I know, I know -- it isn't very often that I make cover or tribute bands the pick of the night, but this time is different. Gary Shuffler has been an institution around the music scene for years, fronting bands as well as working behind the scenes as a stagehand for some of the biggest shoes in town. He'll be doing his best Freddy Mercury on Friday night and will be supported by other tongue-in-cheek tributes. For other local musc greatness, Catherine Beeks' Local Brews, Local Grooves takes over the House of Blues with a bevy of local artists. This is a free show if you get a ticket from one of the artists. so don't be afraid to reach out on Facebook. In other spots, Tit Wrench will slay the Void, Holograms take over Soda Bar, and everyone's favorite party boy, Andrew W.K., performs at the Epicentre.
Friday, Dec. 20:
- Gary Shuffler 50th Birthday Party, featuring Queenly, Highway to Hell Cajon, Yacht Party, DJ Time Fly @ Casbah
- Local Brews, Local Grooves, featuring Joanna Pearl, Party Starters, MohaviSoul, Schroeder Kelly, Dixie Maxwell, Girl in the Middle, Defero, Cory Wilkins Band, Team of Rivals, Shane Hall & the Diabolicals, the Senators, Julian Temple Band, Pleasure Fix, Translation: Audio @ House of Blues
- Stay Strange presents Roro, Tit Wrench, Ti Femme, MJZS @ The Void
- Holograms, TV Ghost, Tropical Popsicle, DJ Art Vandelay @ Soda Bar
- The Cherries Jubilee Live Jazz and Cabaret Holiday Show @ Seven Grand
- 91x presents Andrew W.K., So Far Gone, Advocators of Fun @ Epicentre
- Brian Setzer Orchestra @ Belly Up (sold out)
- Trashaxis, Platypus Egg, Moose @ The Tin Can
- Little Galaxies, the Gaffer, Victoria & the Vaudevillains @ Lestat's
- DJs Daniel Sant and Rob Moran @ The Whistle Stop
- Naughty Elf Invasion, with Bassmechanic @ Kava Lounge
- Big Jon & the Nationals @ Artlab Studios
- Johnny Richter, Timothy H, DJ Matty Mac @ 710 Beach Club
- DJ @ Large @ Bar Pink
- Brick By Brick presents 12 Years of Christmas Chaos, the 12th annual benefit for Toys for Tots, featuring Snail Fight, Godhammered, the Empire State, One Inch Punch @ Tower Bar
- Loose Nuts, Bucket of Fish, Creative Conspiracy, Biblical Violence @ Che Cafe
- Brian Lynch, Anthony Smith, Katie Thiroux, Brett Sanders @ Dizzy's
- Quel Bordel @ The Field
- Epic Twelve @ Fluxx
- Y3K (5 p.m.), Len Rainey (9 p.m.) @ Humphreys Backstage Live
- Winds of Plague, To Each a His Own, Killing the Messenger, Hundred Caliber, the I in Self, Silencer, Felonies, Within Ourselves @ SOMA
- Wildside @ Tio Leo's Lounge
- So Cal Vibes, Restoration One, Smokey Hoof @ Winston's
- Ron's Garage @ McP's Pub
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.
