I feel pretty lucky to be a San Diego native because it's such a beautiful place to live, but I especially appreciate experiencing my teenage years in the '90s in San Diego. The music scene at the time was the stuff of legends ("the next Seattle," anyone?), and Uncle Joe's was a huge part of that time.
I can proudly say that my first and last time crowd surfing was at an Uncle Joe's show, though it was less a choice and more by force when I was tossed into the crowd by a Soma bouncer. They were opening for Social Distortion, and while my peers were going crazy for Mike Ness, I was there for Chick Rock. If you really want some throwbacks, before you head to the Casbah, swing by the Kava Lounge (the former location of the Casbah) and watch the kids from School of Rock as they perform a tribute to San Diego bands, like fluf, Drive Like Jehu, Heavy Vegetable and more. It's an early show and will be over in plenty of time to catch the show at the Casbah.
Saturday, January 22:
Uncle Joe's Big Ol Driver, Furious IV, Big Tension @ Casbah
School of Rock Tribute to San Diego @ Kava Lounge (7 p.m.)
David J record release and signing, DJ Darwin @ Bar Pink
Ray Argyle, Kata, Bantam Feather @ Tin Can
Operation Mindblow presents Winter's Womb, featuring Red Octopus, VonVeederVeld, Carlton Melton, Joy, Sugarrush Railroad Inc, the Kabbs, Trap Gold, Brainticket DJs @ Til Two Club
Schitzophonics, Flexx Bronco, Chinese Rocks @ Eleven
Tiltwheel, Madison Bloodbath, Magdalene @ The Shakedown
DJ Claire's End of Month Happy Hour @ Whistle Stop (5-8 p.m.)
Booty Bassment @ Whistle Stop
Condemned, Ruines ov Abaddon, Hordes of Sirens, Within the Swarm, Indiscretion @ Ruby Room
The Downs Family @ Riviera
San Diego Experimental Guitar Show 2011 @ Soda Bar
Liquid Foundation: Hard Fall Hearts, Splitfinger, Death on Wednesday, Slower @ Sound Wave
Dashboard Confessional Swiss Army Romance 10-Year Anniversary tour, Chris Conley (Saves the Day), Lady Danville @ House of Blues
Clepto, Ramekaga, the Talk @ Lestat's
F--- Cancer Benefit, featuring Downspell, the Strikers, Behind the Wagon, DPI, Jonny Castle, Old Devil, Cactus Jacks, Los Seafinks (all proceeds benefit the family of Madeline Morris and her fight against childhood leukemia) @ Brick By Brick
LA Guns, Skipjack, Negative Void @ Ramona Mainstage
Judy Garland in Concert (A Multimedia + Symphony Experience) @ Copley Symphony Hall
Styx @ Pechanga Theatre
Rosemary Bystrak writes about the San Diego music scene, events, and sometimes whatever creeps into her head on her music blog San Diego: Dialed In. Check it for even more listings. She also provides social media content for the Casbah. Follow her updates at twitter.com/sddialedin or submit your music listings.