A MonDaze Fender Bender

• Fender (aka creators of the Stratocaster) will be holding a “Summer Celebration” at the Guitar Trader on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. July 19. The event will run from noon to 5 p.m. and feature all kinds of free stuff including food, drinks, guitar strings, tune-ups, a live performance from Curbside Vinyl and new instrument sneak peeks. And if you do end up buying anything during the event, Fender is giving away a gift with every purchase. This is all in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of the company’s game-changing electric guitar.    

 

• Comprised of musicians from Black Hondo, Nervous Wreckords and Marsupials, there’s a new group in town and they’re called Madly. Check out their very first show when they play with Okapi Sun at the Casbah on Friday night.

 

• Iconic frontman and multiple-time Che Cafe performer Zach de la Rocha has gotten involved in the fight to save UCSD’s embattled music venue by penning the recent “Save the Che Cafe! A Letter of Solidarity.” In the 3-paragraph message, de la Rocha calls the venue a “source of inspiration and community building for any artist, student, or worker that has entered its doors.” It may be a case of ‘too little, too late,’ but we sure hope it helps turn the tide. 

 

• Bartender, San Diego musician (Grammatical B, the Long and Short of It, Wha) and new dad Ben Johnson has just released a book. It’s called “A Shadow Cast in Dust” and you can pick it up right here.

 

• Local renaissance man Peter Bolland has a new album out. The Americana-tinged "Two Pines" was released on June 24 and you can listen to it on the San Diego Music Award winner’s website right here.

 

• Mrs. Magician is back again. And not only is the garage pop quartet on the bill of two great upcoming summer shows – Aug. 16 with garage pioneers the Sonics and then Aug. 20 with psych-pop staples the Zombies – they’re writing a new album that will be produced by Swami Records. Being undead never sounded so good.

 

• After a four-year hiatus, San Diego rockers Dirty Sweet are also brushing off the dearly departed dust. With a re-vamped line-up that includes four original members, the band is planning a European tour and a new EP for next year. But we’re hoping to catch a few local dates (and some new tunes) before that.

 

• New records from Angus & Julia Stone, Braid, Iggy Pop, Judas Priest, Leela James, Madlib, Ministry, Myron & E, Sia, the Skygreen Leopards, Townes Van Zandt and Wolves in the Throne Room arrive tomorrow.

 

Show of the week: I always hate to pick a sold-out show as the highlight of the week, but Cleveland’s Cloud Nothings appearance Friday night at Soda Bar is it. The band’s fourth LP, "Here and Nowhere Else," was released in April. The young pups of UK doom-surf trio the Wytches open the show.