Reunited Thingdom

Toss shop-talking musicians, producers and indie enthusiasts together with more than 150 local, regional and national bands, and you’ve got the fourth annual San Diego Music Thing.

By day, the September 9-10 conference and festival, based at North Park’s historic Lafayette Hotel, features a trade show, pop-up performances and interactive roundtables with renowned industry pros. (“The Resurgence of Indie Labels,” with legendary Dead Kennedys co-founder and political activist Jello Biafra, is one panel highlight.)

After dark, punk’s elder stateswoman Exene Cervenka and the Motor Citybased pop band Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. are among the acts set to do their thing at 14 venues citywide.

San Diego Music Thing
When: Sept. 9-10
Where: Conference at Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd., North Park; music performances at various venues
Tickets: $45 to $50 for two-day conference pass, all shows; $25 to $28 for one-day conference and that day’s shows
Info: sandiegomusicthing.com

On Auto Pilot: Joshua Epstein of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
First Car: 1996 Jeep Cherokee with a cassette player
Current Car: 2000 Volkswagen Passat and new Honda Insight (“an affordable lease”)
Dream Car: Fully-restored vintage DeLorean