Sensi Trails

Originally forming in Outer Banks, NC before relocating to the far more surf-friendly shores of Ocean Beach, Sensi Trails is a reggae band featuring Kyle Rising (guitar, vocals), Kaya Hall (bass), and Jordan Starke (drums). They just made a local TV appearance on KUSI’s Good Morning San Diego, after returning from a short northern California tour that included their first time playing venues in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Santa Rosa. An east coast tour at the end of April included dates in Washington DC where the group performed two new original songs, “Taxes” and “She Loves.” A single released around the same time, “Just Livin’” featuring Kbong, is from their debut EP Prohibition, recorded locally at Imperial Sound with E.N. Young (Tribal Seeds). It was recently nominated for song of the week on Christian’s Cosmic Corner Radio, which of course featured the weed-friendly band prominently in this year’s 4-20 broadcast special. You can also catch them Friday, May 17 with Tunnel Vision at 710 Beach Club in PB, as well as May 31 at Aztec Brewing Company (Vista) and June 28 at Winstons in OB.

Dinettes at Casbah: Sue Delguidice, Diana Death, Doriot Lair, and Shannon Woods

Formed in the late ‘70s and originally (though not always) an all-girl punk band, the Dinettes were once coveted by Runaways mastermind Kim Fowley, who booked them for his Battle of the Girl Bands at the Coo Coo’s Nest in Costa Mesa in late 1979, expressing interest in signing them. Even though they declined his management, the band did fine for at least a couple of years, playing the first Western Front punk festival in San Francisco (organized by Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra), and releasing a 1979 single recorded at Accusound, “Poison” b/w “T.V.” They also recorded demos at local Straighta Head Sound, and a live tape was later circulated from a November 1979 gig at the Deaf Club in San Francisco. After splitting around 1981, Lisa Aston (later Lisa Aston Emerson) continued to play punk with the Injections. Singer/drummer Irene Liberatore (aka Irene Liberatore-Dolan) joined the Puppies with Dane Conover (who’d next launch Trees), as well as playing on albums like Bo-Day-Shus by Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper and on Cindy Lee Berryhill’s debut Who’s Gonna Save the World? Joyce Rooks joined Trowsers, a ska/reggae band which Kim Fowley also had a fleeting interest in, as well as becoming a latterday member of the Penetrators and playing cello with Cabaret Oscuro and Bauhaus bassist David J. A December 2017 Casbah reunion has resulted in occasional followup Dinettes gigs. For the May 17 show, original members Doriot Lair and Sue Delguidice will be backed by Diana Death, Shannon Sabin, and Ed Masi. The bill includes the Havnauts and Little Evil.

Stilettos

Collectively, members of the Stilettos have performed with the Blue Cats, the Rockin’ Aces, Hot Rod Lincoln, the Beat Farmers, and the David Patrone Quartet. The band is fronted by Tommy Price, who was raised in Baltimore where he fronted top shelf rockabilly and roots rock bands such as Great Train Robbery and the Fringe. He moved to San Diego in 1997 and formed the Stilettos in 2000, augmenting the lineup in 2006 to include his wife, singer Tina Star, a former professional ballet dancer and theatrical performer who later began playing standup drums with the group as well. Alongside bassist Alberto Gonzales, they specialize in rockabilly and swing tunes from the ‘50s and early ‘60s, as well as peppering setlists with originals and contemporary rockabilly songs. Their album Walkin’ Down the Boulevard was released in 2010, earning them enough local cred to start landing weekly gigs in the Gaslamp Quarter, as well as offers to play hot rod and chopper shows, vintage film fests, and the occasional race, fundraiser, or wedding.

Brogue Wave

Celtic pub rockers Brogue Wave features David Lally alongside Matt Hensley (Flogging Molly) and Skelpin members Patric Petrie and Tim Foley. Their newest release, a live album with tracks like "Metallica Goes to Dublin" recorded this past January and February at O’Sullivan’s Irish Pubs in Carlsbad and Escondido, debuts at the Belly Up on May 19. It was crowdfunded via Kickstarter with a goal of $2000, raising over $3500 from backers, six of whom pledged at least $150 each. They recently booked Flogging Molly’s 2019 Salty Dog Cruise, departing from Ft. Lauderdale November 8 and pairing them with headline acts such as Pennywise, Still Little Fingers, and Frank Turner. The Belly Up bill isn’t too shabby either, it includes multiple SDMA Best Americana winner Sara Petite, crooner Tony Cummins, and stoner rockers SweetTooth.

Hexa

Hexa (not to be confused with the same-named duo featuring Lawrence English with Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart) is an electronic pop project launched in 2015 by Carrie Gillespie Feller (Tactical Ffever, Street of Little Girls, Lunar Maps) after her band Ilya split in November 2015. It’s only one of several band projects. Feller and her husband Scott Feller (Street of Little Girls) also founded Hours in 2015, alongside Hexa drummer Rostam Zafar (Bleak Skies) and, later, Josh Quon (Die Miflbildungen Des Menschen). In 2016, Carrie, Josh, and Scott co-founded Pleasure Model with Mitch Wilson (No Knife). The following year, she co-founded Possible Man With Possible Gun, featuring members of Bleak Skies, Hexa, and Hours, including drummer Aaron Queen (guitarist for Bleak Skies and drummer/keyboardist for Di Nigunim) and cellist Dale Holland. Early 2018 found Hexa on the front burner once again, playing around town with their newest member, singer/guitarist Megan Liscomb (Bunny Gang/Boy King, Soft Lions, P.J. Sparkles). Currently featuring Carrie Gillespie Feller and Liscomb alongside Acacia Collins and Erika Marie, Hexa just taped a Half Way Home session at the end of March, performing songs such as “Teach Me” and “The Trees.” The Casbah bill includes John Errol, EST, and DJ Jon Blaj.