Fall has officially arrived and while some may be mourning the end of summer, the city is ensuring you have plenty of ways to get out and about and enjoy the new season. The menu for this weekend includes a pair of eco-friendly festivals at the second annual Wasted event and the inaugural San Diego Sustainable Food Festival.
And, if “fútbol is life!” for you, check out the upcoming home matches for San Diego FC and Wave FC, as well as the three-day Cultura FC event, an aesthetic showcase centered on the world’s most popular sport. Plus, music fans can hear performances by The Head and The Heart along with Billy Idol and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, go the rave route at CRSSD Fall Fest or attend a sing-along screening of The Sound of Music. Here are all the best things to do in San Diego this weekend.
Enjoy eco-friendly fare from dozens of sustainable food, craft and service vendors during Sea Shepherd’s first-ever San Diego Sustainable Food Festival this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Balboa Park. Admission is free for all (including dogs) and there will be live music, panel discussions, chef demos, kids activities and a range of food and drink samples, crafted with seasonal ingredients, to savor. Move with Love will also be leading several donation-based wellness classes, including restorative yoga, breathwork and herbalism sessions. RSVP here.
Balboa Park Boulevard and Presidents Way Lawn, Balboa Park
Sip your favorite high-end spirits, including top-shelf selections of cognac, rum, tequila and whiskey, during the 16th annual San Diego Spirits Festival at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego. This spirited cocktail celebration is all-inclusive with a loaded mixology menu plus Mediterranean, Italian and scrumptious seafood eats. As for the live entertainment, expect music from DJ Mike, Crystal Star, George Pajon Jr. and Andrew Cole, plus flamenco, samba and belly dance performances. Tickets are $90 for Saturday (1-5 p.m.) and $80 for Sunday (2-6 p.m.).
700 Prospect Street, La Jolla
Wasted: Save the Food Festival
September 28
Similar to the saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, Wasted proposes that one’s food scraps can be used to create another’s five-star meal. This Sunday at 11 a.m. at The Soap Factory, over 20 chefs will use surplus ingredients to create delicious bites in an attempt to combat food waste. There will also be mocktails, sustainable food presentations and live music by Axiom as the culinary minds compete for the best sustainable dish. General admission is $29, entry for youth ages 3-17 is $9 and kids ages 3 and under can attend for free; event proceeds will go towards local food waste nonprofit Kitchens for Good.
2995 Commercial Street, Logan Heights
Taste of College Area
September 28
Though the college diet still consists of low-budget staples like Pop-Tarts and sad cups of ramen, students nowadays have options aplenty when finding their next meal. See for yourself during the Taste of College Area, a tour of over 20 of the best eateries in the College Area, Rolando and the outskirts of San Diego State University this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants can stroll, bike or ride complimentary Old Town Trolleys to get around the tasting tour. Tickets for general admission are $44, while 21+ VIPs ($54) get 4 exclusive drink stops as well as a commemorative shot glass while supplies last; ticket prices will raise $5 the day of.
Billy Idol w/ Joan Jett & the Blackhearts at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
September 23
If you love rock n’ roll, then you won’t want to miss a performance from two punk pioneers Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre. As the frontman of Generation X and the artist behind ’80s MTV phenomena like “White Wedding” and “Rebel Yell,” Billy Idol is a certified pop punk icon. Now with the release of Dream Into It, his first album in 11 years, Idol has declared It’s A Nice Day To…Tour Again. Joining him on the bill is Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, hard rock heroes led by the “Godmother of Punk” herself. Tickets start at $25.
As FINGRS CRSSD continues celebrating 10 years of EDM festivals by the bay, fans of house, techno and electropop can rave all weekend at the fall edition of CRSSD Fest 2025. Across three stages at Waterfront Park this Saturday and Sunday, there will be can’t-miss performances from hitmakers like Caribou, Darkside, John Summit and Empire of the Sun. For your late-night fix, dance on over to clubs like Rich’s, Spin or The Rail for the festival’s lineup of downtown After Dark parties Friday-Sunday. Festival passes are sold out but can still be purchased, starting at $261, through CRSSD’s ticket exchange platform.
1600 Pacific Highway, Embarcadero
Encinitas Oktoberfest & Artisan Faire
September 28
Raise your steins high for the return of the Encinitas Oktoberfest & Artisan Faire this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This annual event from the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce will welcome over 130 artisan vendors, plus Bavarian cuisine, dance troupes and bands along with plenty of German (and local) beer. There will also be family-friendly activities such as face painting and a dog costume contest. Admission is free and festivalgoers can also take advantage of the complimentary shuttle service from Flora Elementary and bike valet at Wandering Road.
Mountain Vista Drive (off El Camino Real between Wandering & Rambling Roads), Encinitas
The Head And The Heart at Gallagher Square
September 29
Following the self-release of their debut in 2009, The Head and the Heart rode a groundswell of local support to overnight success, leading to a deal with Sub Pop, a platinum album certification and the ballad “Rivers and Roads” becoming an inescapable presence on network TV. The Head and the Heart’s most recent release is Aperture, an introspective effort which also marks their first self-produced project. The band will headline an evening of folk rock Monday night (6:30 p.m.) at Gallagher Square featuring the dreamy sounds of John Vincent III and the retro stylings of Tyler Ballgame. Tickets start at $55 for this concert.
899 J Street, Downtown
Courtesy of Sparks Gallery
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods at San Diego History Center
Opening September 25
Venture into the city’s forgotten communities via augmented reality, archival elements, period photography and personal narratives through San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods, opening with a reception Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at San Diego History Center. Created alongside the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art, this immersive exhibition explores the daily lives and cultural resilience of residents in displaced communities adversely impacted by redlining and freeway construction. Tickets for this reception are $10 and can be purchased here.
Spend a swanky evening at Sparks Gallery Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. during its Black & White Art Party. Show up in “San Diego Dressy” attire, or your best black and white threads, and enjoy monochromatic art, live jazz, local artist showcases and a luxury raffle during this elegant affair. Patrons can also enjoy a themed spread from San Diego Wine & Culinary Center that includes black and white tacos as well as a black and white dessert bar. Tickets are $99 per person and come with the chance to support one four local nonprofits with your purchase.
530 6th Avenue, Gaslamp
Kimberly Akimbo at Scripps Ranch Theatre
September 26 – October 19
Over two decades, David Lindsay-Abaire’s dark comedy Kimberly Akimbo evolved from a respectable Off-Broadway play to a smash-hit musical with five Tony Award wins. But in both iterations of Kimberly Akimbo, the sincere story of an ambitious 16-year-old suffering from a rapid aging disease embraces shooting for the stars in spite of the odds. Local theatergoers can see a new adaptation of the original play, directed by Pacific Beach native Ted Leib, at the Scripps Ranch Theatre. Tickets range from $27 to $38 for Friday’s preview performance (7:30 p.m.) and $30 to $52 for Saturday’s opening night (7:30 p.m.) and all following performances.
9783 Avenue of Nations, Scripps Ranch
Courtesy of San Diego Padres
More Fun Things To Do in San Diego This Weekend
Cultura FC at The Soap Factory
September 25-27
The Soap Factory will host an international gathering of fútbol lovers over three days at Cultura FC. The centerpiece event will be the Cultura FC Conference Friday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. with several football fashion presentations spanning community, culture and design. Bookending the convention will be two free events: a welcome party Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. that includes a panna cage soccer tournament, a lowrider show and tequila tastings, along with Saturday’s fútbol café from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with an international football kit shop, a pop-up 3v3 pitch and art installations. Registration is $242 for professionals and $103 for students.
Eccentric only begins to describe Conner O’Malley’s chaotic comedy style, occupied by deranged characters, absurdist premises and internet-brained humor. O’Malley’s impressive output in the alternative comedy scene spans from his time writing for Late Night with Seth Meyers to his 2024 special Stand Up Solutions, a chaotic satirization of our increasingly tech-induced world. This Friday at 6 p.m., The Magnolia will open its doors for O’Malley’s ongoing Comedic Humor Tour. Tickets start at $25 for this stand-up show.
210 East Main Street, El Cajon
The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long at the Civic Theatre
September 26
To commemorate its 60th anniversary, the Civic Theatre is throwing a sing-along screening of The Sound of Music, also turning 60 in 2025, this Friday at 7 p.m. This resplendent movie musical — originated from the duo of Rodgers & Hammerstein — is inspired by the Trapp Family Singers, and all these years later the hills are still alive with the sound of Julie Andrews’ four octave range. Audience members are encouraged to dress in costume and take part in pre-screening trivia, plus they’ll receive a complimentary tote with surprise interactive items. Tickets range from $31 to $79.
1100 Third Avenue, Gaslamp
Soccer Doubleheader at Snapdragon Stadium
September 26 & 27
San Diego’s pro soccer squads head home to Snapdragon Stadium this weekend with playoff aspirations front of mind. Friday at 7:30 p.m., Wave FC will take on the Orlando Pride as they try to notch their first win since mid-August, with the team also hosting cultural performances for its Noche Latina celebration; tickets start at $20. Then Saturday at 7:30 p.m., San Diego FC will host its final home match of the regular season against the San Jose Earthquakes during Fan Appreciation Night, with the first 30,000 fans set to receive a free SDFC hat; tickets start at $31.
2101 Stadium Way, Mission Valley
San Diego Padres vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park
September 26-28
With a second straight postseason appearance clinched in dramatic fashion, the Padres are making one final push for their first NL West crown since 2006. Due to their 2 ½ game deficit with 5 games left to play, the Friars will likely have to settle for a Wild Card spot, but a strong week can only strengthen their World Series hopes. Following their series against the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego will conclude the regular season at Petco Park with three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are looking for a last-minute path into the playoffs. Tickets start at $31 for this series.
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
Big feelings hit us all. Younger populations—or those who haven’t yet developed their own language of expression—outsource angst through external means. That’s where homemade haircuts, studded belts, and musicians like The Cure, Elliott Smith, or Phoebe Bridgers come around. In San Diego, though, there’s a nonprofit that gives youth a way to feel not only heard, but also understood, through photography and digital storytelling.
Outside The Lens’ mission is to amplify the voices of systemically marginalized young people and help them develop the confidence (and artistry) to tell their stories and shape their communities. OTL just celebrated its 25th anniversary earlier this year with dual exhibitions of student work at San Diego Central Library and Museum of Contemporary of Art San Diego. Since 2001, more than 30,000 students have completed programs at OTL, getting their hands on industry-respected DSLR cameras (no shade to iPhone photographers), editing files and images with Adobe Creative Suite, and recording podcasts. Participants explore their worlds through the lens and on the mic.
“Our biggest opportunity, and what’s really needed, is to bridge the understanding between the youth and their communities and how people are seeing what youth are going through right now,” says OTL Executive Director Sarah Beckman.
OTL’s participants, Beckman explains, are young people navigating systems that never gave them access to the tools and mentorship that inspire creative expression, financial mobility, and civic engagement. The nonprofit offers support—in the form of meals, transportation, and healing-centered educators—and a creative outlet for exploring and coping with those challenges.
OTL’s in-school programs meet California core standards for arts and partners with at least 37 schools and community sites throughout San Diego, including the Monarch School in Barrio Logan, East County Community School in El Cajon, and Creative Performing and Media Arts School in Clairemont Mesa. The nonprofit doesn’t just work within the school system. Its Media Makers program invites young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to express their place and purpose in the world through film, photography, animation, design, and entrepreneurship.
“We’re always asking the question, and we’re engaging youth in our civic discussions [of], ‘How can we make this city somewhere youth want to be?’” Beckman says. “‘How can we make San Diego somewhere for young people to build a future?’”
This year OTL’s annual Voice Out celebration event spotlighted student work that hung on gallery walls beside “Giants,” the Dean Collection at MCASD. The Voice Out contest is open to all San Diego youth ages 8 to 25; all submissions are published in a catalogue and displayed in a public exhibition. These are some of the students’ works, and their words, from the past three years of Voice Out.
Lines and Light Within Structure
“I wonder how the architect decided to connect the beams [at Del Norte High School] by creating repetition. Without color [in the photo], the structure becomes the focus of the image.” –Monroe S., 15
The Quiet In Between
“Every day, time slips forward, whether we notice it or not, and life can feel overwhelming in its constant motion. In this long-exposure photograph, the blurred train rushes past, symbolizing the speed of life, while the still subject remains grounded and aware. It’s easy to become tangled in society’s expectations: what to wear, what grades to earn, what future to chase. In that rush, we forget to pause. The stillness in this image becomes a breath, a moment of reflection. Through it, I hope to show that wonder lives in slowing down, in watching the world blur while choosing, even briefly, to stand still.” –Leo N., 15
Enough
“Teenagers constantly wonder if they will ever be enough. I wrote words on the mirror that might represent what a teenager thinks about when it comes to being ‘enough’ for the people around them. They might wonder if they are pretty, smart, or good enough. I wanted to bring attention to what thoughts teenagers struggle with in everyday life.” –Illiana I., 16
Go Skate Day
“I took this picture during Go Skate Day in 2023 or 2024 I think … but who cares? It’s sick! Keep riding!” –Danny I., 18
Never Let Go
“This was taken at an all-women’s retreat in the mountains to heal inner trauma, at the end of the trip where we all hugged each other and healed. My mother is the one being hugged and one of her friends is embracing her. Place is somewhere you belong, somewhere you feel comfortable in, and somewhere you can be yourself. I believe womanhood and friendship is not only a place but home.” –Michelle G., 16
Arts District Liberty Station officially became one of the state’s designated cultural districts, joining a list reserved for places with thriving creative communities. Considering the campus is home to more than 100 galleries, artist studios, museums, and arts organizations—not to mention The Joan, the 42,000-square-foot performance center housing Cygnet Theatre—it was only a matter of time until the district got its flowers.
Best Deterrent of Public Vandalism
Vision Culture Foundation
If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. The National City Public Works building has been a target of graffiti artists for years, only to be constantly painted over (and the cycle restarts). Now, it’s working with the local artists from Vision Culture Foundation to create intentional public murals. A win-win in our book.
One of the biggest questions this year is who will show up for San Diego arts and culture—so a Best Of nod goes to a nonprofit that’s been doing it for years. Founded by longtime arts advocate Susanna Peredo Swap, Vanguard Culture has staged events for creatives, told their stories, and just created an SD ARTS Pass—a single ticket that gets you access to 39 creative spots.
Photo credit: Carly Topazio
Best Way to Overcome Your Fear of Ghosts
The Rosin Box Project
Ballet’s already got a sort of otherworldly thing going for it, with people morphing into 90-degree angles and defying gravity with each pirouette. The Rosin Box Project feels like a raw, creative new force in the classic art form, though—especially with its annual Ghost Light Masquerade. It’s a dance of eerie spirits that makes you second-guess what’s real and what’s not.
Best Music Venue That Also Sells Hot Dogs
Gallagher Square
Once upon a time, Gallagher Square was just a grassy knoll behind the outfield wall at Petco Park. Now, it’s a concert venue, playground, play ball field, dog park, and unofficial home for those who prefer the vibe of baseball more than the actual game. Big-time performers are showing up: Ms. Lauryn Hill, Cypress Hill, and Peach Pit.
Best Local Canvas
Casa Casillas
Casa Casillas has filled a long-standing gap in Chula Vista’s art scene. Open since last August, the space gives local artists a dedicated venue to display their work and visitors a chance to explore the neighborhood’s vibrant art. Two rotating resident artists always keep the space moving, so it rarely looks the same twice.
Courtesy of Alley Cat Art Fest
Best Place to Say “I Think It’s About Capitalism”
Alley Cat Art Fest
El Cajon translates to “the box” in Spanish—a nod to the city’s surrounding hills—but Alley Cat Art Fest (previously called Artivál) doesn’t stay inside it. As the first arts festival in East County, it celebrates local galleries, sculpture, live music, and food trucks—the whole nine.
Best On-Two-Feet Art Tour
Barrio Art Crawl
Every second Saturday, Barrio Logan turns into a choose-your-own-adventure with the Barrio Art Crawl, a free self-guided art tour through galleries, museums, and murals, with street food and music filling in the gaps. Barrio is one of the city’s most thriving arts neighborhoods, and it’s worth getting a bit lost in.
Leave it to The Old Globe to give the local theater scene some Hollywood glamour. Katie Holmes led the premiere of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler this past spring, turning the classic Norwegian play into one of the most buzzed-about theater productions of the year.
August is San Diego at full volume. Summer crowds are still chasing sunshine, but the calendar belongs to locals who know this is when the city really shows off. One night you’re dancing under the stars, the next you’re watching thoroughbreds with a plate of oysters in hand, catching Broadway hits, wandering gallery exhibitions, or rallying on a downtown pickleball court. Whether you’re looking for live music, festivals, theater, food, or an excuse to spend as little time indoors as possible, these are the August events worth putting on your calendar.
On the heels of Cross Pollination II’s release, house musician Lane 8 will co-headline FNGRS CRSSD x Cross Pollination, a day of back-to-back grooves at Waterfront Park.
Cross coasts at the Civic Theatre for a jukebox musical rooted in family, coming of age, and blossoming talent in Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, inspired by the 16-Grammy Award-winning singer’s NYC upbringing.
August 23
Jeff Goldblum is a classic man. In his show at The Rady Shell, Goldblum will accentuate his old-school charm with his Mildred Snitzer Orchestra and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.
Photo Credit: Aaron Rumley
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Month
August 1–October 10
Explore gallery walls lined with artwork juried by acclaimed artist Paul Mpagi Sepuya and chosen by the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library for its esteemed 34th Annual Juried Exhibition.
August 7
As you already know, we adore San Diego. That’s why we’re assembling the city’s crème de la crème—including over 90 curated vendors—in Liberty Station for our annual Best of San Diego Party, presented by Pechanga Resort & Casino.
Helado Negro and Reyna Tropical each specialize in bilingual music, songs overflowing with proud markers of Latinx identity. Hear the ear-tingling transmissions from their collaborative LP at Epstein Family Amphitheater.
August 16
Country music superstars, proud Georgians, and close pals Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan are doubling down on their summertime stadium tour with a boot-stomping concert at Petco Park.
August 27–September 6
The one-woman play Eleanor—told via the eloquent perspective of Eleanor Roosevelt—will make a limited return to the North Coast Repertory Theatre.
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Month
Now Through September 3
For six straight Thursdays, downtown’s Fifth Avenue will shut down and become the city’s first-ever street-style pickleball event. Bring a paddle and enjoy DJs, a wellness market, and zero-proof drinks at Gaslamp Urban Pickleball.
August 8
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s newest foodie event, the buttery Turf & Surf Festival, offers a luxurious combo of land and sea, built for watching trackside with a loaded plate in hand.
August 22
For the first time since 2019, the free Chula Vista HarborFest will hit the shores of Bayside Park with a classic car expo, lucha libre showdowns, and the chance to meet a mermaid.
August 29
Celebrate the seven decades (and counting) spent upholding Point Loma’s coastal landmark during Cabrillo Under the Stars, a 21-plus fundraiser with bites, Beatles covers, and, best of all, twinkling lights.
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
A perfectly designed home rarely happens by accident. Those kitchens that feel effortless and rooms that seem to tell a story the second you walk in? They’re usually the work of someone who knows exactly what they’re doing.
It’s knowing which ideas will actually work, which materials will hold up over time, and how to turn a collection of choices into a space that feels intentional. That’s where a professional interior designer comes in.
For the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) California San Diego Chapter, the goal is to help people see interior design as more than just the finished look. Behind every well-designed space is a process built on technical expertise. Designers are educated in everything from professional software and construction details to building codes, space planning, materials, and functionality.
Courtesy of ASID
“People don’t always realize how much goes on behind the scenes,” Kirsten Recce , current president of the ASID California San Diego Chapter, says. “Our designers are not just doing furniture placement and color selection and picking out new fluffy pillows. That’s not what they’re trained for.”
ASID members bring formal education, continued learning, and industry knowledge to their projects, helping create spaces that are not only beautiful, but designed to work. A paint color that changes completely depending on the lighting. A material that looks beautiful in a showroom but doesn’t make sense for everyday life. A layout that photographs well but doesn’t function for the people living there. These are the details where professional guidance can make all the difference.
Still, one of the biggest misconceptions about hiring an interior designer is that it’s reserved for massive renovations, luxury homes, or people who already know exactly what they want. The process can feel intimidating. Where do you begin? Is a designer worth the investment? What if you only need help with one room?
ASID’s answer: start with one hour.
ASID’s Spruce Up events break down one of the biggest barriers between homeowners and professional design: knowing where to begin. Held twice a year, the community program gives homeowners the chance to work directly with an ASID designer through a one-hour, $125 consultation in their own home. Whether you’re looking for advice on furniture placement, window treatments, kitchen and bath updates, remodeling ideas, vacation rentals, color selections or something else entirely, the upcoming September 2026 event offers an approachable way to get expert guidance before committing to a full project. Signups are open through Sept. 7, with consultations taking place Sept. 21 through Oct. 31. Proceeds benefit ASID San Diego’s educational and community programs. Register here!
Courtesy of ASID
“It’s a great opportunity for people who are in that exploratory phase,” Recce says. “Maybe they’re not sure they want to hire an interior designer yet, or they think it sounds daunting or expensive. This gives them a chance to discover what working with a designer is actually like.”
Design is personal. A good designer isn’t just creating a beautiful room; they’re helping create a space that fits the way someone lives.
“We’re a resource to all of San Diego County,” Recce says. “It doesn’t cost anything to pick up the phone and call and ask. We’ll answer.”
Siblings make better music. That’s the hot take, and there’s some logic and science behind it. The Bee Gees, Jackson 5, Billie Eilish and Finneas, AC/DC, Van Halen, The Allman Brothers—heck, even the Hanson brothers, why not? Beyond just a shared sense of taste and nonverbal communication developed over decades of living and evolving together, there’s a thing called “blood harmony.” The genetically similar throat cavities, vocal cords, speech patterns, and resonant bone structures all blend each unique voice into a more homophonic sound than what comes out of two non-related singers.
Those throat cavities are working wonders for emerging San Diego band We the Commas—three brothers (from oldest to youngest) Lenny, Jordon, and Cam Comma.
Raised in Vista and Carlsbad, the family opted out of cable TV (video games got a pass). Without binge-watching to fill bored hours, the trio turned to music. Guitar Hero led to GarageBand and finally to live instruments—guitars for Lenny and Cam, drum set for Jordon. In their sound, the influence of Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, The Who, and Dave Matthews Band is obvious, and so is surf culture, specifically that laid-back chill of North County surf culture.
“We’re like the Black Beach Boys,” Cam says. (Note: Three of the five founding members of the Beach Boys were siblings—the theory gets stronger.)
Their debut EP pretty clearly lays out how they see their sound—titled SARB, an acronym for Surf Alternative R&B. That resonates in the song “Sherry,” with its easy-listening, windows-down-on-the-101 vibe. It also works in the louder, surf-punkier “Pissed Off.” Despite some advances in reducing core stereotyping tendencies, people still tend to autofill Black musicians into rap and R&B. The Comma brothers immediately circumvent that by declaring themselves out the gates.
“SARB makes it so [listeners are] open to all of the things that we want to do,” Lenny says. “From there, you can put a label on whatever you think it sounds like.”
Courtesy of We the Commas
People—and musicians further up the stream—are taking note. In 2023, they co-wrote the song “I Keep Fallin’” with Eric Cannata, guitarist for multi-platinum SoCal band Young the Giant. In early 2024, they were tapped to open the national tour of Brooklyn’s jazz-pop heroes, Sammy Rae & The Friends. Comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias invited them to warm up his show at Pechanga a couple months later.
“We really believe genuinely, with our whole hearts, minds and souls, that this is going to work the way that we think it’s going to,” Cam says, grinning ear to ear.
Currently, the Commas live together in Vista, and the dream, wholeheartedly, is more alive than ever. They’ve put out two dozen singles and a trio of EPs: SARB (2020), Old School Love (2021), and Aeroplane (2024); this year alone brought the release of three new singles, including “Let Me,” a silky-smooth entry in their growing collection of love songs.
“We fully realized the magic is in all of us together,” Lenny says. “We know that this doesn’t happen without each person, and we have respect for each other because we need each other.”
As they grow as brothers and as a band, the Commas try to always remember what unified them in the first place.
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
How Scrojo Became One of Rock’s Most Prolific Poster Artists
The San Diego designer has created more than 3,000 concert posters over nearly 40 years for artists including the Rolling Stones and the Red Hot Chili Peppers
When he was in high school, he and his friends were trying to come up with the perfect name for their punk band that would encapsulate all their personas. Nicaragua. The Freds.
One of his friends said he was going to go by Jimmy Stacks and called it “the perfect rock and roll name.” Their names changed so much that Haskett erupted: “Fine, I’m f—ing Scrotum Joe, the true defender of the Open West.”
Their response: Wow, that’s a great name.
As a teenager, he drew chalkboards for Del Mar’s Pannikin coffee shop and would design T-shirts for surf/skate brand Life’s a Beach. He signed the shirts with his moniker, but even in punk rebellion, who wants a shirt with the words Scrotum Joe on it? “They just cut out the ‘t-u-m,’ and the next thing you know, a client referred to me as that, and it stuck,” he says.
Courtesy of Scrojo
Scrojo could have been part of a band as iconic as The Misfits—had he been able to learn the famously cumbersome bassline to The Kingsmen’s “Louie Louie.” Becoming one of the most renowned concert poster designers—someone who quite literally designed the cover of Art of Modern Rock: The Poster Explosion—is a pretty good Plan B.
“To my knowledge, he’s done more rock posters than anybody else alive,” says Dennis King, whose D. King Gallery in Berkeley, California, serves as one of the largest private rock poster collections in the world. “He’s the hardest-working guy in the poster business.”
King not only co-authored the sequel to music historian Paul Grushkin’s The Art of Rock, but he also handles distribution and sales for all of Scrojo’s work. That’s more than 3,000 different posters over nearly 40 years. (That’s over one poster each week. For four decades straight.)
For anything from boxing matches to rodeos, posters have long been used as promotional items. Toulouse-Lautrec’s famous lithographs advertised Moulin Rouge in the late 1800s. Around the same time, Hatch Show Print in Nashville was making handbills for the Grand Ole Opry.
“I propose this: Cave paintings are the first poster art,” Scrojo says.
Courtesy of Scrojo
Rock and roll posters took off in the 1960s, when the hippie counterculture era replaced conformity and suburbia. Artists like Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead used their vibrant, psychedelic prints as a form of rebellion from the mainstream. Posters were promotional, commemorative, collectible, and especially expressive.
If the name Scrojo is any indication, he doesn’t shy away from imagery that toes the line of being too provocative. He focused more on what inspired him instead of trying to be offensive for the sake of getting attention.
“Didn’t want to show it to my grandmother, but my parents were fine with it,” Scrojo says with a laugh.
“We’ve had to ask him to put a Band-Aid over a nipple every now and then,” says Chris Goldsmith, president of Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, where Scrojo started out and hundreds of his posters currently line the walls.
Scrojo spent six weeks at Otis College of Art and Design for a summer semester before drugs, alcohol, and a self-described lack of discipline prevented him from enrolling full time. Still, he taught himself concepts like text hierarchy and later found his niche at the Belly Up and in the surfing and skating world, working with brands like Quiksilver, Rip Curl, Scorpion Bay, and DGK.
His first concert poster was for North County band Borracho y Loco, of which Goldsmith was bass guitarist. Scrojo drew an abstract version of the Belly Up’s iconic shark with colorful calypso and tiki themes.
Early on, he would craft using a pencil, pen, non-reproduction blue pencil, X-Acto knife, rubber knife, and proportion scale to create each poster, and the finished product could take a week or even longer.
Courtesy of Scrojo
“I recommend every artist coming up to do that for like six weeks,” Scrojo says. “It forces you to think about every design decision as you’re going along.”
He has since mastered vector imagery through Adobe Illustrator to the point where, depending on the level of detail needed, he could finish two projects in a day. Still, he fills sketchbook after sketchbook to blueprint.
“I liked his line in particular, and he knows how to draw, which a lot of people don’t really know how to do these days,” King says.
Scrojo would research what each musician’s merchandise looks like to get a feel for each artist’s tone and voice. Once he has his central image in mind, he focuses on what and where to place the text.
He doesn’t have one specific style, ranging his talents from art deco to psychedelic and everything in between (and outside the lines). Want a pop surrealist comic book cartoon devil with splattered paint textures, halftone dot patterns, and pure chaos? Red Hot Chili Peppers, February 1986. Want a minimalist graphic portrait with bold strokes and graffiti text? P!nk, October 2023. Want a carnival sideshow style piece with a tasteful caricature of Jeff Bridges? The Big Lebowski, August 2011.
Scrojo calls himself a jack of all trades because he can create posters for all music genres. King calls him a chameleon for his ability to adapt his voice to new eras.
Courtesy of Scrojo
“The variety of his skillset makes it possible for us to put 50 of his posters on a wall next to each other and have it look compelling, not just a bunch of the same thing over and over,” Goldsmith says.
Some of Scrojo’s favorite posters are when he feels a personal connection to the artist or the album. He has a vivid memory as a child of being trapped in a closet filled with marijuana leaves while playing hide and seek and staring at Jimmy Cliff’s “The Harder They Come” LP. “For whatever reason, as a kid, that sparked a desire to do graphic design,” Scrojo says.
Fast forward to February 2012, Cliff is performing at Belly Up. Scrojo decided to modify Cliff’s original album cover from rainbow gradient fills to classic reggae psychedelia while preserving Cliff’s striped pants and bold hat. Cliff’s manager called him and said they wanted to use it for the rest of their tour.
“We always get artists requesting that he does their posters,” Goldsmith says. “A lot of artists don’t want venues to go all rogue because they want to control how they’re being presented. With him, they’re like, ‘Let him go nuts.’”
Matt Eisenberg is an award-winning writer and photographer based in San Diego. A former ESPN editor, his work has also been published by CNN, Bleacher Report and the New York Daily News.
National Philanthropy Day, presented by PNC Bank, Celebrates the Best of Philanthropy in San Diego
The 53rd Annual National Philanthropy Day Takes Place on November 21. Join us from 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the new Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center!
Once yearly, AFP San Diego joins with others worldwide to celebrate National Philanthropy Day (NPD), a special day set aside to recognize the great contributions of donors and nonprofits that enrich of our community and the world. San Diego’s NPD is one of the largest and most successful in the U.S., attracting nearly 900 participants, including philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, CEOs, board members, development professionals, and business, community, and civic leaders.
Sponsorship proceeds from National Philanthropy Day are reinvested in education, training, scholarships, career development, and the advancement of fundraising professionals throughout San Diego. These resources and training provide fundraising professionals with the tools necessary to support our region’s diverse array of nonprofit organizations, which rely on charitable giving for close to half of their annual revenues.
The National Philanthropy Day Honorees are selected by the NPD Honorary Committee, a group of highly respected, diverse nonprofit and business leaders. Our 2025 Honorees include:
Outstanding Development Emerging Leader – Taylor Thompson Self-Nominated
Outstanding Development Professional – Sharyn Goodson Nominated by: AJ Steinberg & Jeanne Schmelzer
Outstanding Organization for IDEA – Accessity Self-Nominated
Outstanding Philanthropic Institution – Life Science Cares San Diego Nominated by: Blair Search Partners
Outstanding Philanthropist – Dan & Phyllis Epstein Nominated by: CSU San Marcos & KPBS
Outstanding Student Volunteer – Camden Hall Nominated by: Curebound
National Philanthropy Day San Diego provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of giving and to celebrate the selfless contributions of individuals and organizations across the region. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets are available. Please visit www.afpsd.org for more information.
