KPBS Midday Edition

What's New In Local Music

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Angela Carone / Cultural Enterprise Reporter, Claire Caraska / Production Intern/Culture Lust Blogger

Published March 7, 2012 at 5:44 AM PST

This story was published more than 12 years ago.

Local experimental electronica musician Mystery Cave is featured in San Diego CityBeat's annual Local Music Issue.

What's New in Local Music

GUESTS: Peter Holslin is music editor for San Diego CityBeat. Quan Vu writes about hip-hop and founded the blog SDRaps.com.

Since 2004, San Diego CityBeat has produced an annual music issue that delves deep into the city's diverse music scene. One of the highlights of the issue, which is out today, is the "Great Demo Review", which according to CityBeat music editor Peter Holslin, "has worked like a musical game of Russian roulette".

Each year, the publication puts out a call for bands to submit their demos, EPs or latest albums—and then reviews everything it receives. As Holslin writes in last year's issue, "Occasionally, what we hear is great. Usually, it’s so-so. Often, it’s terrible. Whatever the case, we give you our honest opinion—no matter how ugly or mean that opinion is."

While San Diego has produced some notable musicians and bands who have gone on to national and international fame, there are many local artists that many haven't heard of yet. The city's music scene runs the gamut in terms of genres and styles, reflected in this year's music issue, which spotlights the experimental electronica of Mystery Cave, underground hip-hop group Parker & The Numberman and rapper Orko Eloheim, and the raw, one-man bluesy rock of Low Volts, among many others. The issue also features cover art by local artist Dusty Dirtweed, whose distinct, retro, hand-drawn style can be seen on posters and album artwork for various local bands.

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KPBS's Midday Edition speaks with San Diego CityBeat music editor Peter Holslin and local hip-hop writer Quan Vu (SDRaps.com) about what's new and exciting in San Diego's music scene. And you can hear for yourself at the Local Music Issue Party happening tomorrow night at The Casbah.

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Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

What do you want to hear host Jade Hindmon talk about on Midday?

Angela Carone

Angela Carone covered arts and culture for KPBS and was the author of Culture Lust. Angela has produced public radio programs focused on the arts for the Atlanta and San Diego markets. In this role, she has covered topics ranging from books, film, theater, music, visual arts and pop culture. She also has more than 15 years experience in print media, having been published in various newspapers, alternative weeklies, and exhibition catalogs. Angela has degrees in political science from Pennsylvania State University and in English literature from Georgia State University. She is also a published photographer.

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Claire Caraska

Claire Caraska served as a production assistant for KPBS Midday Edition and a Culture Lust blogger. As a writer and editor, she has covered music and visual arts for various print and online publications, including San Diego CityBeat, The San Diego Union-Tribune and voiceofsandiego.org. Claire received her bachelor’s degree in communication from UC San Diego, where she spent time on the air at KSDT Radio. An avid audiophile and record collector, she is also a DJ and can be heard playing 60s and 70s soul and funk at local watering holes. Photo by Derrik Chinn.

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