All proceeds from the event were donated to the San Diego Music Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses its efforts on local musician assistance, music education, professional development, live performance and the annual San Diego Music Awards show recognizing creative achievement in the San Diego music community.

One so-cal modern rock band that made a great impression was ACIDIC, who performed at the Ruby Room on Friday. We caught up with the band after their performance.

They just finished their first national tour opening for Hawthorne Heights in support of their second album, “Getting Lucky.” They formed the band back in 2007, but it wasn’t until 2009 when Ted Dubrawski and Mike Thompson joined Michael Gossard and Matt Whitaker that the group was complete.

They tell us that the name ACIDIC came from the side of a soda can. “We needed a different band name than Walking to Purgatory or whatever we called ourselves at the very beginning.”

When it came down to making their recent album, they turned to Andrew Bojanic and Liz Hooper, award-winning singer/songwriters/musicians from Australia, who produced “Getting Lucky.” Bojanic and Hooper have worked with people like Jason Mraz, Liz Phair, Hillary Duff, and Avril Lavigne. The band says they couldn’t have been more thrilled with how it worked out.

“They (Bojanic and Hooper) kept saying – “it all comes down to the song”! All they did was develop what we already had – into solid radio-friendly hits and everything just kind of accelerated from there.”

ACIDIC is coming off of their first national tour and they say it was incredible. “We were paired with an amazing headliner act – Hawthorne Heights – who showed us the ins and outs of touring. They were really great; and nice guys too. The other two bands in the lineup, The Story Changes and PM Today were just as awesome.  We’re a better band for having played with such a great headliner in such close proximity like that. It did wonders for us.”

They shared some of the best moments from the tour:

There were so many! I remember the first night, at the Marquis Theater in Denver – it was a fantastic show, our first one on tour ever. I will never forget it as long as I live. The fans just embraced us – they went nuts. It felt so good. Ted took off his shirt – that became kind of a specialty for him. The response was just the best; we were blown away.

Another great memory is of us mooning PM Today from our car on the way to the last stop in Albuquerque.

And on the way to Denver all the boxes of CDs and merch and stuff flew off the roof of our car and we had to run back down the highway to pick everything up. We had everything really solidly tied down too… I don’t know how we lucked out, but nothing got broken except for one ACIDIC frisbee – that I think got run over.

After completing the tour, the band stopped in San Diego to play the North Park Music Thing. The crowd was great. It may just be the nature of the event but everyone was friendly and accepting. Not to mention that their set was great, so that couldn’t have hurt.

“Everyone there made us feel at home. We were able to share our music which always makes us the happiest. We didn’t know anybody there so it was great to see how everybody was so receptive and you could see them tapping their feet and moving to our music. And when we see that happening in the room it only makes us want to rock out harder and make them move some more.”

When asked how they felt about San Diego and their performance, they said, “We had a lot of fun. Cool venue, comfortable, good sound. Ruby Room has a separate room with a pool table and there’s a coffee house in front that is open until 4am. We’d love to play there again. San Diego rocks!”

They are currently working on a new album and planning to tour again. “We’re definitely more touring and interacting with fans and undoubtedly some more strange shenanigans too.  We have some pretty amazing plans in the works, also another music video is in the planning stages, most likely to our song ‘The Big Bang.’” Look out for them on a lot of specialty shows on alternative rock radio, or they may be coming to a college near you.

So, there you have it. Another great band coming from So-Cal. With such a hot music scene it can be hard to keep tabs on all the great acts making their rounds around the city, state, and country. Definitely keep an eye out for ACIDIC because they have something great going for them.

Want to know more? Check them out at www.acidicband.com/, on Facebook , or Twitter.

Photos from NPMT:

A two day music event known by the subtitle of “San Diego Music and Media Conference and Festival”, the Thing takes registrants through a comprehensive tour of the music business through panel discussions, workshops, and demo review sessions. Thousands of aspiring local artists, and even many out-of-towners, swarm to the event in hopes of getting a little extra musical cred under their belts. And cred is exactly what they get—the NPMT features speakers from all walks of the industry, from local and regional veterans to performers who have years of experience belting out tunes on a national level. At the end of the night, attendants can jam out to the musical stylings of over 100 bands from the Southwestern U.S., featured on 14 different stages.

And, as if that isn’t enough, all proceeds from the NPMT go to the San Diego Music Foundation, a local non-profit organization that’s all about enriching and enlivening the San Diego community through music. The Foundation provides assistance to local musicians, aiding them in areas such as music education, professional development, live performance, etc.—everything a budding musical protégé needs to make it to the big time. On top of that, the San Diego Music Foundation sponsors the annual San Diego Music Awards Show, which recognizes especially creative and original artistic endeavors in the San Diego community.

So whether you want to be a star, improve upon your craft, or just hear some really good music, check out the NPMT at the beautiful Lafayette Hotel this weekend, August 13^th-14^th. Ticket options range from an all-inclusive $35 dollar pass to $10 individual stage tickets. For more information, visit the NPMT’s official website at http://sandiegomusicfoundation.org/npmt/.

Photo from BobbyProm via flickr

2008's Paddle for Clean Water in OB (photo from 'bakudai' via Flikr)

Wow, it’s been a while since you have heard from me. Well, life gets busy sometimes and it’s hard to plop myself down in front of the computer and type away. But now I have plenty to say.

I moved! I moved to Ocean Beach. It is a beautiful thing when I can surf, go to the store, grab a pitcher or two or three with some friends at a happy hour and then see a show at Winston’s without even having to throw my truck into drive. Walking/biking is my new favorite thing to do.  Like I said, it’s a beautiful thing.

But speaking of Ocean Beach, there is an amazing event coming up that everyone needs to know about. On Sunday, September 13, the Surfrider Foundation will be holding its 18th annual Paddle For Clean Water Festival at the Ocean Beach Pier.

You haven’t heard of it? Well it’s an event that brings thousands to the beach to bring awareness to keeping our oceans and beaches clean. At 10am, thousands will be hitting the water and paddling around the OB Pier. It really is an amazing sight. Each year it gets bigger and bigger.

Okay, so why is the music guy talking about an environmental event? Well, once you are done paddling around the OB pier, you can enjoy a FREE concert with an amazing line-up right there at the parking lot at the end of Newport!

Presented by the Surfrider Foundation and 91X, the line-up includes performances by The Professors, Pullman Standard, C-Money and The Players, Tribal Seeds, and Iration! What a line-up! Did I mention it’s free?

Everyone performing is from San Diego except Iration. They are from Hawaii and they sold out the House of Blues on their last visit to San Diego … very excited to see them.

Tribal Seeds are really making a name for themselves in the local reggae scene. Their CD release show at SOMA in June also sold out. A sold out reggae show at a venue with no bar? Holy Smokes! They are that good.

C-Money and The Players may sound like a new band, but they are familiar faces. C-Money plays trumpet in a little band from Ocean Beach called SLIGHTLY STOOPID. Heard of them? That’s what I thought. “The Players” also consist of members of Slightly Stoopid. So you know it’s going to be a fuzzy good time. Kicking off the show are my pals in Pullman Standard and The Professors — A couple of really great local acts.

So as you can see, Ocean Beach is the place to be on September 13 for the Surfrider Foundation’s “Paddle for Clean Water” event. Get out to the pier early and get a good stretch in for the paddle because the OB pier is the longest pier on the west coast, fun little fact for you.

And once you have washed up onto the shower from your 1/3 mile paddle, grab a beer in the beer garden and enjoy a free show from an amazing line-up right there in the parking lot at the end of Newport Ave.

You can find out all the details on the show and how you can become involved in your local Surfrider chapter at www.surfridersd.org, and don’t forget to tune into Loudspeaker on 91X to hear music that is made right here in San Diego. It airs every Sunday night from 8-10pm. Till next time, keep supporting local!

So that latest installment of the “Loudspeaker presents…” shows was absolutely one of my favorites. Happening last Wednesday night, June 17, at the always-awesome Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, this month’s show featured some of San Diego’s most entertaining bands. Syndicate was the night opener followed by Endoxi and then closing out the night was Social Green. Where do I begin to talk about this amazing night?

Well of course, my name being “rolls up late Rowley”, I show up about twenty minutes late, but it was pleasant because when I entered the building I was automatically greeted by the fast drumming and smooth bass lines of Syndicate flowing threw the venue. Stoked to see a good crowd also really set the night off right. Syndicate continued the rest of their set with tons of energy and sweat.

As Syndicate wrapped up their set and more and more people flowed into the Belly Up, Endoxi was set to take the stage. Before their set, I was back stage talking with Chris Wilson, guitar/vocalist of Endoxi. When he pulled out an electric drill with a guitar pick attached to the end of it, I was excited. After slugging down a couple beers, I worked up the courage to make a stage announcement to introduce Endoxi, and they brought a crowd! Right away they got everyone moving with their sax driven upbeat music.

It was cool to see everyone from the back corners of the Belly Up creep closer to the stage to get their party on. It definitely did not feel like a Wednesday night at the Belly Up. Weekend vibes were very present, but the night wasn’t over, as Social Green was next.

Social Green, hailing from the wooded terrain of Valley Center, brought an arsenal of energy along with their fun reggae/ska/rock mixture of jams. The large crowd remained at the Belly Up, re-filled on their adult beverage of choice and ready to check out one of San Diego’s most talented bands. They did not let anyone down, the whole gang left it all out on stage. So it was another great night for local music in San Diego.

Like I mentioned earlier, Loudspeaker does these local showcases every month. The next installment will be in a few weeks, Wednesday July 1 at U31 in North Park. Again, I am very proud of this line-up. From around Southern California, The Smart Brothers start off the night followed by one of my new favorite San Diego bands, WestFire. Then Bedford Grove, who are establishing themselves in the SD music scene very well, and then to wrap up the night, Syndicate! Two Loudspeaker shows in a row?

Yes. Why?

Because they are awesome!

So come on out to U31 to check out another great local showcase. Because we all know that supporting local music makes the world go around. Also, for more local San Diego music, join me as I host Loudspeaker every Sunday night from 8-10pm on 91X!

You can hear Andrew on 91x every sunday from 8-10 p.m.

This is the summer to get your music fest on in San Diego. Last weekend, we had Fiesta Del Sol in Solana Beach, and Art Around Adams in Normal Heights. Spending time at both, I realized that San Diego has its hands wrapped around some pretty noteworthy festivals on its radar. As long as I can remember, there has always been some kind of music festival in San Diego that we could attend. Festivals such as Street Scene, Warped Tour, Del Mar Fair, and even 91X’s X-Fest have all been staples in the San Diego summer music scene. Now it just seems like there are more events popping up that want a bit of the action.

Fletchers Cove in Solana Beach was a the perfect setting for the 30th Anniversary of Fiesta Del Sol. Rain was in the forecast but the sun came out to party for this event. Produced by the Belly Up Tavern, there was a solid line-up for this years Fiesta, with a good mixture of local and national acts including West Indian Girl and Donavon Frankenreiter. Did I mention that this entire two-day festival was free? Thousands of people came out, not to mention the hundreds of dogs that I saw and petted as I was enjoying my time. It was very animal friendly. Surrounding the grand stage area were dozens of local artists, craft dealers and other vendors adding to a great vide and community builder.

So in the same weekend I went from one of the oldest San Diego music festivals to one of the more newly revamped events, Art Around Adams. Yes, I know Art Around Adams has been around for a few years now, but past years were nothing like it was last weekend. Taking place in the heart of Normal Heights, AAA took over the Adams Avenue Recreation Center. This event had a real festival feel to it, with four stages spread about the park and about 30 bands in all. The bill was mainly all San Diego bands, which I am a big fan of, so it was nice to see a bunch of my favorite local bands play all in the same place roughly around the same time. Bands like Circa Now, Dynamite Walls, The Burning of Rome, and All Leather participated in this year’s Art Around Adams. One of the more entertaining sets was by DJ Edgartronic on the main stage. His high-energy set got EVERYONE dancing; even myself and I DO NOT DANCE. It was very fun. It wasn’t just about the music though, as there was plenty of art and film to check out too. It was a very well rounded event, and I’m definitely looking forward to see what it will be like next year!

With summer just beginning and already a few festivals under my belt, I am ready for what the summer has to offer. One of the newest music festivals coming back is the 2nd annual North Park Music Thing, happening August 7-9. Previously known as North by North Park, The North Park Music Thing is a music festival/music workshop that highlights dozens of bands from San Diego and other Southern California cities.

Also, a great tradition in San Diego, Street Scene returns and is once again back in the East Village. Street Scene is August 28-29 with such headliners like M.I.A., Black Eyed Peas, Silversun Pickups, Modest Mouse and many, many more. They are also giving some local bands some love too. Grand Ole Party, Wavves, and Crocodiles are scheduled to perform also.

So now you are maybe a little bit more informed, hopefully, about some of the San Diego music festivals coming along this summer. For updates on all of these festivals and everything else on local music, tune into Loudspeaker on 91X every Sunday night from 8-10pm for local San Diego music. Now go out and buy your tickets, get your sunscreen ready, get your best hipster wardrobe together and enjoy the summer festivals!