Reports from the scene

Locals Only

A grease fire caused ’Canes Bar and Grill staff to evacuate hundreds of patrons last Friday night, when  Eek-A-Mouse was scheduled to play. A little after 11 p.m., grease in an exhaust vent caught fire, and while the Union-Tribune initially reported that the damage was extensive, Pamela Johnson, talent buyer and marketing director for the Mission Beach venue, says the damage was “minimal” and that the venue shouldn’t have to cancel too many shows before reopening.
“We are working really hard to get things at ’Canes back to normal,” Johnson said. The bar re-opened on Monday, and only two shows had to be postponed.

The recently reopened Lucky D’s Bar and Grill and Egan Entertainment have applied to the Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) for an amendment to their operating permit. Under their current permit, the East Village venue is allowed to have live entertainment in their basement but not on the ground floor. Lucky D’s owner David Egan says he wants the venue to be a come-as-you-are neighborhood bar that would host “intimate live shows for a few hundred people” in the basement, while also having live acoustic music in the early evening upstairs, and possibly karaoke. Egan also says he plans to showcase local talent.

Electro-punk trio All Leather have released their debut video for the tongue-in-cheek single “I Don’t Hate Fags, God Does.” The video portrays the band dancing and doing all kinds of perverted things around a table set up to look like “The Last Supper.”

The Enrique Experience

There’s something inherently charming about Manny’s Cocktail Lounge (8729 Broadway in La Mesa), which has operated under different names for more than 45 years. The charm starts with the location—a time-stood-still strip mall off of Highway 94 that also houses a 24-hour IHOP; Mexican, Italian and Asian fast-food joints; a coin-op laundry; Sylvia’s Best Nails; a liquor store; and The Hair Mechanics barber shop. Hell, if it weren’t for its lack of a free clinic, I could probably take up residence in the parking lot without ever having to leave.

Outside was a sea of lifted trucks—most equipped with Truck Nutz, ranging in color from camouflage to the much classier nude tone. The inside proudly boasts a couple of framed collages featuring the bar’s regulars in varied stages of drunkenness and a sticker affixed to a wall that reads: “Eat beaver. 100 million men (and some women) can’t be wrong.” Behind the bar, a cardboard sign lists excuses the bartender can use if your wife calls, along with a price for each. There’s the $1 “Not here,” the $3 “Just left” and the $5 “Who?”

As for ambience, a solid mix of cock rock rivaled only by a Lynyrd Skynyrd reunion-tour tailgate party fills the air and provides the soundtrack to the joint’s weekly Tuesday pool tournament, which manages to bring all the East County bros to the yard, with its special offer of two large domestic pints for $4.

“I once saw a girl do three 8-ball breaks!” a juiced-up patron told me.

“You should teach her to tuck it in better,” I responded, having no clue what she was talking about.

Dumbfounded, she headed to the smoking patio, which is nothing but a concrete bench against a huge carved-out mound of dirt.

However, not all is rough-and-tumble here—the place serves up Sutter Home white zin mini-bottles and offers daily $3.50 Champagne specials.

After all, they don’t call La Mesa “the jewel of the hills” for nothin’.

Night moves

Cheer up Comic-Con goers, you may not be able to get on the list for the Megan Fox and Panic! at the Disco party at Kin Lounge (neither can we, and, trust us, we tried), but we’ve got a list of some great after-parties and shows that live up to the spirit of your geekdom. Enjoy!

Comic-Con TweetUp @ Voyeur and Syrah: Usually, if you show up to either of these places in a cape, they’ll tell you to think of a number between 85 and 87 and send you packing. But the city’s newest hotspots are hosting the first and last meet-and-greet parties of the week, so you’re all good, fanboy. Wednesday, July 22 (Voyeur), and Sunday, July 26 (Syrah).

Brutal Legend Metal Meltdown @ 4th & B: Don’t be scared by the name. Brutal Legend is a new video game starring Jack Black coming out in October, but you should certainly expect some metal. Legendary monster band GWAR, 3 Inches of Blood and Unholy Pink are set to perform, followed by a DJ set from Keith Morris. And since this is serving as Vice magazine’s official after-party, be sure to RSVP to www.viceland.com/brutallegend before all the hipsters do. Thursday, July 23.

Comic Strip! @ Ruby Room: Advertised as a “burlesque spectacular,” more than half a dozen national dancers are coming out to take off just enough. Photos are encouraged and a dance party with superhero go-go girls will follow the show. Trust us, we saw local dancer Lady Borgia do her Poison Ivy routine (yes, the Batman character) a few years ago, and we’re still itching. Friday, July 24.

Horror Film Showcase @ El Dorado: 1134 Films! will be showing off some of its surreal horror flicks, and in case you’re an out-of-towner, this is undoubtedly the coolest bar in the Downtown area if you don’t want to spend a fortune. So, if you blew all your money on vinyl toys, come dance to one of San Diego’s biggest DJs, Mark E. Quark, as well as reggae performances from Sean Dietrich and Raggatron!. Friday, July 24.

Sexy Hero’s Ball @ Voyeur: Did you never get asked to prom? Well, last time we checked, there were still tix available for this Downtown party that will feature Joel Madden (of Good Charlotte fame) DJing, live art and the cast of True Blood. Expect some goths. Saturday, July 25.

Nightgeist update

Do the people who run Prohibition read Nightgeist? Last week, we urged the new-ish Gaslamp speakeasy that requires a password from patrons to commit more fully to its theme and its plea for people to “dress like you care.”
Well, the day after publication, Prohibition ended an e-mail blast with the following admonishment: “Oh, and one more note. Up until now we have politely asked that our patrons dress in a casual sophisticated manner when visiting Prohibition. Some people chose to ignore that, so we will now be enforcing a strict dress code. If you show up in flip-flops, shorts, baseball caps, or anything else that doesn’t reflect the standards here, you will not be allowed entry. If you are wearing an ‘Affliction’ shirt you run the risk of receiveing [sic] a swift kick in the balls. (you’ve been given fair warning)”

Nicely done, Prohib.