There is definitely a buzz in the air as San Diego's biggest week kicks off with preview night. For those of you not diving into the night for collectibles, there's still life all over San Diego to enjoy. Soda Bar hosts the awesome Birds of Chicago, while Casbah has a grouping of pop-punkers of yesteryear performing in new projects. Jimmy Cliff will bring the reggae love to Belly Up, and Miss Erika Davies and Midnight Pine team up for a sweet night at Whistle Stop. Still, I always make Lyle Lovett my top pick because he's amazing, he's legendary, and maybe one day someone will hand me tickets to his annual trek to Humphrey's By the Bay.
Wednesday, July 23 (Comic-Con Preview Night):
- Birds of Chicago, the Lovebirds @ Soda Bar
- Matt Pryor (the Get Up Kids /the New Amsterdams), What's Eating Gilbert (featuring Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory), the Josh Berwanger Band (the Anniversary/the Only Children) @ Casbah
- Lyle Lovett & His Large Band @ Humphrey's Concerts By the Bay
- Jimmy Cliff, DJ Carlos Culture @ Belly Up
- Erika Davies, Midnight Pine @ Whistle Stop
- The Nardcast presents Comic-Con Meets North Park, featuring Hocus, Shady Franco, Glass Spells, DJ Pocket @ U-31
- Vangelis Acid, featuring Vytear, Engineeer, MaxBetta/gEars, '60s Residue @ The Merrow
- H.A.M. featuring DJ L @ Bar Pink
- Hello Penelope, Ranger, Creature & the Woods @ Tin Can
- On Fifth, Caitlin Ashley, Darius Degher, Jerry Giddens @ Lestat's
- Bon Affair presents Rachel Ann Weiss @ Whole Foods (Del Mar)
- #SDCC: Wired Cafe Lounge @ Omni Hotel Pool Terrace (11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Invite only)
- #SDCC: Comic-Con Kickoff Party @ Hotel Solamar (9 p.m. to 12 a.m.; RSVP required)
- #SDCC: GodzillaCon @ Hilton Bayfront/Convention Center Lawn (8 a.m. to 8 p.m., free)
- #SDCC: Craft/Art, featuring Jen Vaughn (Avery Fatbottom), Eric Johnson (Rex Mundi), Rafael Navarro (Sonambulo), Jeremy Cox (Vampyrates) @ Stone Brewing Tap Room (795 J St., 7-10 p.m., continues till midnight next door at Rare Form)
- #SDCC: Dim Mak Comic-Con Party, with Yolanda Be Cool, Klever, All Gold @ Stingaree Guest House
- #SDCC: Gabe Eltaeb's Comic Kickoff Fundraiser @ Bar Basic (9 p.m.)
- #SDCC: Hop-Con 2.0: The w00tstout Launch Festival, with guests: Drew Curtis, Wil Wheaton, Greg Koch (Stone Brewing CEO) @ Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station (7-10 p.m.)
- #SDCC: 2nd Annual Enchantment Under the SDCC @ Henry's Pub (8 p.m.)
- Moonpool @ The Shakedown
- Nathan Collins @ Croce's Park West
- Gilbert Castellanos Jazz Jam, featuring Bruin @ Seven Grand
- Maztek @ Kava Lounge
- The Tighten Up! @ El Dorado
- Records With Roger @ Bluefoot
- Open Mic with Jefferson Jay @ Winston's (6-9 p.m.)
- Sully Band @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
- Trunk Slammers @ Gallagher's Irish Pub
- Future Wednesdays @ Kava Lounge
- Open Mic @ The Merrow
- Open Mic/Open Jam @ 710 Beach Club
- Johnny Tarr @ Henry's Pub (7:30-9:30 p.m.)
- DJ Christopher London @ Henry's Pub (9:30 p.m.)
Rosemary Bystrak is the publicist for the Casbah and The North Park Theatre, 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.
