Let it never be said that Drew Andrews can't multitask.
The multi-instruentalist's best-known gig -- San Diego flagship electronic act The Album Leaf -- are set to release their fifth full-length album, A Chorus of Storytellers, on Feb. 2 through Sub Pop records. Andrews also plays in the side project Via Satellite with fellow Album Leaf member Tim Reece. Andrews has even written two novellas, "The Shepherd's Journals" and "Lella," both of which are available as free downloads from Feedbooks. But when Andrews isn't dividing his time between those worthy endeavors, he devotes his energies to his best project yet: Drew Andrews.
Following the theft of his musical equipment during a 2005 tour with Via Satellite, Andrews returned to San Diego and began to write music on the only instrument he had left: an acoustic guitar. Though initially a departure for the electronically inclined artist, those tender, fingerpicked songs eventually became the gorgeous 2008 album Only Mirrors, and so was born Drew Andrews' solo career. Now, Andrews is digitally releasing that album's follow-up, the weird and raw six-song EP Playing Birthday Games, and he's marking the occasion with a special show at the Casbah on Jan. 13.
Andrews will be joined on the lineup by a veritable who's who of San Diego's best bands. Sharing top honors for the evening will be the richly melodic Boomsnake, who are celebrating a release of their own: the EP and 7-inch Re/visions, due out Jan. 12 from Grizzly Records. Local favorites Writer will also be on hand, and Metrofique, the new project from Get Back Loretta's Steven Bradford, will round out the bill with a set in the venue's Atari Lounge.
Tickets for the dual-release show are on sale at the Casbah's Web site, so come check out what is sure to be a landmark evening for San Diego music.
Chris Maroulakos is a writer and editor for the San Diego music blog Owl and Bear.
