Flipside Burners

No Kings

“No Kings plays a sonic fusion derived from the rhythms of first and second-wave ska and reggae, the guitar sounds of psychedelic, and surf rock, interspersed with the frenetic energy of punk,” according to singer Matt Cook. The band, founded by several ex-members of Subliminal Trip (a couple of whom have since departed), currently features the original trio of Cook with former Trip bassist Garrison Cyr and drummer Rafael Scatolin, now backed by Dave Bianco on guitar. They made their recorded debut in 2011 with Die Like Dogs, followed by the Anytime EP in April 2014. Their 2015 album Lowlifes and High Rollers was recorded and produced by their drummer’s brother, Gab Scatolin, a successful producer and musician in San Paulo, Brazil, with guest keys from Scott Inumberable (2000 Tons of TNT, Mochilero Allstars) and trumpet courtesy of Felix Sierra (SM Familia). Their newest EP, Steady Yourself, was released in February, and a video for “On the Floor” debuted online this month. Rafael Scatolin also co-founded Sameland, whose debut album, Set in Motion, was produced in Brazil by his brother.

Barefoot Hockey Goalie

Barefoot Hockey Goalie likes to create bizarre mini rock operas, such as Darius, An Interview With Thomas Edison, and Fedik’s Butcher Shop, the latter concerning Estonian butchers and their adventures in America, with songs about raccoons and hoodlums. Their 2011 EP Kid Champion, concerning an ill-fated boxer’s battle against the Devil, was recorded in San Diego with Trummerflora Collective vet Marcos Fernandes. All of their releases are available digitally online, billed as “$3 Operas,” with both Fedik and Darius expanded onto (somewhat) more accessible “Short Stories” supplemental albums. Good luck finding any of the original physical releases. Only 500 copies were pressed of offerings such as the 2001 Thomas Edison album (which featured guest tuba from San Francisco’s Polkaholics), all long since sold at their infrequent shows. “The band is stretched out, due to life, work, and families, so we don’t get to gig much anymore,” says bassist Matthew Pray, who runs a martial arts studio in Chino. Guitarist Tony Acquarelli teaches elementary school in Pacifica, while singer Blair Hatch and drummer Greg Farrar live and teach high school in San Diego.

War

The Magic 82.5 Summer Jam bill includes a shopping mall full of parachute pants survivors from the 80s and 90s, including Cameo, Brick, Lakeside, and one of the original breakthrough Latin funk acts, War, featuring famous former neighbor Lonnie Jordan. “At the end of the show, during the introductions, I talk about how I was born in San Diego,” says Jordan, who made his local debut at Duke Hospital in 1948. “Also, when we play ‘Spill the Wine,’ I may reference a local park where I took my little stroll on that hot summer day.” Jordan co-founded Nightshift, aka the Creators, in 1969, later renaming the group War and earning one of their biggest hit records with the aforementioned ode to spilled spirits, sung by Animals vocalist Eric Burdon. War’s funky Latin-influenced groove inspired everyone from Prince to MC Hammer, Public Enemy, Sly Stone, Funkadelic, and countless others. While in town, you may spot Jordan around Little Italy, home to one of his favorite area locales. “A lot of the places I used to spend time at aren’t really around anymore, although I am a vegan, and me and my wife will always go to Café Gratitude when we’re in town, which has really good vegan food.”

Flipside Burners

Citing influences such as Stray Cats, Johnny Cash, Eddie Cochran, and Reverend Horton Heat, Flipside Burners play a blazing variety of rockabilly, swing, blues and vintage rock and roll originals. Several members have come and gone since the band’s inception circa 2012, with the current core trio anchored by founding guitarist Mark Fahl (Double Play, Bordertown Blues), who has performed with Nancy Sinatra, Sonny Turner (the Platters) and country star Lynn Anderson. Drummer Peter Bogle won the 1992 San Diego Guitar Center Drum-off, going on to tour Scandinavia and Europe as well as playing with local acts like Buddy Blue and the Charles Burton Blues Band. Bassist Justice Guevara (whose dad played in a local ‘80s bar band called BigFins) came out of local bands such as Power Shake (a Paladins tribute) and Small Town Heroes. The busy group plays pretty much weekly around town, including another upcoming show at Hooley’s Rancho Bernardo on July 5.

The Spits

Celebrating a quarter century of rupturing eardrums, punk heroes the Spits are the answer to the musical question “What do you get when you cross Detroit and Seattle?” The band got its start in Michigan in the early ‘90s, eventually relocating to the left coast where they further developed their “punk for the people” credo. Part of that lifestyle involves keeping things as elementary and common as possible, including releasing albums with no titles other than numbers (so far 1, 2, 3, 4, and their newest V). Onstage, members tend to reduce their presence to archetypes or caricatures, often appearing in costumes portraying themselves as everything from beekeepers to nuns, astronauts, U.S. Presidents, and Taliban freedom fighters. Interestingly, their music is frequently favored by the action sports industry, turning up in various skate and snowboarding videos. The bill includes the Widows and Therapy.