Tongue-Twisting Rock Show of the Week

WHAT’S IN A NAME: Chalk it up to coincidence, or those damn name generating widgets, but I’m beginning to think we’re hitting some kind of critical mass when it comes to naming your indie band. In terms of trending, we’ve seen the crystal acts (Crystal Skulls, Crystal Castles, Crystal Stilts) have their heyday. Then came the vowel-haters (think MSTRKRFT, STRFKR, and MGMT). Of late, it seems to be all about the puns, with groups and deejays like Com Truise, Joy Orbison, and Ringo Deathstarr swirling about the blogosphere. Needless to say, when friends (and S.B. locs) Ghost Tiger recently announced they’d be playing with San Diego’s Ed Ghost Tucker, I couldn’t help but laugh.

This Saturday, May 4, our favorite Santa Barbara ghosties team up with their long lost SoCal relatives for a show at Muddy Waters Café (508 E. Haley St.) alongside San Francisco’s City Tribe. Ghoulish namesakes aside, the night promises to be a spook-free affair, filled with warm acoustic guitars, pretty vocal harmonies, and some good ole’ fashioned stomp-your-feet percussion. Need more reason to celebrate? Word on the street is Ghost Tiger is putting the finishing touches on a (long-awaited) debut single, set to drop this June. Get the deets, and a solid night out on the town, starting at 8 p.m. Call (805) 966-9328 or visit Facebook for event details.

RAISE YOUR VOYCE: And speaking of the name game, this weekend also brings a performance from some of S.B.’s most beloved — and quirkily dubbed — vocal acts. On Saturday, May 4 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 5 at 3 p.m., St. Anthony’s Sanctuary (2300 Garden St.) plays host to Quire of Voyces. The Santa Barbara City College-born a capella group will perform a selection of soaring, soothing music to “connect us to the spirit and memory of those we love.” On the setlist: 19th century composer C Hubert H. Parry’s “Songs of Farewell,” and a world premiere of Quire composer-in-residence Michael Eglin’s “Requiem.” Expect lush, reverberating harmonies, hauntingly beautiful songs, and a group of kids who you actually want to hear sing their hearts out. For tickets and info to both shows, call the box office at SBCC’s Garvin Theatre at (805) 965-5935 or visit Quire of Voyces on Facebook.

ALSO THIS WEEK: It’s a big week for S.B. music makers, and Saint Anne’s Place are never ones to miss out on the action. The Lompoc blues rockers plug in at Whiskey Richards (435 State St.) on Friday, May 3 for a late show with Alexandra & the Starlight Band, Zachary James & the All Seeing Eyes, and Emily Wryn & the Lights Electric. Bands start at 9:30 p.m. and the show is 21+. Call (805) 963-1786 for info.

On Thursday, May 2, Muddy Waters welcomes the return of Santa Barbara’s reigning dueling drummer doom pop act, Hesse, who’ll take to the stage alongside Portland black metalers Druden and Ventura’s Sutratama starting at 8 p.m. Call (805) 966-9328 for info.