ROCK ROCHAMBEAU: When hearing of this band,
don’t think about news headlines regarding avalanches and school
field trips. Rock Kills Kid is more interested in its electronic
twist on the oh-so-popular sound styles of The Cure, The Smiths,
and Joy Division. Just imagine if any of those bands had somehow
skirted time and grew up listening to Nine Inch Nails and you’ll
get the idea. Plenty of angst here — ironically, lead singer Jeff
Tucker credits his involvement with the Los Angeles band as saving
him from a life of youthful self-destruction. Rock Kills Kid plays
at the Wildcat Lounge — which just happens to be the former
employer of Reed Calhoun, the band’s drummer and keyboardist — on
Friday, December 8 at 10:45 p.m. S.B. band The Strays open at 10
p.m.  — Drew Mackie

IN THE ROUND: Every month, the Trinity
Backstage series introduces an intimate audience to a diverse crowd
of singer/songwriters. While many travel far to enter the Trinity
Hall, some of my faves are when organizers Kate Wallace and Doug
Clegg host evenings in the round. This Saturday’s December
coffeehouse features one of those events. Wallace and Clegg will be
occupying two microphones, sharing the stage with Peter Gallway and
James McVay. Guest pickers and singers will also be invited into
the circle. The night of lyrical music with some of the best voices
around will be well worth the $10 donation to benefit Jubilee
Economic Ministries, a group working for sustainable economics. The
show takes place at Trinity Episcopal Church, with doors opening at
7:30 p.m.  — Felicia M. Tomasko

THE PHISHERMAN: Trey Anastasio, of on-hiatus
jam legend Phish, really needs no introduction. For those who
appreciate his work, he’s a god among men. For those with whom
Phish flopped, however, he’s just a guy with a guitar. In short, if
you didn’t already have any interest in seeing a live performance
of Anastasio’s solo compositions, then you probably already skipped
down to the next item. As for those who made it to this sentence,
let’s assume you’re already going to see him perform at the
Majestic Ventura Theatre on Saturday, December 9.
 — DM

LOS LINGUISTS: Though it would seem that Los
Abandoned follow the curious trend of bands having names using the
Spanish word “Los” before a word or phrase that is not Spanish,
like Los Straitjackets or Los Lonely Boys, this band sings in both
English and Spanish. Perhaps with that, the name makes sense.
Touring in promotion of their new album, Mix Tape, Los Abandoned
casually slip just as easily between genres, letting Latin spill
into New Wave in a way that doesn’t happen too often on mainstream
radio. The result is upbeat and quirky and entirely worth your
time. See Los Abandoned play at the Lobero Theatre on Monday,
December 11 at 8 p.m.  — DM

PHREAKY FUN: No holiday is better than when
it’s imbued with psychedelic goodness. Expect it in plentiful
supply at SOhO’s Santa Barbara Music Phreak Holiday Party, with
improvisational jazz act Magicgravy headlining. The band is
composed of Animal Liberation Orchestra’s Dan Lebowitz on guitar as
well as the Motet’s Garrett Sayers and Dave Watts on bass and
drums, respectively. As anybody who has heard Magicgravy perform
can attest, the jazz will be groovy and free-flowing. The show is
also a benefit for the Citizens’ Planning Association, so that’s
all the more reason to drop by. The show is on Thursday, December
14 at 9:30 p.m.  — DM

STREET BEAT: On its own, the fact that Wu-Tang
Clan’s RZA is coming to S.B. is reason enough to celebrate. But
combine that with a general lack of hip-hop or rap talent onstage
around these parts, and it becomes virtually mandatory for those
even slightly into urban beats to head out to Velvet Jones this
Thursday night. The famed producer of the Wu-Tang Clan’s albums,
RZA has made his solo mark on the rap world with six albums since
1998, and will be arriving in town to promote his most recent, Afro
Samurai, this Thursday, December 7.   — Sarah
Hammill

Login

Please note this login is to submit events or press releases. Use this page here to login for your Independent subscription

Not a member? Sign up here.