DECEMBER 7, 2006 ● THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE4 | Street Street | 5

SOUNDS LIKE SAN DIEGO

◗ SPOT OF THE WEEKIslands Sushi & Pupu BarRED LION HANALEI HOTEL, 2270 HOTEL CIRCLE NORTH, SAN DIEGO. (619) 297-1101; WWW.ISLANDSSUSHI.COM.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT? Send recommendations to street@uniontrib.com.

◗ ADMIT ITStreet cover girl Morgan Souleexplains her lifework:

“I love the creative as

well as the aesthetic

aspects of jewelry

design. My highest

compliment comes

from women who tell

me how great they feel

wearing my jewelry. It’s

rewarding to be able to

express my personal

style through my work.”

Q: So where are you from?A: A county in Dublin called Finglas. Finglas isn’t my real name, it’s where I’m from in Ireland. But there were three other Tonys working here when I started, so they called me Finglas. It just stuck, and now I get paychecks and letters to Tony Finglas.

Q: What led you to America’s Finest City?A: All the Irish were going to New York and Boston, and I said if I’m going to come all the way to America, I’ll have a look somewhere else. I asked the girl at the counter where the next flights were going to — I nearly moved to Miami because of “Miami Vice” — but she said it’s really hot there and they have big bugs so I got a one-way ticket to San Diego instead. I was 22 and moved to Pacific Beach. I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

— ERIN GLASS, SIGNONSANDIEGO

Q: Why do you play music?A: The day I stole my brother’s guitar at about 10 years old, I never gave it back, and I never looked back. It was a way to channel all that I didn’t understand about life after my dad passed away. Writing music gives me a way to look back at things with an even deeper understanding as to what I was feeling at the time and why. To be able to share those emotions and feelings with complete strangers leaves me quite vulnerable, but at the same time, I find it completely intoxicating.

Q: What is your favorite album of all time? And would we be able to tell by listening to your music?A: “Let It Be” by The Beatles. Something magical was captured on that album. The Beatles’ songwriting was the basis for so much of what is now rock ’n’ roll. Listen to the harmonies, the second guitars, the song structures, it’s all there, and it has been copied over and over with much success for so many bands. Including mine. So I guess maybe you could hear something in there.

Q: If I weren’t a musician, I would be ...A: Breaking twice as many golf clubs over my knee than I do now. Actually, I am convinced that I would be an A&R person responsible for finding new talent and helping them develop. My ears are pretty good.

Q: Who would you have direct your music video?A: Oh that’s easy ... Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters. His videos are hilarious, and he really seems like a regular guy. I’ve seen him in concert many times, and I am continually impressed by his demeanor and non-rock star attitude. He seems like he would be easy to work with.Info: www.myspace.com/lessonsfromzeke

— KYLE PROEHL

◗ SPOTLIGHT SHOWShooter JenningsWhen your parents are iconic figures in popular music, that may not leave you much wiggle room to have a, uh, “regular” life. Shooter Jenningsessentially grew up on a tour bus and apparently never gave much thought to getting off that bus. He’s not just trodding in the footsteps, though; Shooter’s sound owes as much to Guns N’ Roses and Lynyrd Skynyrd as to his famous folks. He’s at the Belly Up on Sunday.

• Shooter was born Waylon Albright Jennings.Pops is Waylon Arnold Jennings. Moms is Jessie Colter. The elders are Country Legends. Big C. Big L.

• Pops nicknamed him “Shooter” after he urinated on a nurse shortly after birth.

• Shooter began playing drums at age 5, picked up piano around the same time, got a crush on guitar at 14 and moved from Nashville to Los Angeles around 16.

• After forming and playing in the Southern rock bands Stargunn and 357,357,357 he released his first solo album, “Put the O Back in Country,” in 2005.

• Shooter recently portrayed his father in the Johnny Cash biopic “Walk the Line.”

• Current album “Electric Rodeo” features songs like “Some Rowdy Women,” “Hair of the Dog” and “Little White Lines,” as well as the terrific lyricYou know out of all those women I was always your number one (from “Aviators”).

Info: www.shooterjennings.com— KYLE PROEHL

◗ ALMOST FAMOUSLessons From ZekeGuitarist-vocalist Michael Horvath (front) recruited longtime friend Kurt Otto (back) for his project Lessons From Zeke, recorded songs at DML Studios in Escondido and filled out the lineup with Dave Prince, guitar and vocals and Danny Costido, bass. Horvath spoke.

ATTENTION LOCAL BANDS: Send us your answers to these questions along with a photo to street@uniontrib.com for a chance to be featured in this section.

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◗ ADVANCE WARNINGDec. 16Senses Fail, Saosin, Bleeding Through, SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd., Midway District. $17.50. (619) 220-TIXS.

Joanna Newsom, Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., Middletown. $15. (619) 232-HELL.

Dec. 20Dan the Automator, ’Canes, 3105 Ocean Front Walk, Mission Beach. $20. (619) 220-TIXS.

Alkaholiks, ’Canes, 3105 Ocean Front Walk, Mission Beach. $20. (619) 220-TIXS.

Ozomatli, House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., downtown. $26. (619) 220-TIXS.

Dec. 21Redman, Raekwon, Keith Murray, more, House of Blues, 1055 Fifth

Ave., downtown. $32. (619) 220-TIXS.

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◗ BARTENDER OF THE MONTHTony FinglasWHERE: The Ould Sod, 3373 Adams Ave., Normal Heights

SPECIALTY: The Irish Pina Colada, er, Guinness

Tony Finglas first started pouring drinks at age 14 (he told his boss he was 15) in his homeland, Ireland, which some expats fondly refer to as “The Ould Sod.” Fourteen also is the number of years ago Finglas walked into the Normal Heights bar The Ould Sod for a pint and ended up pouring them once again for a living. Between the two stints, wanderlust led the Irishman to an airport, where he asked the woman at the counter for a ticket on the next plane. Lucky for San Diegans, that plane dropped him off at none other than Lindbergh Field.

Nancee E. Lewis / Union-Tribune

The specialty rolls at Islands Sushi & Pupu Bar look too good to eat. Seriously. Some of these delicacies are caramelized with a blowtorch; some are wrapped in thin slices of peeled cucumber. Most are colorful and smartly arranged on square, white plates that keep the focus on the food. While the art of sushi is a focal point, plenty of regulars will tell you

they eat at Islands because they love good sushi. Diners can order off the menu, or they can ask a sushi chef to mix it up. The latter means you’ll dine on rolls you won’t know how to order next time. There will be a next time. The sushi is that good. Seriously.

For the less adventurous, menu choices range from Hand Rolls ($5.50) to Nigiri ($4 to $8.95) to

Sashimi ($9.50 to $45). Hand Rolls are 2 for 1 during Happy Hour 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. If you must have a salad, order the Seared Ahi Seaweed Salad ($12.50). Sitting at the sushi bar in this casual eatery puts you within earshot of the chefs, friendly fellas like Big Mike and Leonard, who are more than happy to mix it up.

— TONY MANOLATOS

Earnie Grafton / Union-Tribune

READ THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW WITH TONY FINGLAS AT bartender.signonsandiego.com.

◗ DON’T FORGETZiggy Marley, Skye,tonight at 4th & B.

The Little Ones, Small Sins,tonight at House of Blues.

Akron/Family, War and Cinema, Indian Moon, tonight at the Casbah.

Children of Bodom, Amon Amarth, more, tomorrow at SOMA.

Matt & Kim, Jehova’s Fitness,tomorrow at Che Cafe.

Panic! At the Disco, Cobra Starship, Jacks Mannequin,Saturday at ipayOne Center.

Some Girls, Fast Forward, Grand Ole Party, Saturday at Epicentre.

“Nightmare Before Xmas,” featuring AFI, My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday,Sunday at ipayOne Center.

“Rock Before Christmas,” featuring Papa Roach, Shinedown, Saliva, more, Sunday at 4th & B.

Shooter Jennings,Sunday at Belly Up.

+44, The Matches,Monday at SOMA.