For the first 5 years that I lived in San Diego, I was convinced that you needed black leather, some form of tobacco and a password to enter The Casbah. The Casbah struck me as elitist in the same way that the lunch table where the kids sat with chains between their wallets and JNCO jeans did in high school. But it turns out, I was wrong. Perched on the corner of Kettner and Laurel, and easily visible on just about everyone’s way home from the airport, The Casbah is a little slice of San Diego music history, with the grunge to prove it.
The word “casbah” refers to the citadels of North African countries. Think high arches, detailed mosaics, hidden alleyways. Perhaps this also inspired the crescent moon and star that adorn the nameplate outside the front door. Inside the front door, you are led down an alley that enters into a courtyard where a small unassuming crowd waits for the next band while passing around cigarettes. A back room houses a pool table and bar, while the inner sanctuary holds a small stage and dance floor along with a promising bar. With a capacity just over 200, this is a pretty rad spot to see up and coming bands without much hoopla.
In the 28 years since it opened, The Casbah has seen shows like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Alanis Morisette, The White Stripes and The Cult. (“Rock the Casbah” was released by The Cult seven years before the Casbah opened. Chicken or the Egg? If you’ve never watched the video or listened to the words, check this out for some political/historical/cultural context of the song.) This Thursday night, we joined the crowds to hear Lauren Ruth Ward. A combination of Bjork and Janis Joplin with some killer hips out of LA, her voice is visceral and raw, much like her lyrics. She and her band put on a show that was hard to look away from. Based on the number of photos on my phone, I might have a new girl crush.
So that’s The Casbah. I get it now. And it makes me proud to know that this gem is part of San Diego’s live music scene. Thanks to Leslie for joining in this last minute adventure only to be serenaded Top Gun style before the show. And to Jenna, who you can always count on to bring the next chapter of her epic love life. Here’s to the next adventure!
