In the clubs

Wednesday, Jan. 20

PLAN A: Habanot Nechama @ The Loft. In case you missed our feature in last week’s issue, the three lovely ladies in Habanot Nechama are huge in their home country of Israel for their gorgeous folk strumming and perfect harmonies. And while they have songs in English, it’s the Hebrew ballads that make me shout yesh! PLAN B: Christmas Island, Beaters, Heavy Hawaii, Nude Boy @ The Casbah. The two headliners are probably the biggest local stars in the indie blogosphere, but I’m definitely excited to see newcomers Nude Boy, who, unlike Heavy Hawaii, seem to understand that just because you’re cool and lo-fi or whatever doesn’t mean you can’t be catchy. BACKUP PLAN: Gilbert Castellanos Quartet @ Bar Pink.

Thursday, Jan. 21

PLAN A: Jamuel Saxon, Joel P West, Martian Horses @ The Casbah. I recently ran into Sezio’s Zack Nielsen, and the way he described what the bands had planned for this night got me all jacked up. Along with the freakishly talented Joel P West and Martian Horses, Jamuel Saxon (aka Keith Milgaten) will be collaborating with members of Writer, Tape Deck Mountain and Black Mamba, doing live “remixes” of their songs. Considering all those bands are pretty great, it should make for some stunning teamwork.  PLAN B: Mindy Smith @ Anthology. Way back in ’04, Smith was an alt-country critic’s darling for her Jesus-loving ballads and inspired cover of Dolly’s “Jolene.” She hasn’t changed up the formula too much since, but her new release, Stupid Love, sounds like the album she made after finally accepting that Jolene did, indeed, steal her man for good. The tender sound of someone rediscovering the light within the cracks of her heart. Good stuff. BACKUP PLAN: Penny Sledge, The Preteens, The Symbolick Jews @ Soda Bar.

Friday, Jan. 22

PLAN A: Rat’s Eyes, Age of Collapse, Death Crisis, FKENAL @ The Yard. Watching three of the best local hardcore bands on a makeshift stage in someone’s backyard in a still-sketchy part of the East Village just might be the only way to do it. But if that’s not incentive enough, the $5 suggested cover goes to help local musician Matt Kelly, who was hit by a truck in December and is still recovering in the hospital. PLAN B: Myth, Illuminauts, Inspired Flight @ Tin Can Alehouse. I’m not sure what to expect from Myth, a new collaboration between hip-hopper Addiquit and boyfriend Pall Jenkins (Black Heart Procession, Three Mile Pilot, et al.), but even if it’s a total bust, electronic acts Illuminauts and Inspired Flight are more than enough reason to hit this up. BACKUP PLAN: Carlton Livingston, Lady Ann, Carl Meeks @ Ruby Room.

Saturday, Jan. 23

PLAN A: Health, Tape Deck Mountain @ The Loft. Along with bands like Liars and Crystal Castles, L.A.’s Health seem to effortlessly blend DIY noise and dance-rock, and last year’s Get Color was a stellar sophomore effort. But they definitely need to be seen live to be appreciated. PLAN B: Riververb, Joke, Sixes, Sudden Infant @ Soda Bar. Local boy Frank Melendez describes the music he makes under the name Riververb as “cough syrup-induced acid sludge dreamstate.” Call me a simpleton, but I would describe it as “fucking insane noise.” And I mean that in the nicest possible way. PLAN C: The Dragons, Uncle Joe’s Big Ol’ Driver, The Drips, The Spitfires @ The Casbah. A rare reunion of the local garage-rock legends, and the word on the street is that Mario Escovedo’s leather pants still fit.

Sunday, Jan. 24

PLAN A: Black Lips, Nobunny, Slab City @ The Casbah. We knew Nobunny was kind of a freak since he spends the majority of his live show in nothing but a bunny mask and his tighty whities, but as Peter Holslin’s story on Page 25 proves, his eccentricity doesn’t seem to turn off just because he isn’t playing. Black Lips are always awesome, especially if Nathan Williams is in the audience. PLAN B: Elliott Yamin @ House of Blues. OK, let’s put aside the fact that Yamin is the crackerest of cracker-ass white boys in the R&B game. Seriously, the guy makes Timberlake look dark. But he has some pipes that any fan of Usher or Trey Songz could appreciate. BACKUP PLAN: Death on Mars, Melodic Destruction @ Ruby Room.

Monday, Jan. 25

PLAN A: Ears, Nose and Throat @ Sushi. A bastard hellspawn birthed out of noise-rock, free jazz and electro that makes up for its lack of aural tact with sheer inventiveness. Check out Page 11 for more deets. BACKUP PLAN: The Fascination, Vinyl Film, Save Amos @ Ruby Room.

Tuesday, Jan. 26

PLAN A: Mission:Valley, Dead Ghosts, Gravatorium, DJ Gabe Serbian @ The Casbah. This show is like the prize at the bottom of the Cracker Jack box. Could be good, could be bad. All I know is that Mission:Valley is the new band from Rob Crow. I even asked Tim Pyles, and he had no idea what they sound like. Is it metal? Is it Pinbacky? Only one way to find out. BACKUP PLAN: The Canton Mudders, The Jasper Dickson Revue @ Soda Bar.