Muhammed has been making music since the Commodore. If you have not had a chance to catch this amazing local producer, please do not miss this opportunity. Also in the house is Broken Beat's own Jon Baker.

BrokenBeat is at Kadan, 4696 30th street, (Corner of 30th & Adams Ave.) SD, CA 21+, FREE

Reaction @ Honey Bee Hive - Monthly, Third Saturdays (Mixed EDM)
The Vinyl Elements Crew is a group of friends striving to keep the underground alive. By fusing diverse styles of electronic music together with live art, the VE crew contributes to the growth of San Diego's music community. The residents include SkuTech, Red Sonya, Knottyboy, Jersan, and Frizz.

This month’s Reaction on the 21st features special guests Aural Aesthetic w/ Mr. Puma MC. This is Aural Aesthetic's first visit back to SD since Reaction’s 2-year anniversary party. This eclectic electronic group will grab your attention from the beginning with their powerful beats, not to mention their driving lyrics by Mr. Puma MC. This month is also a special going away party for SpeakEasy’s Afshar – “we are sad to report that affy is moving away from SD. *sob!* aw, take a look at the the bright side... you can come to his going away party and send him off propa!” Also featured are Reaction-virgins Ele and niknak, along with the VE resident DJs.

Reaction is at HoneyBee Hive, 14 th & C Downtown, $3, 21+

Tribe of Kings – Weeklies – (Reggae)
The Tribe of Kings just don’t QUIT! And the spaces they’re now locking down are a testament to their ethic. Keeping the island riddims steady almost every night of the week, the TOK crew now comes correct in L5’s back room on Friday nights, which have already been representing the best in hip-hop past, present and future. And with Sidebar on Tuesdays and their now-legendary Downtown Top Rankin’ at Shaker Room on Sunday nights, the Tribe of Kings are making sure our souls are irie with the best in dubstyle, conscious dancehall, roots reggae, hip-hop and every damn bit inbetween:

Mondays @ Dub Dynamite @ Bar Dynamite
Tuesdays @ SideBar
Wednesday @ How The West Was One @ Martini Ranch - Encinitas
Thursdays Hi-Grade @ Galoka 
Super Hit Sundays @ Aubergine

Adorn - Emerging Artist Reception
Join Adorn Home Gallery for a pre-store opening Art reception showcasing Five Emerging Artists. The original work selected is unique, inspired, thought provoking and cutting edge. This show will be a must see for patrons of montemporary work. Artists to be featured are Erin Blayney, Zach Clement, Aaron David Smith, Jessica Newman and John Thomas.

In addition to viewing some exceptional work, be among the first to see a few of the furniture lines to be carried by Adorn. Adorn will offer distictive products that will compliment modern, mid-century and contemporary styles. Watch for more up and coming art shows and events from Adorn.

Artists Reception: Friday August 27, 2004 6-10pm. Viewing & Sales Sat. August 28, 2004 12- 6pm. Adorn is located in Little Italy at 2400 Kettner Building, Studio 105.

Machine Gun in a Clown’s Hand - A Political Art Show
This summer, San Diego will experience its first contemporary political group art show, coalescing local and internationally-acclaimed artists in a visceral juggernaut of political activism. Drawing upon a long tradition of using art as a means of socio-political expression, Machine Gun in the Clown's Hand is an art show like none other, featuring works that are both thought-provoking and timely. Featured artists include: Robbie Conal, Winston Smith, Chuck Sperry, Bill Pierce, Yoni Laos, Mario Torero, Poor Al, Jason Sherry, Josh Eggleton, Xuchi Naungayan, L. Matthew Bowler, Andi Brandenburg, and The Goatskull. The show is being curated by Radioactive Future and Funerals of Distinction creators Bill and Alexandra Pierce and local artist Yoni Laos.

The opening will be held at Limbo Fine Arts, 1432 University Avenue, in Hillcrest, on Saturday, August 7th, beginning at 7:00 pm. The exhibit will run through Sunday, August 29th, with gallery hours on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Cassius King: Hamburger Eyes in Thunderdrome
Come see the meat of the Hamburger legacy.... Enter THUNDERDOME, where world-renowned BURGERWORLD VIP serve up first-hand accounts of the sacred and profane. Equipped only with cameras, they snap the hell out of Earth and capture life as a series of undisputed masterpieces. A single glimpse at their continuing saga will also be a glimpse back into your own. Hamburger Eyes is gaining complete control of Cassius King from August 13 until September 5, 2004.

Artists include: Ray Potes, Dave Potes, Jason Roberts Dobrin, Dave Schubert, Dylan Maddux, Dave Uzzardi, Ted Pushinksky, Stefan Simikich, Lenard Smith, Gary Bentz Van De Griek, Tim Barber, Boogie, and Tobin Yelland.

Hamburger Eyes On February 14th of 2001, Hamburger Eyes Photo Magazine was created. It was an attempt to answer questions about the dynamic relationship between males and females. The term "hamburger eyes" was slang we used to describe the look you had when you found someone you liked, "Dude, you should go talk to that girl, she's giving you hamburger eyes."

When opening the magazine you enter a pictorial history of the unseen and iconic moments of everyday life. The publication is currently composed of black & white photography. Inspired by the traditions that began with National Geographic and Life Magazine, Hamburger Eyes hopes to revitalize the sensation of photography as a craft as well as a tool to record and document.

The four founding members of the Cassius King Gallery created the gallery because, as active participants in San Diego's burgeoning art community, they felt their city needed a place where both up-and-coming and established artists could show their work. The gallery provides an excellent space for showing and viewing art.

Voz Alta
917 F St, Downtown San Diego

Friday, August 6th
Direct from the Source
Anderson/Garrison Duo: Burnett Andersen (trumpet), Joe Garrison (keyboards)
DFtS concentrates energy for the benefit of all who will receive their good. A new music concept, venturing into the known as well as the unknown with the FOCUS of enjoyment and enlightenment for the performer and listener. The DUO agrees with that assessment (kind of). But it is also EL GIGANTE rides again. Attempts have been made to define DFtS as a combination of Ritual Ceremony and Party. Listeners comment that they don't know whether to pray or dance. Well. Why not do both? And don't forget to bring your hopes and dreams and not allowing the fear of fun to direct you. Why not be happier than a fool in love?

Saturdays, August 7th & 21st
Trummerflora presents - Other Ideas at Voz Alta
The Trummerflora collective presents Other Ideas at Voz Alta. The Trummerflora Collective is an independent group of music makers that embraces the pluralistic nature of creative music as an important means of artistic expression for the individual and the community, and provides an atmosphere that nurtures the creative development of its members.

Thursday, August 26th
Brett Sanders Soul/Jazz Project
The Brett Sanders Soul/Jazz Project a Pic-a-Dillio, Funky Jazzio Sound experience...an excerpt from a listener attending one the performances, " I hear a little bit of Tower of Power, a little of Earth, Wind, and Fire." From another listener ," it reminds me of the Dave Clark Five"…. Bringing the sound of soul and jazz.

Saturday, August 28th, 8 PM
Laura del Fuego
The Voz Alta Project continues its exciting summer schedule of music, spoken word, visual art and community empowerment with a night of vibrant local music and poetry featuring Chicana author/poet Laura del Fuego on Saturday, August 28th 2004, 8:00 p.m..

Del Fuego, a Northern California based writer, will read from a selection of her work, including her most recent novel Carmen Garcia published by A. Figueroa Press. The novel tells the story of a catholic girl gone very bad, and takes the reader on a wild ride from the ag fields of Watsonville to the San Francisco Mission district to an upscale Sausalito hills mansion. It follows on the heels of Del Fuegos well-received first novel, Maravilla, a novel about coming of age in 1950s East Los Angeles.

According to Jill Lippit, editor of Womens Information Exchange, Carmen Garcia was here moves along at a great pace. It hits a sensitive nerve in its depiction of the clash between Anglo and Latino cultures. I became totally engrossed and read it in two days. A vivid and colorful though sometimes painful and difficult Chicana experience.

Del Fuego a California Arts Council Recipient for Literature 2002 as well as screenwriter and editor, Del Fuegos writing has been described as creative, imaginative, poetic and hilarious, and her poetry, essays and stories have been widely published in journals and anthologies.

She has performed and read her poetry in various locales around Northern California and San Francisco.

Sunday, August 29th
San Diego Indymedia - Film Nights @ Voz Alta
The Miami Model
What is the Miami Model? In November 2003, trade ministers form 34 countries met in Miami, Florida to negotiate the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). FTAA threatens to devastate workers, the environment, and public services like health care, education and water, and to destroy indigenous rights and cultural diversity across North, Central and South America.

Thousands of union members, environmentalists, feminists, anarchists, students, farm workers, media activists, and human rights activists who gathered in Miami to struggle against the FTAA were brutally attacked with rubber bullets, pepper spray, electric guns and shock batons, embedded reporters and information warfare, all coordinated by the new United States department of Homeland Security.

Against Kapitals model of paramilitary oppression, information warfare, and corporate rule, we offered models of grassroots resistances, creative action and solidarity.

The Sex Life of Orchids
Monday, September 13, 6:30 p.m
Orchids will stop at nothing to get pollinated! Detailed by orchid enthusiast Carole Siegel of San Diego Horticultural Society at Surfside Race Place at Del Mar Fairgrounds. Talk followed by plant forum. Free. 760-730-3268.

Dr. Seuss between the Covers
An exhibition focusing on children's books by Theodor Seuss Geisel with original sketches, finished drawings, mock-up books, continues through Saturday, September 4, on main floor of UCSD's Geisel Library. 858-534-2533.

San Diego Ukulele Festival
The festival includes "strum-ins," vendors, performances, hula lessons, ukulele art gallery and displays, workshops ($15 each). Performances by Lyle Ritz, Jumpin' Jim Beloff, Charles and Ilima Kiaha. Admission: $15 fee provides entry for both days. On Saturday and Sunday, August 28 and 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Coronado Playhouse Pavilion (at Coronado Ferry Landing, 1335 First Street), 619-435-4856 or 619-232-1214.