Did you happen to catch Alabama Shakes at the Belly Up earlier this year? The sold-out show was their first visit to San Diego and they lived up to the hype that they'd reached not only across the blogoshere, but from being named a "band to watch" and the "next big thing" by multiple print outlets. Of course, many bands go through this ringer, and while hype can sometimes be a death sentence, Alabama Shakes have proven that they're worth our attention. They're back on Thursday with a sold-out show at the House of Blues.
Lucky for you if you have a ticket, but if you don't, it might be worth exploring some of the other shows around town like the pre-party for the annual Johnny Rad Fest tonight at Til-Two, Animal Kingdom at the Soda Bar or Braid, Owen and TS & the Past Haunts at the Irenic. Or, if your week has been hectic and you really want to let loose, you should look no further than Big Freedia at the Casbah. The "Queen of Sissy Bounce" is back to see if San Diegans have picked up on the bounce movement that has taken over the New Orleans underground. The show will certainly make you shake your booty, or at least bug out your eyebals at those bouncing around you. Don't miss the fun.
Thursday, August 16:
- KPRI presents Alabama Shakes, Futurebirds @ House of Blues (sold out)
- Big Freedia, Hot Tub, DJ Claire @ Casbah
- Casbah & Soda Bar present Braid, Owen, TS & the Past Haunts @ The Irenic
- Animal Kingdom, the Steelwells, Room E, Odd Shapes @ Soda Bar
- Johnny Rad Fest Pre Party with Destruction Unit, Stalins Of Sound, the Lumps, Acorn Bcorn, the Last Years @ Til-Two Club
- The Be Good Tanyas, Willie Watson @ Belly Up
- Ugly Winner, Thy Squid @ Tin Can
- Arson Academy, At The Premier, TBA @ Eleven
- Claudeo, the New Limb, Torches, Fighting With Irons @ The Griffin
- Odols Plague, Futile Defiance, Let Em Rot, GodAwfulNoise @ The Shakedown Bar
- Filter, Menew, Sledd, Ruckus @ 4th & B
- Ronnie Laws @ Anthology
- Fat Opie @ Lestat's
- Thunderstance @ Riviera Supper Club
- Warmer Weather, Anthrot, Sloths, Railed to Death, Rievers @ Che Cafe
- Champagne Champagne, Bok Nero, Super Groupie, Vizions, Wine @ Soma
- The Dark Side presents Le Blorr, Sonark, DJ Pat Heaney @ El Dorado
- Tommy Holladay @ 98 Bottles
- Shake Before Us, the Paragraphs @ Boar Cross'n
- Change, Destucto Bunny, Future Friends @ Winston's
- Le Spank with DJ Girth @ The Office
- Gio Trio + 1 @ Croce's
- EDM with Harvard Bass @ Fluxx
- Dante Elephante, the Filthy Violets, Mittens, Color You @ Ruby Room
- Kill Quanti, Matthewdavid, Insightful, Illuminauts, Magical Mistakes, Mystery Cave, Mr. Whipple @ Kava Lounge
- Moonlight Serenade Orchestra @ The Lucky Star Restaurant (54th & University)
- Ruby & the Red Hots @ Humphreys Backstage Live
- Amanda Wagner Band @ Patrick's Gaslamp Pub
- Infra:Structure @ Kensington Club
- iParty Thursdays @ Henry's Pub
- Club '80s @ Club Kadan
- Sunny Rude @ Gallagher's Irish Pub
- Missy Andersen @ Marble Room
- L.E.D. presents Spencer & Hill @ Voyeur
- Dave Booda Trio @ Tiki House
- Cathryn Beeks presents HomeGrown @ The Go Lounge (7123 El Cajon Blvd.)
- The Brokers Band @ Coyote Bar & Grill
- Hazmatt @ Hennessey's Carlsbad
- Brian Pi'ikea Vasquez @ Davina's Cabo Grill
- Ron's Garage @ McP's Irish Pub
- Live Band Karaoke @ 710 Beach Club
Rosemary Bystrak writes about the San Diego music scene, events and general musings about life in San Diego on San Diego: Dialed In. Follow her updates on Twitter or contact her directly.
