Here is your April calendar of shows, handpicked for you by me: one show a night, and a good chance you'll see me -- not a guarantee, but it might happen. There are loads of great shows this month, especially with many Coachella bands playing San Diego between their two dates in the desert. So take a gander and pick one or two or three to go see. From local to international, support live music! Read on, you crazy diamond.
April 1: Punch Brothers at Observatory North Park. The band features local Chris Thile of Nickel Creek.
April 2: Ceremony at Bar Pink. Their latest album was produced by John Reis of Rocket From the Crypt and Drive Like Jehu.
April 3: The Donkeys, Buxton at Soda Bar. The Donkeys now feature a member of the Hold Steady.
April 4: His Name Is Alive, PRGRM, Bakkuda at Casbah. Legendary 4AD artist celebrating 25 years as a band.
April 6: Marujah, Social Club, Chateau at Casbah. Great all-local bill!
April 7: Drive Like Jehu at Casbah. This sold-out show will be loud so you can listen outside!
April 8: Kimbra, Mikky Ekko at Observatory North Park. This girl is prog-pop and super fun.
April 9: The Preatures, the Bots at Casbah. Cool Aussie rock band and two kids from Glendale who together are a powerhouse.
April 10: Andrew Jackson Jihad, the Smith Street Band at the Irenic. Two fun, sing-along bands -- if you know the words.
April 11: Barry Manilow at Valley View Casino Center. Come on, admit it: You want to go.
April 12: Yasiin Bey (a.k.a. Mos Def) at Observatory North Park. Hip-hop legend!
April 13: Killer Party, the Seks, Oddball at Casbah. All-local rock & roll!
April 14: Father John Misty, King Tuff at Observatory North Park. Two of the best records in recent months come from these bands.
April 15: Saint Motel at the Irenic. Future hit-makers, maybe.
April 16: Ride at Humphrey's Concerts By the Bay. Shoegaze legends!
April 17: The Cribs at Casbah. Great UK rock band who just released an amazing record, "For All My Sisters."
April 18: The Silent Comedy at the Irenic. They're reissuing their debut album "Common Faults" with an M-Theory in-store earlier in the day in honor of Record Store Day.
April 19: Steely Dan at Humphrey's Concerts By the Bay. The Rockabye Gollie Angel tour.
April 20: Bone Thugs-n-Harmony at Observatory North Park. Performing "E. 1999 Eternal" in its entirety.
April 21: Nora Jane Struthers at Casbah. Americana from Nashville.
April 22: Young Fathers at Casbah. These guys are Mercury Prize winners, which is a big deal in the UK.
April 23: Pete Yorn at Belly Up. Ladies love this singer/songwriter -- and some dudes do, too.
April 24: Turbo Fruits, Eternal Summers at the Merrow. Nashville rock & roll and a band that refuses to be classified but is super fun.
April 25: The Loons, Schitzophonics, True Stories, Roni Lee, DJ Howie Pyro at Casbah. A tribute show for Kim Fowley, who discovered the Runaways.
April 26: Kaiser Chiefs, Priory at House of Blues. Brit rock and electro-dance pop.
April 27: Della Mae at Casbah. Five women playing bluegrass. Enough said.
April 28: Buck 65, Astronautalis at Casbah. Hip-hop and rap -- beats are going to fly!
April 29: Dan Deacon, Prince Rama at Casbah. Get ready to dance!
April 30: The Decemberists, Lucius at Observatory North Park. Oh sorry, I guess it's sold-out... but wow.
It goes without saying that SoundDiego is your source for all things live music, but you can peruse calendars far in advance at pollstar.com by searching San Diego, California. It's fun, and then you know what shows are coming to town. For immediate info, I suggest SDDialedIn.com -- run by our own Rosey Bystrak, who brings daily listings to you on SoundDiego -- as a great source. As for me, I'm getting ready for Coachella Weekend 1 and can't wait -- I've been to Coachella every year since its inception. Thanks for reading, and I'll see you at a show.
Tim Pyles, a longtime local who grew up in La Jolla, is the unofficial mayor of local music and hosts Loudspeaker on 91x every Sunday from 7 to 10 p.m. He also books local acts at the Casbah, hosts the weekly Anti-Monday League, books/hosts the monthly Maryjane's Underground at the Hard Rock Hotel and is an entertainment writer for Pacific San Diego Magazine. Check out his website thelocalpyle.com and and follow him on Twitter @thelocalpyle. You can reach him directly here pyleste@yahoo.com
