By Chris Nixon
Union-Tribune
May 31, 2007
With more than 20,000 runners, rollers and walkers converging on San Diego this weekend, the 10th annual Rock 'n' Roll Marathon continues to draw the conspicuously fit to America's Finest City in droves.
But for local musicians serving as the cheer squad along the 26.2 mile course, the race also serves as a showcase for 44 local bands and artists on 29 stages situated at every mile.
Ten years marks a milestone for the annual San Diego event, which has brought an economic impact of an estimated $400 million to the area over the past decade, according to race promoters.
“I wanted to change the marathon experience,” said Tim Murphy, founder and CEO of the sports marketing and management company that puts on the race, Elite Racing Inc. “The marathons I ran in the past lacked support and spectator participation, but with the addition of live music and entertainment, the experience is positive, inspirational and interactive.
DATEBOOK
2007 Rock 'N' Roll Marathon
Sunday, 6:30 a.m.; 26.2 miles through San Diego from Balboa Park to Marine Corps Recruit Depot; Free to watch; post-race show with Seal at SDSU's Cox Arena free to runners, all others $25; www.rnrmarathon.com or www.eliteracing.com
“Today, most running events have a budget for on-course entertainment. Ten years ago, that did not exist.”
This year's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon kicks off at 6:30 a.m. Sunday. The race follows a course beginning at Sixth Avenue and Robinson Street in Balboa Park, including a stretch on Highway 163 before winding around the edges of San Diego Bay and through beach communities.
The finish line sits at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. If traveling in the area, be aware that many of the streets are closed along the course.
Chris Nixon is a San Diego music writer.
SEAL'S POP APPEAL
Through the ups and downs of the music business and high-profile marriages in the glare of the media, Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel has come a long way since first bursting on the scene with the 1991 Trevor Horn-produced single “Crazy.”
Charting both in the United Kingdom and the States, the song exposed the British singer's brand of pop and soul to the world. He followed with the string-soaked Baroque pop song “Kiss From a Rose,” featured on the “Batman Forever” soundtrack.
More than a decade and a half later, the 44-year-old may be known more for his marriage to German supermodel Heidi Klum than his soulful mix of electronica and pop. But with his set of pipes and popular appeal, Seal might still have another pop gem or two left in him.
THE SHOW
Post-race schedule at SDSU's COX Arena
Gates open at 6 p.m.
Shane Alexander plays at 6:30 p.m.
Awards ceremony at 7:20 p.m.
Seal performs at 8 p.m.
Previous headliners: Ozomatli, Pinback, LIVE, Chris Isaak, Sugar Ray, SmashMouth, Chicago, Hootie & The Blowfish, Huey Lewis & The News and Pat Benatar.
– CHRIS NIXON
Four on the road
With 44 bands covering the 26.2 mile marathon route (including two artists at Cox Arena after the race), this year's race offers many hours of live music to navigate. Here are a few favorites from this year's lineup:
The KneeHighs (6:45 a.m., Park Boulevard and Presidents Way): With San Diego-centric lyrics by Talls, Dalton and DaDa and funky beats laid down by DJ GarGar, this crew's 2005 release “Global Warming” sports homages to our city like “America's Finest.” With a new album, “Rise and Shine,” on the way, the KneeHighs (myspace.com/kneehighs) continues to make a name for itself in the hip-hop starved local music scene.
Mighty Mo Rodgers (7:40 a.m., Mission Bay Park Visitors Center): This Culver City-based soulful singer has earned his right to sing the blues, which he's been doing since the 1960s with the likes of T-Bone Walker, Albert Collins, Bobby “Blue” Bland and Jimmy Reed. Working with Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee (along with John Mayall, Arlo Guthrie, John Hammond, Michael Franks), Rodgers produced the 1973 release “Sonny and Terry” on A&M Records. The Mighty Mo Rodgers (mightymorodgers.com) is set to release a new set of tunes titled “Blues Is My Wailing Wall.”
Stone Senses (8 a.m. Perry's Cafe on Pacific Highway): Hailing from the sunny shores of Carlsbad, Stones Senses worships at the altar of reggae and ska with a Southern California jam band mentality. Eric Castaneda (vocals), Mike O'Gara (guitar-vocals), Funkdoobius (bass), Dirty Dan (drums), Garrett Grabowsky (guitar), Carl Mannino (percussion) and Mike Flanagan (alto sax-melodica) released “Harder Than the Rest” April 20, 2006.
The Pitch Michael Band (7:55 a.m. along Friars Road): Rising from the ashes of PitchLaRooche, this Escondido-based trio revolves around the talents of brothers Jonathan (vocals, guitar) and Levi (bass, vocals) Pitcher with help from Mike Lynch (percussion, guitar and vocals). Mixing ambient electronic and guitar rock, these kids from North County have chops.
– CHRIS NIXON
