Just when we thought we were out, they pull us back in. Sure, SxSW is over and all we’re left with is BBQ burps and YouTube videos of Lady Gaga being vomited on while pimping Doritos, but, hey, think of this: Coachella is only 25 days away. And if the recent California weather is any indication, maybe the big news story out of Indio this year will be that someone in the Sahara Tent spontaneously combusted. Love or hate multiple-day music festivals, we’re going to be talking about them for a few more weeks. So let’s squeak in some local content while we have the chance, shall we?
• The Midnight Pine expanded their roster. Transfer’s Matthew Molarius has officially replaced guitarist Sean Martin (who left for San Francisco) and Heavy Guilt keyboardist Josh Rice has been brought into the fold. You can catch the new line-up -- and fuller sound -- when they play the Sycamore Den on Thursday with John Meeks. It’s free, so you really have no excuse not to go.
• Cuckoo Chaos may be gone, but their new incarnation, Deadphones, have finally arrived. Their album came out last week; catch them at UCSD’s Loft on April 21.
• The New Kinetics finished recording an EP at Earthling Studios with Mike Kamoo. Rumor has it that the music will be made available at their April 5 Casbah show, but I guess you’ll just have to buy a ticket and show up to know for sure.
• Family Wagon just announced that their song "Keeper of the Medicine" has made it into the movie Better Living Through Chemistry, with Sam Rockwell. You can check it out right now on iTunes.
• Last week we gave you a link to DJ Demon’s "Going Back to Cali" mixtape. Well, guess what? Demon just took top honors at the Henry’s Pub DJ Battle on Wednesday night. Rocking the decks in a room filled with your all of your colleagues and some of San Diego’s finest vet spinners is no easy task, but Demon’s set claimed him the $1,000 prize and six-month residency. Congratulations!
• Record releases this week: Black Lips, the Coathangers, George Michael, Luther Dickinson, Lyla Foy, Madlib & Freddie Gibbs, the Pretty Reckless, Tycho and the War on Drugs.
Pick of the week: London Grammar at House of Blues on Sunday. If you haven’t heard Hannah Reid sing, I highly recommend checking her out ASAFP. Riding a palpable SxSW buzz that’s only getting bigger after being handpicked to open for Coldplay’s set in Austin, this UK trio is well on its way. And while their debut, If You Wait, has been out since September, it doesn’t get a US release until next week. But since their live act is even more stunning than the record, just come out to the HOB on Sunday and see it in person.
Blogger Scott McDonald covers music in San Diego for a few different publications and is the editor of Eight24.com
