It's hard to write about Jake Smith, aka the White Buffalo, without mentioning to his physical stature. He's an imposing figure, and the man and his guitar are better suited to outlaws and roadhouses than poets and coffee shops. He has developed quite a following from his records and from his music placements in "Sons of Anarchy." It's fitting that he's performing at the North Park Theatre, as it was just last year that he headlined Rocktoberfest in the theatre's parking lot. Meanwhile, Flying Lotus and Peaking Lights will perform for a sold-out crowd at the Casbah, Guttermouth will destroy Soda Bar, and the Cult are at the track for the Del Mar Summer Concert Series. Friday's especially coveted tickets, though, are for MGMT and Grimes on the USS Midway, but tickets are scarce and the waiting is long, so good luck with that one.
Friday, July 25:
- Casbah presents the White Buffalo, Jonny 2 Bags @ The North Park Theatre
- Flying Lotus, Peaking Lights, Maria Minerva, M Geddes, Mirage @ Casbah
- Chris Tucker @ San Diego Civic Theatre
- Guttermouth, Western Settings, the Dirty Nil, Skipjack @ Soda Bar
- The Cult @ Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Summer Concert Series
- Soda Bar presents GRMLN, Buddy Banter, Same Difference @ House of Blues Voodoo Stage (7 p.m.) -- read our interview with GRMLN here
- Bonkers! Dance Party @ Bar Pink
- Wild Child, Jumping Jack Flash @ Belly Up
- Seaway, Stick Up Kid, Candy Hearts, Driver, Friendly With Age, Short Stories, It All Starts Here, the Plague, Between Us, the Rebound, Heavyweight @ Epicentre
- Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra, Sarah Donner, Birdie Rae @ Tin Can
- Garfunkel & Oates @ House of Blues (6 p.m.)
- Nena Anderson @ Java Joe's (ArtLab)
- Goo Goo Dolls, Plain White T's, Daughtry @ Harrah's Resort Southern California
- #SDCC: Wired Cafe Lounge @ Omni Hotel Pool Terrace (invite only, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- #SDCC: CraveOnline’s "The Last Ship" Comic-Con Party, featuring MGMT, Grimes (DJ set) @ USS Midway (invite only)
- #SDCC: 4TH Annual Comic-Con Nerd-a-Thon, featuring: MC Frontalot, MC Lars, Schaffer the Darklord, Dr. Awkward, Devil's Playground Burlesque, Chamber Band @ The Merrow
- #SDCC: @Midnight Live with Chris Hardwick @ Balboa Theatre
- #SDCC: Danny Elfman's Music From the Films of Tim Burton @ Summer Pops, Ebarcadero Marina Park South (8 p.m.)
- #SDCC: Tested.com presents Incognito: A Celeration of Cosplay @ Sidebar (free, open to the public, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.)
- #SDCC: Fox FanFare @ Lawn Between Hilton Bayfront/Convention Center (open to the public)
- #SDCC: GeekNation's "Showrunners, the Movie" party @ Quality Social (RSVP only)
- #SDCC: Fear FestEvil After Party, with Exodus, Kirk Hammett @ F6ix (must have RSVP)
- #SDCC: Rock the Con 2014, featuring Gunner Gunner, Dynamo Fixx, the Rooms, and DJ 1979 @ The Lower Left (465 17th Street; all ages; $10 with CC badge, $15 general admission; 5 pm. to midnight)
- #SDCC: Funko FunDays @ Wyndham Bayside (8-11:30 p.m.)
- #SDCC: Geek & Sundry Lounge @ Jolt'nJoe's (open to the public at 10 a.m. daily)
- #SDCC: Adult Swim Fun House/Meatwad Full Dome Experience @ Tailgate Park (18+, tickets distributed at noon daily, open from 3-10 p.m.)
- #SDCC: ArtExpoSD @ Wonder Bread Factory (121 14th St, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
- #SDCC: Hollywood Babble-On, with Ralph Garman & Kevin Smith @ House of Blues(11 p.m.)
- #SDCC: San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina ‘Perk Up’ lounge (2-6 p.m.)
- #SDCC X-Box Lounge @ Seaport Ballroom 2nd Floor, Grand Hyatt (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
- #SDCC: GodzillaCon @ Hilton Bayfront/Convention Center Lawn (free, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
- #SDCC: Flash Bash, presented by Buzzfeed and the CW @ Altitude Sky Lounge, Marriott Gaslamp (RSVP required, 5-8 p.m.)
- #SDCC Nerd Machine's 5th Annual Nerd Party @ Petco Park (invite only, 10 p.m.)
- #SDCC: "Outlander" Premiere @ Spreckel's Theatre (invite only, 8 p.m.)
- #SDCC: SyFy Sharknado 2 Party @ LoungeSix, Hotel Solamar (RSVP required, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.)
- #SDCC "Bates Motel" Party by Playboy and A&E @ Seventh between Island & Market (invite only)
- #SDCC: Invaded By Unicorn, featuring DJ Dand, Divadanielle, Lee Reynolds, Porkchop, Erik Nelson, Witness Protection, Will Levine, Jaykwon, Matteisenberg, the Beat Bandit @ Spin (unicorn cosplay encouraged)
- Soul Organization @ Seven Grand
- Cookie Monsta, Zomboy, Eptic Convulsic, DJ Marcadelic, Kontusion, Havoc SD @ Somewhere Loud
- Ruby & the Red Hots @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (5 p.m.)
- Beta Maxx @ Humphrey's Backstage LIve (7pm)
- Deep House Night @ The Hideout
- El Consumption, City Tribe, Splavendar @ Sycamore Den
- A Distant Calm, Kardashev, Roar Like Me, Resomation @ SOMA
- The Darlings, Jason Cruz, Howl & the Pullmen @ Porter's Pub
- Tribute Rebels @ Dizzy's
- Aiden James, Mike Bailer @ Lestat's
- Crown Town @ Tin Roof (10 p.m.)
- Kris Bradley @ Tin Roof (7 p.m.)
- Pentagrams and Daisies, Fictitious Dishes, International Dips---, Badabing @ The Bancroft
- Lee Churchill @ U-31
- Philem, Nukem @ Brick By Brick
- Atomic Groove Christmas in July Happy Hour @ Belly Up
- Tegan Taylor Band @ Croce's Park West
- Rattle Rockin Boys, the Firecrackers @ Tower Bar
- Banyan (featuring members of Jane's Addiction, KDTU) @ Winston's
- Never Pass Go @ The Shakedown
- DJs Lil Smile and Jeff "Guero" Graves, Kumbia Kult, Dr. Seussio @ Til-Two Club
- Gloomsday, Shiva Trash @ Whistle Stop
- SKAM Artist 10 Year Anniversary, with Big Syphe, Craig Anthony, Eric D Lux, Justin Credible, Melo D @ Fluxx
- Lee K, Andrew Decade @ Bang Bang
- Moonlight Serenade Orchestra @ Crystal Ballroom (414 N. Magnolia, El Cajon)
- Antarmartin Aggregation tribute to Eric Dolphy @ 98 Bottles
- The Return of HYPE @ Kava Lounge
- Makeda's Birthday Celebration, with Toombao @ WorldBeat Center
- Wild Nite @ Tio Leo's
- Full Moon Fever, DJ Arox @ Gallagher's Irish Pub
- Club Musae @ Boar Cross'n
- Russell and Brian Barbarin @ 710 Beach Club (5-8 p.m.)
- Open Arms, Paper Lanterns @ 710 Beach Club
- The Buckleys @ V Lounge, Viejas Casino
- Powerhouse @ V Lounge, Viejas Casino
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.
