San Diego Shows–Monday, March 15

PLAN A: Matthew Good, Automatic Loveletter @ The Casbah. I’m not just recommending this show because it’s Monday and it’s slim pickings. I’m actually genuinely enjoying Good’s new album, Vancouver, which sounds like some lost, buried treasure from Jeremy Enigk or Mat Kearney. I know that mentioning he’s a huge star in Canada probably doesn’t help, but the guys got pipes and he’s got great stage banter. BACKUP PLAN: The Big Big Bucks, The Syndicate, Colleen Green, Jisswisards @ Soda Bar.

OTHER COOL STUFF:

Danny Leiner @ California State University, San Marcos. Actors often say that performing comedy is a lot harder than performing drama. Is the same true for directing comedy? Find out from 7 to 9 p.m. when Leiner, the director of Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, will give a free talk about the art and commerce of a film and television career as part of the Media Fellows Series at California State University, San Marcos (in Room ARTS240). In addition to H&K, Leiner’s got plenty of TV cred under his belt, having directed episodes for some of the best small-screen series—Arrested Development, Freaks and Geeks, Strangers with Candy and The Sopranos—and he’s slated to direct the upcoming film The Corporate Zombie Killers. For directions and parking info, go to www.csusm.edu/guide.

The Hurt Locker @ Birch North Park Theatre. If you didn’t see this year’s Best Picture Oscar winner on the big screen. Here’s your chance—Kathryn Bigelow’s story of a Baghdad bomb squad adrenalin junkie. Screens at 7 and 9 p.m. $7, or $10 includes beer or wine at West Coast Tavern.

The Styletones @ Bar Pink.

Lady Dottie and The Diamonds @ U-31. 

Rum Rebellion, Abject, San Deviants, Brian Congerjo & The Handsome @ Radio Room.

Animal Ancestors @ Ruby Room.