Reports from the scene

Locals Only

San Diego bands have a ton of new releases to celebrate this week. Alterna-rockers The Morning on Fire will release their new EP, California Tapes, at Soda Bar on Thursday, Dec. 17, with Knockout Bell and The Moons supporting. The next night, Helen Earth Band will play a show at The Beauty Bar in honor of their debut, Our Own Ghost City. Finally, on Sunday, Dec. 20, rockers Nautical Disaster will celebrate the release of Amantes Amentes at Bar Pink with Behind the Wagon and Ladyfingers rounding out the bill.

Blues-chanteuese Candye Kane will play and host a happy-hour charity event at Belly Up on Thursday, Dec. 18. A dollar from each ticket goes to Photocharity, a nonprofit committed to building shelters and operating programs for homeless youth.

—Seth Combs

View from a Stool

“You open it up and—bam!—there’s a big piece of avocado sitting there and you don’t even have to ask or pay for it,” said Two Tears’ Kerry Davis, gleefully describing the superiority of California tacos versus what she can get near her home in New York. A founding member of all-female garage punks Red Aunts and San Diego art-rockers Beehive and the Barracudas, the singer and songwriter recently moved to the East Coast after a stint in Dubai.

Davis, with fellow ’Cudas Gar and Tracy in tow, sat down over a drink to discuss everything from the importance of Jessie Mae Hemphill to Wu-Tang’s vacuum cleaner before Saturday night’s Two Tears show at Bar Pink.

“Really, I’m on a rock-ation right now,” Davis said, referring to her week-and-a-half-long swing down the California coast. “I’ve moved so much in the last five or six years that sometimes I play with friends and sometimes it’s a one-lady band.”

A three-piece that night, the band ripped through songs from 2004’s Enjoy Yourself and 2007’s Little Tea, all of which were written as a set-list on her bassist’s arm. Davis was a gregarious host, thanking the appreciative crowd and calling the bar a “beautiful place,” before closing the set with the raucous, 90-second sonic burst “Shit Fucking Job.”

Then it was back to New York—or anywhere else the music takes her. Wherever that is, we’re sure their tacos aren’t as tasty.

—Scott McDonald

Night Moves

Our semi-regular guide to the Scene Wolf-approved after-dark events we’re either crazy about or just really looking forward to.

“Happy Houred” @ El Dorado: Happy Houred is an iPhone app that directs you to the best early-evening drink deals in town. To celebrate the San Diego launch, El-D will have free DonQ rum drinks as well as complimentary grub from Alchemy from 6 to 8 p.m. And stick around afterward for “All Things Rad” with DJs Iron Mike and others spinning just about everything but top-40 while makeup artist/fashionista Morgan Gates gives free makeovers for the ladies. Thursday, Dec. 17.

Queenly, Cats from Japan, D Pain @ The Casbah: The Queen tribute band is one thing, but definitely show up for Cats from Japan. It’s the surprisingly catchy new nu-new-wave project from First Wave Hello’s Eric Flynn and Demasiado’s Jon Plotrowski that killed it when they played at Voyeur. Think a dark but danceable mix of The Faint and Duran Duran. Friday, Dec. 18.

Loco Dice, Alain de Saracho @ Voyeur: Loco is a Düsseldorf-bred, Brooklyn-based house DJ that has a way of blending blips, bleeps and beats into something that’s both danceable and relaxing. This isn’t the place to be if you wanna go nuts on the dance floor (see below for that), but it is the place if you want to make googly eyes at the hottie dancing with you. Friday Dec. 18.

Armand Van Helden @ On Broadway: The DJ/producer blends hip-hop and house with insane break beats that get the ladies crazy and the boys crunk. Plus, he hasn’t stopped here in about three years, so this might be the last time you get to see him without slumming it up in L.A. Saturday, Dec. 19.

Stingaree Four-Year Anniversary @ Stingaree: Gonna be crazy, so get on the list. Lady Gaga is hosting it, and rumor has it she’s going to perform as well. We hope she shows up in that red-lace burka again. Saturday, Dec. 19.

—Seth Combs

The Enrique Experience

Beth Ditto, the Reuben-esque lead singer of post-punk outfit Gossip and self-proclaimed “crunchy dyke,” performed an intimate set at the W Hotel on Friday night. With mic in hand and Spanx around her midsection, she belted an a capella rendition of “We Are the Champions” that would’ve made Freddy Mercury’s butthole tingle.

“San Diego, you are wild tonight! You must be on drugs,” the BBW singer said. She then commented on the audience’s collective smell (“like papaya, baby apricot and a natural fruit bar from Starbucks”), and shared her plans to move here, pick up surfing and become a vampire. Before the show, I caught up with Ditto, bonded with her over talk of the “fat sweats” and joked with her bandmates about her ability to instantly steal the show.

Enrique: What fuels you onstage, Beth?

Beth Ditto: [My bandmates’] hatred of me for getting all the attention, sons of bitches.

It seems Middle America knows you best for being a fixture in The Enquirer’s “worst beach bodies” spreads.

[Laughs] I keep on giving them really good shots. What’s funny is that not that many U.S. magazines have put us on their cover, so, overall, The Enquirer wins for most-run Gossip covers.

You recently did a clothing line for U.K. plus-size retailer Evans. Any plans to do that stateside, with, say, Lane Bryant or Wal-Mart?

I would do one for Wal-Mart like that! I’m obsessed with them.

This T-shirt I’m wearing is from Wal-Mart and it was only seven bucks.

Oh my God! My favorite shirt is from there, too. It’s purple and it has Grimace on it in pink.

Grimace from McDonald’s?

Yes, and it says, ‘Do fries come with that shake?’ When I found it, I was, like, ye-yah!

Who’d be your dream duet?

I think it would be awesome to sing with Little Richard.

I’ve heard you have a fondness for motorboating interviewers. So far I haven’t felt the love, what gives?

There are too many people around. How’s about a good hug?

And, just like that, my wish to have my face buried in a rock star’s bosom cam true. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

—Enrique Limón