Ladies and gentleman, the time has come for you to support some local or touring bands, here are a few of my highlights that you might want to check out. I'm just saying...
April 4: The Heartaches at the Casbah
Great local punk band returns for one show!
April 5: Kopecky Family Band at Soda Bar
Shout, stomp and sing along with this band out of Nashville.
April 6: Deer Tick at the Belly Up
Nice mix of folk, blues and country. They even have a Nirvana cover band called Deervana.
April 7: Tyler, the Creator at Porter's Pub (UCSD)
Frontman for hip-hop collective Odd Future and star of the Adult Swim production Loiter Squad
April 10: Merle Haggard at the Belly Up Tavern
Outlaw country music legend!
April 10: The Evens at the Irenic
Two people in this band, and one of them happens to be Ian MacKaye from Fugazi and Minor Threat fame.
April 11: GWAR at House of Blues
If you have never seen GWAR, I recommend you bring a trash bag to wear. Heavy metal, fluids and costumes!
April 11: Rihanna at Valley View Casino Center
Like diamonds in the sky! I knew she was a star the first time I heard "Pon De Replay." Come on, Mr. DJ, turn the music up!
April 12: Kurt Vile at the Casbah
Philly-based rocker hugely influenced by Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and Beck
April 13: Mudhoney at the Casbah
This band hugely influenced Nirvana, so bow down to them!
April 14: Lucero at the Belly Up
Country punkers hugely influenced by the scene around them. They are based in Memphis and are said to have a distinctly Memphisian sound; think soul, country and rock.
April 15: Franz Ferdinand at Humphreys By the Bay
Scottish alternative hitmakers return to SD in the week between their Coachella gigs.
April 15: Wild Nothing and Little Green Cars at Casbah
Dreamy pop music, with Irish folk rockers opening.
April 15: Foals and the Neighbourhood at Porter's Pub (UCSD)
Big-sound English rockers and SoCal R&B indie band share the bill; both at Coachella, too.
April 16: Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds at Balboa Theatre
Alternative rock icon. Poet, filmmaker, actor, musician -- a real Renaissance man.
April 16: Action Bronson at Porter's Pub (UCSD)
Former chef that raps about food and life.
April 16: J Mascis at the Casbah
Dinosaur Jr. frontman gone solo.
April 16: Youth Lagoon at the Irenic
One of the leaders of the dream-pop genre
April 16: Alt-J and Hundred Waters at the Belly Up
English alt-rockers share the bill with the art-rock sounds of Hundred Waters.
April 16: DIIV at the Soda Bar
Shoegazing indie pop; just look at those nice shoes
April 17: The King Khan and BBQ Show at the Casbah
Garage punk rock from Canada, eh
April 17: Aesop Rock at the Belly Up
Hip-hop legend at this point, been around since the late ‘90s.
April 17: The Faint at Fluxx
Electro-punkers who were ahead of their time have returned.
April 17: Alex Clare at House of Blues
His hit song has a dubstep sound, but they call it Soul Step in the U.K., to be specific.
April 17: Tegan and Sara at Humphreys By the Bay
These twin sisters write some of the best songs you will ever hear.
April 18: Tiny Telephones and Vampireat Maryjane's Underground inside the Hard Rock Hotel
April 18: Polica and Night Moves at the Casbah
Electronica R&B headlines with Night Moves providing electro-country-soul tuneage.
April 19: Cloud Nothings at the Casbah
Solo project turned full-fledged band. Great lo-fi garage indie rock!
April 20: Beach Fossils at the Irenic
Dark and a touch of goth, but it feels like the beach.
April 22: The Gaslight Anthem at the Belly Up Tavern
Imagine Bruce Springsteen fronting a punk band.
April 23: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at the House of Blues
Psychedelic garage rock and one of the best ever!
April 24: Spectrum (UK) at the Void
Features Sonic Boom of legendary UK band Spaceman 3.
April 24: Chappo at Soda Bar
I get a little T. Rex from Chappo; maybe you hear something else.
April 24: The Cave Singers at the Casbah
Indie rock folk band featuring former members of Pretty Girls Make Graves.
April 25: SoundDiego LIVE at Bar Pink
Free show with sets by the Paragraphs, North Beach, VIP happy hour presented by Jack Daniel's. Get on the guest list here
April 26: Alkaline Trio at House of Blues
Punk rock band you might have heard on the radio
April 27: Telekinesis at the Casbah
Great Pacific Northwest indie pop alternative band
April 28: Metz at Soda Bar
Frantic punk rock that reminds of the Jesus Lizard.
April 28: Blood Red Shoes at Soda Bar
The last time this band played SD, Florence of Florence & the Machine was there. She was playing the big amphitheater in Chula Vista the next night and must have been in town early.
Pick one or pick many -- these are just my show highlights for the month of April. So many choices and so little time. Remember what Drake says: "Yolo" -- You only live once, so go out and see a show!
Tim Pyles, a longtime local who grew up in La Jolla, is the unofficial mayor of local music who hosts The Local 94/9 via FM94/9 every Sunday from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. He also books local acts at the Casbah, hosts the weekly Anti-Monday League, books/hosts the monthly Maryjane's Underground at the House Of Blues and is an entertainment writer for Pacific San Diego Magazine. Check out his website thelocalpyle.com and and follow him on Twitter @thelocalpyle. You can reach him directly here pyleste@yahoo.com
