Hard Rock Sound Tracks Guide: San Diego

Sound Tracks TM

SAN DIEGO CITY GUIDE

Featuring picks by: Tom DeLonge Rocket From The Crypt Garden Echo The Lulls Sydney Blake The Gloomies + more

from the makers of

W E

ARE PUBLISHER

Alan Miller EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/DESIGN

Gigie Hall

ARTIST RELATIONS

Leah Hobbs MARKETING

Wes Martin, Tristen Gacoscos, Molly Kodros, Todd Apmann, Ashley Aguirre, Gabrielle Costa ADVERTISING West Coast East Coast

Maria Sauer maria@wearecollide.com

Monique Gilbert monique@wearecollide.com

Established in 2014, COLLiDE is a culture agency, editorial platform, travel magazine, international festival, and experiential event production company. weareCOLLiDE.com

/

CultureCollide.com

TRAVEL WITH PURPOSE is published by Collide Agency Inc, 5514 Wilshire Blvd, 9th Floor, San Diego, CA. City Guide Vol. 4, 2017. TRAVEL WITH PURPOSE is not responsible for anything, including the return or loss of submissions, or for any damage or other injury to unsolicited manuscripts or artwork. Any submission of a manuscript or artwork should include a selfaddressed envelope or package of appropriate size, bearing adequate return postage. ©2017 COLLIDE AGENCY, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TRAVEL WITH PURPOSE IS PRINTED IN THE USA cover by Dru Kelly / CC Flickr

culturecollideofficial

2

@culturecollide

@officialculturecollide

CONTENTS 4 Welcome to San Diego 6 Meet your Guides 10 The Great Outdoors 16 Shopping 22 Landmarks 28 Beers + Bars 34 Sounds of the City 40 To The Stars Staff Guide 46 The Stuff of Legends: Hard Rock Memorabilia 3

welcome to

SAN DIEGO 4

Gaslamp Quarter photo by Erik Pitti / CC Flickr

Drive south from Los Angeles along the 5 freeway, and in under 2 hours you can find yourself in San Diego, a southern California oasis made up of craft breweries, art galleries, and ultrablue waters. The first established military outpost in what was then part of Alta California in the 1700s, San Diego was later deemed a pueblo by the Mexican government in the 1800s, and buildings from 1820-1870 are still preserved in Old Town San Diego today. More than a surfer haven, the city is characterized by its ever-present and evolving music scene, from punk bands like Rocket From the Crypt and Blink 182, to indie rock acts like Pinback gaining their footing in the San Diego scene. Enjoy espresso from one of the many artisanal coffee shops springing up near downtown or enjoy local beers at a tasting room; at night wander the Gaslamp Quarter — just a six-minute walk from the Hard Rock Hotel — to experience the city after-hours.

But don’t take our word for it; we enlisted local experts like John Reis, The Frights and Tom Delonge to give you the San Diego insider’s guide.

SLAMP RICAL GA THE HISTO FOR B U H IS A QUARTER D NIGHT N A T N E M ENTERTAIN RDI GRAS, STREET MA LIFE WITH VAL AND USIC FESTI SCENE M LL TAKING KS DAY A ST PATRIC 16 BLOCK IS HIN TH PL ACE WIT RHOOD. NEIGHBO

5

M E E T

YO U R

BROKEN STEMS Jesse Gawlik, Brad Sweet, Chelsea Baker, Andrew Bache are Broken Stems, a passionate amalgam of blues and rock n’ roll. Their full-length album What Are You Connected came out in November 2016.

GARDEN EC HO San Diego trio Garden Echo is Alexia Villarino, Andrew Moberly and Sara Swanson. Their brooding, atmospheric EP Quiet Voices came out this year on Dark and Proper.

ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT

6

Forming in the summer of 1990, Rocket from the Crypt led a punk revival in San Diego.

They disbanded in 2005, but reunited for a series of live performances in 2013, and recorded an album with Sonny Vincent (The Testors) in 2015. They also came together this year for the grand opening of Dr. Martens’ new Venice, CA shop.

SA N

D I E G O

GU I D E S

SYDNEY BLAKE San Diego and indie-folk artist/ukulele-player Sydney Blake is at work on her sophomore EP. She now lives in Los Angeles.

THE FRIGHTS San Diego band The Frights are gearing up to release You’re Going to Hate This, their second album produced by FIDLAR’s Zac Carper, to be released via Dangerbird Records. The label also captured footage of the band making the album, which they compressed into a mini-doc of the same name.

THE GLOOMIES Self-proclaimed “dirt jazz” band The Gloomies is a blissed-out pop project with overtones of the Old West seeping onto their latest EP Blackout. The band has shared stages with surf-punk contemporaries Hinds, Public Access TV, and Day Wave.

7

OH SPIRIT Melodic surf rock quintet Oh Spirit are San Diego denizens, playing across stages like Soda Bar and at the San Diego Music Thing festival. Their ‘70s-inspired feel-good sound makes them a local favorite.

THE LUCY RING Brooklyn transplants living in SoCal, retro/ moody rock trio The Lucy Ring debuted their self-titled EP at the tail end of October, 2016 via Yellow Year Records.

THE LULLS Playing together for the past 16 years, The Lulls combine thickly-layered shimmery production with morbid lyrics, the latest example being their brand-new album Island of Daughters. They’ve long been entrenched in the San Diego scene, earning a slew of musical accolades like their nomination for “Best Pop” at the 2015 San Diego Music Awards.

8

TOM DELONGE Best known as the guitarist and vocalist for pop-punk paragon Blink-182 from 19922015, Tom DeLonge is the frontman of Angels & Airwaves, and the co-founder of the independent media company, To The Stars Inc.

TO THE S TARS Tom DeLonge’s multi media company produces everything from film and animation to apparel and publications. Some of the company’s key staff gave us their ultimate San Diego guide.

KARI DELONGE EVP T E S S PA S S E RO Marketing Director RYA N C A R L S O N eCommerce Manager GORAN FILIPOVIC Art Director 9

South Ponto Beach photo by Chad McDonald / CC Flickr

The Great Outdoors

John Reis calls beaches the “fruits of San Diego.� Explore caves, surf, relax along the water, or hike around the Gliderport and take in some natural beauty.

11 10

THE LULLS

recommend

Hiking Gliderport “I always recommend taking the hike down from the Glider Port at Black’s Beach. Take a dip in the summer months, or take a walk and watch the waves in the winter.”

recommends

12

Mission Beach “Mission Beach is probably my favorite San Diego beach. I have a lot of fond memories of going there for bonfires in high school and with friends to cool down and escape the East County heat.”

photos by Graham Hellewell/CC Flickr; Emily Burnett/CC Flickr

SYDNEY BLAKE

OH SPIRIT

recommends

Torrey Pines

BROKEN STEMS photos by fortherock/CC Flickr; bobbi vie/CC Flickr

recommend

Bonfires at Ocean Beach “Bonfires in Ocean Beach, or as we like to call them ‘JamFires.’ Ocean Beach is a great place to have bonfires because you are left alone by the authorities (for the most part). We always have a great time with our instruments and friends, the waves, and some bbq.”

13

1

2 EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS IN

San Diego

3

4

5

14 14

best of 1

Blac k’s Beac h recommended by The Lucy Ring, Oh Spirit

2

Torrey Pines recommended by Garden Echo, Oh Spirit

3

4

5

La Jolla Cave recommended by Garden Echo Mission Beac h recommended by Sydney Blake Ocean Beac h recommended by Broken Stems, The Frights, The Lucy Ring

15

Pigment photo by Megan Welker

Shopping

Boutiques, surf shops and record shops let you take home a piece of San Diego.

Franklin Barbecue photo by Eric Ellis17

SYDNEY BLAKE recommends

Pigment “Pigment has so many awesome items from journals to decor, to cooking gear, plus it’s really aesthetically pleasing.”

recommend

18

Aloha Beach Club “Aloha Beach Club in North Park for casual wear, beach accessories, knit shirts, home goods, art.”

photos by Megan Welker; Kahana Kalama

THE LULLS

GARDEN ECHO Shaper Studios “They specialize in custom surfboards but their brand extends to clothing, accessories, and curating rad events.”

photo by Trevor Wells; Tristan Loper/CC Flickr

THE FRIGHTS recommend

recommends

M-Theory Music “M-Theory are the best dudes and the best record store in San Diego NO FUCKING DOUBT.” 19

Located in Encinitas

5

1 4

EXPLORE SHOPPING IN

20 20

San Diego

3 2

best of 1

Shaper Studios recommended by Garden Echo, The Gloomies

2

Pigment recommended by Sydney Blake, The Lulls

3

4

5

Aloha Beac h Club recommended by The Lulls M-Theor y Records recommended by The Frights Lou’s Records recommended by Tom Delonge

21

Point Loma Lighthouse photo by Eric Kilby / CC Flickr

Landmarks

The locals know the city’s best views and must-try local delicacies, from touristy to under-the-radar spots.

23

TOM DELONGE

recommends

The Cardiff Kook

recommends

24

Mt. Helix “The top of Mt. Helix will always be near and dear to my heart. From the views to the history, to personal events I’ve been able to play at or participate in, it’s just amazing and special. ”

photos by Tim Buss/CC Flickr; Malik Baptista/CC Flickr

SYDNEY BLAKE

THE LULLS Spruce St. Bridge

recommend

photo by Anthony Albright/CC Flickr; Mark Doliner/CC Flickr

“The Spruce St. Bridge in Banker’s Hill is a cool sight to see, and it usually goes under the radar. Take a walk around the neighborhood and stop in for coffee at Cafe Bassam. ”

GARDEN ECHO recommends

Point Loma Lighthouse

25

1

Located in La Mesa, CA

Located in Encinitas

2

4 5

3 EXPLORE LANDMARKS IN

San Diego 26 26

best of 1

The Cardif f Kook recommended by The Gloomies, Tom Delonge

2

Kate Sessions Park recommended by Broken Stems

3

Point Loma Lighthouse recommended by Garden Echo

4

The Spruce Street Bridge recommended by The Lulls

5

Mt. Helix recommended by Sydney Blake

27

Sycamore Den photo by John Audley Be Water Photo

Beer and Bars

The city is known for its beer scene. Green Flash, Ballast Point, and Modern Times are some local craft favorites changing the game. Go to a tasting room and get your afternoon buzz on.

29

ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT recommends

THE LUCY RING recommends

Modern Times 30

photos by Four Brewers/CC Flickr

Ballast Point

GARDEN ECHO recommends

Mike Hess Brewing

photos by Ty Nigh_CC Flickr; Jill Reed/CC Flickr

BROKEN STEMS recommend

Karl Strauss Brewery “Its hard to go wrong with a frosty ‘Red Trolley’ from Karl Strauss Brewery. Also, one of the coolest brewhouses in the city over in Mira Mesa.”

31

1 2 4

3 5

EXPLORE BEERS & BARS IN

San Diego 32 32

best of 1

Sycamore Den recommended by Oh Spirit

2

Mike Hess Brewing recommended by Garden Echo

3

Modern Times recommended by The Lucy Ring

4

Ballast Point recommended by Garden Echo, Rocket From The Cr ypt, The Gloomies

5

Karl Strauss Brewer y recommended by Broken Stems 33

Belly Up photo by Tristan Loper / CC Flickr

Sounds of the city

Any local touring musician is no stranger to Soda Bar, and classic joints like The Casbah and Belly Up are an integral part of the rock and punk scene. The artists themselves sound off on where they love to play.

35

ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT recommends

The Casbah

TOM DELONGE

recommends

Belly Up 36

photos by Jason Scragz/CC Flickr; Tristan Loper/CC Flickr

For lack of a better description, it’s the CBGB’s of San Diego, it’s the place where everybody plays. But that’s kind of where our band really came into our own. And still to this day...it’s the most important place to play in San Diego.”

THE GLOOMIES recommend

photos by Tristan Loper/CC Flickr; Dillon Breen/CC Flickr

Soda Bar

THE FRIGHTS recommend

Soma “The only reason we’re in a band is that venue. So we owe them.”

37

Located in Solana Beach

2 3 4

EXPLORE VENUES IN

San Diego 38 38

1

best of 1

2

3

4

Belly Up recommended by Broken Stems, The Lucy Ring, Tom Delonge Soma recommended by Sydney Blake, The Frights Soda Bar recommended by Garden Echo, The Gloomies, The Lucy Ring, The Lulls The Casbah recommended by Rocket From The Cr ypt, The Lucy Ring, The Lulls

39

To The Stars GUIDE TO SAN DIEGO

Tom DeLonge has found a way to release just about anything that piques his interest these days, including but certainly not limited to film, editorial, graphic novels, music, apparel and more. Located in Encinitas, CA, To The Stars is the name of both DeLonge’s debut solo album and the company that is producing some of the most innovative and underground content out there. We caught up with some To The Stars staff to get their take on the city they call home.

41

KARI DELONGE EVP How does San Diego inspire you?

I love how the city embodies hard work, education and multiculturalism with little ego. People choose to live here because San Diegans value quality over quantity and a balanced life is status quo. The beautiful beaches and sunshine don’t hurt either!

Best Bar/Drink of Choice:

Cardiff-by-the-Sea Lost Abbey tasting room/ Madonna & Child Tequila barrel-aged Sour.

Best Restaurant:

Bracero Cocina de Raiz, Little Italy Favorite outdoor space:

Swami’s Beach

Best record store or boutique:

To The Stars, Encinitas Favorite landmark:

The Cardiff Kook

Best after-hours spot:

Besta-Wan Pizza House Favorite music venue:

Belly Up, Solana Beach

T E S S PA S S E RO Marketing Director How does San Diego inspire you?

There is a lot going on in San Diego, but the overall attitude of everyone is very relaxed and friendly. I think of it as a mellower LA. The city inspires you to have a good balance of life: to go outside, to enjoy your work, to go see art and music, to hang out with your dog, to eat well and to drink a beer.

Also, the entire city is very supportive of creativity and celebrates the many cultures that collide here.

Best Bar/Drink of Choice:

Turf Club! Great jukebox, great staff and great stiff drinks. You get to grill your own food inside! If you are feeling a bit frisky, you can get a Sneaky Tiki.

Best Restaurant:

Del Sur Mexican Cantina in South Park. Yummy food and drinks at an affordable price with plenty of options for vegans/veggies and meatlovers alike.

Favorite outdoor space:

Balboa Park or Wind-n-Sea Beach Best record store or boutique:

Record City in Hillcrest on 6th. (And of course, To The Stars).

Favorite landmark:

Balboa Park

Best after-hours spot:

Sombrero’s! But they aren’t all 24 hours so I would say Adalberto’s in Golden Hill - perfect stop for that after-bar burrito.

Favorite music venue:

The Casbah — a classic and must-visit. They have amazing shows and are a huge part of San Diego’s live music history.

RYA N C A R L S O N eCommerce Manager How does San Diego inspire you?

The amazing weather, beautiful people and expensive cost of living, makes me work harder to stay here.

Favorite festival/sporting event in the city:

91x Ye Scallywag/Padres games Best Bar/Drink of Choice:

Taproom PB/Mongo IPA Best Restaurant:

Bare Back Grill Favorite outdoor space:

Torrey Pines Golf Course Best record store or boutique:

Lou’s Records Favorite landmark:

OB Pier Best after-hours spot:

The Silver Fox Favorite music venue:

The Observatory in North Park

GORAN FILIPOVIC Art Director How does San Diego inspire you?

Walks around the urban areas clear my head and inspire me to create.

Favorite festival/sporting event in the city:

San Diego Gulls at Valley View Casino Center Best Bar/Drink of Choice:

Starlite Mule at Starlite Best Restaurant:

Breakfast Republic in North Park Favorite outdoor space:

The Embarcadero Best record store or boutique:

M-Theory Music in Mission Hills Favorite landmark: The Botanical Garden in Balboa Park Best after-hours spot:

Signature Ralphs Grocery Store Downtown (24/7 baby) Favorite music venue:

The Irenic in North Park

The Stuff of Legends MUST SEE HARD ROCK HOTEL SAN DIEGO MEMORABILIA

46

JIM I HEND RIX S HIRT

E LTON JOHN S H OES

T HE B EATLES LYRICS

47