2008 Spring Pop and Rock Preview

Kinky

Club Mercy presents Mexico’s favorite electro-rock outfit. Sat., Mar. 22, 9:30pm. SOhO, 1221 State St. Call 962-7776 or visit sohosb.com.

Pine Mountain Logs

SoCal bandmates change their name and cover some pop and rock classics. Fri., Apr. 4, 9pm. SOhO, 1221 State St. Call 962-7776 or visit sohosb.com.

Veltexans

S.B. indie rockers return home after a short California tour. Fri., Apr. 4, 8pm. Muddy Waters Cafe, 508 E. Haley St. Visit myspace.com/muddycafesb.

Natalie D-Napoleon & Kenny Edwards

The Aussie songstress and S.B. native team up to headline this night of indie music. Sat., Apr. 5, 7:30pm. Muddy Waters Cafe, 508 E. Haley St. Visit myspace.com/indiemusicshow.

John Doe (of X)

Punk meets country for this very special night of music featuring one of California punk rock’s true pioneers. Sat., Apr. 5, 9pm. The Mercury Lounge, 5871 Hollister Ave., Goleta. Visit myspace.com/mercurylounge or myspace.com/clubmercy.

Pigeon John

L.A. rapper brings his underground rhymes up the coast. Sat., Apr. 5, 9pm. Velvet Jones, 423 State St. Call 965-8676 or visit velvet-jones.com.

America

Seminal folk rockers hit the newly renovated stage in support of their 2007 release, Here & Now. Sun., Apr. 6, 7:30pm. Granada Theatre, 1214 State St. Call (800) 594-8499 or visit kaneproductions.com.

Ani DiFranco

Raw talent meets social consciousness when the prolific singer/songwriter returns to town for an intimate set of unfiltered folk rock tunes. Sun., Apr. 6, 8pm. Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. Call 963-0761 or visit lobero.com.

Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Providing the perfect blend of New Orleans tradition and contemporary jazz. Wed., Apr. 9, 8:30pm. SOhO, 1221 State St. Call 962-7776 or visit sohosb.com.

Critic’s Pick : Eddie Vedder

The Pearl Jam frontman and grunge rock deity stops by for a special solo performance as part of his April Fools Tour. New Zealand songwriter Liam Finn opens the show. Thu., Apr. 10, 8pm. Arlington Theatre. Call 963-4408 or visit ticketmaster.com.

John Cruz

Hawaiian-born singer/songwriter hits the stage in support of his sophomore album. Thu., Apr. 10, 8:30pm. SOhO, 1221 State St. Call 962-7776 or visit sohosb.com.

Jackie Greene

Roots rocker and recent addition to the Phil Lesh & Friends lineup goes solo. Sun., Apr. 13, 7pm. Stateside Restaurant & Lounge, 1114 State St. Call (800) 594-8499 or visit kaneproductions.com.

Dengue Fever

Cambodian pop meets psychedelic rock by way of this little-but-mighty Los Angeles-based band. Thu., Apr. 17, 9pm. SOhO, 1221 State St. Call 962-7776 or visit sohosb.com.

Drunken Prayer & The Mutineers

Up-and-coming folk popsters gather at everyone’s favorite coffee shop. Fri., Apr. 18, 9pm. Muddy Waters Cafe, 508 E. Haley St. Visit myspace.com/muddycafesb.

Kevin Welch & Dustin Welch

These Oklahoma-raised brothers bring their lively brand of country and bluegrass to the Sings Like Hell stage. Sat., Apr. 19, 8pm. Lobero Theatre, 33. E. Canon Perdido St. Visit singslikehell.com.

Spiritualized

Despite merry-go-round member changes, these English lads still know how to craft some amazing space-rock ditties. Wed., Apr. 23, 9pm. Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. Call 963-0761 or visit lobero.com.

Critic’s Pick : Man Man & Yeasayer

Modest Mouse may have helped them catch the public’s eye, but it’s Man Man’s crazy onstage energy and indefinable blend of Vaudeville and gypsy acid jazz that keeps us watching. Thu., Apr. 24, 9pm. SOhO, 1221 State St. Call 962-7776 or visit sohosb.com.

Minus the Bear

Seattle math rockers head to the Hub in support of 2007’s Planet of Ice. Fri., Apr. 25, 8:30pm. UCSB’s Hub. Visit asprogramboard.com or myspace.com/minusthebear.

Two Sheds & The Spires

San Francisco’s alt-country darlings venture south and team up with S.B. indie rockers. Fri., May 2, 8pm. Muddy Waters Cafe, 508 E. Haley St. Visit myspace.com/muddycafesb.

Critic’s Pick : Duran Duran

The ’80s New Wave gods-and present-day rock royalty-stop by the Bowl for a night of music that is sure to include a mix of old favorites (“Rio,” “Girls on Film”) and new material from 2007’s Red Carpet Massacre. Sat., May 3, 7pm. Santa Barbara Bowl, 1122 N. Milpas St. Call 962-7411 or visit sbbowl.com.

John Fogerty

The Creedence Clearwater Revival alum hits the road with a wealth of new material from his first album in more than three years, 2007’s Revival. Sun., May 4, 7pm. Santa Barbara Bowl, 1122 N. Milpas St. Call 962-7411 or visit sbbowl.com.

KT Tunstall

The U.K.’s favorite guitar-toting songstress plans a Drastic Fantastic night of music at the Majorie Luke. Sun., May 4, 7:30pm. Marjorie Luke Theatre, 721 E. Cota St. Call (800) 594-8499 or visit kaneproductions.com.

Avril Lavigne

Love her or hate her, pop punk’s reigning princess will take her show on the road-and to S.B.-in support of her third album, The Best Damn Thing. Tue., May 6, 7pm. Santa Barbara Bowl, 1122 N. Milpas St. Call 962-7411 or visit sbbowl.com.

Michael Buble

The world-renowned crooner offers up two nights of standards, covers, and original songs. Thu., May 8 and Fri., May 9, 7:30pm. Santa Barbara Bowl, 1122 N. Milpas St. Call 962-7411 or visit sbbowl.com.

Kathleen Edwards

The delightful alt-country stylings of this singer/songwriter will take center stage at this month’s installment of the Sings Like Hell series. Sat., May 17, 8pm. Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. Visit singslikehell.com.

An Evening with Colin Hay

The former Men at Work frontman and Garden State alum plays solo. Thu., May 22, 8pm. SOhO, 1221 State St. Call 962-7776 or visit sohosb.com.

Critic’s Pick: Datarock

Fredrik Saroea and Ketil Mosnes take their two-man, post-punk, electro-dance show on the road. Think Talking Heads meets The Faint, filtered through some hi-tech, groove-worthy instrumentation. Wed., May 28, 9pm. Sandbar, 514 State St. Call 966-1388 or visit myspace.com/clubmercy.

Critic’s Pick : The Cure

Robert Smith may be in love on Friday, but he’ll be performing with his prolific post-punk pioneering bandmates on a Thursday when he hits the Bowl for this much-anticipated (and rescheduled) show. Thu., May 29, 6pm. Santa Barbara Bowl, 1122 N. Milpas St. Call 962-7411 or visit sbbowl.com.

Marc Cohn

The Grammy Award-winning singer heads to town in support of 2007’s Join the Parade. Sun., June 15, 7:30pm. Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. Call (800) 594-8499 or visit lobero.com.

John Gorka

The founding voice of the folk revivalist movement is still going strong after busting onto the scene more than 20 years ago. Sun., June 15, 8pm. SOhO, 1221 State St. Call 962-7776 or visit sohosb.com.