Positively State Street

EVOLUTIONARY ELECTRONICA: Any time a band requires a pronunciation key on their MySpace page, you know they’re probably not going to be the most predictable of performers. Such is the case with eclectic electronica artists EOTO-pronounced “E-oh-toe.” Made up of Jason Hann and Michael Travis, of famed jam rock group The String Cheese Incident, EOTO subscribes to the ethos of creating music in the moment, by recording, mixing, and remixing their tunes live, with Hann manning the drum kit, percussion, and sampler and Travis on the bass, guitar, keyboards, hand percussion, and mixer. The result is an ever-evolving repertoire of funky beats, catchy hooks, and meandering melodies that come together to create tracks that are as trippy as they are tantalizing, capturing the duo’s creativity and experimental ethos while still managing to be both beautifully melodic and entirely entertaining. For a musical experience that is anything but boring, check out EOTO at Sandbar (514 State St.), with special guest Steve Molitz of Particle and Phil and Friends, on Sunday, February 3. The show starts at 10 p.m. Visit myspace.com/sandbarsb for details. -Mollie Vandor

TAKING IT TO THE STREET: With the testimonial success of their third album, Street Gospels, Bedouin Soundclash has hit the road once again, and is stopping by Velvet Jones (423 State St.) on Thursday, February 7, offering their unique and popular Canadian version of reggae that is simple, inspired, and still plenty Jamaican in influence. Named after a pastoral Arabic tribe of nomads known for holding high codes of honor, ethics, and justice, Bedouin broke through via Canadian radio in 2004 with their first huge hit, “When the Night Feels My Song.” The jam quickly climbed Canadian charts before thundering across the U.K. by way of a T-Mobile endorsement, resulting in the re-release of their second album, as well as the attention of U.S. record label Side One Dummy. Since then, the dynamic threesome have been touring almost constantly. On stage, the band can be expected to deliver a fun-loving evening filled with positive vibes and a performance that follows in the footsteps of their musical influences and favorites, Joe Strummer and Sam Cooke. Visit velvet-jones.com or myspace.com/bedouinsoundclash for additional details. -Lisa Engelbrektson

SACRED VOICE: Considering the uplifting acoustics of Trinity Episcopal Church (a frequent home to music of many genres), soprano Carol Ann Manzi is certain to fill the space with songs both sacred and operatic. Santa Barbarans are familiar with Manzi’s voice, as she has repeatedly graced the stage with Opera Santa Barbara, as well as contributing to the Opera in the Schools program in classrooms around town. In this free afternoon concert, Manzi will be performing sacred music (including many selections from her recent recording) along with opera arias. The show takes place Sunday, February 3, at 3:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church (1500 State St.). Call 965-7149 or visit trinitysb.org for details.-Felicia M. Tomasko

K-LITE: Contemporary rock, though often corny and grossly sentimental, has its place in music history. Its authenticity, timelessness, and rhythmic edge make the tedium of the retail workday and forced elevator schmoozing quick and painless. Contemporary rock even has a niche in the film industry for enhancing any angst-ridden conflict with its flare for the dramatic. So when powerful contemporary rock meets the “ethers of soulful Santa Barbara,” by way of the band MAGiSTiR, the outcome is downright magical. MAGiSTiR, a collection of three part-time musicians, blends the sounds of Jeff Buckley and the Goo Goo Dolls with an endearing sincerity that makes you root for their continued success-whether or not you’re a fan of contemporary rock. They are joined by alternative, contemporary singer/songwriter Zach Madden. Pay homage to honest tunes with MAGiSTiR and Madden at their CD release party and Surfrider benefit on Thursday, January 31, at SOhO (1221 State St.). Visit sohosb.com for more information.-Jessica Hilo

STEPPING FORWARD, LOOKING BACK: In music, you can’t move forward without looking back. History, the passage of time, the importance of the present, and the thought of the future, are all inextricably linked to the development of significant music. The music of David Andrew Strackany, also known as Paleo, weaves vintage violence and folk-flavored rock into a tapestry of folders, broken pencils, and marbled composition books. His sound is a fascinating return to the youthful detachment of gothic artists like Nico, Nick Drake, and the Velvet Underground-cerebral lyrics and gloomy, lo-fi guitar we didn’t know we missed until long after troubadour art rock phased out in the ’70s-and past its enjoyed iconoclasm in the late ’90s. Cut from the same cloth comes dreamy bedroom folk rocker R.F. Maston, who draws inspiration from ’90s postmodernists Pavement and Built to Spill and dabbles in the art of jangly indie pop. Don’t miss your chance to catch two artists on the fringe of recycled, underground success on Tuesday, February 5, at 7 p.m. at Isla Vista’s renowned Biko Co-Op (6612 Sueno Rd.). Visit myspace.com/biko_garage for more information.-JH