Here's where I'd be
Ilya is back (and with Crocodiles nonetheless) and the rest of the best of this week's live music
These are bands we especially dig, not full listings. For those, please see Concerts and Clubs.
For more top shows featuring local acts, please see Nightgeist.
Wednesday, August 13
PLAN A: Michael McDonald @ Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay. The former Doobie Brothers singer has recently experienced a renaissance with the ironic “Yacht Rock” phenomenon, and I shed a single tear of joy every time I hear “What a Fool Believes.” PLAN B: 8MM, Manuok @ U-31. Manuok aren’t headlining, but I’ll take their dreamy folk-inflected soundscapes over 8MM’s ’90s trip-hop fetishism anytime. BACKUP PLAN: The Fabulous Thunderbirds @ Anthology.
Thursday, August 14
PLAN A: Vans Warped Tour @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre. Our own aging punk advises your slam dancing on this page. PLAN B: Calico Horse, Colorstore, Swim Party @ The Casbah. Snack on Swim Party’s muted indie before filling up on melancholy, piano-led rock from Phoenix-based Colorstore and local up-and-comers Calico Horse. PLAN C: Sunspot Jonz @ Kava Lounge. Jonz cites Gene Wilder, Peaches and Tracy Chapman in his list of influences on MySpace. Praise Jeebus you can’t detect them in his music. BACKUP PLAN: Never So Few, The Tornadoes @ Belly Up Tavern.
Friday, August 15
PLAN A: “4 O’Clock Fridays” w/ The Wailers @ Del Mar Racetrack. Yes, Bob Marley and Peter Tosh are dead and gone and Bunny Wailer has retired, but their old backing band, The Wailers—led by original, influential bass player Aston “Family Man” Barrett—are still going strong. Spark one up and enjoy this legendary reggae outfit. PLAN B: Xiu Xiu, Carla Bozulich, Braden Diotte, Fantastic Magic @ The Casbah. Jaime Stewart from Xiu Xiu is like that drama kid from high school who always wore Smiths T-shirts. Well, the drama kid grew up, and people still can’t tell if he’s gay or not, but he makes some pretty engaging experimental pop. PLAN C: The Sess, Nobunny, The Wax Museum @ The Yard. How often do you get to see garage bands in someone’s garage? OK, this show is actually in a backyard, but that’s close enough. BACKUP PLAN: Dwele @ Anthology.
Saturday, August 16
PLAN A: Ilya, Crocodiles, Emery Byrd @ The Casbah. After a lengthy hiatus, respected locals Ilya are back with their moody, shoegaze-inspired tunes. It doesn’t hurt that they’re supported by Crocodiles, the new project by Brandon Welchez and Chuck Rowland (The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower). PLAN B: “Gnomes Gone Wild Fest” w/ Weatherbox, Lanterns, BoomSnake, Crooks, Fever Sleeves @ Che Café. This is the sound of emo kids finally growing up and learning to temper their whining with generous portions of anger. PLAN C: Mack 10 @ 4th & B. To quote Westside Connection’s “Hoo Bangin,” Mack 10 is the lick, Westside is the click! Can’t get enough of this gangsta shit! BACKUP PLAN: Scientist, Lambs Blood, Lloyd Hemmings, Nekter @ ’Canes.
Sunday, August 17
PLAN A: The Dutchess and the Duke, James Jackson Toth @ Bar Pink. The Dutchess and the Duke bum us out in the best possible way on this here page. PLAN B: “Lost 80s Love” w/ Dramarama, When in Rome, Real Life, Gene Loves Jezebel. An ideal trip down memory lane for 30-somethings who listened to a whole lot of KROQ back in the ’80s. PLAN C: “Night of the Creeps” w/ Skull Kontrol DJs @ Whistle Stop. San Diego’s favorite DIY DJ crew spins a series of eerie post-punk tracks to soak up your favorite evening cocktail. BACKUP PLAN: Matt Pryor, Chris Conley @ House of Blues Delta Room.
Monday, August 18
PLAN A: Zs, Upsilon Acrux, Secret Fun Club @ Radio Room. Zs sound like the noise playing in your head during a three-day cocaine and Red Bull binge. It’s scary, funny, euphoric and disorienting in equal measures. PLAN B: War Stories, Desert Diamonds, The Displaced, The Howls @ The Casbah. It’s a CD-release party for War Stories, but The Howls are set to steal the show with their endearingly sloppy West Coast Americana. PLAN C: Gipsy Kings @ Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay. Marvel at the guitar playing and sing along to their cover of The Eagles’ “Hotel California” en Español, but don’t be surprised if you see your parents there. BACKUP PLAN: Magic Johnson, Don Hellions, Vaginals @ The Roseary Room.
Tuesday, August 19
PLAN A: “Connect” w/ Atoms @ Ken Club. It’s caffeinated pop-punk with keyboards, and it’s done right, like if The Rezillos and Devo threw a house party for a bunch of delinquent teenagers. PLAN B: The Fascination, Wendy Darling, The Predicates @ The Casbah. The Fascination have the chops to back up their Killers-style pastiche of Brit-rock influences, but unless the lead singer is actually British, I’m calling bullshit on that accent. BACKUP PLAN: Causeway, Close Talker, Jarris, Escape Note @ O’Connells.