Reports from the scene

Locals Only 

Following the ’Canes Bar & Grill closing, Golden Hill venue The Marquee is also shutting its doors for good, according to an ad posted on craigslist on Oct. 21. The posting is selling the venue’s audio equipment. E-mails to the venue were not returned by press time. 

Earthless drummer and Thirsty Moon Records co-owner Mario Rubalcaba is adding two new projects to his résumé. Rubalcaba describes one of them, Spider Fever, as having “a ‘punk-n-roll’ feel to it.” Spider Fever will feature Rubalcaba on vocals and guitar, backed by The Heartaches’ Dean Reis and Billy Baggins and Cody Young from The Widows. The other is an L.A.-based group with ex-Black Flag and Circle Jerks singer Keith Morris, studio musician and former Redd Kross bassist Steven McDonald and Burning Brides vocalist / guitarist Dimitri Coats. Although they’ve yet to decide on a name, an EP is already being planned, and the band will begin playing shows in early 2010.

Also in a new band is Scarlet Symphony frontman Gary Hankins, along with Jamie Palowski and Chris Carol (both from The Old In Out). The band, Shapes of Future Frames, made its live debut last Friday at Tin Can Ale House (see Lastblogonearth.com for a review of the show). 

After four years and one album, metal boys Sirhan Sirhan have called it quits. Frontman Jason “Blackie” Blackmore says the band might do one more West Coast tour in the spring but doesn’t know for sure if members’ schedules will permit. 

Two new album releases right in time for Halloween: Costumed surf-rockers The Creepy Creeps will celebrate the release of their new album, Fink About It, on Saturday, Oct. 31, at The Casbah, with The Night Marchers and Black Whale also performing (see “If I Were U” for details). Also, robot-rockers Steam Powered Giraffe will celebrate the release of their debut, Album One, on Friday, Oct. 30, at Queen Bee’s (formerly 8Teen Center, 3925 Ohio St. in North Park). Xach the Ripper and comedian Bryan Barbarin will also perform. 

Metrofique, a new folksy collaboration between Get Back Loretta’s Steven Bradford and Jack the Original’s Gabe Lehner, just released a debut album, Swing for Fences. It’s available for download at www.metrofique.com.

Rolling Stones tribute band Dead Flowers will headline a costume benefit concert for The Challenge Center at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, at 4th & B. The Challenge Center is a rehabilitation / fitness facility that specializes in treating people with severe physical disabilities who have exhausted their insurance coverage. The Corvelles, A Dull Science, Ronnie Peer and others will also perform. 

—Seth Combs and Todd Kroviak

The Enrique Experience

On Sunday, 99-cent stores countywide were ransacked of duct tape, Krazy Glue and anything plush, glittery or with feathers on it, thanks to the first-ever Tantrums & Tiaras: Battle of the Bar Queens, a gender-bending beauty pageant benefiting Mama’s Kitchen, a volunteer-driven organization responsible for providing free meals to San Diegans with AIDS or cancer.

Now, I’ve covered my fair share of contests—from Mr. Black San Diego to Miss Santee, but the scene in the Birch North Park Theatre parking lot, which included a Rolls-Royce Phantom, a U-Haul and a live donkey, let me know that I was in for a real treat.

“Hello, darlings!” emcee Babette Schwartz told the sold-out crowd as she rolled onstage atop a gigantic champagne glass, assisted by two Chippendales rejects. “We’re not planning on offending anyone tonight,” she warned. “We’re offending everyone.” And that she did. Immigrants, BBWs and even Whitney Houston felt her wrath. “Lookout, Godzirra, Godzirra!” she yelped, as Bonsai Knowles, Miss Universal, sashayed onstage in full geisha garb. She then said Asians are lucky—they only have to tuck “little egg roll,” causing the audience and the distinguished panel of judges, including City Councilmember Todd Gloria, to bust out the LOLs.

Having dazzled in swimsuits, it was time for the seven participants to shine in the talent portion. Chief among them was Miss Baja Betty’s, Aneeda Greencard, who appeared onstage riding the burro while performing her own version of Madonna’s “Borderline,” provoking a bombardment of crumpled dollar bills from the crowd.  “A little role reversal, huh, her riding the donkey?” Schwartz quipped.

There were also poignant moments, like when contestant Nummy Crunch Numbers courageously announced during the interview portion that she’s been living with HIV for the last 14 years. The audience rewarded her braveness with a standing ovation, and without missing a beat, she answered back: “I don’t think I deserve the clap on top of it. Jesus!” By the night’s end, Miss Hurricane Buttrina was crowned Best-in-Show, and $40,000 was raised for the Kitchen. They don’t call them queens for nothing.

—Enrique Limón

Night Moves

Our semi-regular guide to the after-dark events we’re either crazy about or just really looking forward to this Halloween weekend.

Boombox Thursday @ Air Conditioned Lounge: If you can’t wait until Saturday to show off your Balloon Boy costume, this is the last “Boombox Thursday” ever, and it’s going out in style with DJs Edgartronic and Shark Attack performing. Thursday, Oct. 29.

Costume Party @ Bar Ninety: The club formerly known as Lucky D’s (804 Market St. in East Village) will be taken over by May*Star and her merry band of scenesters to absorb a who’s-who of local DJs, including Andrew Decade, Colour Vision and Turbo Teen. Friday, Oct. 30.

Green Halloween @ ???: We don’t know where this warehouse blowout is going to be because the location is revealed only after you buy tickets. What we do know is that it has three areas of entertainment and a slew of national DJ names, like Fei Fei, Joey Medina and Cowboy Mike. Proceeds benefit green causes and kids charities. Scope www.brownpapertickets.com/event/87288 for tix and deets. Saturday, Oct. 31. 

Lion Cut @ Soda Bar: If you’re looking for a good time but don’t want to drop half a paycheck to party at The Prado with the Afflicted-shirt-adorned masses, then this is a fantastic alternative. The Yiffs, Microphone Mike and Bunky perform, along with our new favorite band, Lion Cut. Imagine Thundercats and Andrew Lloyd Webber getting together to create a John Hughes movie soundtrack. And only $5! Saturday, Oct. 31.

Deadmau5 and Burns @ House of Blues: If you didn’t get enough the night before, this will be a banger from two up-and-coming electro acts. If you can’t wait for the new Daft Punk, then check out Burns’ single, “First Move,” off his Teknique EP. Sunday, Nov. 1.

—Seth Combs