LOCALS ONLY

San Diego bands have gotten pretty creative when it comes to accessories. Candye Kane made pillows out of her used bras. The Locust infamously put their logo on a bunch of compact mirrors, which fans could use to check their makeup or facilitate drug use. And now the San Diego music scene's got a frickin' cookbook.

On Sunday, Nov. 19, Brick by Brick will host the release party for Listen Local Cooks, Vol. 1, a cookbook featuring recipes from San Diego musicians and friends of the scene, with a CD compilation attached. Yet another brainchild of tireless promoter Cathryn Beeks, the show is free for fans who bring four cans of food to be donated to the San Diego Rescue Mission.

Beeks said that “even people who are normally a disaster in the kitchen will find a recipe they can handle,” but she also acknowledges that some recipes will require a special palette to appreciate.

Sweet Tooth guitarist “John McBride gave us a recipe for ‘Lafayette Squirrel Stew' that might not be to everyone's taste. But if you have enough squirrels, it does feed four.”

Those contributing recipes to the book include Star 94.1 DJ Hilary and Troubadour magazine publishers Liz Abbot and Kent Johnson, as well as TV's Sam the Cooking Guy. Almost 50 musicians also donated home-cookin' tips, including Gregory Page, Dave Howard, Berkley Hart and Christopher Dale. For the release party, more than a dozen artists will play short sets, including Steph Johnson, Anna Troy, Molly Jenson, Lisa Sanders and Paige Aufhammer. www.home town.aol.com/cathrynbeeks/COOKBOOK.html.

Notables...

Bands wondering what it's like trying to book a tour should check out the MySpace page of defunct San Diego math-rockers The Dropscience. Their first “track” is called “Voicemail Message,” a three-minute diatribe from the booker at The Portlite, a San Francisco dump . Although the booker says he'd like to help the band, he ultimately concludes, “The situation is this-you're pretty much fucked.” He then goes on to say, “The scene in the city is crumblin', dude. It's all about fuckin' Neil Diamond cover bands, Jackson 5 cover bands, martinis and spaghetti-alright, boom!” Enlightening stuff. www.myspace.com/thedropscience.

The deal of the week has to be the Grand Ole Party and Tender Buttons gig at The Casbah on Monday, Nov. 20. The show itself is free, and anyone through the door will get a free ticket to The Faint's Dec. 6 concert at 4th & B. In other GOP news, the band-arguably San Diego's buzz band of the year-has decided not to record with Louis XIV's Jason Hill, as we had previously reported. The split is amicable. They're currently in talks with the dude who manages Coldplay and The Elected, among other bands, about recording with his help before touring next year. www.casbahmusic.com.

The $15 million ad campaign for Coleman Camping Gear, which will use music by local rockers The Stereotypes, is set to launch in the first quarter of 2007. Though the first ad featuring the tune “Outside” hasn't aired yet, the company has already optioned two more songs-“New Situation” and “Stars”-for future advertising. Coleman has been flying the group around the country to play at corporate events and has plans to put them on tour in Australia, Japan and Europe next year. They're also paying to make a video for “Outside.” The band has just finished its fourth album, 4, for release next year. www.myspace.com/thestereotypesmusic.

+44-the band featuring ex-blink-182 members Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker-will be on TRL on Nov. 17 to hype their new album, When Your Heart Stops Beating. www.plusfortyfour.com.

On Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Ocean House in Oceanside, Blues Lovers United of San Diego will hold the finals of its annual contest to find the region's best blues performer. Winners will compete in the “International Blues Competition” in Memphis. Contenders include The Indian Joe & Sonny Derin Show, Byron Hudson, Dan Hatzheim, Anna Troy, as well as the duo of Nathan James and Ben Hernandez. www.blusd.org.

Chula Vista's best known hip-hop crooner, Frankie J., will be a presenter on at the American Music Awards, Nov. 21, on ABC. www.myspace.com/frankiej.

While a one-disc DVD of Rocket From the Crypt's final show-on Halloween night in 2005-is currently making the rounds, Swami Records will release a CD/DVD version of the two-hour set in early 2007. www.swamirecords.com.

P.O.D. will release their final major-label album, Greatest Hits: (The Atlantic Years), on Nov 21. The album includes a previously unreleased track “Here We Go,” plus a new song, “Going in Blind.” While the band is trying to figure out what to do next after splitting with Atlantic, vocalist Sonny Sandoval and drummer Wuv will work on their reggae-influenced side project, Southtown Generals. www.payableondeath.com.

Celtic combo Skelpin has been selected to headline the world-music stage at the Tokyo Music Festival, scheduled for March 2007. www.skelpin.com.

KPRI-FM releases its fourth annual Live Tracks CD on Nov. 17, with proceeds going to the charity Voices For Children. Unlike past discs, this volume includes only one San Diego artist, Jason Mraz. All but one of the 16 tracks, including those by David Gray, Ozomatli and Moby, were recorded locally. www.kprifm.com/LiveTracksVol4.html.

The prize for the earliest Christmas-related event this year goes to guitarist Tom Boyer, who will host a release party at the Scripps Ranch Library on Nov. 19 (2:30 p.m., free) for his latest album, The Joy of Christmas. www.tomboyerguitar.com.

Former teen idol Lindsey Troy has released a five-song EP, Bruises. She's backed on the disc by a number of San Diego musicians, including Gregory Page on bass and Lady Dottie & the Diamonds drummer Brian “Nucci” Cantrell. www.myspace.com/lindseytroy.

Dizzy's will host a CD-release show on Sunday, Nov. 19 for the debut by jazz group The Arc Trio, called The Triptych Mirror. The group includes Justin Grinnell (bass) and Nathan Hubbard (drums) as well as SDSU's associate director of jazz studies Rick Helzer (piano). www.dizzyssandiego.com.