Donald Glover, Snoop Dogg and more San Diego concerts

Donald Glover
- Photo by Ibra Ake

PLAN A: Lost in the Trees, Sean Rowe @ The Loft at UCSD. Musically adept and often mesmerizing, North Carolina’s Lost in the Trees blend pretty acoustic guitar and storytelling lyricism with swelling horns and harmonious string arrangements that wrap around you like a down comforter. PLAN B: Snoop Dogg @ 4th & B. Here’s hoping this 4/20 stoner celebration features a cameo from Willie Nelson, the celebrated pot smoker / folk singer who collaborates with Snoop Dogg on “Superman,” a laid-back track from his new album, Doggumentary. BACKUP PLAN: Inspired Flight, DJ ManCat, Flying Laura, CRMNL, Gaux Nu Vaux, Mark Jesinoski, DJ Leif @ Belly Up.

Thursday, April 21

PLAN A: Beat Connection, He’s My Brother She’s My Sister, Porcelain Fangs @ The Casbah. You might think of Seattle as rainy-day hell, but you wouldn’t get that impression from Beat Connection. The University of Washingtonbred duo gives perpetually sunny local bands like Dirty Gold a run for their money, offering up beach-friendly electro-pop with Caribbean instruments (or synthesized ones, at least), buoyant dance beats and, yes, even samples of splashing waves. PLAN B: Transfer, Rafter, Republic of Letters, DJ Ikah Love @ Fluxx. Transfer recently returned from a successful European tour, but they’re not too big to come back and rock their home city’s face off. Not yet, at least. I suspect it’s only a matter of time before they take their epic alt rock to the big leagues, so catch them while you can. BACK- UP PLAN: Keith Murray, Odessa Kane, Shames Worthy, Blown Speakers, Residue, Suspect Zero, DJ Charlie Rock, sojourn @ Boar Cross’n.

Friday, April 22

PLAN A: NastyNasty, Indaskyes, Facemelter, Traxmyth @ Kava Lounge. In the world of dubstep, NastyNasty (aka San Francisco producer Jasper Reeder) resides in the area set aside for horny cyborgs looking to bump and grind. What sets him apart from all the other producers in this increasingly overblown genre are cosmic synths, intricate beats and ultra-sexy hooks that leave you hungry for more. PLAN B: Nicey Nice World @ Ducky Waddle’s Emporium (Encinitas). I’m more than a little skeptical about this improvisational local trio. They don’t practice, and they find inspiration from accidents and equipment failure, so their live show could very well be a train wreck. But I’m intrigued by the irreverent and skillful electronic jams on their Sound- Cloud, which recall weirdo luminaries like Captain Beefheart and The Residents. BACKUP PLAN: Blowoff @ The Casbah.

Saturday, April 23

PLAN A: Movits!, Rafter, Addiquit @ Soda Bar. Movits! hail from Sweden and spit rhymes in their native tongue, but you won’t need a translator to have a good time at this show. The sharply dressed trio, who cross hip-hop and swing in brisk songs with big beats and solid sax solos, reportedly put on a sweaty live show with lots of dancing from Americans and Swedes alike. PLAN B: The Growlers, Jeans Wilder, Allah Lah, Ritual Light @ The Casbah. I’m always excited to see The Growlers perform their haunting indie-rock. But I wouldn’t want to miss Jeans Wilder, a local dude who’s gotten a fair amount of blog buzz for his psychedelic soundscapes, lo-fi punk jams and toasted doowop revival tracks. BACKUP PLAN: 45 Grave, Social Spit, Social Conflict @ Shakedown Bar.

Sunday, April 24

PLAN A: The Gore Horsemen, The Bandits, Bang! Bang! Bang! Media Control, The Postals, Pushin Rope, Old Devil, DJs Goo Goo Muck, Lady Busty Brow @ Tower Bar. This benefit show for Pit Bull Rescue has a pretty badass lineup—and one of the most badass of the bunch is Pushin Rope, a local band that delivers outlaw country tunes with moaning fiddle, finger-picking banjo and the ass-kicking force of a punk drummer. BACKUP PLAN: The Head and the Heart, The Devil Whale @ The Casbah.

Monday, April 25

PLAN A: Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O., Buzz or Howl, Little White Teeth @ The Casbah. I have no idea what to expect from Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O.— just read the story on this page and you’ll know what I mean. But with the help of Operation: Mindblow, a local duo who put on liquid light shows, this is surely going to be a trippy experience. PLAN B: Brother, Republic of Letters, Family Wagon @ Soda Bar. Brother is a hot British rock band that’s getting tons of attention from the likes of NME and Spin for radio-ready pop-rock with polished hooks and just a bit of bite.

Tuesday, April 26

PLAN A: Beaches, Reporter, Mystery Cave @ Tin Can Ale House. One of the more exciting bands I’ve come across lately, Reporter sound like a cross between Blonde Redhead and Gang Gang Dance with their yearning female vocals and ominous electro-rock hooks. PLAN B: IAMDONALD Tour @ Belly Up. Comedian / rapper Donald Glover, who’s had a wicked successful career as a writer on 30 Rock and an actor on Community, tells his story in a performance combining stand-up, music and video.