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.
