Well Well Well at the Casba Dec 21

Psychedelic-folk-synthpop band Well Well Well was founded by guitarist Seton Edgerton and drummer Dan Nichols, both from the group Barbarian, which had opened for Arctic Monkeys and toured with Bat for Lashes. With a new single and video out for their track “12/25,” Well Well Well will host their 2023 Christmas Spectacular in Little Italy on December 21.

Nicey Nice World at Black Cat Bar Dec 22

Among Nicey Nice World’s unusual instruments is a hurdy gurdy, made famous by sixties folk icon Donovan in “Hurdy Gurdy Man,” and a Theremin, popular in science fiction film soundtracks. The band will perform a rare concert set in City Heights on December 22. “It has been a while since we’ve gathered to make noise together, so we are looking forward to it,” says bandleader Marcelo Radulovich.

Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra at Golden Island Dec 29

Sue Palmer, known as The Queen of Boogie Woogie, played with Tobacco Road for around a dozen years, earning seven San Diego Music Awards with the band from 1986 through 1994. She first earned widespread attention while backing up blues belter Candye Kane. Now fronting her own group, she’ll be joined in Mira Mesa by her Motel Swing Orchestra to play a vinyl single and video release party.

Moans at Soda Bar Dec 22

Moans is a recording project turned live act founded by Moses Constable (talk box), who kicked off the project with a series of comedic homemade videos that earned him a San Diego Music Video Extravaganza Award in 2017. Their debut album Luxury, recorded in Vista at producer James Page’s home studio, was released in 2020. The bill includes Lead Pony (whose new album Vultures dropped in July) and Shrubravo.

El Vex Mex-Mas Show at the Casbah Dec 23

El Vez, aka Robert Lopez, first appeared in the early San Diego/L.A. punk band the Zeros and then played in Catholic Discipline (which also spawned lesbian folk singer Phranc). For his annual Little Italy Mex-Mas Show, expect twisted versions of holiday classics such as “Brown Christmas”: “I’m dreaming of a Brown Christmas/ Just like my ones in San Diego/ Where cousins and familia are tight/ And thank God our Christmases ain’t white.”