SoundCheck Flix

Episode 71: SoundCheck Flix Top 5's of 2024: Part II (DJ Root, Orion Ferguson, Emilie Schumacher)

Another calendar year of movies are behind us, and we are here to celebrate one last time the Casbah teams favorite films of 2024. On this edition, SCF co-host Graham Stevens jumps into the captains chair to discuss the best of the last year with our great friend DJ Root and SCF team members, Orion and Emilie. From the spice of Arrakis to the hard courts of Rochester, we delve into the Best & Worst moments of an amazing year in cinema.

Episode 70: SoundCheck Flix Top 5's of 2024: Part I (Alfredo Tellez)

On our 1st episodes of 2025, the Casbah team takes time to reflect on our favorite films of the last year. Part I has our Casbah teammate Alfredo Tellez joining hosts, Tim Pyles & Graham Stevens, for a discussion of 2025's cinematic highs & lows, from the glorious "Substance" to the absolutely atrocious "Joker: Folie a Deux". It was another great year for film and we're here to celebrate!

Episode 69: Toothless George - "The Star Wars Holiday Special" (1978)

Toothless George is a versatile artist with a career spanning over three decades, marked by significant contributions to music, literature, visual arts, and more. As a Barrymore Award-winning songwriter, he has penned tracks for over 40 releases across three countries, with his work featured in one major motion picture.
George is the creative force behind Poison Hearts AC, San Diego's premier punk rock bandstand.
Beyond his musical achievements, George's talents extend to literature, having authored several novels and illustrating many provocative coloring books. He has also taught dance at the collegiate level, co-founded a women's roller derby league, and was a professional skateboarder. Additionally, George helped create an entire summer collection for a leading fashion designer.
A lifelong Star Wars enthusiast, George became a card-carrying member of the Official Star Wars Fan Club in 1983. His first theatrical viewing of Return of the Jedi remains a cherished memory, having watched it once with his father, and again with his mother - falsely claiming he hadn't seen it yet.
"The Star Wars Holiday Special" (1978): After Chewbacca is snubbed on the medal stand at the end of "A New Hope", Han Solo vows to get his friend home to his family for "Life Day", Imperial blockade be damned. Chewie's wife, Malla, tries to prepare the holiday dinner while her son runs wild, her father-in-law engages in living room VR porn sessions & the sudden arrival of the Empire at her front door. Will Chewbacca and Han make it home in time for their globes & robes celebration? Directed by Steve Binder. Starring Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Peter Mayhew, Patty Maloney, and Mickey Morton. 

Episode 68: Enrique Madico - "Born in East L.A." (1987)

"Born in East L.A." (1987): Rudy is an American of Mexican decent who is mistakenly swept up in an LA toy factory immigration raid. Once he's dropped off in Tijuana, he engages in multiple hustles to find his way back home. Written and directed by Cheech Marin. Starring Cheech Marin, Paul Rodriquez, and Daniel Stern.

Episode 67: Chris Cantore - "Gremlins" (1984)

Chris Cantore is a longtime figure in the San Diego media scene, best known for his work in radio, TV, digital media, and events! 
A San Diego State University alum, Cantore’s radio career includes successful stints as host of “Cantore in the Mornings” at 91X, KPRI, and 100.7 KFMB. In addition to his work in Radio, he has contributed content to the Union Tribune San Diego, NBC San Diego, FOX 5, and San Diego Magazine.
"Gremlins" (1984): An aspiring inventor gifts his son a strange animal that he discovers in a Chinatown gift shop for Christmas. He's also given 3 rules for care of the Mogwai, which his son promptly breaks, resulting in massive holiday destruction to his small town. Directed by Joe Dante. Starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, and Dick Miller.

Episode 66: Joe MacAskill - "500 Days of Summer" (2009)

Joe MacAskill is a native San Diegan and a 30 year veteran of the San Diego music scene. 
His latest project is The Strangulators!, who've recently released the full-length album "You Can't Unmurder Someone." The project was based on pulp noir books of the 1950s and 60s and was recorded in Vermont and completed in San Diego. 
He was a member of the musical comedy duo Pony Death Ride, releasing four albums, the alt-country Trophy Wife who released two albums, and started his musical journey in the drunk rock duo Skunk Drunk, who released an album in 1997.
He spends a great deal of time cutting vegetables for salads. He enjoys Scrabble and long cries on the beach. If you think you've seen him at the gym, it wasn't him.
"500 Days of Summer" (2009): A young greeting card writer, Tom Hansen, reflects on the ups & downs of his relationship with a fellow employee after she dumps him.
Directed by Marc Webb. Starring Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Chloe Grace Moretz.

Episode 65: Crew + DJ Root - "Thanksgiving" (2023)

Happy Thanksgiving from the SCF crew to our listeners, friends & family! We're deep into second helpings already, but we need a Thanksgiving night movie...well, luckily for us, Eli Roth gifted us John Carver, a Puritan slasher on a rampage thru modern day Plymouth, Mass. A whodunit filled with classic kills & righteous spills. "SCREAM with stuffing!" - Spacewizardinspace
"Thanksgiving" (2023) One year after a Black Friday riot brings tragedy to Plymouth, several local teenagers find themselves running for their lives from a murderous Puritan. Directed by Eli Roth. Starring Patrick Dempsey, Nell Verlaque, Addison Rae, and Joe Delfin. 

Episode 64: Tigers in Cairo - "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" (2005)

On this weeks episode of SoundCheck Flix, we slip into the back booth with Gavin, Dennis & Paul from Tigers in Cairo to discuss an all time horror classic favorite of theirs, "The Exorcism of Emily Rose".
"The Exorcism of Emily Rose" (2005) - A religious family turns to a local priest for help when their daughter begins exhibiting bizarre behaviors. When her subsequent death leads to charges against the priest, a talented lawyer is hired by the Archdiocese to quickly wrap up the case. Father Moore has different ideas. Directed by Scott Derrickson. Starring Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, and Campbell Scott.

Episode 63: Austin Smith - "Lost Highway" (1997)

Austin "A.W." Smith is a filmmaker, photographer, and visual artist based out of San Diego, CA. After studying film under visual artist Victoria Fu at the University of San Diego, A.W. continued his passion for filmmaking, as well as expanding his knowledge in sound while working as a stage manager in San Diego. A.W. also works as an assistant to the abstract painter Chris Rodeno.
Lost Highway (1997) - Fred Madison is a LA jazz musician who suspects that his wife is cheating on him. When mysterious video tapes start showing up at his home and his wife is murdered, we enter Fred's mind and begin our journey on the Lost Highway. Directed by David Lynch. Starring Bill Pullman, Patricia Arquette &, Robert Loggia.

Episode 62: Davey Quinn - "Blazing Saddles" (1974)

This week on SoundCheck Flix, we slide into the back booth at the Casbah with our great friend, Davey Quinn, to discuss one of the funniest films ever made, "Blazing Saddles".
I’m davey. this month i play in the bands tiltwheel, city mouse, too many daves and santa claus. im learning thin lizzy songs for a cover set near Halloween. i own and volunteer at a  store called red brontosaurus records  where we buy sell and trade records, amps, pedals and guitars, video games and MOVIES. we also exist as a positive space for the punk and hardcore community. we have punk shows, stand up comedy, art shows. we've had 3 short independent movies filmed in our shop. my moms uncle don was in night of the living dead. oh yeah, our store is also a record label. i try n go watch a band play every night. 
"Blazing Saddles" (1974) A land-swindling politician sets his sights on the small town of Rock Ridge, where the local railroad line is being constructed. After sending marauders into town to create all sorts of havoc, he then gets the Governor to appoint a black Sheriff, knowing that it will enrage the racist citizens. Sheriff Bart eventually wins over the locals, teams up with an alcoholic, former gunslinger named the Waco Kid & together they all fight to save their Old West town.
Directed by Mel Brooks. Starring Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, & Harvey Korman.