Manual Scan at Bar Eleven

(Manual Scan co-founder Kevin Donaker-Ring talks about a cool new club in San Diego and a turning point for this enduring band.)

I’ve been working security for over four years now. Last September, I started working at Small Bar, owned by the same people that run Hamilton’s Tavern in South Park.

Dennis Borlek, the first person in San Diego I ever met who had a scooter, and who continues to be a San Diego music scene fixture, is the general manager there. Small Bar’s owners recently purchased the Radio Room (formerly the Zombie Lounge) on El Cajon Boulevard, just east of 35th St., and renamed it “Eleven.” (Yes, that’s a direct Spinal Tap reference.)

They improved the sound system and the acoustics (not to mention expanding the beers on tap by an order of magnitude). But anyone who has been into the San Diego music scene will want to visit this place — they wallpapered large sections of the bar with reproductions of vintage San Diego show flyers.

You’ll recognize venues such as the Skeleton Club, International Blend and Wabash Hall, not to mention bands such as the Injections; the Tell-Tale Hearts; CLA; and, yes, Manual Scan.

Manual Scan meets the Penetrators — watch the video!

We (Manual Scan) are playing a show there on Sept. 30, the last day of the month. Yes, it’s a Thursday. But there’s no cover, which should easily balance it out. [Drummer] Morgan [Young] is moving to LA just about a week after the show, so this will be the last Manual Scan show for quite a while.

Bar Eleven is at 3519 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, Calif., 92104. The show begins at 9pm.

— Kevin Donaker-Ring

8 thoughts on “Manual Scan at Bar Eleven

  1. Eleven is open 7 days a week. The decor is . . . local San Diego music scene. Flyers — some dating back to the late 70s — were used to paper some of the walls. Another wall features rare photos and magazine covers of national acts. Plus, as it’s owned by the same folks as Hamilton’s Tavern and Small Bar, it has a pretty decent share of craft beer.

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