SoundCheck Flix

Episode 28: Adam Gimbel - "Spinal Tap" (1984)

Despite not being much of a college town, Chicago produced Adam Gimbel before exporting him to California in the 1900s. Raised on the not-so-mean streets of San Diego, he became an instant lifelong fan of Spinal Tap as a teen. In college, he attended a celebrity-filled Spinal Tap drummer audition in an empty Los Angeles Coliseum shortly before meeting Harry Shearer in an even emptier club on his 21st birthday. Hopping up to sing with the English Beat's Dave Wakeling that night turned out to be the first of many times Gimbel graced stages all around California.
30 years later, his band Stones n Roses performed "Stonehenge" at the nearby Stonehenge Inn, making it the closest performance of the Tap classic to the actual monument in history. The Casbah has long been the site of many of his bands' most memorable musical moments. Rookie Card was the first band to ever play the Clash song “Rock the Casbah" at the club. They once dragged an audience outside for an incredibly timed plane-ridden rendition of "Back In The USSR". His long-running "grandfather" band Geezer debuted there. After his new wave mashup group Blasphemous Guitars started the Spinal Tap act Twelve to play on November 11, 2011, they played their farewell show there on 12/12/12. He also officiated a bandmate's wedding on the famed Kettner stage.
He co-hosts the mildly successful podcast, We Will Rank You, talking about Casbah favorites with old San Diego pals and semi-known guests.
 
“This is Spinal Tap”(1984): Filmmaker Marty DiBergi follows the legendary British Rock band, Spinal Tap, on their first American tour in years. What followed was a chaotic, hilarious tour parody that hits so close to the truth, it hurts. Directed by Rob Reiner. Starring Micheal McKean, Christopher Guest & Harry Shearer.

Episode 27: Pat Beers - "Purple Rain" (1984)

Pat Beers is a the guitarist and vocalist of the rock 'n' roll band The Schizophonics. They have garnered a reputation for their explosive live shows, drawing inspiration from the raw energy of 1960s garage rock, punk, and rhythm and blues. Off tour Pat enjoys painting and hanging out with his wife and weenie dog.
Purple Rain (1984) - A young musician is tormented by his abusive father and keeping his band on top in a competitive 80's Minneapolis music scene. Directed by Albert Magnoli. Starring Prince, Morris Day, & Apollonia Kotero.

Episode 26: Lucina Mays González - "Blade Runner" (1982)

Welcome to season 2!
Lucina Mays González is a local singer and song writer, having played with Sin Sin 77, Madly, Black Hondo, and currently Scary Pierre. She is also one half of the Dot and Ollie DJ crew.  Scary Pierre formed in the spring of 2018 in San Diego by vocalist Lucina, guitarist Alia Jyawook (Hot Nerds, El Vez’s The Screamers), bassist Mike Delgado (Moving Units, Shark Attack, Braggers) and drummer Charlie Brownell (Creepxotica, The Nephews, Buzzkill Romantics), Scary Pierre is a band to see!  Oh and she's married to Tim Mays, the owner of the Casbah...
 
“Blade Runner” (1982): When 6 replicants steal a spaceship and return to Earth, a Blade Runner is sent to retire them before they can wreak havoc. Directed by Ridley Scott. Starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young & Edward James Olmos.

Episode 25: The 2023 Encore

For our first show of 2024, we look back at the previous year in cinema. Casbah crew members Tim Pyles, Graham Stevens & Alfredo Tellez sit down with 2 of our favorite guests, DJ Root & Austin Mahn, to discuss our favorite films of 2023.

Episode 24: El Vez (Robert Alan Lopez) - ”Santa Claus vs. The Devil” (1959)

Robert Alan Lopez, aka El Vez  is an American institution and San Diego icon. From forming the "Mexican Ramones" in the late 70's with several friends from the South Bay, The Zeros, to Elvis interpreter or cultural ambassador bringing his Hispanic heritage into the mix as El Vez.
He lived in Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go's apartment, was in the Decline Of Western Civilization film, worked at "The Riot House" on the Sunset Strip serving Little Richard and has several restaurants named in his honor. Lately he's been seen in San Diego a lot performing with The Schizophponics and taking them on tour as his backing band.
"Santa Claus" (AKA "Santa Claus vs The Devil") (1959) - As Santa packs his sleigh for another Xmas journey, Lucifer decides he's had enough and sends his trusted demon acolyte, Pitch, to stop Claus. Will Santa be able to deliver his toys to the good children of Mexico City or will the dastardly demon succeed? Directed by Rene Cardona. Starring Jose Elias Moreno, and Jose Luis Aguirre.

Episode 23: Tatiana Mac - ”Little Shop of Horrors” (1986)

Tatiana Mac is a retired party princess who paradoxically also starred in "50 Shades- The Musical Parody" at Bally's Las Vegas. Out of the bondage and back home in San Diego, Tatiana is the lead vocalist of Toothless George's rock n' roll bandstand, Poison Hearts A.C.
"Little Shop of Horrors" (1986): Based on the off-Broadway musical of the same name. Director Frank Oz weaves a tale of skid row romance and a man-eating plant's thirst for blood and world domination. Starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Steve Martin & Levi Stubbs (voice).

Episode 22: John Roy - ”Brazil” (1985)

John Roy is a legendary local musician and Ska connoisseur. Just look at his pedigree:
Big Express, Citizen X, Gangbusters, Monster Zero, Spy Kids, Colorblind, Unsteady, English Beat, Windsor Hill Steppers, Self-Made Men, Fearless in Fair Weather and the Ska/Reggae supergroup Smoke and Mirrors Sound System.
Not only has he played Saxophone in all those bands, he owns John Roy Sound and can provide sound services for just about any event you can imagine!
He single handedly keeps the Ska scene alive in San Diego and is a true Kingpin of the scene! Cheers to you John Roy!
"Brazil "(1985): A mid-level bureaucrat in an Orwellian world yearns to break free and find the woman of his dreams. Directed by Terry Gilliam. Starring Jonathan Pryce, Kim Greist, Robert DeNiro & Katherine Helmond.

Episode 21: Bart Mendoza - ”That Thing You Do” (1996)

Bart Mendoza is a music journalist whose work has appeared in numerous publications, from the San Diego Union Tribune to Britain's Shindig Magazine. As a musician he toured the world in the 1980's with Manual Scan, in the 90's with The Shambles, and currently performs with True Stories. Meanwhile, for over a dozen years, he worked for Capitol Records, as well as Motown, Angel, Chrysalis and others. He currently runs Blindspot Records and promotes San Diego music any way he can.
"That Thing You Do" (1996): A local Pennsylvania band strikes gold and quickly rises to the top of the 1964 Pop charts. Written & Directed by Tom Hanks. Starring Tom Everett Scott, Johnathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, Liv Tyler & Tom Hanks.

Episode 20: Ake Arndt - ”Apocalypse Now” (1979)

Ake Arndt of Operation:Mindblow light show is a local graphic artist and percussionist for groups Volcano and Banghed. Originally from Downey, CA., he moved to Ocean Beach in 1993.
Apocalypse Now (1979) - A US Army officer serving in Vietnam is sent up river to assassinate a Special Forces Colonel gone rogue. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Starring Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, and Laurence Fishburne.

Episode 19: Scott Clark - ”Goodfellas” (1990)

Scott Clark is originally from New Jersey, but moved to San Diego in the early 90's. Through band connections he joined Lucy's Fur Coat in 1995, and has been a member since. He also plays currently in Mistress 77.
Hes an amateur photographer, coffee roaster, and is married with 2 boys. He loves running, espresso, mafia documentaries, writing music, and hanging with the family. 
"Goodfellas"(1990)- True story of mobster Henry Hill's rise & fall within the Lucchese crime family.
Directed by Martin Scorsese. Starring Ray Liotta, Robert DeNiro, Lorraine Bracco, Joe Pesci, & Paul Sorvino.