Tarantula Hawk

Here are the newest (and sometimes oldest) bands to be added to the Reader’s Local Music Database [http://www.sandiegoreader.com/music/], which includes profiles, discographies, MP3s, and concert dates for over 3,600 San Diego bands and more than 8,900 local musicians (all now searchable by name, instrument, genre, etc), covering the music of our city from the 1940s through this week.

Nexus, formed by composer/saxophonist Gabriel Sundy, performs music comparable to the jazz-fusion and progressive rock of the 1960s and 1970s, such as Mahavishnu Orchestra, Nucleus, Frank Zappa, John Abercrombie, Gong, Yes, and Soft Machine. Their music is a synthesis of psychedelic and prog rock elements, fused with improvisation and harmony that are characteristic of music from modern jazz traditions. They’ll appear at 98 Bottles in Little Italy on November 14.

Creeps A.D.: Punk-psychobilly-surf rock metalheads Creeps A.D. were known as the Creeps in late 1990s. The current renamed incarnation came back together in late 2012, when Jeffrey Creep (guitar/vox) and Dan Skum (drums) got together to record old lost tracks for a benefit album.

“Most of the bands on the benefit album had tracks to submit, but the Creeps had spaced any historical proof of their existence,” says Creep.

“In order to produce even just one song, the original lineup had to reassemble.” Creep and Skum began to practice old material for the record, as well as working on new tracks, now augmented by bassist Lobo.

Mockingbird: Based in North Park, Mockingbird features pianist Derek Shaw and drummer Josh Fraire, who performed locally for over a decade in bands like the Doomsday Device and Doves & Desperados. “Our sound is best described as cabaret noir, blending literary, cinematic, and theatrical elements,” says Shaw. “Evoking the spirit of beat poetry, the showmanship of vaudeville, and the vibe of a jazz lounge, it's experimental and avant-garde in the catchiest possible way.”

After making their live debut several weeks ago at the Tin Can Ale House in Bankers Hill, the band's premiere EP Kids of the Summer was released in early October.

9-Theory multi-instrumentalist and Encinitas resident Gabe Lehner (Inspired Flight) released a solo album in November 2012, The Swift Death of Dysfunction, made available online as a name-your-price offering. “For me this album has been therapy, it's been release, it's been inspiring, it's been challenging, it's been uplifting, it's been depressing,” said Lehner on his BandCamp page. “It's been a hundred things. Now it is done.”

This year, Lehner launched his solo project 9 Theory. A video for the track “Give Me More” was posted online in October, and the band will appear at U-31 on November 21, on a bill that also includes Okapi Sun and Swambi.

Timyra-Joi Beatty was 15 years old and living in Lemon Grove when she made her debut this season on the TV talent show The Voice. Born in Philadelphia, her family moved to San Diego shortly before she turned five. Over the next few years, she played Cindy Lou Who in the Old Globe's production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and played Dorothy in The Wiz at downtown's Lyceum Theater, as well as performing in the Starlight Musical Theater's production of Aida. Among her vocal influences are Diana Ross, Ella Fitzgerald, and jazz singer Nancy Wilson.

Myron Tweed earned his bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Cascade College in Portland, Oregon, and his master’s of music degree and a doctoral degree in musical arts from the University of Southern California. With his wife and children, he founded the Tweed Family Singers. He moved with his family to San Diego in the early 1970s and became a longtime professor of music at Point Loma Nazarene University, as well as serving as director of music at various local Presbyterian churches.

Weed: Founded in 1994 and based in Bonita, Weed featured a heavy and melodic alternative post grunge sound akin to Black Sabbath, Soundgarden, Tool, Metallica, Nirvana, Helmet, and the Misfits. Though they split in the late 1990s, a remastered version of their debut album Absurd will be released in 2014 on the Cottonmouth Records label.

Ben Schachter: Tenor sax symbol Ben Schachter, a Philadelphia native, has been recognized as a composer with grants from the American Composers Forum (2003), Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (2001 and 2005), and Pew Fellowships in the Arts (1999). Holding degrees from Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory, he taught at Berklee from 1986 through 1988, and at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, PA from 1991 until 1996.

In 2012, Schachter relocated with his wife from Arizona to San Diego, where he began teaching part time at a community college. He has performed and recorded in the U.S., Europe, and Asia with; Tim Hagans, Conrad Herwig, John Zorn, Gary Bartz, Dick Oatts, Sam Rivers, Dave Holland, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Terell Stafford, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Uri Caine, George Garzone, Marc Ribot, Mark Dresser, John Swana, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Charles Fambrough, James Genus, Jef Lee Johnson, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Burhan Ocal, Jack Walrath, and others. He’ll appear at Dizzy’s in PB on December 13.

Coastral: “[Each of the five songs] tell a different little story or capture a moment in my life, and I wanted to give those memories back to all of my people who have supported my musical journey so far,” says San Diego/Tijuana chillout producer Coastral, aka Alejandro Arredondo, of his debut EP Ocean Bound.

Released in August, down-tempo electro-tracks like "Farewell Sun" were inspired by local-centric adventures. “I remember working on this track over at Pacific Beach while watching the sunset. It was such a beautiful experience I wanted to give that little moment back to the sun.”

Cloud Feather was founded by singer/songwriter/guitarist Mario Carrillo, a Native-American member of the Juaneño tribe, along with his wife Elisa, San Pasqual tribe member Jimi Igo, and Igo's wife Jera. They play harmony-rich folk-rock as well as country, gospel, and blues reminiscent of Firefall, Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Cat Stevens, and Native American crooner Bill Miller.

High Mountain Road banjoist Chris Adkins has played in bluegrass bands in the midwest and south, most recently in Kansas City, MO. Guitarist Yukon Jack Lohman is a veteran on the San Diego and Las Vegas country/folk circuit who has released a CD titled Acoustic Grass that continues to get airplay in Europe.

Mandolinist B.K. Nicholson is a longtime songwriter and church musician who also adds a third voice to fill out the band's harmonies and sings a few songs as well. Bassist Tad Van Allen is a veteran of the San Diego bluegrass scene having played with the band Full Deck and others. Fiddler Tim Gathman has an extensive classical background in violin studies, having majored in violin at UCSD.

The Scott Roberts Trio was founded in 2010 by three Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) students, winning fourth place in its division at the Reno Jazz Festival this year and playing every Thursday at the CCA Farmer's Market. Its members are Michael Carlson on tenor saxophone, Max Vinetz on bass, and Scott Roberts on piano.

Lilian Rey: Half-El Salvadorian, half-Mexican indie-pop singer Lilian Rey is an L.A.-born singer/songwriter who has been a San Diego resident since 1994. She cites her influences as including Shakira, Paty Cantú, Jesse & Joy, and Jennifer Lopez. Her debut studio album Venta de Garaje, released earlier this year, was preceded by the single “Yo No Busco El Amor,” engineered by three-time Grammy nominee Jay Henry and featuring San Diego Opera guitarist Anthony Mendez.

Sandra Lilia Velásquez fronted the band Pistolera until the group relocated from San Diego. Her debut solo EP Dig Deeper (Luchadora Records), released earlier this year, was produced by ten-time Grammy nominee and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello.

A video for “Painted Pictures” was filmed in California at the Salton Sea and Sunset Cliffs in San Diego. The paintings featured in the video are by SLV’s father (Louis Velasquez), who is an accomplished painter and inventor. Her solo band SLV consists of drummer, electronic beat maker, and composer Sean Dixon, who is also her songwriting partner, and multi-instrumentalist Mark Marshall who switches between bass and electric guitar.

Soft Lions: Formed in early 2013, psychedelic rockers Soft Lions feature Megan Liscomb of Boy King, backed by Jon Bonser (New Kinetics) and Marco Polo singer/keyboardist Lex Pratt (formerly of Wild Wild Wets). Their debut EP No Peace was just released.

Tarantula Hawk: Featuring two founding members of the Locust, synth-heavy math-metalheads Tarantula Hawk came together in summer 1998, founded by three players who'd only recently moved to San Diego -- Rob Morrison (from Seattle), Dave Warshaw (LA), and Braden Diotte (LA) -- along with Dylan Scharf, a San Diego native.

Bassist/electronics player Morrison left the group in March 1999, returning to Seattle, resulting in each band member taking on auxiliary instruments as they recorded new music. Their debut full-length features one long 40-minute-plus instrumental track. Over the next few years, Tarantula Hawk solidified itself within the underground music community, performing alongside such underground heavyweights as Neurosis, Crash Worship, High on Fire, Dystopia, and the Locust. They split in 2005.

The Nerd Herd describes their sound as “Foo Fighters meets Sublime, gets to know Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and frequently drinks with Incubus...that's after they're done with Pearl Jam, and have had enough of Alice in Chains!” Their song “Brilliant Escape,” from a new self-titled debut release, is playable on their band page.

Duping the Public is a five-piece folk rock band, creating a sound that falls somewhere between Bob Dylan’s electric years and Jeff Tweedy’s solo career, with hints of Blondie and Tom Waits.

Also newly added to the Local Music Database are band pages for Gaetano Rallo, Cacique, Chorus Breviarii, Lonesome Strangers, Danny Barber, Se Vende, the Lumps, Cerulean Veins, Prayers (a different band from THE Prayers), the Sidekicks, and Route 77.