COLD CUTS: Though their Cinderella march
through NBC’s StarTomorrow — a Web-based American Idol
spin-off — ended far too soon, the Kings of Spain are back by
popular demand, live at the Cold Spring Tavern this Friday,
November 24. Following America’s most celebrated day of sports and
food gluttony, indulge in America’s second-oldest pastime: rock ’n’
roll. The foursome — lead vocalist and guitarist Will Loomis,
drummer Adam Baltieri, guitarist Thomas Masker, and bassist Adam
Reiber — plan on blasting several hours worth of smokin’
blues-based rock into your ears, starting at 7 p.m. Special guest
Clarke! brings his blend of pop, grunge, and harmony to spice up
the mix. For more on the Kings of Spain, visit myspace.com/thekingsofspain
or thekingsofspain.com.
For a more in-depth look at the band, check out the feature on them
at independent.com.
— Josh Brayer
CUBA GROOVE: Maybe the most exciting part about
Cuban salsa outfit Somos Son is that seeing a performance allows
you to watch the work of people with job titles like “bongocero”
and “timbalero.” If that’s not enough, this nine-piece ensemble
hails from S.B. Support our local boys as they bring us the best of
Cuba’s take on the popular genre at SOhO on Friday, November 24 at
9:30 p.m. — Drew Mackie
GREETINGS: The floppy-haired style of the boys
of Hellogoodbye is a good way to describe their sound. Fortunately,
it’s a good sound — power pop somewhere along the lines of where
Weezer should have taken theirs. This Huntington Beach foursome
released their debut, Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! earlier
this year. Their local stop teams them up with Reggie and the Full
Effect and Cute Is What We Aim For at the Majestic Ventura Theatre
on Saturday, November 25 at 7:30 p.m. Floppy hair music: It’s good
for you. — DM
SPENCER’S TURKEY SONG: Fresh off performing and
singing the national anthem for the World Kickball Association’s
championships down in San Diego a few weeks ago, Spencer the
Gardener is releasing a song perfectly plucked for the Thanksgiving
holiday. Called “The Gobble Song,” the tune was performed for the
first time at Cold Spring Tavern two weekends ago, causing the
crowd to break into a sort of turkey dance (think Funky Chicken
Dance, but make the wings bigger). Watching was filmmaker Russ
Spencer, who told frontman Spencer Barnitz that a music video must
be made. Fast forward to Tuesday’s Farmers Market, where they shot
the thing, and now it’s up for your viewing pleasure on YouTube.com, but for ease’s sake, we’ve
also posted it at independent.com/artsandentertainment.
— Matt Kettmann
WYATT RIOT: Sometimes there’s nothing better
than a finely crafted work of pop rock. But what’s even better? Pop
rock that doesn’t try to pass itself off as harder than it really
is. Anyone with whom this statement rings true may want to check
out Waiting 4 Wyatt, a five-piece Los Angeles band starring sisters
Lucy Levinsohn and Anya Boyer. Their light, fun songs would be a
perfect soundtrack to a fun afternoon — and that works especially
well since Waiting 4 Wyatt is playing at the downtown Borders on
Sunday, November 26 at 2 p.m. — DM
GREAT SCOTT! Most recently of the San Francisco
club scene, DJ Scotty Boy brings a wealth of spinning experience
wherever he goes. This master of man-in-the-booth magic honed his
skills as on-air talent for Los Angeles’s KROQ and San Francisco’s
Live 105 before touring as an opening act for the likes of Depeche
Mode, The Crystal Method, and Tool. He’s also known for his tenure
as the resident deejay at Ghost Bar at Las Vegas’s The Palms. If
that résumé doesn’t qualify DJ Scotty Boy for giving us one of the
best nights of club music in a while, then we’re just too picky to
deserve monumental levels of getting down. Catch DJ Scotty Boy on
Thursday, November 30 at 10 p.m. at Wildcat Lounge.
— DM