Two by two

San Diego has been cited as a hotbed for emerging music genres such as screamo, post-hardcore, and the paisley underground. However, a look at the 3895 band pages in the Reader’s Local Music Database indicates that the next “big thing” in town may be duos, with nearly a hundred gigging or recording two-person bands currently extant.

Singer/songwriter Sherri-Anne and drummer Lisa Viegas are Sister Speak, socially aware entertainers who were nominated Best New Artist at the 2011 San Diego Music Awards and named one of Music Connection magazine’s Hot 100 Unsigned Bands for that year. They’ll play 710 Beach Club in P.B. on Friday, October 31.

The Lovebirds is the acoustic duo of former lovers Lindsay White and Veronica May, who have split romantically but remain together professionally. This past summer, they were named one of six winners at the Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters, earning a cash prize and the chance to appear on the New Folk Concerts Fall Tour.

Kenny Eng and Rob Deez are both longtime solo performers, currently teaming up to perform covers and originals at local venues such as 98 Bottles and Java Joe’s in Normal Heights. The Benedetti & Svoboda Guitar Duo features classical/Flamenco players Fred Benedetti and George Svoboda, playing around town at Dizzy’s and various churches. DePue/De Hoyos includes violinist Alex DePue, who’s worked with everyone from Steve Vai to local singer-songwriter Scott West, and Mexican guitarist Miguel De Hoyos.

Among the newest two-person team-ups is Grass, an acoustic roots act featuring Graham Nancarrow (son of late local weatherman Loren Nancarrow) and Russel Hayden (formerly of P.S. Your Cat Is Dead).

Longest-lived two-fers include folk crooners Berkley Hart (Jeff Berkley and Calman Hart), who’ve been together since the late 1990s.

There’s also 2011 SDMA winners Little Hurricane, the Mattson 2 (twin brothers), the Bollweevil Brothers (more twins, with Hans and Fritz Jensen of Collage Menage), lounge-punk couple Pony Death Ride, and several working chamber music couples including female duo Avonlea Strings and husband-and-wife team Atlantic String Ensemble.