2/12 Concert Calendar

Young the Giant

Feb. 27
Soma, near Sports Arena
$16 advance
somasandiego.com

When Irvine rockers Young the Giant (YTG) learned that famed producer Joe Chiccarelli (U2, Beck, Elton John) would record their debut album, they knew they had to get their sh!t together.

“It was eye-opening, and we grew from it immensely,” says YTG’s lead-howler Sameer Gadhia, who cites Radiohead, Dr. Dre and The Walkmen as in?uences. You may be hard-pressed to hear Dre’s in?uence in YTG’s soaring rock-anthems, but the band’s tunes do ?oat around in the moody guitar-hook territory that Radiohead perfected (and Coldplay diluted and popularized).

Last year, the band killed Lollapalooza and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; now they’re psyched for a promising 2012. “We have a big North American tour from February to April-by far the biggest shows we’ve ever headlined,” Gadhia tells Paci?cSD, enthused that most of their dates have already sold out. “It’s pretty nuts.” -TD

Bobby McFerrin

Feb. 22
Balboa Theatre, Downtown
$26-80
livenation.com

Bobby McFerrin is best known for his 1988 pop classic “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” which was hijacked by the elder President Bush during his White House run that year. McFerrin has collaborated with instrumental legends including Herbie Hancock and Yo-Yo Ma. In 1984, he released the ?rst-ever vocals-only jazz record, The Voice, on which he sings and plays percussion by tapping beats on his chest.

An early-2011 Facebook post by singer-pianist Bruce Hornsby suggested that McFerrin was forming a vocal supergroup for debut this year, which would be remarkable were it not that the Grammy Award magnet (he’s got 10) and beatbox pioneer was a one-man super-band himself. —Ryan Hume

Gardens & Villa

Feb. 17
The Casbah, Little Italy
$10
casbahmusic.com

It’s hard to look (and sound) cool while wailing on a ?ute in an indie rock band, but Santa Barbara pop luminaries Gardens & Villa manage to pull it off. Lead singer/?autist Chris Lynch dons a quiver of ?utes, which he whips out like so many arrows during live jaunts. Exhibiting the youthful exuberance of off-center popsters Men at Work, MGMT and The Kinks, Gardens & Villa explore future-pop soundscapes oozing mainstream appeal. Given their recent booking by Coachella 2012, the band’s February 17 gig at The Casbah could be the last chance to catch them at a micro-venue before they blow up. -TD

Jake Shimabukuro

Feb. 15
Balboa Theatre, Downtown
$20-40
livenation.com

Jake Shimabukuro has a motto: “If everyone played the ukulele, the world would be a better place.” Better still would be if everyone could play the ukulele like Shimabukuro, whose ?nger-picking virtuosity is on par with the classic rock-guitar shredding of Jimi Hendrix. The Honolulu-born musician’s performance technique is a must-see/ must-hear for anyone who can appreciate rock, jazz, ?amenco and island-style numbers ?awlessly executed on a two-octave instrument. -TD

Other shows:

2/1: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. @ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com
2/2: Storm Large @ Anthology, anthologysd.com
2/3: MuteMath @ 4th & B, 4thandbevents.com
2/4: Adam Ant @ 4th & B, 4thandbevents.com
2/7: Dr Dog/Purling Hiss @ Belly Up, bellyup.com
2/10: Young the Giant @ SOMA, somasandiego.com
2/11: Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa @ HOB, houseofblues.com
2/13: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour @ Belly Up, bellyup.com
2/14: The Darcys @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com
2/14: Love is in the Air: Sinatra Tribute @ Anthology, anthologysd.com
2/15: Jake Shimabukuro @ Balboa Theatre, livenation.com
2/15: Jimmy Cliff @ Belly Up, bellyup.com
2/16: The Fray @ HOB, houseofblues.com
2/17: Gardens & Villa @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com
2/19: G. Love & Special Sauce @ HOB, houseofblues.com
2/22: Bobby McFerrin @ Balboa Theatre, livenation.com
2/23: Ra Ra Riot @ Belly Up, bellyup.com
2/25: Grimes @ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com
2/26: Cursive @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com
2/27-28: Ozomatli @ Belly Up, bellyup.com
2/29: Cloud Nothings @ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com