Jen Van Tieghem | Uptown News
Five local shows over the next two weeks
Grizzly Business, Mittens, and Super Buffet at Ken Club
9 p.m., Saturday, May 10
Three diverse bands make up this lineup, each with its own take on pop music, which should make for a very fun night. Super Buffet presents a guitar-heavy style of party music that’s safe enough for hard-working blue collar folks with a sense of humor. Do you know any other bands that have their own theme song? Mittens call their genre “cat pop” which works if you imagine their sweet female-fronted tunes played behind adorable videos of kittens. And Grizzly Business adds some garage fuzziness to their music à la The Strokes.
Rebecca Jade and the Cold Fact at The Hideout
9 p.m., Monday, May 12
$5
This San Diego super group just dropped their first album and is now setting out to play the stellar collection of songs live for fans. Front woman Rebecca Jade’s voice oozes sexiness and style on songs like “Regret” and “Tryin’” She is backed by some of the finest musicians in our city including Jake Najor (drums), Tim Felten (keyboards), Jason Littlefield (bass) and a slew of others. The result proves the group has everlasting funky soul down to a science.
Kelly McFarling and River City at Seven Grand
9 p.m., Thursday, May 15
Free
Northern California songstress Kelly McFarling makes frequent San Diego appearances, and damn are we lucky. Her lyrics and music echo a timeless folk-country style with her voice conveying a powerful resonance. Backed by classic pedal steel and banjo, her appeal transcends to fans of all genres. This show perfectly pairs McFarling with hometown bluegrass Americana boys (and girl) River City. Seven Grand is well-known for hosting jazz musicians so its great to see them catering to other genres — plus whiskey goes with all styles of music, right?
Papercuts, The Blank Tapes, and Line & Circle at Soda Bar
9 p.m., Thursday, May 22
$12+
If the first single from Papercuts’ recently released album Life Among The Savages is any indication this is your chance to see an artist on the brink. The dreamy ethereal aspects of the songs are reminiscent of popular groups like Phantogram and The xx while remaining dynamic and catchy. Papercuts should soon be playing to larger, broader audiences with a sound that balances freshness with familiarity. The Blank Tapes have a psychedelic edge to their vintage rock sound. And rounding out the line up Line & Circle blend toe-tapping sounds with a dark new wave feeling.
The Burning of Rome, Hell or Highwater, Eukaryst, and Fairy Bones at Casbah San Diego
9 p.m., Friday, May 23
$10
After The Burning of Rome took home Album of the Year at the 2013 San Diego Music Awards for “With Us,” they did anything but rest on their laurels. They went to work crafting a follow-up that promises to be just as mesmerizing and artistic, which they’ll celebrate at this release show. The first single “God of Small Things” indicates we’ll get more feminine vocals from Aimee Jacobs interlaced with Adam Traub’s signature haunting voice. TBOR’s live shows are a thing of legend, so don’t miss out. They will be joined for this one by metal rockers Hell or Highwater and Eukaryst along with the (only slightly) less hard-hitting rock outfit The Fairy Bones.
