City Windows punk, Big Mountain reggae, Sister Speak vinyl, Nashville Ramblers reunion, Cowboy Jack country

Punk rock outfit City Windows features former members of The Sky We Scrape (Chicago) and Deadhand (Las Vegas). Their sophomore album Velvet Divorce was recorded at Singing Serpent Studios with Ben Moore (Pinback, Angels & Airwaves, Rocket From The Crypt), and preceded by a single for the political rally cry “The Price To Pay.” They’ll play August 25 at Kensington Club, on a bill that includes Decent Criminal and Ricky, aka Ricky Schmidt of Western Settings and Hey, Chels.

Big Mountain at Music Box Aug 25

Big Mountain earned national notice for their early 1994 cover of Peter Frampton’s “Baby, I Love Your Way,” which reached the U.S. Top 40, though they first hit the charts around a year earlier with the song “Touch My Light.” They’re still landing on charts with songs such as the 2021 single “Reggae Inna Summertime.” Also appearing in Little Italy August 25 will be Oak Palace, the Originators, and DJ Richie$.

Sister Speak at the Belly Up Tavern Aug 26

Photograph by Sherri Anne

The upcoming vinyl edition of Sister Speak’s 2022 album Love For All will feature revised cover graphics showing more of the work by Canadian artist Steve Chmilar. “We have sold more vinyl than anything else this year,” says Sherri Anne, who sought a specific feature from the vinyl pressing company. “They don’t use lead in their vinyls and are always working to make things more environmentally friendly.” The album debuts August 26 in Solana Beach, on a double bill with The B-Side Players.

The Nashville Ramblers at the Casbah Aug 26

The 40th anniversary party for locally published Ugly Things magazine will feature a reunion of The Nashville Ramblers, featuring members from the Crawdaddys, the Gravedigger Five, and Mystery Machine. Their 1986 power pop classic “The Trains” was included in the Children of Nuggets box set from Rhino Records. The bill includes the Wyld Gooms a Tribute to Gabor Szabo in the Razzmatazz Room.

Cowboy Jack at Mellano Farm Stand Aug 27

Longtime (since 1968) San Diegan Cowboy Jack sings vintage country while playing acoustic guitar and harmonica. The Singing Cowboy of Rawhide Ranch is also the originator and lead performer of the Hank Show, which he calls “a re-creation, not a tribute, of Hank Williams, Sr.,” as well as the founder of Band in Black, featuring the music of Johnny Cash. He plays Oceanside's Mellano Farm Stand on August 27.