Zeros reunite for summer shows

Opening the summer tour dates in the band's hometown was fitting and convenient.

Hours after the Zeros' sound check, Bar Pink is packed.

The room is owned by Don Reis of Rocket from the Crypt, another storied San Diego band, and it's a high-concept operation, with images of euphoric pink elephants dancing amid the bubbles. On the TV above the bar is an old episode of "The Muppet Show." Escovedo steps up to the microphone and looks at the stage floor by his feet.

"I need my glasses to read the set list," he says with a smile. "It's come to this."

What follows is an hour of accelerating riffs and breathless melody.

There are some gray heads in the crowd, but it's mostly younger fans cheering the band on.

Earlier in the day came news of Michael Jackson's death, yet the Zeros have another musical icon in mind. The final encore song is "Pushin' Too Hard," a garage rock classic and anthem of romantic angst by the Seeds, whose singer Sky Saxon also had passed away that day.

The crowd shouts along, loud and elated, joining the Zeros in pushing one ecstatic musical traditional deep into the present.

--

calendar@latimes.com