A monthly singer-songwriter showcase at the Shadow Box kicks off.

When Monterey native Matt Hable jumped back into the local promotion game – under the Gus Madsack Presents moniker – after an extended hiatus, he barely recognized the playing field.

Jose’s and the Alternative Cafe were gone. Muraled restaurant Bay of Pines was a primary venue. Blue Fin was doing shows, but inconsistently.

Then Hable stopped by one of his favorite haunts and saw something in The Shadow Box he hadn’t before: all the makings for a killer show.

He quickly convinced the personnel to host a free monthly singer-songwriter showcase during happy hour (5-7pm).

On Tuesday, the inaugural singer-songwriter showcase kicks off with Hable’s solo project Strange Ideas, which exudes a blue collar vibe. Overall it feels like a soundtrack for street art, with tracks like “Life is a Drag” and its reverberated lo-fi blues with a Captain Beefheart twist. Hable strips down everything until it’s just his gravelly voice, a simple drum beat and primitive plucks of an acoustic guitar.

Also on the bill: Keith Damron will be joined by multi-instrumentalist Ben Herrod on sax and flute.

Damron talks about the Shadow Box as if it were a mythological entity hovering above Seaside. He calls the combination of hip music and old-school watering hole “a cool juxtaposition.”

“It’s an unexpected place for a show,” he says, “which makes it perfect.”

Damron, known for his time with garage rockers El Camino Sutra, will also unleash something new. He describes “Time Wasters” as unplugged “garage rock with Sabbath riffs.”

“I’ve been listening to a ton of the more uptempo and poppy Ozzy,” he says.

Ohio-born troubadour Jordan Smart will also appear, singing stories of his perpetual travels inspired by character-rich people found in places just like the Shadow Box.

Keith Damron, Matthew Hable and Jordan Smart. 5-7pm Tuesday, Dec. 30. Shadow Box, 1904 Fremont Blvd., Seaside. Free. 394-3242.