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San Diego's Beat Scene

L.A.’s beat scene has been getting a lot of attention lately with artists such as Flying Lotus, Daedelus, Baths, Tokimonsta, Nosaj Thing, and the Gaslamp Killer (named after our own downtown strip). The weekly Low End Theory night is legendary in electronic music circles, but lesser known is San Diego’s beat scene, which is currently cultivated with monthlies Critical Beatdown and Galactic Reign (now billed as "Liquid Geometry presents") at the Kava Lounge. Besides bringing down artists from L.A. labels such as Brainfeeder and Alpha Pup, these are a few of the musicians who are defining San Diego's unique beat scene with homemade instruments, D.I.Y. desert parties, and regular events.

AbJo - Soulful baby makin' music for putting the smooth on.

Alpha Method - Straight up sneaky deaky instru-hip hop.

DJ Cleancut - Cleancut’s sound emphasizes the beat scene's instrumental hip hop roots.

DJ Pound - OG SD beathead - curates Critical Beatdown with Mike Gao.

eLan - Smoove jams to love yer lady to. Keep an eye on this guy. His new EP, Bleep Bloop Brmmp, just dropped on Monkeytown Records run by heavyweight German techno-meets-bass duo Modeselektor.

Griefshare - Emotive soundtracks drawing from electronic and acoustic sources.

HM.T DM.T - Psychedelic stompers like whoa. Check out his new Abraxas EP and this exclusive mix.

Illuminauts - This duo fuses chill beats perfect for watching the city wiggle on the harbor at midnight.

Mike Gao - A veteran at Low End Theory and a Galapagos4/All City Records artist, Mike Gao invented an app for the iPad to facilitate his glitchy beats and now hosts Critical Beatdown at Kava with DJ Pound. He'll be taking off on a European tour in a few weeks.

Misk - Misk creates heady, driving beats what for shaking your bon bon.

Mr. Brady - One of the pioneers of the local beatage.

Neat Beats - One of a kind trip hoppy indie beats for da soul.

Nino Seneris - Friendly club smashers on the heavy beat bass tip.

Orko Eloheim - Old school beat head with a ragga/drum&bass edge.

Room E - Dreamy, sexy, chill soundscapes.

Skrapez - Occult psychedelia from a haunted mansion.

Sleeve - Dark, squirrelly beats to goof out to.

Sludge Butt - The unholy experimental love child of HM.T DM.T and Sleeve. These are two of the Liquid Geometry dudes responsible for curating the monthly Galactic Reign at Kava.

Beat it at Critical Beatdown every first Thursday and Liquid Geometry every third Thursday at the Kava Lounge.

This month's Liquid Geometry (June 16) features Misk, Dusty Nix, Mac Digi, Nino Seneris, and Kurly Burrito with visuals by Wind Spirit and live art from Brittany Dumas. Five bucks.

Run and tell that, homeboy.

Photo: Sludge Butt at Bar Monaco, Mexicali

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L.A.’s beat scene has been getting a lot of attention lately with artists such as Flying Lotus, Daedelus, Baths, Tokimonsta, Nosaj Thing, and the Gaslamp Killer (named after our own downtown strip). The weekly Low End Theory night is legendary in electronic music circles, but lesser known is San Diego’s beat scene, which is currently cultivated with monthlies Critical Beatdown and Galactic Reign (now billed as "Liquid Geometry presents") at the Kava Lounge. Besides bringing down artists from L.A. labels such as Brainfeeder and Alpha Pup, these are a few of the musicians who are defining San Diego's unique beat scene with homemade instruments, D.I.Y. desert parties, and regular events.

AbJo - Soulful baby makin' music for putting the smooth on.

Alpha Method - Straight up sneaky deaky instru-hip hop.

DJ Cleancut - Cleancut’s sound emphasizes the beat scene's instrumental hip hop roots.

DJ Pound - OG SD beathead - curates Critical Beatdown with Mike Gao.

eLan - Smoove jams to love yer lady to. Keep an eye on this guy. His new EP, Bleep Bloop Brmmp, just dropped on Monkeytown Records run by heavyweight German techno-meets-bass duo Modeselektor.

Griefshare - Emotive soundtracks drawing from electronic and acoustic sources.

HM.T DM.T - Psychedelic stompers like whoa. Check out his new Abraxas EP and this exclusive mix.

Illuminauts - This duo fuses chill beats perfect for watching the city wiggle on the harbor at midnight.

Mike Gao - A veteran at Low End Theory and a Galapagos4/All City Records artist, Mike Gao invented an app for the iPad to facilitate his glitchy beats and now hosts Critical Beatdown at Kava with DJ Pound. He'll be taking off on a European tour in a few weeks.

Misk - Misk creates heady, driving beats what for shaking your bon bon.

Mr. Brady - One of the pioneers of the local beatage.

Neat Beats - One of a kind trip hoppy indie beats for da soul.

Nino Seneris - Friendly club smashers on the heavy beat bass tip.

Orko Eloheim - Old school beat head with a ragga/drum&bass edge.

Room E - Dreamy, sexy, chill soundscapes.

Skrapez - Occult psychedelia from a haunted mansion.

Sleeve - Dark, squirrelly beats to goof out to.

Sludge Butt - The unholy experimental love child of HM.T DM.T and Sleeve. These are two of the Liquid Geometry dudes responsible for curating the monthly Galactic Reign at Kava.

Beat it at Critical Beatdown every first Thursday and Liquid Geometry every third Thursday at the Kava Lounge.

This month's Liquid Geometry (June 16) features Misk, Dusty Nix, Mac Digi, Nino Seneris, and Kurly Burrito with visuals by Wind Spirit and live art from Brittany Dumas. Five bucks.

Run and tell that, homeboy.

Photo: Sludge Butt at Bar Monaco, Mexicali

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