COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is a survey of popular music in San Diego, California, from the 20th century to the present day. Starting with early genres like military marches and jazz, the course traces the evolution of San Diego's musical landscape through key developments in folk, rock, punk, and hip-hop, leading to the contemporary indie scene that the city boasts today. Students will explore the city's unique contributions to each genre, considering both local talent and the influence of national and global trends. Through critical listening, reading, and analysis, students will engage with the socio-cultural contexts of these musical movements, examining how they reflect and shape broader social, political, and cultural dynamics.

**Please note that some of the material in this course contains explicit content that may be offensive. These works are presented as explorations of artistic practices and are not intended to offend and/or shock.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify musical works and specific musical features of San Diego musicians.

• Communicate critical interpretations of music in written, oral, and collaborative formats

• Navigate the information resources of the University Library to conduct basic research

• Develop awareness of a broad range of musical genres, styles, and traditions

• Develop and apply an appropriate vocabulary to describe musical elements

• Situate popular music into a broader context of the history of American Popular Music

• Assess the relationship between popular music and culture

REQUIRED TEXTS AND RECOMMENDED STUDY RESOURCES

- All course materials will be accessed electronically though Canvas.

ASSESSMENT AND GRADING

Grades will be based on the following:

A | A  93-100 | A- 90-92 |

B | B+ 87-89 | B  83-86 | B- 80-82 |

C | C+ 77-79 | C  73-76 | C- 70-72 |

D | D+ 67-69 | D  63-66 | D- 60-62 |

F | Less than 59 |

Quizzes (13 @ 10 points) (Syllabus Quiz @ 10 points) 140 points

Throughout the session, students must complete 38 timed quizzes. The quizzes will contain multiple-choice, matching, true-false, and listening identification questions based on the week’s lecture materials, reading, and music. This will include a preliminary ten-point syllabus quiz. Quizzes will be completed on Canvas. Any technological issues with the quizzes must be resolved promptly, as they will not excuse late or missed quizzes. Quizzes will be available from Monday of the assigned week and are due by midnight on the day of the corresponding lesson

Journals (6 @ 30 points) 180 points

Throughout the semester, students will maintain a personal journal in which they reflect on the course material. Students will post a 250-word reflection in response to a prompt, highlighting a key takeaway that significantly impacted their understanding of the topic discussed. In their reflections, students should draw on specific examples from the readings, lectures, and discussions to demonstrate how the material deepened their knowledge or shifted their perspective on the subject.

Discussions (6 @ 30 points) 180 points

Over the span of the semester, as indicated in the course outline, students will participate in online discussion. In addition to an original discussion board post, students will also respond to at least two classmates’ posts. Discussion prompts will concern musical or cultural principles from the lectures, readings, and/or current events

Midterm Group Project - 250 points

For this project, students will work in groups to research and present an interactive multimedia biography of a San Diego-based band or artist, either historical or contemporary.

Each group will begin by crafting a 300-word band biography, covering the band's origins, key members, musical influences, major achievements, and cultural impact. This section of the project will include the band's performance history, identifying at least three notable San Diego venues where they performed and incorporating concert artifacts such as posters, newspaper articles, ticket stubs, setlists, or reviews.

Next, students will submit a 200 word analysis of the band's musical style, identifying primary genres, subgenres, and how their music fits within or challenges existing styles. They should also consider how their sound compares to their contemporaries in San Diego’s music scene. To deepen their analysis, groups will select one of the band’s songs and break down its musical elements, discussing instrumentation, lyrical themes, harmonic and rhythmic structure, and how it compares to other songs by the band or similar artists.

Finally, each group will deliver a 15-minute class presentation, sharing their findings in an interactive multimedia format, such as a website with embedded media, a multimedia slideshow, or a short documentary video and leading a discussion on the band's significance in San Diego’s music history. Projects will be assessed based on depth of research, use of sources, quality of analysis, creativity, and clarity of presentation.

Final Project - Concert Journals - 250 points

For this assignment, you will attend 5 live concerts at a San Diego venue, whether it's a large arena show or a small DIY indie performance, and write a report that describes the concert experience. The reports should include a short bio of the performing band or artist, including their genre and background and should be 300 words each. Describe the instrumentation, performance style, audience interaction, and your overall thoughts of the show. If the band is local, research the venues they have previously performed at. Secondly, provide a brief history of the venue, discussing its significance in the San Diego music scene through its association with genres, prominent musicians, etc. It is highly recommended to attend concerts with your classmates.

INCOMPLETES AND LATE ASSIGNMENTS

All assignments are to be submitted/turned in by the beginning of the class session when they are due—including assignments posted in Canvas. Incompletes will only be assigned in extremely unusual circumstances.

Late assignments completed after the due date will be penalized ten points per day. Assignments will close a week after the due date at which point no credit will be awarded.

*Please note: all due dates/times are PST (Pacific Standard Time)

AI STATEMENT

You are allowed to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini Pro 1.5, GrammarlyGo, Perplexity, etc) to generate ideas, but you are not allowed to use AI tools to generate content (text, video, audio, images) that will end up in any work submitted to be graded for this course. If you have any doubts about using AI, please gain permission from the instructor.

COURSE OVERVIEW

COURSE SCHEDULE

Module 1 Early San Diego Music (1900–1930s)

Topics Covered:

• Influence of the U.S. Navy

• Vaudeville

• KFSD

• Balboa Theater (Opened in 1924)

• Balboa Park Organ Pavilion

Listening/Viewing:

• John Philip Sousa - “Stars and Stripes Forever”

• Yehudi Menuhin - Beethoven Violin Concerto (video)

• Josef Hofmann, Beethoven Op. 73 - Mov. III Rondo Bell Telephone Hour

• Organ Pavilion at Balboa Park (video)

Reading:

• 1. San Diego in the 1930s: The WPA Guide to America's Finest City – pp. 9-10,

• 12-16, 54-63

Assignments:

• Syllabus Quiz DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Quiz #1 DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Lecture/Reading Response, DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Module 2: Jazz

Topics Covered:

• San Diego as a Hub for Jazz Musicians and Touring Acts

• Venues: Creole Palace, Amphion Club,The Club Royal, The Gaslamp, The Bacchanal

• Prominent Radio Station: KGB (Established in 1928)

Listening:

• Jelly Roll Morton - “Kansas City Stomp” (Originally called San Diego Stomp)

• Walter Fuller on Earl Hines’s “Rosetta”

• Daniel Jackson on Lenny McBrowne And The 4 Souls “Soul Sisters”

• Charles McPherson “A Day In Rio”

Reading:

• When Jazz Helped Integrate San Diego

• "Harlem of the West"-Sophie Capella - Studies of Black History at the University

• of San Diego

• San Diego Roots Led to DANIEL JACKSON’s Journey into Jazz

• Jazz Comes to San Diego in 1912

• Daniel Jackson | San Diego Reader

• Charles McPherson | San Diego Reader

• Fro Brigham | San Diego Reader

Assignments

• Journal #1, DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Lecture/Reading Response, DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Quiz 2: DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Module 3: Rock ‘n’ Roll & Surf Music (1950s–1960s)

Topics Covered:

• Influence of Hollywood and West Coast Rockabilly

• Prominent Radio Station: KCBQ

• Venue: The Cinnamon Cinder

• Surf Culture

• The Rise of Surf Rock/Dance Parties

• San Diego’s Contribution to Early Rock Scenes

Listening:

• Gene Lamarr - “That Crazy Little House on the Hill.”

• The Orfuns - "Gettin' It On"

• The Cascades - "Rhythm of the Rain"

• The Chantays - "Pipeline"

• The Misfits - "Lost Love"

• The Misfits - “This Little Piggy”

• The Roosters - Shake a Tail Feather

• The Nomads - "Ooh Poo Pah Doo,"

• The Beach Boys - "Surfin' USA”

• Sandi & the Accents - “What Do You Want to Do”

Reading:

• Look Out!: Andy Rasmussen Compiles San Diego Music from 1958-1973 by Jay

• Allen Sanford | San Diego Reader

• The Roots of San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll | Che Underground

• the Roosters (1960s) | San Diego Reader

• The Nomads | San Diego Reader

• The Cascades | San Diego Reader

• The Misfits | San Diego Reader

• Sandi & the Accents | San Diego Reader

• Orfuns | San Diego Reader

• Gene Lamarr | San Diego Reader

Assignments:

• Discussion #1 Board Post DUE: by DAY 5 at 11:59 p.m.

• Discussion Board Responses DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Lecture/Reading Response, DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Quiz #3: DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Module 4: Folk Music in San Diego (1960s–1970s)

Topics Covered:

• The San Diego Folk Festival and Its Significance

• Notable Folk Artists from San Diego

• SDSU Student Movements

• Prominent Radio Station: (SDSU's Student Radio Station)

Listening:

• Tom Waits - "Ol' 55"

• Tom Waits - "San Diego Serenade"

• Paul Sykes - "Goodnight Irene" – Paul Sykes

• Paul Sykes - “Old Dan Tucker”

The San Diego Folk Festival Performances

• The Possum Hunters performing Lazy Farmer Boy.

• Stu Jamieson performing The Blue Goose.

• Gil Turner performing The Devil’s Baptizing

Reading:

• A Little History of the San Diego Folk Festival and How It Got Started | San Diego

• Troubadour

• 1st San Diego Folk Festival - Folk Arts Rare Records

• What I Remember About the San Diego Folk Song Society by Lou Curtiss

• Tom Waits | San Diego Reader

Assignments

• Lecture/Reading Response DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Quiz DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Module 5: Psychedelic Rock & Counterculture (1960s–1970s)

Topics Covered:

• San Diego’s place in the psychedelic movement

• San Diego State (Backdoor - add a year)

• Pechanga Arena

• KCR - SDSU Student Radio

• KGB - Became album oriented rock (the Chicken)

• Underground Press — Led to the careers of many critics

• Lester Bangs — San Diego Door

• Frank Zappa

Listening:

• Iron Butterfly – "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida"

• Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention - Who are the Brain Police

• The Brain Police – “Return to the love chopper of Destiny”

• Framework – "The Direction" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU5Tx1tj2l0&t=9s

• Glory – "Peaches"

Reading:

• An incendiary history of San Diego's counterculture press.

• This Time, It's Personal

• Preserving Aztec Center's Musical History | News | SDSU

• Iron Butterfly | San Diego Reader

• Frank Zappa | San Diego Reader

• The Brain Police | San Diego Reader

• Framework | San Diego Reader

• "Counter Culture Coincidence" | San Diego Troubadour.

• Glory | San Diego Reader

Assignments:

• Discussion #2 Board Post DUE: by DAY 5 at 11:59 p.m.

• Discussion Board Responses DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Lecture/Reading Response DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Quiz DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m

Module 6: The Punk Explosion (Late 1970s–1980s)

Topics Covered:

• San Diego’s punk scene: The Zeros, The Penetrators, Battalion of Saints

• DIY culture and independent venues

• Skeleton Club (Opened in 1978)

• 91X (XETRA-FM) (Launched in 1983)

Listening:

• The Zeros – "Don't Push Me Around"

• The Penetrators – "Nervous Fingers"

• Battalion of Saints – "E/B" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-quIoiBhpg

• The Injections – "Break Down the Prison Walls"

• The Executives – "Jet Set" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDYfKtiiosY

Reading:

• The Zeros | The Che Underground

• The Penetrators | The Che Underground

• The rise of 91X, the demise of its original DJs | San Diego Reader

• San Diego – can't be hardcore punks here | San Diego Reader

• Battalion of Saints | San Diego Reader

• The Injections | San Diego Reader

• The Executives | San Diego Reader

Assignments

• Journal #3 DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Lecture/Reading Response DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Quiz DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Midterm Group Project and Presentations 150 points

• Midterm Assignment will be due and in class presentations will take place this week.

Module 7: Post-Punk, Hardcore, and Alternative Rock (1980s–1990s)

Topics Covered:

• The Emergence of Hardcore Punk and Post-Punk

• Growth of Indie Labels

• Venues: Che Café (Established in 1980) Kensington Club

Listening:

• Rocket from the Crypt – "On a Rope"

• Drive Like Jehu – "Hand over Fist”

• Pitchfork – "Burn Pigs Burn"

• Unwritten Law – "Cailin"

• No Knife – "Academy Flight Song"

Reading:

• Rocket from the Crypt | San Diego Reader

• Where they came from: Rocket from the Crypt, Stone Temple Pilots, Drive Like

• Jehu, No Knife, Inch, Three Mile Pilot, Battalion of the Saints. Minor Threat,

• Pitchfork, Fishwife | San Diego Reader

• Pitchfork | San Diego Reader

• Unwritten Law | San Diego Reader

• Drive Like Jehu | San Diego Reader

• No Knife | San Diego Reader

Viewing:

• "It's Gonna Blow!!! – San Diego's Music Underground 1986-1996"

Assignments

• Discussion #3 Board Post DUE: by DAY 5 at 11:59 p.m.

• Discussion Board Responses DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Lecture/Reading Response DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Quiz DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Module 8: Hip-Hop (1990s–2000s)

Topics Covered:

• Musette Records, Mighty Key Gang and the Police Incident

• The 80s, DJ Gil, King Arthur, Proximity to Los Angeles, Mixtapes at swap meets

• (Dj Jam Koby swap meet), Backpack Rap

• Venue: The black frog

Listening:

• Soulful Ernie - “Party Rock”

• Mighty Key Gang - “Crisis”

• Vicious Beat Posse - “Give the People What They Want”

• Gangster Ern - “Up Against It”

• Legion of Doom - “This Is Diego”

• Lil Uno - “The Streets”

• Mitchy Slick – "Superstar (Amnesia)"

• Blame One – “Symphony”

• Orko Eloheim – "Ancient Future"

• Strong arm Steady - “Telegram” from In Search of Stoney Jackson

Viewing/Reading:

• "Rap Diego: An Audio Documentary" Pts 1-4.

• Lil Uno | San Diego Reader

• Mitchy Slick | San Diego Reader

• Blame One | San Diego Reader

• Orko Eloheim | San Diego Reader

• Strong Arm Steady | San Diego Reader

• Tales of the Black Frog nightclub | San Diego Reader

Assignments:

• Journal #4 DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Lecture/Reading Response DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Quiz DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Module 9: Grunge (1990s)

Topics Covered:

• The Casbah, Soma, and the rise of indie band

• Radio Stations

• Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots

Listening:

• Stone Temple Pilots – "Plush"

• Stone Temple Pilots - “Interstate Love Song”

• Pearl Jam – "Alive"

• Sprung Monkey – "Get 'Em Outta Here"

• Lucy’s Fur Coat – "Treasure Hands"

Reading:

• Musical San Diego: the 1990s | San Diego Reader

• Growing Up in Public: The Casbah Turns 25 | San Diego Troubadour

• The History of Local San Diego Venue The Casbah - Cave Dweller Music

• Scott Weiland | San Diego Reader

• Stone Temple Pilots | San Diego Reader

• Eddie Vedder | San Diego Reader

• Sprung Monkey | San Diego Reader

• Lucy's Fur Coat | San Diego Reader

Assignments:

• Discussion #4 Board Post DUE: by DAY 5 at 11:59 p.m.

• Discussion Board Responses DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Lecture/Reading Response DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Quiz DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Module 10: Ska, Reggae, and the Beach Culture (1990s)

Topics Covered:

• San Diego’s Role in the SoCal Ska Revival

• The Connection Between Surf/Skate Culture and Reggae-Influenced Music

• Venue: Humphreys Concerts by the Bay (Established in 1982)

• Radio Station: 91X (XETRA-FM) Loudspeaker

Listening:

• Slightly Stoopid – "Closer to the Sun"

• Buck-O-Nine – "My Town"

• Big Mountain - "Baby, I Love Your Way,"

• Big Mountain - "Touch My Light"

• The B-Side Players – "Nuestras Demandas"

• Pepper – "Give It Up"

• Tribal Seeds – "The Garden"

Reading:

• Big Mountain | San Diego Reader

• Slightly Stoopid | San Diego Reader

• Tribal Seeds | San Diego Reader

• Always fans of ska | San Diego Reader

• Never want to stop | San Diego Reader

• Pepper | San Diego Reader

• B-Side Players | San Diego Reader

Assignments:

• Discussion #5 Board Post DUE: by DAY 5 at 11:59 p.m.

• Discussion Board Responses DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Lecture/Reading Response DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Quiz DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Module 11: Pop-Punk and Emo Movements (1990s–2000s)

Topics Covered:

• The Rise of Pop-Punk in the 1990s and 2000s

• Blink-182’s Breakout Success and Influence

• Venues: Brick by Brick

• Radio Station: KIOZ-FM (Rock 105.3), 91X (XETRA-FM)

Listening:

• Blink-182 – "All the Small Things"

• Blink-182 – "Dammit"

• Blink-182 – "What’s My Age Again?"

• Blink-182 –”I Miss You"

• Unwritten Law – "Seein' Red"

• Pierce the Veil – "Caraphernelia"

• Hotel St George - “It's The Blues”

• As I Lay Dying – "94 Hours"

Reading:

• Blink-182 | San Diego Reader

• Pierce the Veil | San Diego Reader

• Hotel St. George | San Diego Reader

• Unwritten Law | San Diego Reader

Assignments:

• Journal #5 DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Lecture/Reading Response DUE: DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Quiz DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m

Module 12: Post-Grunge and Singer-Songwriters (1990s–2000s)

Topics Covered:

• Switchfoot, Jewel, and Jason Mraz

• Java Joes and other coffee shops

• American Idol

• iTunes

• Bro-Am

Listening:

• Switchfoot - “Dare You To Move”

• Switchfoot - “Meant to Live”

• Jason Mraz - “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry)”

• Jason Mraz - “I'm Yours”

• Jewel - “You Were Meant For Me”

• Adam Lambert - “Bohemian Rhapsody” (From his American Idol audition)

• Adam Lambert - “Whataya Want From Me”

Reading:

• Jon Foreman | San Diego Reader

• Switchfoot | San Diego Reader

• Jason Mraz | San Diego Reader

• Jewel | San Diego Reader

• Adam Lambert | San Diego Reader

• Jewel, Jason Mraz, Steve Poltz started at Java Joe’s | San Diego Reader

Assignments:

• Discussion #6 Board Post DUE: by DAY 5 at 11:59 p.m.

• Discussion Board Responses DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Lecture/Reading Response DUE: DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Quiz DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Module 13: Contemporary Scene & Genres (2010s–Present)

Topics Covered:

• The Emo revival and Indie artists

• Festivals in SD

• Waterfront

• The evolution of the DIY live music venues in San Diego

• Humble Heart, Public Market, Amplified for indie shows

• Live Nation: The Music Box and The Observatory

• Surf Rock Revival

Listening:

• TV Girl - Lovers Rock

• Sun Room - Crashed my Bike

• Almost Monday - SunBurn

• The Frights - Tungs

Reading:

• TV Girl | San Diego Reader

• Sun Room | San Diego Reader

• The Frights | San Diego Reader

• almost monday | San Diego Reader

• Gonzo Report: Downtown thrift shop offers three bands in one show | San Diego Reader

Assignments:

• Journal #6 DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Lecture/Reading Response DUE: DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

• Quiz DUE: by DAY 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Final Project - Concert Journals - 250 points

• Final Project will be due this week.