Fact: Think X is not a Pink Floyd tribute band.

“We’re not trying to be,” said the group’s sax player and driving force, Scott Page. “We want to do an exploration of Pink Floyd. We try to mash things up, create some entertaining ways of presenting the music.”

The title of the band’s show, which comes to San Diego for the first time on Sunday at the Music Box in Little Italy, is “An Exploration of the Music of Pink Floyd with Original Electronica Transitions.”

Speaking about Think X’s approach to the familiar canon of Pink Floyd, Page said “We play it heavier and we let our people solo and blow over it.”

Besides Page, who has backed up the David Gilmour-led Pink Floyd in concert, the group includes guitarist Kenny Olson, best known for working with Kid Rock (“He’s got this Hendrix-y, crazy vibe” touts Page); bassist Norwood Fisher (co-founder of Fishbone); drummer Stephen Perkins, whose resume includes Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros; young guitarist Derek Day (“One of our secret weapons”); keyboardist Will Champlin; and vocalist Roberta Freeman, who Page says knocks the Floyd’s “The Great Gig in the Sky” out of the park.

Page says he learned much about music and his craft from working with Floyd guitarist David Gilmour.

“He is the master of melody,” said Page. “He can kill you with one note. He changed my way of thinking. Sax players play all this crazy stuff, and he made me realize melody, how I can sing with my instrument.”

If you want to hear what Page is talking about, revisit for example Gilmour’s bluesy guitar solos on Pink Floyd’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” from the “Wish You Were Here” album. Timeless. For tickets, visit musicboxsd.com.

Comedy

Like me, comedian Kathleen Madigan went to college and earned a B.A. in journalism. Unlike me, she must have decided that standup comedy was more rewarding.

It’s certainly been rewarding for Madigan. She’s been doing it since the ‘90s and has starred in comedy specials on both Netflix (“Kathleen Madigan: Bothering Jesus”) and Amazon Prime Video (“Kathleen Madigan: Hunting Bigfoot”). Both are still streamable.

But you can catch her act in person Friday when she comes to the Magnolia Theater in El Cajon.  Her show’s titled “The Potluck Party.” Does that mean somebody’s supposed to bring the potato salad?

Theater

Here come the holiday shows. Previews are under way at New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad of its production of “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play.”  Adapted by Lance Arthur Smith and with original songs and arrangements by Jon Lorenz, this festive show was previously produced at San Diego Musical Theatre in its former Gaslamp Quarter location.

I remember enjoying it there and finding the nod to the days of Lux Radio Theater much preferable to a straight retelling of the “Miracle on 34th Street” story that’s been filmed a couple of times.

Opening night, incidentally, is Nov. 30, so here’s something to do over the Thanksgiving weekend.

More music

For many years, music fans have mused about a “club” of artists that nobody wants to belong to.

It’s the 27 Club, named for the famous musicians who died at the peak of their fame at age 27, for reasons that include drug and alcohol overdoses, suicide or other causes. They include 1930s blues artist Robert Johnson; ‘60s rockers Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison; ‘90s grunge-rocker Kurt Cobain; and British singer Amy Winehouse, who died in 2011.

San Diego’s own Six String Society is paying tribute to all six of those gone-too-soon artists next week in Escondido with the return of their thematic concert “27 Club.” The concert imagines all six of these artists gathered together in a mythic Greenwich Village apartment circa 1969, and each takes their turn performing. The performers will include Whitney Shay (as Winehouse), Lauren Leigh Martin (as Joplin), Trevor James (as Hendrix), Tony Suraci (as Morrison), Austin David (as Cobain) and Robin Henkel (as the spirit of Johnson).

Since Six String debuted “27 Club” at the Belly Up concert hall in Solana Beach in 2016, it has sold out virtually everywhere it goes. At this point, the 7 p.m. show on Nov. 29 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, is sold out, but there are still tickets available for the 2 p.m. show that afternoon. Visit artcenter.org/event/six-string-society-presents-27-club.

Jazz concert

If there was a Mount Rushmore of jazz singers, three of the four spaces should be taken by Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan. Each unique. Each unforgettable.

On Saturday, the San Diego Symphony presents at the new Jacobs Music Center “A Tribute to Ella, Billie and Sarah.” The concert features vocal performances by one of jazz’s best contemporary vocalists, Jane Monheit, along with Sherry Williams and keyboardist/vocalist Champian Fulton. The band behind then includes the great Rickey Woodard on tenor sax.

Local jazz icon Gilbert Castellanos’ Young Lions Jazz Conservatory All Stars open Saturday’s show. For tickets, visit purchasing.sandiegosymphony.org

Rock music

A couple of veteran San Diego bands, Switchfoot and P.O.D., are on the bill Saturday at Petco Park’s Gallagher Square when Long Beach’s ska kings Sublime with Rome (formerly just Sublime) headlines what they’re billing as their “last California show ever.”

The farewell has to do with singer/guitarist Rome Ramirez, who will embark on a solo career once this tour is over.

This concert is scheduled to begin at 7:35 p.m., which sounds like one of those odd Padres start times at Petco. For tickets, visit petcoparkevents.com.

U-T arts and dining stories you may have missed

UCTV

University of California Television invites you to enjoy this special selection of programs from throughout the University of California. Descriptions courtesy of and text written by UCTV staff:

“A Conversation with Artist Jeff Koons”

Renowned artist Jeff Koons joins Kathryn Kanjo, director and CEO of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, for a conversation about his provocative and influential work. Known for his glossy, oversized sculptures of everyday objects like balloon animals and household items, Koons blends pop culture, consumerism, and art history to challenge traditional notions of art. In this discussion, he reflects on his artistic evolution — from early inflatable rabbits to iconic large-scale metal sculptures — and explores how his creations raise questions about cultural value, mass production and the line between high and low art. This program offers a unique glimpse into the mind of one of the most celebrated and controversial artists of our time.

“Greatest Anime Pioneer in Japan: The Osamu Tezuka Story”

Discover the legacy of Osamu Tezuka, often called the “God of Manga and “Father of Anime,” whose groundbreaking work set the stage for modern manga and anime. Tezuka was a visionary Japanese manga artist, animator, and founder of Mushi Production, one of Japan’s first anime studios. In 1963, he produced “Astro Boy,” the first Japanese TV anime series, which introduced limited animation techniques still widely used today. Rachel Costello, an anime enthusiast from UC San Diego’s Innovating for National Security Academic Program, presents a retrospective on Tezuka’s life and influence. Her dedication to anime and storytelling also inspired her role as executive producer of the U.S. Navy’s “Sea Strike 2041” comic project, merging her passions for art and national security.

“Movement and Strength Training to Improve Metabolic Health”

Learn how to build a strong foundation for lifelong health with Dr. Natalie Marshall, as she explores the crucial link between muscle mass, metabolic fitness, and chronic disease prevention. Aging often brings metabolic changes and muscle loss, raising the risk for many chronic conditions. Marshall emphasizes the importance of movement, strength training, and balanced body composition in maintaining metabolic health. With practical tips on how to get started, she shares strategies to help you ‘build muscle for life’ and boost overall well-being. This program offers valuable insights for anyone looking to take proactive steps toward healthier aging.

And finally, top weekend events

The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: Nov. 22-24

Originally Published: November 21, 2024 at 6:00 AM PST