The Love of Beer
Don Valdez
- Photo by Miguel Vega
Wednesday, Jan. 4
PLAN A: Don Valdez, BabySTEPS, Nold, Third Twin, DJ Ethics, Cataluxx, D-V3KZ @ El Dorado. New Mexico-via-San Diego dubstep producer EshOne recently caught the “moombahton” bug and started churning out rowdy, Latin-flavored dance-floor bangers at a steady clip. Now, as Don Valdez, he’s been getting lots of internet buzz (scope out his debut mix on themixster.com) and has signed an EP deal with the label Rot10 Musik. BACKUP PLAN: Olin and the Moon, Maxim Ludwig & The Santa Fe Seven, Jesse LaMonaca and the Dime Novels @ The Casbah.
Thursday, Jan. 5
PLAN A: The Young, Plateaus, northern Tigers @ Soda Bar. Recent Matador Records signees The Young harness the volatile power of The Stooges in bursts of scorching psychedelic-punk. They know their way around a catchy hook (see “Bird in the Bush,” a highlight from 2010’s awesome Voyagers of Legend), but they’ll get plenty noisy while they’re at it. PLAN B: Stage Kids, Moth’s Noise, TONS, Planewreck @ The Ruby Room. While plenty of math-rock bands are content to simply flit from one time signature to the next, Mira Mesa’s Stage Kids actually have an ear for mood and texture, laying out colorful instrumentals that sound great even if you can’t tell a 6/8 from a 7/4. BACKUP PLAN: The Henry Clay People, The Bloody Hollies, The New Kinetics @ The Casbah.
Friday, Jan. 6
PLAN A: Writer, Chairs Missing @ The Tower Bar. Writer put on one of their best performances I’ve seen at Soda Bar recently— their drums were pounding, their vocals were raw and their giant keyboard lines practically shook the room. But they could get even wilder at this farewell show, their last in San Diego before they leave for New York City. PLAN B: Heavy Hawaii, Dunes, Memorial, Asha @ Soda Bar. Locals Heavy Hawaii got a good amount of buzz last year for their weirdly infectious indie-pop. They’re just as delightful on their new “Super Bowl XXIX” 7-inch, laying out warped hooks with playful keyboards and pitch-bent vocals. BACKUP PLAN: The Nervous Wreckords, Blackout Party, Grand Tarantula, The Heavy Guilt Duo @ The Casbah.
Saturday, Jan. 7
PLAN A: I Promise Fest @ Ché Café (5 p.m.). As I write here, a bunch of great bands will perform at this weekend-long benefit festival for the Ché, a beloved all-ages venue that’s in financial crisis. California powerhouses No Age and Crystal Antlers make tonight’s indie-rock showcase a highlight, but I’m just as stoked about Friday’s hardcore-punk bill and Sunday’s experimental / noise lineup (don’t miss the inimitable Health). Head to thechecafe.blogspot.com for a full schedule. PLAN B: DJ Quik & Suga Free, Jewelz P & Young O, J.V., Trazel, Splitting Atoms, E-Wreck, Chaddy, E-Man @ 4th & B. While Jay-Z and Kanye West got all the attention last year with Watch the Throne, some hip-hop fans were even more excited about another dynamic rap duo. In the late ’90s, West Coast gangster-rap pioneer DJ Quik and oh-so-stylish pimp-turned-rapper Suga Free made a wildly creative, criminally underrated pair. Last August, they started performing together again for the first time in a decade. PLAN C: The Country Buddy “Dick Blue Ball” w/ The Farmers, Steve Poltz, Joey Harris, Rolle Love, Romy Kaye and The Buddy Blue Reunion Band @ Belly Up. In this second-annual tribute to local cow-punk legends The Beat Farmers, former members of the band will team with singer-songwriter Steve Poltz to celebrate the late, great Farmers members Buddy Blue and Country Dick Montana.
Sunday, Jan. 8
PLAN A: Sleep Lady, Archons, Gran Sasso, Swore @ The Casbah. Celebrating the release of Black Box, Vol. 2, a solid local music compilation produced by Black Box Recording Studios, post-rockers Sleep Lady will blow your face off with their epic riffs. BACKUP PLAN: Little Lo, The Wind, Ghost Come Back @ Soda Bar.
Monday, Jan. 9
PLAN A: Starfucker, Painted Palms, Pal&Drome @ The Casbah. Portland electro-rockers Starfucker are renowned for their awesome live show. But don’t miss Pal&Drome, which finds Josh and Zach Wheeler of Scarlet Symphony using samplers, electronic drums and other toys to make artful, interplanetary dance music. BACKUP PLAN: Realization Orchestra, Snuffaluffagus, Brainstorm @ Soda Bar.
Tuesday, Jan. 10
PLAN A: NOFX, Lagwagon, Old Man Markley @ House of Blues. California punk heavyweights NOFX have pumped out tons of three-chord gems in a nearly 30-year run, all the while maintaining their mischievous attitude. (NOFX play with No Use for a Name on Monday, Jan. 9.)
Email peterh@sdcitybeat.com or follow him on Twitter at @peterholslin.
