It has been an amazing year for live music in San Diego, and what better way to greet 2013 than with some of the best talent this city has to offer? Hopefully you planned ahead, because chances are most places will be sold out by the time you're ready to uncork the champagne, but allow me to just give a little rundown of some of of New Year Eve's top picks. The Lafayette Hotel has once again teamed up with the Casbah to present a full-hotel spectacular that will culminate with a performance by Little Hurricane, who have had a hugely successful year. Down at the Casbah, Steve Poltz and Friends offer a great night of music, and while Poltz's performances can never be described as "mellow," you can be sure that even at the point of sell out you will still be able to belly up to the bar and experience a fun night without some of the more over-the-top celebrations. However, if it is an epic experience you crave, try the reunion of Dirty Sweet at the Griffin or maybe New Mexico at Soda Bar, or for a really big night, well, there's Big Night San Diego at the Hilton Bayfront with the Silent Comedy. Of course, there are parties, dinners and dance clubs to check out, too. Just be sure to reserve a cab and get home safely after a night of celebrating. We look forward to all that 2013 has to offer and we thank you for making this such a great year for the whole SoundDiego crew all year round.
Monday, Dec. 31 (New Year's Eve):
- Casbah presents Little Hurricane, Get Back Loretta, the Creepy Creeps, Blackout Party, the Amandas, Shake Before Us, Creepxotica @ Lafayette Hotel (sold out)
- Steve Poltz and Friends @ Casbah
- Big Night San Diego, featuring the Silent Comedy, the Dance Party, Heavygrinder, DJ Happee, Mike Czech, Sirens Crush, Eklektek, DJ Bakspin, DJ AZtek, Deejay Al, Agua Dulce, John Cooper, JT Douglas, Brent Curtis @ Hilton Bayfront
- New Mexico, Wild Wild Wets, Bruin @ Soda Bar
- Daydream Nation presents Dirty Sweet, Grand Tarantula, Deadly Birds @ The Griffin
- Reverend Horton Heat, Tijuana Panthers @ Belly Up
- Candye Kane New Year's Eve Happy Hour @ Belly Up (5:30 p.m.)
- Victory Nightlife presents The NYE Block Party @ House of Blues
- The Seks, the Jerk Offs, Bricklayer Bosh @ Eleven
- Eventvibe.com presents NYE, featuring DJs EC Twins, Tony Arzaon & Chris Garcia, Kevin Brown, Loczi, Kurch, Dadon, more @ Hard Rock Hotel
- LED presents Laidback Luke, Hardwell, ZEDD, Dillon Francis, Clockwork, TJR @ Valley View Casino Center
- The Tin Can Country Club's NYE Jamboree, featuring Gary Hankins, Mike Pope, Jimmy Ruelas @ Tin Can
- Drop the Lime, Grum @ Ivy Nightclub @ Andaz
- DJ Z Trip @ Block No.16 Union & Spirits
- D.P.I., the Hang Zeros, Six Cents, Spreading Evictions @ The Shakedown Bar
- Rum Rebellion, the Amalgamated, Partito Tempo @ Tower Bar
- Geezer, Slaves Against the Machine, Red Not Chili Peppers @ Ruby Room
- Rockin' New Year's Eve with the Trip @ Anthology
- Three Chord Justice @ Riviera Supper Club
- LED presents TJR @ Voyeur
- New Year's Eve Champagne Ball @ Fluxx
- Steph Johnson @ 98 Bottles
- Starlite NYE @ Starlite
- Neon Beat @ Bar Pink
- Cash'd Out @ Beaumont's
- Fam Royal DJs @ Live Wire
- NYE Concert @ Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier
- Gilbert Castellanos & the New Latin Jazz Quintet @ Croce's
- Mystique Element of Soul @ Patrick's Gaslamp Pub
- Oceanside Sound System, Reeform @ Boar Cross'n
- Betamaxx @ Humphreys Backstage Live
- DJ Beatnick, In The Mix @ Bar Dynamite
- Electric Waste Band @ Winston's
- Radio Moscow, the Lumps, Joy, BhoreLorde, NOTRB @ Til-Two Club
- Booty Basement, with DJs Dimitri & Hektik @ Whistle Stop
- Halo @ Queen Bee's
- The Devastators @ 710 Beach Club
- Brothers Gow @ Gallagher's
- Open Mic @ Lestat's
- Big, DJ Paul @ Coyote Bar & Grill
- Elevators @ McP's Irish Pub
- Masquerade Ball with Z90.3 @ Belo
- NYE Beach Party @ Catamaran Resort
- Wobble NYE Ball @ Spin Nightclub
- NYE Great Gatsby Night @ The Westgate Hotel
- Black & White Bash @ Crowne Plaza Hotel
- Royal Princesses and Knights @ Sheraton Mission Valley
- NYE Casino Party @ The Go Lounge
- Alternative New Year's Ascension @ WorldBeat Cultural Center
- NYE @ Rick's Cafe Americain @ The Musicians Union Hall (1717 Morena Blvd.)
- New Year's Extravaganza @ Onyx/Thin
- NYE Buffet, Champagne Dinner & Afterparty @ Whiskey Girl
- NYE with Rick Ross @ Zia's Bistro (1845 India St)
- Midnight in Paris NYE @ The Westin Gaslamp
- Private Domain @ Viejas Casino V Lounge
- NYE British Invasion @ Barona Casino
- NYE Bash @ The Four Points By Sheraton
- Midnight Kiss NYE @ The Bristol
- NYE Party @ The Turquoise (873 Turquoise St)
- Masked Ball of Venice @ La Gran Tapa
- Loco Disco NYE @ Schroeder's @ Tango Del Rey
- PB NYE Party @ PB Bar & Grill/Club Tremor
- Pop Vinyl @ Pala Casino
- Danger Angel, Josie Day @ JP's Pub (10436 Clairemont Mesa Blvd)
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.
