Positively State Street

CROSS COUNTRY: With a smoky and ash-filled July 4th now behind us-and the Gap Fire waning just enough to keep my short-but-sweet mental mash up of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Franz Ferdinand’s “This Fire,” and Cut Copy’s “Hearts on Fire” out of my head for the time being-it seems that there’s no better moment to start looking toward future shows, fresh starts, and new musical beginnings. And where better to start but with a story that travels from here to New York City, then back again?

Just mere months ago, famed Santa Barbarans The Coral Sea (thecoralsea.net) said a fond farewell to their beloved human drum machine, Austin Beede. The onetime heartbeat of arguably S.B.’s most successful indie rock outfit of late left town and his fellow bandmates on good terms, choosing to throw in his sticks on the West Coast and move to N.Y.C. Not surprisingly, Beede had no trouble settling in-and finding work-on the east side of the country. But it was with a bit of gleeful surprise that I came to find that Beede has not only found a new band, but a good one-and an upcoming gig in Santa Barbara. This Tuesday, July 15, Beede and his new music making buddies, Alberta Cross (myspace.com/albertacross), will make a stop at the Creekside Inn (4444 Hollister Ave.) at 8 p.m. for a very special show.

And if you need more than a little twinge of nostalgia and hometown pride to get you up and out on a Tuesday night, I encourage you to check these guys out online. The sound is part rootsy blues, part avant-garde rock ‘n’ roll, and all forward-thinking amazingness. Think the Black Crowes meets the Raconteurs meets Kings of Leon. Oh, and did we mention that they’re currently touring with The Breeders and making a stop at the much-buzzed-about All Points West Festival (apwfestival.com) in the beginning of August? To Beede, I say a big ol’ “congratulations,” and to the four other gents of Alberta Cross; good job picking your newest addition-he’s just about as good a person, and great a performer, as they come.

NEVER HAVE I EVER: And on the subject of epic returns, one-time State Street staples Evernever (myspace.com/evernevermusic) have announced that they are coming out of their now almost year-long hiatus to play a show with Breva (brevamusic.com), Makeshift Bronson (myspace.com/themakeshiftbronson), and The Youth and Beauty Brigade (myspace.com/theybb) Thursday, July 10, at Velvet Jones (423 State St.) at 10 p.m. The metal-meets-prog rock foursome, who stirred up a good deal of street cred in 2007 with the release of their debut EP, Rest for the Wicked, is currently testing out new material for their upcoming full-length. The recently penned material will be making its way to the masses later this year, thanks to some help from Fear Factory (fearfactory.com) guitarist-and notable metal head-Christian Olde Wolbers, who will act as Evernever’s producer. The show is 21+. Doors open at 8 p.m., and tickets are $10 a pop.

THE BEST OF THE REST: And with holiday weekend parties, parades, and getaways now over and done with, there’s really no excuse for missing out on one of the many other fine in-town musical offerings that are headed our way this week. Hitting SOhO (1221 State St.) in the coming days are The Veltexans (myspace.com/veltexans), who released their very first music video just last weekend. They’ll play alongside New Wave deejay extraordinaire, Crash, on Thursday, July 17. Also headed to SOhO is up-and-coming New Yawker Jonah Smith (jonahsmith.com), who will bring his piano-driven, Ryan Adams-meets-John Mayer-style tunes to the club’s stage on Friday, July 11, as part of his ongoing cross-country tour. Call 962-7776 or visit sohosb.com for details.