ALL POSTS
U2 - Street of Zzzzz's
Why Does This Perfectly Adequate Song Do So Little for Me?
U2 remains one of rock's greatest bands, but their latest song feels surprisingly ordinary. This review explores why a legendary group can still disappoint, balancing admiration for their legacy with an honest look at a missed opportunity.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-07-21 Read post
Indy Jones
Why Independent Music Coverage Has Become Increasingly Positive
Why are indie music reviews becoming more positive? One musician-hyphen-critic explores changing music criticism, internet snark, reviewer incentives, empathy, honesty, and the challenges of covering independent artists.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-07-14 Read post
Three Hours of "Drunken Sailor" on a Flatbed Truck
The Story of The Dan Band
A memoir-style blog post recalling chaotic early gigging days in a loose San Diego cover band, featuring boat gigs, Irish pub sets, and a St. Patrick's Day parade performance that turned into three hours of repetitive musical endurance.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-07-07 Read post
The Magic Hour
Hey, It Wasn't As Bad As The Chevy Chase Show
A look back at Magic Johnson's short-lived late-night talk show The Magic Hour, where superstar charm met awkward guests, shaky production choices, and a format that never quite found its footing.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-06-30 Read post
Never Going Back Again
Or: Going Back To "Never Going Back Again"
A spontaneous Fleetwood Mac cover recorded in under 75 minutes became one of my most popular songs. A look at friendship, music-making, memory, and why some recordings end up meaning far more than expected.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-06-23 Read post
The San Diego Padres in 27 Games
How Fans Learned To Not Depend On Wins In San Diego Padres History
As a lifelong San Diego Padres fan, I revisit 57 years of franchise history through 27 individual games, whether they were huge victories or more about food, announcers, brawls, or even more trivial distractions
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-06-16 Read post
100 Songs About New York
Great Playlist - And Unsolicited NYC Thoughts
A personal playlist of 100 songs about New York City, spanning rock, hip-hop, jazz, and Broadway, exploring how different artists capture what songs feel like New York; plus a mini essay on how New York makes me feel.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-06-09 Read post
The Music Bizness
Yucch
An honest look at the exhausting realities of being an independent musician: navigating PR firms, social media, unpaid gigs, industry "experts," and the tension between making art and managing a small business ... I mean the joy of being in a band.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-06-02 Read post
VIDEO: The Suicide Song
Our Homework Assignment for a Documentary
A half-forgotten video finally gets finished years later, leading to memories of making music on deadline, filming around Los Angeles, confronting suicide without sentimentality, and revisiting the joyful chaos of drummer and friend Shay Bell.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-05-26 Read post
Interview - Liz Abbott of The San Diego Troubadour
Keeping the Scene Alive
Liz Abbott reflects on building The San Diego Troubadour from a small music community project into a long-running San Diego music publication, its origins, the move to online, and her lifelong connection to local musicians and grassroots culture.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-05-19 Read post
Six Debut Albums That Set the Bar Too High
A Dive Into Great Records So Overlooked It's Making Me Angry
Explore six exceptional debut albums from the past 40 years, including Nick Heyward, Michael Penn, Nellie McKay, and more. We'll tell you about them but really just get in here and press Play.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-05-12 Read post
Musicians and Political Bulletin-Board Material
Unintended Consequences
Why some musicians' political speech often backfires, exploring identity, attention, and why a lot of protest music and online outrage may do more harm than good.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-05-05 Read post
You Know We Have Drums, Right?
Poor Matches of Venue and Band
First-person perspective of why bars book the wrong live bands from noise limits to tiny stages awkward setups cover-song rules and classic nightmare gig mismatch stories. We wish we were making this up.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-04-28 Read post
Elvis Movies: Worst To Best ... And Why
Rating Not As Movies But As 'Elvis Movies' - There's A Difference
Explore every Elvis Presley movie ranked from worst to best, scored as true 'Elvis Movies.' Discover iconic songs, love interests, and why the best of these should still be watched on a Saturday night.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-04-21 Read post
New Song: "Flicker"
An Overdue Cathryn Beeks / Chuck Charles Joint
My friend Cathryn Beeks and I made song a few years ago and we finally released it this week. Everything you want to know about it here. Perhaps it being so easy to make let us forget about the last step in making a song: putting it out into the world.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-04-14 Read post
