Pink Panther 25th anniversary!

(Bart Mendoza ushers in this salute to the big cat.)

Pink Panther flyerSaturday, Dec. 17, The Casbah will be the site of the Pink Panther’s 25th anniversary party. Expect many familiar faces in attendance to celebrate the late bar’s brief existence. Founded by future Casbah proprietor Tim Mays, Peter “English” Verbrugge and Bob Bennett, the Pink Panther was the meeting spot for much of San Diego’s music scene during its run and fittingly, the night features an eclectic bill.

Tickets are $15 and available online.

Opening the night will be the soul and rock dance combo The Amandas. Fronted by Amanda Suter, the band includes the ace rhythm section of Tom Ward (bass) and David Klowden (drums), with guitarist Jon Erickson, saxophonist Aaron Rossi and keyboardist A.J. Croce.

Playing the middle spot will be Manual Scan. Featuring original members David Fleminger (keyboards); Kevin Donaker-Ring (guitar); and Bart Mendoza (vocals), the band now includes bassist Tim Blankenship (Creedle) and drummer Jarrod Lucas (The Dragons) for a truly powerhouse sound, taking in Mod, R&B and Garage influences. This is only the second time the band has played this year, with a couple of new covers in the mix.

The show closes with Deadbolt:

“There are few bands that can provide reverb and twang like the self professed ‘scariest band in the world.’ The leather-clad quartet, led by front man Harley Davidson, is inspired by the sounds of the rockabilly, instrumental surf and a touch of punk attitude. If you’re looking for virtuoso performances or guitar histronics, Deadbolt may not be your cup of tea, but if you like your rock ‘n’ roll gritty, loud and in your face, few do it better.” – Beach & Bay Press, 02/18/10

— Bart Mendoza

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