They say that New Year's Eve is overrated. It's the sort of night that often promises something and leaves you deflated thinking, wait- that was it? If you want to forgo the terrible-dj-overpriced-dinner combo, you should consider checking out one of the many shows happening in San Diego. My personal favorite is The Growlers at the Casbah. This is the sort of show for those looking to celebrate in a daze of psychedelic rock. This Long Beach band's blend of surf-rock/mariachi/funk is hard to pin down, likely from all that heavy reverb, it's almost hard to make out what it is, exactly. But what we do know is that this is party music- it's the kind of unpredictability required for an anything-goes kind of night. The band is notorious for putting on a wild set, complete with costumes and taxidermy animals. I can't imagine what they have in store to send off 2011 proper.
Openers, Tropical Popsicle is the project of Tim Hines, who describes his music as "beach boys on bath salts" which conflicts a little with genre-spanning labels that include, "freakbeat, telephone rock, snubstep and best yet "intelligent bluegrass". They too, are a sun-drenched 60s garage rock band, and are relative newcomers at least in the form of Trop Pop- San Diego artists: Kyle Whatley, Chase Elliott and Ryan Hand round out the not-quite-yet one year old band, led by Hines.
Supporting the Growlers is Tomorrow's Tulips fronted by Alex Knost (formerly of the Japanese Motors) along with his girlfriend Christina Keys, a more cheerful kind of haze pop that evokes memories of summer flings and easy livin'. With tracks like "Eternally Teenage" they're eternally optimistic, even the name is the promise of good things to come. And what better prediction than for the eve of a new year? They might just inspire you to stick to all of your lofty resolutions for 2012.
Tickets for NYE with The Growlers are $20 in advance, $24 at the door. Get them here, and have a safe and happy New Year's Eve!
Nada Alic runs the San Diego-based music blog Friends With Both Arms.Follow her updates on Twitter or contact her directly.
