San Diego Shows – Friday, Jan. 30

PLAN A: Adolescents @ The Casbah. “Amoeba” is one of the greatest American punk songs ever written, but, unfortunately, it spawned a number of sound-alikes that sullied the style. If Pennywise had never existed, the world would be a better place. PLAN B: Exile @ Riley’s. L.A. has a lot of hip-hop producers. Tons. So, calling Exile the most underrated beat-maker in Los Angeles pretty much means he can hold his own with the best in the world. PLAN C: Modern Rifles @ Ken Club. This CD-release party for the angular local act has our own Seth Combs in a frenzy. Chances are, if you dig Fugazi, Unwound, Don Caballero, Jawbox or anything ever released on Dischord Records, you’ll be all over it, too.

Quiet, stoic Strokes bassist Nikolai Fraiture has received far less attention than his other three impeccably coiffed compatriots. Singer Julian Casablancas stays busy by guesting on Queens of the Stone Age tracks and making songs for Converse commercials. Albert Hammond, Jr. has released two solo albums to lukewarm acclaim, and drummer Fab Moretti dates actresses and hangs out at L.A. dive bars with his new band Little Joy. 

So it may come as a shock that Fraiture has come out with the least Strokes-sounding side-project to date. His band, Nickel Eye, trades in a curious fusion of deadpan folk, straight-up rock, Spaghetti Western-influenced visuals, and even reggae, as evidenced by their single, “Brandy of the Damned.” Check out Nickel Eye with Low vs. Diamond tonight at The Loft @ UCSD to see if Fraiture can bring the goods.

Quick Picks:

The Hank Show @ 4th & B

Dirty Sweet @ Anthology

Get Back Loretta, Th’ Moonlight Sexy @ Bar Pink

The Cured, Still Ill, Rio @ Belly Up Tavern

“Dead Flowers” w/ C. Wizard, Red October @ Bluefoot

Psycho Realm (B-Real and DJ Muggs from Cypress Hill) @ ‘Canes

O.A.R., Eric Hutchinson @ House of Blues

Craig Smoove CD release @ Ivy Hotel

Helstar, Nihilist, Wither, Avenger of Blood, Calavera @ Jumping Turtle

A Scribe Amidst the Lions, Fing, Tap Water Whiskey @ Radio Room

“Critical Mass Afterparty” @ Ruby Room

Pant Hoots, Anasazis, Los Otros @ Soda Bar

Damcyan, Animal Corpse, Under the Stone, Immolated Seraphim, Ruines ov Abbadon @ SOMA

Donald Glaude, Rabbit in the Moon @ Spin

“Feel the Noise” w/ DJs Gabe Vega, Saul Q @ U-31

Fatigo @ Whistle Stop Bar

The B. Foundation, Mike Pinto Band @ Winston’s