Don Burnet Packs Up 3D Picnic

Playing rock is no longer a picnic for Don Burnet. In fact, it has become a monster.

About two months ago, Burnet said, he decided to pull the plug on 3D Picnic, the delightful pop-rock band he had fronted through two fine albums, “Dirt” and “Sunshine and Cockroaches.” 3D won its share of good reviews, but Burnet, a former Huntington Beach punker now based in Hollywood, said the band failed to make money and he became discouraged.

Burnet said he already had set about forming a new band when he got a call from Thelonious Monster, the veteran Los Angeles alternative-rock band, which was looking for a bassist. Burnet, primarily a guitarist, hurriedly learned the bass parts to Thelonious’ repertoire, joined the band for what amounted to an in-concert audition, and got the gig. With Burnet in tow, Thelonious Monster will play a free outdoor show Wednesday at noon at Becker Amphitheatre on the Cal State Fullerton campus.

“It’s difficult not being the front guy like I was (in 3D Picnic), but it’s fun,” said Burnet, who joins four veteran Monsters: singer Bob Forrest, drummer Pete Weiss, and guitarists Dix Denney and Chris Handsome.

Thelonious’ new album, “Beautiful Mess,” is on Capitol Records, marking the band’s first major-label release after three independent albums since 1986. It was recorded before Burnet joined. He already has completed one tour with the band, which opened for Soul Asylum on what, for Burnet, was his first national tour. Burnet replaces Martyne LeNoble, who left Thelonious to play with Porno for Pyros.

Burnet said he is putting his own band-leading ambitions on hold. “I’m committed to Thelonious now. That’s going to be my main thing. I’m sure I’ll have time here and there to do my own stuff in some way. I always write, anyway. (Thelonious) as a whole is going to write songs together. That should be good.”

Burnet said that Carolynne Edwards, the keyboards and guitar player who wrote and sang a few of 3D Picnic’s songs, is putting together a new band.

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RAP SESSION: Besides the Thelonious Monster show, coming campus rock events at Cal State Fullerton included a speaking engagement by rapper KRS-One of Boogie Down Productions on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at the Events Center ($3 admission for non-students) and a free concert by Joe Wood on Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. in the University Center Pub. The following free shows will also take place at noon in Becker Amphitheatre: Firehose (Oct. 28), Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy (Nov. 4) and the Boo Radleys (Nov. 11). (714) 773-3501.

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MORE UNIVERSITY ROCK: UC Irvine also has an active slate of alternative-rock shows at Club UCI on the third floor of the Student Center, Bridge Road and Pereira Drive.

Shows include the Primitive Painters on Thursday, Colorblind (Sunday and Nov. 1), Rocket From the Crypt (Oct. 29), Sky O’Malley (Nov. 4), Drive Like Jehu (Nov. 5), the Breeders and Unrest (Nov. 6), Mark Curry (Nov. 12), I Own the Sky (Nov. 25), Flop (Dec. 2) and the Cows and the Red Aunts (Dec. 3). All concerts start at 9 p.m., with admission to most shows ranging from $2 to $5 ($10 for the Breeders).

Also, the Muffs will play a free outdoor concert Oct. 28 at noon on the Student Center Terrace, and Permanent Green Light will do likewise on Nov. 18. The concert series is sponsored by Associated Students of UC Irvine and campus radio station KUCI. (714) 725-2413.

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NEW SERIES: The Warehouse restaurant in Newport Beach is expanding its original music offerings with a Wednesday night concert series featuring local bands. Unstable plays Wednesday, the Skeletones (Oct. 28), Sublime (Nov. 4), Planet 10 (Nov. 11), Atomic Boy (Nov. 18) and Shark Sandwich (Nov. 25). Reggae and world-beat shows have moved from Monday to Thursday nights, with the Back in Service Band playing weekly, except for concerts by two Jamaican headliners: Culture on Oct. 29, and U-Roy on Nov. 12.