PLAN A: Sea Wolf, Sera Cahoone, Patrick Park @ Soda Bar. Sea Wolf, an L.A.-based folk-rock outfit, is known for ambitious arrangements festooned with strings and piano, but at this show, frontman Alex Brown Church will get intimate with a solo acoustic set. Seattle's Sera Cahoone once played drums for now-defunct indie-rock band Carissa's Wierd, but in recent years, she's offered up hearty folk that seems to come straight from the mountains of North Carolina. BACKUP PLAN: Dax Riggs, Behind the Wagon, Schitzophonics @ The Casbah.
Thursday, Sept. 9
PLAN A: Chairs Missing, Primitive Noyes, DJ Trail- Mix-A-Lot @ Whistle Stop. Chairs Missing, the latest project of Tape Deck Mountain's Paul Remund, recently released a wonderful EP of stormy indie-rock with rumbling drums, layers of bright guitars and flourishes of violin. Primitive Noyes have been sketching out a new record in the studio lately, so be sure to catch a special acoustic performance before they jump back into their hidey-hole. BACKUP PLAN: Israel Vibration, Cualli, DJ Carlos Culture @ Belly Up.
Friday, Sept. 10
PLAN A: Firstpowercrew, Old English, Suga Bear, DJs Unite, Mr. Henshaw, Jesse James @ Kadan Club. With no cover charge, how could you turn down this solid hip-hop lineup? Firstpowercrew's rhymes are as cutting as they are languid. National City's Old English are thoughtful hustlers with laid-back beats. PLAN B: A Scribe Amidst the Lions, Black Hondo, The Moviegoers @ The Casbah. A Scribe Amidst the Lions is a tough band to nail down. There's psychedelic soundscapes, indie-rock vocals and even some dramatic fiddling, but it fits together seamlessly. PLAN C: The Beach Boys @ Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay. The Beach Boys might not play with the visionary Brian Wilson anymore, but you might as well pay your respects to what remains of these pop legends, who're inspiring everyone from Katy Perry to Best Coast these days. BACKUP PLAN: EshOne, Misk, The P Man, Pure Boom Hi Fi, Beingstok @ Kava Lounge.
Saturday, Sept. 11
PLAN A: Major Lazer, Rusko, Claude VonStroke, Designer Drugs, Skrillex, David Kim, Brett Neiman, Tim Green, Steve Duda, Trackonaut, Jon Dadon, Justin Baule @ San Diego Sports Arena. With electronic music heavyweights Major Lazer and Rusko headlining this massive bill, the “Abstract Festival” might prove to be one of the most memorable dance music events of the year. Expect a rave with eye-popping art installations and pyrotechnics. PLAN B: Jamuel Saxon, Dale earnhardt Jr. Jr., DJ Albatross @ Bar Pink. If you read my feature on this page, you'd know I think Jamuel Saxon deserves to win in the “Best Electronic” category in this year's San Diego Music Awards. Detroit's Dale earnhardt Jr. Jr., meanwhile, are getting plenty of love for their innovative, adorable indie-pop. PLAN C: Josh Damigo, Broni @ Lestat's. It's his first headlining gig in months, so expect singer-songwriter Josh Damigo to get even more sensitive and heartfelt than usual. BACKUP PLAN: Mr. Brady, DJ Pound, O-Phrap&5th-P, MC Educate, Universal Greetings, Illuminauts, Mono/Poly, Mac Digi @ Beauty Bar.
Sunday, Sept. 12
PLAN A: The Night Marchers, The Nervous Wreckords, Maren Parusel, New Mexico, Miss Erika Davies, Transfer, Jimmy Powers @ Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay. Get drunk, be merry, take in some of San Diego's best local music—and feel free to boo if Jason Mraz beats out Wavves, Dum Dum Girls and The Soft Pack at the 20th annual San Diego Music Awards. PLAN B: The Clientele, Lay Low, Little White Teeth @ The Casbah. Brit-pop masters The Clientele wooed many an American with Bonfires on the Heath, their excellent 2009 record with a '60s vibe and lush arrangements. Youngsters should check them out at 4:30 p.m. at M-Theory Music. BACKUP PLAN: Japanther, Jehovas Fitness, Koalacaust @ Che Café.
Monday, Sept. 13
PLAN A: Shonen Knife, The Dabbers, Jungle Fever @ The Casbah. With an all-woman pop-punk trio from Japan (Shonen Knife) and the cutest indie-rock newlyweds in San Diego (The Dabbers) on this bill, you've got some great music that's as charming as it is badass. BACKUP PLAN: I Fall, Absent Minds, Ad Seg @ Ruby Room.
Tuesday, Sept. 14
PLAN A: Little Teeth, The Paddle Boat, D/Wolves @ Che Café. San Francisco's Little Teeth offer up a haphazard mess of folk instruments and whimsical vocal parts (plus something they call a “gonzo drum set”) that miraculously come together to sound delightful. PLAN B: Rob Crow, Family Tree Analog, Nothingful, Israel Putnam el Americano @ Soda Bar. Rob Crow takes a break from one of his many projects to fill a bill with a band that takes cues from Blonde Redhead (Family Tree Analog), a quirky acoustic bass player (Nothingful) and a maker of trippy soundscapes (Israel Putnam el Americano). BACKUP PLAN: The Night Marchers @ Bar Pink. CB Rob Crow