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Chick Rock Edition
Thursday 1
If Björk is your brownie, my little pop-sweet indie geeks, then Parisian pair CocoRosie is that half-baked, which can be good, too, non? Cult-y Casady sisters Bianca and Sierra broke with the first wave of freak-folk acts in the early Oughts, like, the feminine side of Devendra and Antony, both of whom they’ve collab’d with. The tunes are playful mash-ups of [long list of music genres here], sung over telephones and accompanied by toys, yes, toys. Never as engaging on record — CocoRosie bounced from Touch & Go to Sub Pop for this year’s critical question mark Grey Oceans — their shows are always joyful and a little bit scary, just like childhood. The ex-pats play Belly Up with Brazil’s tropical-punk performance artist Cibelle.... The other gig to get to Thursday night features D.C. trio Dead Meadow at Casbah. The psych-rock throwbacks tend to the mystical — gnomes and shit — which is weird, considering they were sown and reaped in Fugazi’s backyard by Joe Lally. Anywho, they’re out to tout this year’s live CD/DVD Three Kings, if you want a preview. Them Bad Neighbors Gun Runner go first.... Else: experimental-pop acts Roxy Jones and Ape Machine swing into Bar Pink...and the hard-rocking legal team of Friedberg, Walker, Yu, Olson, and Hazen, aka Motion to Sever, tries Radio Room.
Friday 2
Fuzz-pop done doo-wop (Dum Dum Girls), dark (Crocodiles), and playful (Magic Bullets) comes to Casbah Friday night. Ex–Grand Ol’ Partier Dee Dee (née Kristin Gundred) has ridden a web wave to fame behind this year’s Sub Pop debut I Will Be. Her hubby Brandon Welchez will share the stage in his dark-pop duo Crocodiles (think J&MC for the dance-club set). But it’s SanFran band Magic Bullets that highlights the night behind their spanking-new, indie-crit-approved sophomore set, which exhumes the U.K.’s early-wave guitar guile (Johnny Marr) and lyrical cheek (Orange Juice).... South Korea’s Spice Girls call themselves Wonder Girls. Though the quintet is the first Korean band to crack Billboard’s Hot 100, there’s not a lot there musically, but one has to admit that they’re pretty visually arresting. (Giggity.) The Girls will drop this year’s 2 Different Tears on House of Blues.... A “farewell show” with two new CDs of throwback garage-pop to drop, it’s gotta be them natty lads the Modlins stacking it all up at Tin Can Ale House with Secret Apollo and Jamuel Saxon.... “Phoenix’s best cover band” Minibosses will give you a little busywork at Ché Café. The proggy rockers are known for heavy-metal instrumental covers of old-school video-game theme songs, so bring your joysticks. And earplugs. Finches and Paddle Boat drift in first.... Beauty Bar books a punk-pop birthday bash for Pete and Michelle (I’ve no idea), featuring Rat City Riot, Northern Towns, and Lualta.... There’s a Hot Moon over Soda Bar with Flying Objects and Mammoth Life, which delivers “kaleidoscopic art pop” all the way from Lawrence, KS.... Ruby Room hosts a Pyrate Punks benefit, featuring — big breath — Systematic Abuse, River Bottom Nightmare Band, Basura, Blood Stained Reality, Tim Raldo & the Filthy Fuks, and Ad Seg. You better give the Pyrates what they want.... Mexican metal-mockers Moderatto play 4th&B. If you want to join the fun, between songs yell “El Tri!” Given Mexico’s drubbing at the hands — er, feet of Argentina in the Copa del Mundo, they’ll love that!
Saturday 3
Short list Saturday night has local post-punks Lights On flipping a CD-release set at Banker’s Hill bar Tin Can Ale House. The new record, Here Comes the Ocean, drops Tuesday and delivers the boys next week to NYC hot spots Knitting Factory, Cake Shop, and Union Hall. Good on ya, guys. The Writer bros. go first, while DJs C-Wizard and Meth Combs spin ’round sets.... The Smart Brothers will enlighten Casbah with Steelwells and Little Hurricane. Chabs did a “Now You Know” on Little Hurricane last month. Go here for the storm report: sandiegoreader.com/news/2010/jun/02/blurt3/.
Sunday 4
Happy birthday, Amere-e-e-eka. I hate myself for loving you. She-punk radio-hit Joan Jett and her Blackhearts will bring the fireworks to Del Mar Fairgrounds. Whether learning the ropes or getting a refresher, this year’s Greatest Hits is one recommendable comprehensive collection. Miss Jett says that she will be playing herself but “channeling Kristen Stewart”.... And under “being free” this Fourth, file Casbah and One Nation Under a Groove’s Jivewire dance dealio. Dress patriotically, eat Mexican!
Monday 5
Punk-rocking Rhode Islanders Midnight Creeps and like-minded Louisianans M.O.T.O. will be in town Monday night, but I’m not entirely sure where. It’s booked at both Radio Room or Ruby Room. So, suffice to say, it’s one of the “Rooms.” My money’s on Radio Room’s Mayhem Mondays showcase.... But funky soul brothers the Styletones will definitely be at Bar Pink...and In the Red, Downs Family, Secret Samurai, Farmers, and Tighten Ups will definitely be at Avalon Tats’ Anti-Monday-style Anniversary show at Casbah. Twenty-one years of inking SD. They’re legal!
Tuesday 6
Vuvuzelas up. Now, blow! Afrobeat Nigerian Femi Kuti will be at Belly Up behind his last disc, Day by Day. The singer-saxophonist was nominated this year for his second world-music Grammy. Okay, put the horns away.... Hardcore hits Ché Café as Baltimore art-punks Pianos Become Teeth join lit Los Angelinos Touché Amoré at the campus collective.
Wednesday 7
That country-rock Yeti Leon Russell plays Belly Up with L.A. psych-folk sextet the Reflectacles.... And it’s going to be a hip-hop humpnight at Casbah with breakfast-food rap group Bully Blinders (check out “Continental Breakfast”: myspace.com/bullyblinders), Parker and the Numberman, PCH, and 50/50. I’m told you pronounce that “fitty-fitty.”
— Barnaby Monk
Here's something you might be interested in.
Chick Rock Edition
Chick Rock Edition
Thursday 1
If Björk is your brownie, my little pop-sweet indie geeks, then Parisian pair CocoRosie is that half-baked, which can be good, too, non? Cult-y Casady sisters Bianca and Sierra broke with the first wave of freak-folk acts in the early Oughts, like, the feminine side of Devendra and Antony, both of whom they’ve collab’d with. The tunes are playful mash-ups of [long list of music genres here], sung over telephones and accompanied by toys, yes, toys. Never as engaging on record — CocoRosie bounced from Touch & Go to Sub Pop for this year’s critical question mark Grey Oceans — their shows are always joyful and a little bit scary, just like childhood. The ex-pats play Belly Up with Brazil’s tropical-punk performance artist Cibelle.... The other gig to get to Thursday night features D.C. trio Dead Meadow at Casbah. The psych-rock throwbacks tend to the mystical — gnomes and shit — which is weird, considering they were sown and reaped in Fugazi’s backyard by Joe Lally. Anywho, they’re out to tout this year’s live CD/DVD Three Kings, if you want a preview. Them Bad Neighbors Gun Runner go first.... Else: experimental-pop acts Roxy Jones and Ape Machine swing into Bar Pink...and the hard-rocking legal team of Friedberg, Walker, Yu, Olson, and Hazen, aka Motion to Sever, tries Radio Room.
Friday 2
Fuzz-pop done doo-wop (Dum Dum Girls), dark (Crocodiles), and playful (Magic Bullets) comes to Casbah Friday night. Ex–Grand Ol’ Partier Dee Dee (née Kristin Gundred) has ridden a web wave to fame behind this year’s Sub Pop debut I Will Be. Her hubby Brandon Welchez will share the stage in his dark-pop duo Crocodiles (think J&MC for the dance-club set). But it’s SanFran band Magic Bullets that highlights the night behind their spanking-new, indie-crit-approved sophomore set, which exhumes the U.K.’s early-wave guitar guile (Johnny Marr) and lyrical cheek (Orange Juice).... South Korea’s Spice Girls call themselves Wonder Girls. Though the quintet is the first Korean band to crack Billboard’s Hot 100, there’s not a lot there musically, but one has to admit that they’re pretty visually arresting. (Giggity.) The Girls will drop this year’s 2 Different Tears on House of Blues.... A “farewell show” with two new CDs of throwback garage-pop to drop, it’s gotta be them natty lads the Modlins stacking it all up at Tin Can Ale House with Secret Apollo and Jamuel Saxon.... “Phoenix’s best cover band” Minibosses will give you a little busywork at Ché Café. The proggy rockers are known for heavy-metal instrumental covers of old-school video-game theme songs, so bring your joysticks. And earplugs. Finches and Paddle Boat drift in first.... Beauty Bar books a punk-pop birthday bash for Pete and Michelle (I’ve no idea), featuring Rat City Riot, Northern Towns, and Lualta.... There’s a Hot Moon over Soda Bar with Flying Objects and Mammoth Life, which delivers “kaleidoscopic art pop” all the way from Lawrence, KS.... Ruby Room hosts a Pyrate Punks benefit, featuring — big breath — Systematic Abuse, River Bottom Nightmare Band, Basura, Blood Stained Reality, Tim Raldo & the Filthy Fuks, and Ad Seg. You better give the Pyrates what they want.... Mexican metal-mockers Moderatto play 4th&B. If you want to join the fun, between songs yell “El Tri!” Given Mexico’s drubbing at the hands — er, feet of Argentina in the Copa del Mundo, they’ll love that!
Saturday 3
Short list Saturday night has local post-punks Lights On flipping a CD-release set at Banker’s Hill bar Tin Can Ale House. The new record, Here Comes the Ocean, drops Tuesday and delivers the boys next week to NYC hot spots Knitting Factory, Cake Shop, and Union Hall. Good on ya, guys. The Writer bros. go first, while DJs C-Wizard and Meth Combs spin ’round sets.... The Smart Brothers will enlighten Casbah with Steelwells and Little Hurricane. Chabs did a “Now You Know” on Little Hurricane last month. Go here for the storm report: sandiegoreader.com/news/2010/jun/02/blurt3/.
Sunday 4
Happy birthday, Amere-e-e-eka. I hate myself for loving you. She-punk radio-hit Joan Jett and her Blackhearts will bring the fireworks to Del Mar Fairgrounds. Whether learning the ropes or getting a refresher, this year’s Greatest Hits is one recommendable comprehensive collection. Miss Jett says that she will be playing herself but “channeling Kristen Stewart”.... And under “being free” this Fourth, file Casbah and One Nation Under a Groove’s Jivewire dance dealio. Dress patriotically, eat Mexican!
Monday 5
Punk-rocking Rhode Islanders Midnight Creeps and like-minded Louisianans M.O.T.O. will be in town Monday night, but I’m not entirely sure where. It’s booked at both Radio Room or Ruby Room. So, suffice to say, it’s one of the “Rooms.” My money’s on Radio Room’s Mayhem Mondays showcase.... But funky soul brothers the Styletones will definitely be at Bar Pink...and In the Red, Downs Family, Secret Samurai, Farmers, and Tighten Ups will definitely be at Avalon Tats’ Anti-Monday-style Anniversary show at Casbah. Twenty-one years of inking SD. They’re legal!
Tuesday 6
Vuvuzelas up. Now, blow! Afrobeat Nigerian Femi Kuti will be at Belly Up behind his last disc, Day by Day. The singer-saxophonist was nominated this year for his second world-music Grammy. Okay, put the horns away.... Hardcore hits Ché Café as Baltimore art-punks Pianos Become Teeth join lit Los Angelinos Touché Amoré at the campus collective.
Wednesday 7
That country-rock Yeti Leon Russell plays Belly Up with L.A. psych-folk sextet the Reflectacles.... And it’s going to be a hip-hop humpnight at Casbah with breakfast-food rap group Bully Blinders (check out “Continental Breakfast”: myspace.com/bullyblinders), Parker and the Numberman, PCH, and 50/50. I’m told you pronounce that “fitty-fitty.”
— Barnaby Monk