Things To Do In San Diego: September 22

By Rosemary Bystrak

| Wednesday, Sep 22, 2010 | Updated 11:53 AM PDT

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Muse attempts to prove that there can still be arena rock bands in 2010.

There's a whole lot of bellyaching about various ways that the music industry is failing. Ticket sales are down, concert prices are up, and when people stopped hearing new music on the radio, they sought other places where they could find new music, leaving fans liking niche bands. I would argue that small and mid-size bands are still doing well, but there aren't many superstars. Muse is a band that seeks to change that. The band from England has worked steadily over the years, building a fan base and quietly exploding into the huge band that they are today, that not only can fill an arena, but that deserves to fill an arena. They know how to engage their audience with stage drama and flair, and their mixed-genre music has a mass appeal.

If you're not into Muse, you can check out the rock of The Jim Jones Revue at the Casbah, the electronic project of members of the String Cheese Incident, EOTO, up at the Belly Up, or Mexican alt-rockers Elefante at the House of Blues, who had more than a few songs that I consistently put on breakup mix tapes a few years back.

Wednesday September 22:

Muse, Passion Pit @ Viejas Arena
The Jim Jones Revue, The Bellrays, Coasting @ Casbah
Elefante, Zur Band @ House of Blues
EOTO, MiMosa, MartyParty @ Belly Up
Dynamite Walls, Republic of Letters @ The Saloon
Lindbergh Skies, Dying To Wake, Paper Rock Tiger, Dead Animal Mod @ Beauty Bar
Paul Collins Beat, Baja Bugs, Jungle Fever @ Soda Bar
Chairs Missing, Screening of "District 9" @ UCSD Price Center, East Lawn (Free, 7pm, bring blankets for viewing)
The Carlos Rock Experience @ The Tiki House
Wise Monkey @ Bar Pink
Aspects of Physics, Felt Drawings, Great Willow, Shimomitsu @ Tin Can
Bianca Paras, Chris Wilson, Johnny Shoebox @ Lestat's
Stone Senses, Oceanside Sound System, DevOcean @ Soundwave
Club Kingston, Roots Covenant @ Winston's
36 Crazy Fists, Straight Line Stitch, Taking Dawn @ Brick By Brick
Problumz, Mz Chief, The Nutty Buddies, Submission, No Face @ Dreamstreet Live
Live Wednesdays Presents: "The Sevens Tour" w/ AudioGraffiti, Anomalie & The Speakeasy Earth @ U-31
Tab Benoit @ Anthology
Dub Dorado Presents: DJ Chefal, Biggs, Head$hake, Austin Speed @ El Dorado
Roy Rapid and The Rythem Trio @ Riviera Supper Club
Jason Mann, Liveagai, Cardiac Kidz, Trashaxis @ O'Connell's
Lady Dottie and The Diamonds @ Gallaghers
Downspell, Fury Never Fades, Caskets on Parade, Trumpet The Harlot @ Ruby Room
The Burnsville Blues Band @ Patrick's ll
Jeff Moore and The Witchdoctors @ The Kraken
Jam Session feat. Gilbert Castellanos w/ special guests Justin Grinell & Charlie Chavez @ El Camino
Off The Wagon@ Second Wind Santee
Octorox @ Second Wind Navajo
Icebox, Session 73 @ 710 Beach Club
Rhythm Method, DJ Gary @ Coyote Bar & Grill
San Deviants, Nods to Nothing @ The Office
Liquid Geometry Presents: Griefshare, Mike Gao, Demon Slayer, Slowhand @ Kava Lounge
Gene Warren @ McP's Irish Pub

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.