Sounds Like San Diego: October 9

I was running around on Thursday night, hopping from a dinner to a show to another show and closing the night at Livewire. I have to admit that I don't frequent Livewire like I used to. Because of this music lifestyle that I've stumbled into, if I'm not at a show or a concert, I don't really just hang out in a bar to hear a DJ or a jukebox. Sometimes, however, the universe makes things happen and it was last call. I decided to make one last trip to the bathroom, and the flyer on the wall jumped out at me: "The Stimy Show." Now I can't say I ever knew Stimy personally; when his bands dominated the San Diego music scene, I was a lot younger and just tried to see any of his bands when I could. The music of SubSociety, however, ended up on most of my high school mix tapes, and I followed Inch and Congress of the Cow, too. As far as I know, Stimy lives in Colorado these days but makes a pilgrimage back to San Diego annually, and this is the magic weekend to hear him perform his old school music.

Personally I'm torn, because I'd planned on a night at the Rumble at Bar Pink to see some of the bands in the film Echotone, which follows Austin, Texas, bands as they struggle to "make it" in the music world while also delving into the political problems that arise when urban developments move into trendy neighborhoods where lone music venues once stood alone, challenging the very existence of the bands and people who made the neighborhood trendy in the first place. There will be a screening of the film as well as a performance by two of the bands featured in the documentary. 

I also planned on checking out New Yorkers Phantogram, who have mastered the dark yet danceable electro-pop that is all the rage. Many bands try, but few succeed like Phantogram, and I've come to be friends with Sarah and Josh as they've returned to San Diego several times in the past couple years.

So pick one. Or pick all of them. Or pick none of them and go see SDMA winner Josh Damigo at Lestat's or Holy Rolling Empire at the new Til Two Club (formerly the Beauty Bar), or if you must, go see Jack Johnson. Whatever you choose, there are more than 30 compelling reasons not to stay home tonight.

Saturday, October 9:

• 18 Year Anniversary, featuring the Stimy Show (playing songs from Inch, Congress of the Cow, SubSociety and more) @ Livewire
• Phantogram, Josiah Wolf @ Casbah
• The Rumble/Echotone (sneak preview tour), featuring Sunset, the White White Lights, Chairs Missing, DJ Tropicle Popsicle @ Bar Pink
• Josh Damigo's Graduation/SDMA Celebration Party, Steve Harris @ Lestat's
• An Intimate Evening with the Young Dubliners, Anita and the Yanks @ Belly Up
• Holy Rolling Empire @ Til Two Club
• Jack Johnson: To the Sea Tour with G. Love and Special Sauce, Zee Avi @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
• Doves and Desperados, Slipping Into Darkness, My Pet Saddle, Kera and The Lesbians @ Tin Can
• Batallion of Saints, DJs Barnesey & Heather Hardcore @ The Shakedown
• Italian Japanese, the Azure Vault, Glaciers @ Che Cafe
• Bill Cardinal @ Riviera Supper Club
• Yesterday Magazine Second Issue Release Party, featuring Get Back Loretta, the Paddle Boat, Endoxi, Albatross @ Ruby Room
• The Companies, Of Sons and Ghosts, The Mashtis @ Soda Bar
• Oktoberfest Celebration, featuring Ghetto Blaster, Killing Bees @ Eleven (3 p.m.)
• The Melodians/Frankie Paul, the Yellow Wall Dub Squad, Lloyd Hemmings, Tribe of Kings @ Sound Wave
• Ephraim Sommers (CD release), Carlos Rock Experience, 64 Chevy Nova, Seaholm Mackintosh @ O'Connell's
• Tech N9ne with E-40, Krizz Kailo, Kutt Kalhoun, Big Scoob, Jay Rock, Glasses Malone, Die Nasty @ House of Blues
• Polynesian Underground presents Inna Vission Freedom and guests @ Winston's
• Silent Vice, Chaotic Control, Circle of Manias, Florentine Camerata @ Epicentre
• Facelift (Alice & Chains tribute), Psychotropico, Knights of Apollo, Trout (Phish tribute) @ Dreamstreet
• John Lennon Birthday, featuring Fred Benedetti & daughters Regina and Julia @ Dizzy's (San Diego Wine and Culinary Center)
• Novamenco @ Humphreys Backstage Lounge (6:30-8 p.m.)
• Viva Santana @ Humphreys Backstage Lounge (9:30 p.m.)
• Red Hand, Thrillrazr, Swore @ Hensley's Flying Elephant
• Malashock Thinks You Can Dance @ Birch North Park Theatre
• Cathouse Thursday @ Donovan's Circle of Fifths
• Darol Ander's Republic of Strings @ AMSD (Acoustic Music San Diego)
• Circuit Freq, Rifat Ziadeh @ Voyeur
• Vanilla Ice @ Ramona Mainstage
• America's Got Talent Tour @ San Diego Sports Arena

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.  Follow her updates at twitter.com/sddialedin or submit your music listings.