Music

All Leather
Vocalist Justin Pearson is possibly San Diego's singlemost prolific artist, singing or playing bass in (among others) Holy Molar, Head Wound City, Swing Kids, and - most famously - The Locust. All Leather is his project with Nathan Joyner (guitar) and Jung Sing (drums), crossing Pearson's thrash grindcore instincts with Nine Inch Nails-type sound.

Buddy Akai
One of the most popular acts in the San Diego music scene, Buddy Akai formed in 2004, bringing the rock band to the dance floor. Their infectious electro-rock was captured on their self-titled album, produced by Uriel Esquenazi, who's worked with such acts as ZOE and Thievery Corporation. Buddy Akai played 2008's SoCo Music Experience and North by North Park.

The Burning of Rome
Based out of Oceanside, The Burning of Rome have raged across the San Diego music scene with their unique rock that's Arcade Fire re-imagined by Tim Burton.

John Easdale of Dramarama
John Easdale is the frontman for Dramarama, whose 1985 hit "Anything, Anything" is one of the most requested songs in the history of mainstream radio. John and his wife Kelly have very strong ties to San Diego and, in particular, Normal Heights; four generations of Kelly's family have lived on Hawley, the border street for Art Around Adams. In April 2009, Dramarama performed in-store at M-Theory Music as part of Record Store Day.

Dynamite Walls
Based in Oceanside, Dynamite Walls have amassed a huge Southern California following by way of their catchy pop-rock songs and a very strong work ethic.

DJ Edgartronic
On the strength of his weekly Boombox Thursdays at AC Lounge, his Analogic Nights on X1FM.com (San Diego's only dance music radio show) on Friday, and countless other gigs, DJ Edgartronic is San Diego's "it" deejay for the late aughts.

MC Flow
MC Flow, born Abby Schwartz in New York, fell in love with hip-hop at the age of 12, when her Bat-Mitzvah deejay played LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out" and led her to the dance floor.

Los Hollywood
Three-piece Los Hollywood's mixture of British and Latino rock has quickly captured mass attention. In June 2008, they won the first battle of the bands sponsored by Myspace Latino, leading them to an opening slot for Ximena Sariñana, who was nominated for a 2009 Grammy for Best New Latin Alternative Artist. Los Hollywood's crossover appeal and potential is clearly represented in their lead single "No Te Aguites."

Monsters From mars
Originally an instrumental surf rock trio, Monsters from Mars has expanded to include punk rock, horror, and electronica into their sound. Their live performances are distinguished by their high-energy riffs and fog & light tricks, making even the most passive concertgoer dance themselves silly. Monsters From Mars is perhaps best known for their rendition of the Britney Spears hit, Toxic.

Di Nigunim
Di Nigunim (Dee Nih-goo-nihm) literally translates from Yiddish as "The Wordless Melodies". It is also the name of this eleven-piece musical group that combines traditional Eastern European Klezmer with punk and rock to produce a rough and rumbling flavor that will get your juices flowing. Imagine a Bar Mitzvah and a rave happening in the same room at the same time.

Nowhere Men
These three students of La Jolla High School caught the attention of local music guru Tim Pyles, who promptly ushered them into the studio to record their five-song blues-driven EP. "There's a few people out there who seem to embody an old soul," Pyles said of Nowhere Men lead singer Lindsay Olsen. "I hear everybody from Billie Holiday to Marlene Dietrich. It really captured me as something different." Nowhere Men will play inside the sanctuary at Art Around Adams.

Maren Parusel
After fronting punk rock quartet Wild Weekend (with whom she played South by Southwest, got nominated for a San Diego Music Award, among other accolades), Germany-raised Maren Parusel went in the radically different direction of sweet angelic, piano-driven music. So far the move has paid off. Maren has surrounded herself with a who's-who of San Diego music power players, being produced by Jackson Milgaten (Vision of a Dying World) and Brian Karscig (Louis XIV), and managed by Mario Escovedo (The Dragons). Look for her debut record coming soon.

The Platt Brothers
One of San Diego's most purely original acts, The Platt Brothers (Cy, Boone, and Cheetah) are an outrageous blend of acrobatics, comedy, and dance that thrills the child in everyone. Though based in San Diego for just one year, they have amazed audiences with their no-two-shows-alike dedication, most recently at Claire de Lune's Sunset Temple.

Rare Form Live
Rare Form Live is a hip-hop band fused with flavors for rock, reggae, and funk. Led by best friends Touch of Cas and BrovaBey, their rhymes send a positive message to all its listeners, while the diverse musical backgrounds of each member makes RFL truly stand out to their "hip-hop" studio produced counterparts. Rare Form Live sets to define and coin the term Rock-Hop like no other band of their generation.

Republic of Letters
Formed in 2004 by brothers Chris Venti (vocals, guitar) and Nick Venti (drums) then later adding Martin Niwinski (bass) and Adrian Thorstensen (guitar), Republic of Letters has established a strong San Diego fanbase for their heart-swelling choruses and passionate vocals that evoke comparisons to The Who, U2, and Snow Patrol. Currently in studio with their second record, fans can satisfy themselves with their 2007 six-song EP Spirit or a Ghost.

The Shambles
Formed in 1990, the Shambles consist of life-long friends Bart Mendoza (vocals/guitar) and Kevin Donaker-Ring (guitar/vocals), as well as Mark Z (bass) and Todd Woolsey (drums). Bart Mendoza particularly stands out for his tireless support of San Diego's music scene, from his articles in the Troubador to playing alongside such artists as Anna Troy to co-producing (with Chuck Schiele from The Grams) local music compilation album series Staring at the Sun.

Stranger
Based out of Chula Vista, neighboring the highest crossed border in the world, the members of Stranger draw inspiration from their diverse surroundings. They are renowned for their blend of soulful reggae roots with rock and jazz, accompanied by lyrics bound to the most profound parts of the human spirit.

Tragic Tantrum
Possibly the most imaginative musical act on the Art Around Adams lineup, Tragic Tantrum has thrilled audiences with their gothic theatricality, standing in wonderful contrast to San Diego punk rock beach bum stereotype. Jay Allen Sanford of the San Diego Reader writes, "Tragic Tantrum feels like Mary Poppins gone mad, or like you've fallen through the looking glass into a world of red, black, white, stark colors, make-up, masks, and burlesque theater." This is one trip worth taking over and over.

UBUV
Ubuv (pronounced "above") stands for Universal Beats Universal Vibe.
The group began with multi-instrumentalist Rama and Deep Rooted's DJ Artistic weaving live sitar, Chinese erhu and guitar over breakbeat, hip hop, dubstep and rock

Uli & The Gringos
After playing to packed crowds in Europe, and Latin America, Uli & The Gringos bring their bilingual electro-pop to Art Around Adams, courtesy of Track 78 Presents. Former tour openers for Julieta Venegas, Uli & The Gringos are proud to present their new EP Metropolis, recorded in New York, Mexico City, and Los Angeles.

As well as:

A Dull Science

After School Special

A.M. Vibe

Astra Kelly

Blizzard

Bobby Fantasy

Circa Now

DJ Skullcrusher

DJ Soo Cal

Daysleeper

The Elephant Project

The Fascination

Fing

Meluplus

The Riders

River Bottom Rockers

Vinyl Film