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Local band updates: Steam Powered Giraffe, Deaf Club, Schizophonics, Kimmi Bitter and more
New music, videos, and lineup shifts for a half dozen San Diego acts
Deaf Club performing at Skatopia
1. Steam Powered Giraffe
Steam Powered Giraffe
"After many months of deep and tough personal conversations," posted Steam Powered Giraffe singer-guitarist David Bennett (The Spine) online recently, "Isabella Bunny Bennett and the rest of Steam Powered Giraffe have agreed that she will step away from performing with the band. Isabella has been struggling with mental health for a while now, and we've all been trying our best to find the best path forward. We were all hoping to have Isabella complete our remaining scheduled performances this year. However, after further conversations with her this week, it became clear that continuing through the remainder of the year would not be the best path forward for Isabella." Isabella Bunny Bennett’s band character Rabbit transitioned from male to female in 2014, mirroring Bennett’s real-life transition. The group is on tour and had been attempting to incorporate remote vocals and video performed by Bennett's character. According to David Bennett, "No Steam Powered Giraffe shows are canceled...Samuel Luke, who previously performed with Steam Powered Giraffe as the robot Hatchworth, will be reprising his role for Portland and the next several shows while the band continues through this transition." They'll play the California Center For the Arts Escondido on November 21.
2. Schizophonics
Schizophonics
Founded in 2009, the Schizophonics play fuzzy, psychedelic rock mixed with nasty funk, played with energy, passion, and freakiness. Singer/guitarist Pat Beers was joined by his future wife Lety Mora (the Rosalyns), who attended high school with him in Arizona. The band's fourth full length album, Burning Floor, is being released later this year on Alternative Tentacles, the label founded by the former frontman of the Dead Kennedys. "We met Jello Biafra years ago when we were playing a show in a hot and sweaty hotel suite at a music festival," says the band. "Mike Stax [Ugly Thingsmagazine] made him come see us telling him 'I think you’ll really like this band,' and low and behold, a beautiful friendship was born. We’re super honored to give this album a home with him and his killer team who’ve been super helpful making this baby a reality." A single for the album track “Black Pleather” is streaming online, with an accompanying video filmed at Golden Ghost in San Diego and featuring a cameo from the Melvins’ Dale Crover. According to the band, “‘Black Pleather’ is twist music from hell. With its driving clap-a-long beat and dark-yet-campy imagery, it’s the unholy love child between Chubby Checker and The Stooges.”
3. Kimmi Bitter
Kimmi Bitter
With a strong affinity for the roots of American music, San Diego native Kimmi Bitter (the Night Howls) began learning guitar at 18. She is inspired by 1970s delicate singer-songwriters and 1960s vintage country, styling her songs around the classic sounds of Patsy Cline with the Jordanaire's, Loretta Lynn, and Linda Ronstadt. A new album called Bittersweet dropped August 21 that she requests people purchase in physical format rather than downloading. "Physical formats support us artists the most," she explains. "Like, landing a touring support slot, getting a Best Country/Americana Album award, having an album that charted on Americana radio, and landing offical SXSW and Americanafest slots all stemmed from releasing an album as a whole." The album will be available on vinyl or CD. "My vinyl is one hundred percent Californian and American made, because supporting local businesses means something to me."
4. Cathryn Beeks
Cathryn Beeks
“Freshman year in high school, I signed up for choir thinking it would be an easy class to ditch,” says singer-songwriter the Cathryn Beeks. “Instead, I ended up figuring out that I wanted to be a singer. I pretty much lived for music from that point on, and in 1992 I left my hometown of Lancaster, California, in a motor home...to make it to the big time. The crazy adventures and experiences I had along the way are the songs I still sing today.” Beeks first earned local notice in JunkQueen and the Gandhi Method. She’s also carved out a niche with her series of local band showcases around town (“mostly free”) called Listen Local. Her new album Bring Peace, produced by Jeff Berkley, made its debut in early August to her Patreon subscribers. Plans are to release its first single "Oak Tree" before the end of August. "After that," she says, "the entire collection will be available for those who wish to purchase without becoming a Patreon subscriber."
5. Travis Barker
Travis Barker
Ten years in the making, the new documentary film Travis Barker: Louder Than Fear is a portrait of the artist, drummer and producer best known from his stints with local pop-punk icons Blink-182. Advance press describes the film with heroic hyperbole: “After surviving a devastating plane crash that nearly took his life, Travis Barker embarks on a raw and redemptive journey. Once a trash collector in Laguna Beach, his life changed when he stepped in as a replacement for Blink-182’s drummer — igniting a meteoric rise that would make him the driving pulse of a generation. Yet beneath the spectacle of fame, the film reveals a complex man battling pain, grief and the thin line between survival and surrender.” The documentary features appearances from collaborators, cultural icons, and some of the associates and family members closest to him.
6. Deaf Club
Deaf Club
Co-founded by Justin Pearson (The Locust, Dead Cross, Planet B), Deaf Club says they "approach music as an opportunity to confront our collective sicknesses." Summer 2025 saw the release of their second full-length album, on Southern Lord and Three One G. We Demand a Permanent State of Happiness. The band recently performed at The Skatopia Bowl Bash, an annual music and skateboarding festival held at Skatopia, an 88-acre anarchist skatepark in Rutland, Ohio. Hosted by pro skater Brewce Martin, the multi-day event features intense bowl skating, punk and metal bands, and camping. Filmmaker Tawd Dorenfeld created a mini doc featuring the band's experience there.
Here's something you might be interested in.
Local band updates: Steam Powered Giraffe, Deaf Club, Schizophonics, Kimmi Bitter and more
New music, videos, and lineup shifts for a half dozen San Diego acts
Local band updates: Steam Powered Giraffe, Deaf Club, Schizophonics, Kimmi Bitter and more
New music, videos, and lineup shifts for a half dozen San Diego acts
Deaf Club performing at Skatopia
1. Steam Powered Giraffe
Steam Powered Giraffe
"After many months of deep and tough personal conversations," posted Steam Powered Giraffe singer-guitarist David Bennett (The Spine) online recently, "Isabella Bunny Bennett and the rest of Steam Powered Giraffe have agreed that she will step away from performing with the band. Isabella has been struggling with mental health for a while now, and we've all been trying our best to find the best path forward. We were all hoping to have Isabella complete our remaining scheduled performances this year. However, after further conversations with her this week, it became clear that continuing through the remainder of the year would not be the best path forward for Isabella." Isabella Bunny Bennett’s band character Rabbit transitioned from male to female in 2014, mirroring Bennett’s real-life transition. The group is on tour and had been attempting to incorporate remote vocals and video performed by Bennett's character. According to David Bennett, "No Steam Powered Giraffe shows are canceled...Samuel Luke, who previously performed with Steam Powered Giraffe as the robot Hatchworth, will be reprising his role for Portland and the next several shows while the band continues through this transition." They'll play the California Center For the Arts Escondido on November 21.
2. Schizophonics
Schizophonics
Founded in 2009, the Schizophonics play fuzzy, psychedelic rock mixed with nasty funk, played with energy, passion, and freakiness. Singer/guitarist Pat Beers was joined by his future wife Lety Mora (the Rosalyns), who attended high school with him in Arizona. The band's fourth full length album, Burning Floor, is being released later this year on Alternative Tentacles, the label founded by the former frontman of the Dead Kennedys. "We met Jello Biafra years ago when we were playing a show in a hot and sweaty hotel suite at a music festival," says the band. "Mike Stax [Ugly Thingsmagazine] made him come see us telling him 'I think you’ll really like this band,' and low and behold, a beautiful friendship was born. We’re super honored to give this album a home with him and his killer team who’ve been super helpful making this baby a reality." A single for the album track “Black Pleather” is streaming online, with an accompanying video filmed at Golden Ghost in San Diego and featuring a cameo from the Melvins’ Dale Crover. According to the band, “‘Black Pleather’ is twist music from hell. With its driving clap-a-long beat and dark-yet-campy imagery, it’s the unholy love child between Chubby Checker and The Stooges.”
3. Kimmi Bitter
Kimmi Bitter
With a strong affinity for the roots of American music, San Diego native Kimmi Bitter (the Night Howls) began learning guitar at 18. She is inspired by 1970s delicate singer-songwriters and 1960s vintage country, styling her songs around the classic sounds of Patsy Cline with the Jordanaire's, Loretta Lynn, and Linda Ronstadt. A new album called Bittersweet dropped August 21 that she requests people purchase in physical format rather than downloading. "Physical formats support us artists the most," she explains. "Like, landing a touring support slot, getting a Best Country/Americana Album award, having an album that charted on Americana radio, and landing offical SXSW and Americanafest slots all stemmed from releasing an album as a whole." The album will be available on vinyl or CD. "My vinyl is one hundred percent Californian and American made, because supporting local businesses means something to me."
4. Cathryn Beeks
Cathryn Beeks
“Freshman year in high school, I signed up for choir thinking it would be an easy class to ditch,” says singer-songwriter the Cathryn Beeks. “Instead, I ended up figuring out that I wanted to be a singer. I pretty much lived for music from that point on, and in 1992 I left my hometown of Lancaster, California, in a motor home...to make it to the big time. The crazy adventures and experiences I had along the way are the songs I still sing today.” Beeks first earned local notice in JunkQueen and the Gandhi Method. She’s also carved out a niche with her series of local band showcases around town (“mostly free”) called Listen Local. Her new album Bring Peace, produced by Jeff Berkley, made its debut in early August to her Patreon subscribers. Plans are to release its first single "Oak Tree" before the end of August. "After that," she says, "the entire collection will be available for those who wish to purchase without becoming a Patreon subscriber."
5. Travis Barker
Travis Barker
Ten years in the making, the new documentary film Travis Barker: Louder Than Fear is a portrait of the artist, drummer and producer best known from his stints with local pop-punk icons Blink-182. Advance press describes the film with heroic hyperbole: “After surviving a devastating plane crash that nearly took his life, Travis Barker embarks on a raw and redemptive journey. Once a trash collector in Laguna Beach, his life changed when he stepped in as a replacement for Blink-182’s drummer — igniting a meteoric rise that would make him the driving pulse of a generation. Yet beneath the spectacle of fame, the film reveals a complex man battling pain, grief and the thin line between survival and surrender.” The documentary features appearances from collaborators, cultural icons, and some of the associates and family members closest to him.
6. Deaf Club
Deaf Club
Co-founded by Justin Pearson (The Locust, Dead Cross, Planet B), Deaf Club says they "approach music as an opportunity to confront our collective sicknesses." Summer 2025 saw the release of their second full-length album, on Southern Lord and Three One G. We Demand a Permanent State of Happiness. The band recently performed at The Skatopia Bowl Bash, an annual music and skateboarding festival held at Skatopia, an 88-acre anarchist skatepark in Rutland, Ohio. Hosted by pro skater Brewce Martin, the multi-day event features intense bowl skating, punk and metal bands, and camping. Filmmaker Tawd Dorenfeld created a mini doc featuring the band's experience there.
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