Secret Samurai: Friday, April 30, 9 p.m. at The Tiki House, 1152 Garnet Ave. Cover TBD. 21 and up. www.myspace.com/secretsamurai There is probably no musical genre that’s as closely identified with California as instrumental surf music. Full of twangy, reverb-laden guitar lines and zooming bass lines, there is no better example than San Diego’s own Secret Samurai, which performs at the Tiki House on April 30. Featuring former members of like-minded group Surf Report, lead guitarist Ryan Ruiz is a virtuoso player with an arsenal of high-energy songs. Titles in the band’s set list include “Don’t Fear the Reverb,” “The Song Remains Insane” and “Sink or Swim,” adding up to a night of music that’s fun, rockin’ and a guitar junkie’s dream. Natives of the New Dawn: May 6, 10 p.m. at the 710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave. 21 and up. Admission is 91 cents. http://www.nativesband.com Los Angeles-based soul/hip-hop/rock hybrid Natives of the New Dawn will be the house band at the 710 Beach Club on Thursday nights, beginning May 6 at 10 p.m. Sounding like a cross between Jamiroquai, Stevie Wonder and Steve Winwood, the five-piece band excels at writing songs high on melody and dance floor-ready. Though there is plenty of rock and hip-hop rapping, it’s the soul element that makes the band so affecting. Anyone who loves their songs with an extra dose of groove and beats will enjoy Natives of the New Dawn. B-Side Players: Friday, May 7, at the Wavehouse, 3125 Oceanfront Walk. $10. 8 p.m. 21 and up. www.myspace.com/bsideplayers There are few bands that can get a party started like the B-Side Players, which will perform at the Wavehouse on May 7. One of the area’s leading exponents of the latin jazz sound, the nine-piece band‘s music is all about rhythm, taking in many influences from Cuba to Brazil, as well as homegrown elements such as rock and funk. While the band’s five albums aren’t a bad way to investigate the B-Side Players’ tunes, this is a band that needs to be heard live for full effect. Dean Paul Ratzman: Wednesday, May 12, 7 p.m. at the Pacific Beach Library, 4275 Cass St. All Ages. No Cover. www.ratzpack.netModern technology now allows a solitary musician, such as pianist Dean Ratzman, who appears on May 12 at the Pacific Beach Library, to make more expansive sound than ever. Using a mix of simple drum machines and bass loops, he accompanies himself on piano and occasionally trumpet on an eclectic set of cover tunes. It’s that variety in selections that makes Ratzman a standout. With unique versions of songs ranging from Sinatra’s “Fly Me to The Moon” to Bobby Fuller’s garage classic “I Fought the Law,” his performances offer something for just about every music fan.
