It Drops in May

Circa Now won the Freedom Sessions band competition in 2008, the same year they were nominated for Best Rock Album at the San Diego Music Awards. Among the opportunities that subsequently opened for the glam-garage trio was the chance to have their next album Hotter Than a Pistol recorded by A-list producer Alan Sanderson (Rolling Stones, Weezer, Elvis Costello), who likens the band to T. Rex and the Stooges. “These three have the right idea,” says Sanderson. “If you’re looking for raw energy in your music, this is it.”

An album-release party will be held May 8 with a rooftop gig atop the Tenth Avenue Theatre in downtown’s artsy East Village. In addition to sets from Circa Now and Scarlet Symphony, the show will include video art by AVicious, a musically interactive fashion show from Jennafer Grace, music by DJs Artistic and Morgan Young, and a preview of an upcoming film documentary about San Diego’s indie-music scene produced by Craig Rain Films. The $15 admission price includes a copy of Hotter Than a Pistol.

WHAT’S IN YOUR MUSIC PLAYER?

Josh Pann, guitar/vocals:

1) Band of Skulls, Baby Darling Doll Face Honey. “Very well produced. It just sounds huge, and their use of space in that record gives it a very cool overtone.”

2) The Eagles, Greatest Hits. “Because I’ve got seven women on my mind.”

3) Led Zeppelin, Coda. “It never gets old to me, and thus it’s always in rotation.”

4) Wolfmother, Cosmic Egg. “This is my favorite modern band.”

5) The Noisettes, Wild Young Hearts. “This record was a bit more R&B and pop-influenced than their first album, but it grew on me.”

David Patrick Tye, drums:

1) Queen, A Night at the Opera. “How many other bands could have a mini-opera and a ragtime Victorian-esque piano bit on the same album, and pull it off, and still rock?”

2) Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks. “The guy got an honorary Pulitzer for his impact on American culture and music.”

3) Mariachi El Bronx, self-titled. “This mariachi music from an L.A. punk band is what you’d want to listen to while having a gunslinger fight.”

Scotty Stover, bass:

1) The Rolling Stones, Forty Licks. “One disc only. It was inside a CD player that someone returned when I was working in a retail store.”

WHAT WOULD YOUR GRADE SCHOOL TEACHER SAY ABOUT YOU?

Josh: “He was very shy and timid as a kid.”

David: “He’s doing exactly what he said he was going to be doing.”

Scotty: “Good job not ending up in jail.”

BEST PICKUP LINE?

Josh: “Nice boots.”

David: “I’ve studied French, so I’m guilty of using some of that every once in a while.”

Scotty: “Wanna watch some hockey?”

ANY FEARS OR PHOBIAS?

Josh: “That ’80s hair metal will come back.”

David: “Not really, but everyone probably has a phobia, so I’m not looking forward to finding out what mine is.”

Scotty: “Bats. Man, I hate bats.”

WHO SHOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE?

Josh: “Have your people get in touch with my people, and we’ll discuss.”

David: “Daniel Day-Lewis, as the butcher character from Gangs of New York.”

Scotty: “Jack Black, for being so friggin’ handsome.”

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS?

Josh: “Guitar World and Game Informer.”

David: “Modern Drummer.”

Scotty: “I don’t subscribe, but every time I go to the grocery store I go directly to the magazine aisle and see who’s on the cover of Rolling Stone. Then I check the charts. Then I complain for the next 30 minutes.”

SOUTH PARK OR FAMILY GUY?

Josh: “South Park, because I wish Cartman was my manager.”

David: “South Park’s highly offensive material still ends up having a better moral compass than most of the other crap on TV.”

Scotty: “South Park, because Butters is funnier than everyone in Family Guy combined.”

FAVORITE SPINAL TAP QUOTE?

Josh: “‘Can I raise a practical question at this point? Are we gonna do Stonehenge tomorrow?’”

David: “‘It’s, like, how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black.’”

Scotty: “‘This one goes up to 11.’”

WHAT’S YOUR POISON?

Josh: “You buying?”

David: “Microbrews of the hoppy variety.”

Scotty: “Barley pop.”

FIRST BOOK YOU REMEMBER READING?

Josh: “Berenstain Bears.”

Scotty: “A little kid’s book about a baby chicken that hatched out of his egg. I memorized it and then tricked my grandma into thinking I actually knew how to read. She thought I was some kind of kid genius.”