Five local shows over the next two weeks
Dustin Lothspeich
Temples, Wampire, Fever and the Ghost at the Belly Up Tavern (Solana Beach)
Saturday, Sept, 27 | Doors at 8:00 p.m. | $18 advance/$20 day of show
When UK psych rock quartet Temples landed on U.S. soil for last year’s South By Southwest festival amid a flurry of buzz, we hoped they’d turn their aim toward the Pacific. Sure enough, the band hit up a sweaty, packed-to-the-gills Casbah this last April (between Coachella weekends) and now return for the knockout punch at the Belly Up. The group’s debut album, “Sun Structures,” pairs the woozy experimentalism of “Magical Mystery Tour”-era Beatles and the lysergic jams of Pink Floyd — go ahead and take the trip on Sept. 27.
Merchandise, Lower, Statues of God at the Kensington Club
Tuesday, Sept. 30 | Doors at 8:30 p.m. | $10 advance/$12 day of show
Let’s just put this out there: Carson Cox, frontman for Merchandise, has one of the coolest, syllable-twisting baritones in indie rock. Appropriately front and center on the Tampa, Florida-based band’s new album, “After the End” (their third studio record in three years, by the way), Cox guides the group through alternate shades of jangly guitar pop and synth-driven jams that tip-toe through R.E.M. and Tears For Fears catalogs. It’s a compelling mix, and the fact that they’re on tour with Copenhagen’s finest dreary post-punk export in recent memory, Lower, makes this show at the Ken Club an absolute must-see.
Cymbals Eat Guitars, Slothrust, Inspired and the Sleep at Soda Bar
Friday, Oct. 3 | Doors at 8:30 p.m. | $10 advance/$12 day of show
On their third studio album, “Lose,” Cymbals Eat Guitars are positively winning. The math-rock band — who swiped their name from a Lou Reed quote when he was asked what the Velvet Underground sounded like — take a slight detour from their tried-and-true pastiche of angular guitars and schizophrenic rhythms on their new full-length effort for a greater focus on complex, more cohesive songwriting that swerves organically from one track to the next. The album is driven by the grizzled wail of lead singer/guitarist Joseph D’Agostino, and it’s gripping. Bottom line: Wherever he leads, we’ll gladly follow.
King Khan & the BBQ Show, Javier Escovedo, Northern Tigers at the Casbah
Monday, Oct. 6 | Doors at 8:30 p.m. | $15 advance/$17 day of show
Northern Tigers, a local band specializing in addictive uptempo garage rock, kick off this three-headed hydra of a show and make the strongest case on the planet not to miss openers. Escovedo, who some may know from playing in San Diego punk icons the Zeros, hits the stage after with his Matthew Sweet-tinged brand of power pop. His latest album, “City Lights,” is reminiscent of Big Star’s catchiest tunes and should be a delicious chunk of earhole rock candy in a live setting. Last but certainly not least, King Khan — one of the last true remaining frontmen in the music industry — will bring it on home (and then some) with his patented mix of psychedelia, soul, R&B and charismatic wizardry. Known for his outlandish costumes and outrageous stage antics, Khan’s mission is to get every show-goer involved, so prepare yourself.
Beach Fossils, Heavenly Beat, Axxa/Abraxas at the Irenic
Tuesday, Oct. 7 | Doors at 7:00 p.m. | $15
Not entirely dissimilar from indie rock darlings like Real Estate, DIIV or Wild Nothing, Beach Fossils are impossibly “chill”: On their latest album, “Clash the Truth,” they sway through 14 summery pop anthems with shimmering Smiths-esque guitars that grapple with lax, cavernous vocals. The fact that these Brooklyn lads do this so effortlessly does them a disservice (nothing good ever comes easy, right?), but their music just seems to ooze out. It’s not their fault that they don’t have to break a sweat. Catch them in their element at this all-ages show. And be sure to show up early to catch the hypnotic, Shins-meet-Neil-Young psychedelic pop of Axxa/Abraxas.
—Dustin Lothspeich is a music writer in San Diego. Contact him at [email protected].
