The Maul Shoppe

One of the up-and-coming bands in San Diego’s local music scene, The Maul Shoppe consists of Heidi Arcilla (vocals), Chris Penaflor (guitar), Randy Phomsavanh (Bass), and Ian Jimeno (drums). In this case, the male outnumbers, but not outshines. So when front-woman, Heidi Arcilla, encouraged the crowd outside Inga Bezio Salon, one of Downtown San Diego’s premiere destinations for style, to ‘come back inside and drink some wine’, I had the strong sense that The Maul Shoppe was a group filled with irony. Their band moniker alone with its underlying girly themes (shopping) and masculine connotations (the homonyms ‘mall’ and ‘maul’) exemplifies The Maul Shoppe’s virtuosity in making clever statements. But whether the intrigue is in fashion, style, or music, The Maul Shoppe happens to know just what to deliver.

Presented by Soheila of Mona Lisa Boutique, the Winter Fashion Show 12.8.2011 located inside the Inga Bezio Salon, offered a smorgasbord of art offerings, including a fashion show from local designers, wine tastings, and a belly dancing performance. Although The Shoppers definitely had a lot to compete with, not only did they proceed to sonically enhance the aesthetic sensibilities of the fashion crowd that Thursday night, The Maul Shoppers also managed to revive a few in the audience enough to start showing off their dance moves.

The music, itself, was sexy and sassy. Heidi’s Mick Jaggerish showmanship emphasized her smoky vocals that captivated the audience from start to finish. While The Maul Shoppe’s sound were loud and clear, evident also during their set was a great sense of style. Once finished with her swaggering motions and heel grinding-movements, Heidi dons a pair of glittery shades later on in her performance. The lead singer’s smoky eye shadow and the other band members’ synchronized outfits (ties, cardigans, and white shirts), went on to demonstrate that the band was not only in-sync musically but stylistically as well.

The Winter Fashion Show was an event that encouraged locals to buy localized goods this holiday season. Set up around the reception area were local vendors, who had on display some eclectic art pieces, beautiful jewelry, and some fashionable pieces of clothing, all of which were up for grabs at a reasonable price. Appropriately enough, The Maul Shoppe’s wry taste in fashion and their born-to-rock style made them the perfect choice for that night’s event. Having played at a wide circuit throughout San Diego-county, including at the House of Blues San Diego, The Casbah, The Brick by Brick, and The Ruby Room in Hillcrest, among others, The Maul Shoppe’s conclusive performance for 2011 at Mona Lisa Boutique’s Winter Fashion Show last Thursday night had to be the perfect closer to what was, in hindsight, a happening year. - My Nguyen, AMD Entertainment

RetroGroove is rockin back some new age instrumentals, and not looking back. - Jonathan