Sounds Like San Diego: Feb. 21

I don't know what the San Diego music scene would be like without Steve Poltz. I was first familiar with the Rugburns because I would stay up late nights to record Lou Niles on Loudspeaker. In my senior year of high school, Steve came to my school to run through the history of music as it tied to history. By the end of the first two hours, however, it was just a jam session of Steve making up songs on the spot with the names of my classmates. We've seen Steve solo, with the Rugburns, singing national anthems, and touring the world, one house at a time, so we all freaked out a little when we heard last fall about Steve's stroke. All these years later, and I'm honored and privileged to call Steve a friend. And because of the way he is, this sort of fireball of coolness and kindness, many others call him a friend, too. That's why he gets such a huge birthday bash that sells out year after year. He's an incredible musician and deserves all the celebrating that will be done on Saturday at the Belly Up in his honor.

Saturday, Feb. 21:

  • Steve Poltz's 6th Annual 50th Birthday, with the Rugburns, Mr Gregory Page, Tim Flannery, Bushwalla @ Belly Up
  • No Friends Fest 2015, featuring Shady Francos, Beach Goons @ 1835 Main St, San Diego
  • Lucinda Williams, the Kenneth Brian Band @ The Observatory North Park (sold out)
  • Wild Child, Desert Noises, Goodnight, Texas @ Casbah (sold out)
  • The Parlor Mob, Gods, Spero @ Soda Bar
  • Kris Orlowski, Moonsville Collective @ Mosaic San Diego
  • Neon Beat: The Best & Worst of the '80s @ Bar Pink
  • Torch & Hammer Redux, the Bassics @ Ken Club
  • Bondurant @ Seven Grand
  • Tori Roze & the Hot Mess @ Wine Lover
  • Brass, Wood and Leather @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
  • Agua Dulce @ Croce's Park West (7 p.m.)
  • August Burns Red, Miss May I, Northlane, Erra @ House of Blues
  • Larry Fuller, performing with Katie Thiroux, Matt Witek and Graham Dechter @ Dizzy's
  • Alive & Well, Jagged Lines, Somewhat Aces, Echoed Silence @ Epicentre
  • Allison Lonsdale and Eben Brooks @ Lestat's (6- 8 p.m.)
  • Aaron Bowen and his Friends from Paris @ Lestat's (9 p.m.)
  • Mac Sabbath, Black Fag @ The Hideout
  • Kawehi @ The Loft, UCSD
  • Clint Westwood @ Tin Roof
  • Smarter Than Robots, It All Starts Here, Always the Understudy, Blackcast, Undercurrent @ SOMA
  • Dave Humphries, Bass Clef @ Java Joe's
  • The Routine @ The Rabbit Hole 
  • Penny & Sparrow @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
  • Gilby Clarke, Dirty Work @ Brick By Brick
  • Mike Mago @ Bang Bang
  • '80s vs '90s, with Gabe Vega vs Saul @ Whistle Stop
  • Akl200 @ The Merrow
  • Ravens Moreland, They Feed at Night @ The Bancroft
  • DJ Qenoe @ U-31
  • Mark Fisher @ Croce's Park West (12 p.m.)
  • Lotus the Band @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (5 p.m.)
  • Detroit Underground @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (9 p.m.)
  • Gloomsday, Western Midwest, Rex Goliath @ Tower Bar
  • The CalPhonics @ Winston's (5-8:30 p.m.)
  • Piracy Conspiracy, Aloha Radio @ Winston's (9:30 p.m.)
  • The Moan, Thee Old Worries, the Budrows @ Til-Two Club
  • Tropicana with Whiiite @ Fluxx
  • Hair Force @ Tio Leo's
  • Dannic @ Bassmnt
  • The Fooks, DJ Chelu @ Gallagher's Irish Pub
  • Safety Orange @ Boar Cross'n
  • Dazed & Confused @ 710 Beach Club
  • Eden @ Spin

Rosemary Bystrak is the publicist for the Casbah and 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.

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