Delta Spirit in Long Beach July 31

In between a national and world tour, Delta Spirit will return to Long Beach on Saturday, July 31 to headline Summer And Music (SAM) 2010’s new album release showcase—Release Me—with The Fling, Tijuana Panthers and The Brook Lee Catastrophe. All bands will perform on a solar-powered stage in the Rainbow Harbor amphitheatre from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Seldom does one city have the caliber and quantity of musical talent that Long Beach is graced with, just south of the Los Angeles epicenter. But it’s almost unheard of to have four insanely good local bands release albums within weeks of one another. The co-founders of SAM 2010—the awarding-winning, sustainable concert series providing an entire summer of free music to the public—considered these to be circumstances worth noting. Release Me is described by SAM co-founder Rand Foster as a means to, “celebrate stirring new music, revered old sound and the local musicians who constantly push the limits of both.”

Doing just that, on the heels of their Rounder Records June 8 release “History From Below”—which has every music media outlet from Billboard to Rollingstone Magazine inventing adjectives for greatness—Delta Spirit has been coast to coast this summer, pounding the hammer that is their distinct sound. Sputnik Music staffer Rudy Klapper describes the new album as, “Just what a sophomore effort should be—equal parts a step forward and eleven songs stronger, all the red-blooded rock and soulful vitality of their debut” (“Ode to Sunshine, released in 2008), “while expanding on their trademark Americana sound.” Formed in 2005 in San Diego, Calif., this four piece is deemed the perfect concoction of American rock, unequivocally southern soul and a heart that has west coast folk written all over it. Matthew Vasquez’s freight train voice and poignant lyrics lead an extremely skilled group of musicians with a force of sonic momentum that shows no signs of slowing.

The Fling—self-releasing their first full-length “When the Madhouses Appear” on their own label (Lady Monk Records) August 31—has been recording and touring feverishly in the past year. LA Record describes this Long Beach four piece to a tee: “If a bus filled with the Flying Burrito Brothers is headed North by Northeast and a VW Van filled with the Beach Boys is headed South by Southwest and the Beatles fly over in a yellow submarine to ensure that the guys from Brian Jonestown Massacre stopped to give everyone a lift, well, what happens next? The answer is The Fling, a god damned gift from heaven.” After their CD release party at Spaceland on August 27, The Fling will embark on a late summer-early fall tour to promote their new album along the west coast and across the southwest.

Tijuana Panthers, a favorite Long Beach surf punk three piece, will release their new album “Max Baker” this month, just before the Release Me showcase. For a sound reference, OC Weekly said to, “Picture the reverb-slathered guitar and heavy toms of ‘60s era groups like The Trashmen, spliced with a little Misfits punk attitude, and you kind of get the idea of what these guys are going for.” Playing the Southland venues regularly, Tijuana Panthers has already picked up substantial acclaim for new tracks like “Creature” and “Red Headed Girl.” In an interview with the OC Examiner, drummer Phil Shaheen said you can find their music if you, “Slip it between The Beach Boys and The Dead Milkmen. We call it ‘music to take very seriously.’”

Also on the bill, The Brook Lee Catastrophe will crank out some new tunes from their third record “American Hotel,” released on July 13 and available at Fingerprints. Long Beach Magazine says the sound of this five piece creates, "a storyteller atmosphere, with a backdrop of music reminiscent of Van Morrison and Wilco.” And the OC Register commends that Brook Lee’s songs, “testify that sparse and well-arranged material can resonate as powerfully as rock's loudest proponents.”

Alternative transportation to the event is encouraged, with several public transit options offered by Long Beach Transit. Long Beach Cyclists will also be offering free bicycle valet parking to folks who commute to the show on two wheels.

SAM is co-produced and sponsored by the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency (RDA) and the Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA) in partnership with SAM co-founders Rand Foster and Justin Hectus.

For more information, visit www.summerandmusic.com or call (562) 436-4259.