Hot nights, cool PBR, good friends and great music. These are the elements that have driven me to the keyboard with new life in my fingers to bring you Part I of the San Diego Summer Series.

Our summer stars aligned last week under the comforting roof of San Diego’s premier indie venue, The Casbah to provide a perspiring crowd the local flavors of Joel P West followed by two talented folk acts from the east side of the Big Muddy and home to one of our own (Bootsy) - North Carolina.

Joel P and his crew offered an enthusiastic crowd some standard melodic masterpieces freckled with the buzz of the harmonica and complimentary whistles. Joel P definitely has a style of his own, but could be compared to the likes of Matt Costa, who rocked this very venue not more than a year ago with Delta Spirit as an opener.

Joel P West - Settled Without Worry

Joel P West - The Inscore In Me

There was an energetic easternly lead-in to the following life-filled trio, Megafaun. This rock/folk-rock trifecta demanded the audience’s attention and participation from the get go and their lively performance achieved just that. The recent releasers of a new album entitled Gather, Form and Fly (released 7/21/09), Megafaun now finds themselves on a national tour supporting regional notables, the Bowerbirds

Megafaun - The Fade

Wrapping up this summer evening was North Carolina’s own, Bowerbirds. Soulful folk music placed a lull over the crowd as intent eyes kindly appreciated the musical sensation of Phil Moore, Beth Tacular and Matt Damron.

Stay tuned to the Muffin for more of the San Diego Summer Series. Next up : old Muffin favorite Writer playing with Hotel St. George at the Casbah and Street Scene 2009.

Bowerbirds - Northern Lights