Make it a December to remember and go see a show at one of our fine local venues! These are my picks for every night of the week, one show per night. I don't want to overwhelm you with too many options, and again I remind you some of these are shows that I booked at the Casbah or Hard Rock Hotel. Not playing favorites or being selfish -- it's just my role as a tastemaker, so enjoy!
Dec. 1: Dead Cross at Casbah. Debut show of a band formed just last week with Dave Lombardo of Slayer, plus members of Retox and the Locust.
Dec. 2: Nikki Lane at the Irenic. Alt-Country songstress from Nashville whp has worked with the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach.
Dec. 3: The Avengers at Casbah. The year was 1977 -- the Avengers formed in SF and opened for the last ever Sex Pistols show at the Cow Palace.
Dec. 4: Little Hurricane, Birdy Bardot, Dani Bell & the Tarantist at Casbah. Night one of a two-night stand with local world travelers Little Hurricane.
Dec. 5: Skapache Mode at Soda Bar. Depeche Mode songs done ska style.
Dec. 6: Snoop Dogg at Observatory North Park. Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
Dec. 7: Sallie Ford, Tacocat at Casbah. Girls that rock in that riot grrl, pop-punk, rock & roll kind of way.
Dec. 8: Ezra Furman & the Boyfriends, Guy Blakeslee (of the Entrance Band) at Casbah. An evening of no-wave psych-pop.
Dec. 9: Papa at Casbah. Indie dance-rock from Encino, the Valley.
Dec. 10: Three Mile Pilot, Systems Officer, Pall Jenkins at Casbah. Local legends Three Mile Pilot reunite again, so don't miss this chance to see them.
Dec. 11: Maryjane's Underground, Martin & the Big Nativity Scene at the Hard Rock Hotel. It's a free holiday show!
Dec. 12: The Dears at Casbah. Shoe-gazey indie-rock band from Canada, eh.
Dec. 13: Foals, Run the Jewels, PVRIS, the Wombats, Will & the People at Soma. When life gives you the 91x Lump of Coal show, listen to some rad bands!
Dec. 14: Headphone, Los Angelics, Mayfield at Casbah. OK, I booked this one, and it's almost all local bands. Guess which one isn't from here.
Dec. 15: Showcash, Cloudside, the Wind Playing Tricks at Casbah. Again booked by me, and it's all local this time -- support local music!
Dec. 16: Mariachi el Bronx, Very Be Careful, Pounded by the Surf at Casbah. First of a two-night stand, with Dec. 17 being the Bronx, Retox, the Drips. It's the White Drugs Christmas Party Two-Night Extravaganza!
Dec. 17: Ghostface Killah of the Wu Tang Clan at Observatory North Park. We should all thank the Observatory for bringing more hip-hop to SD.
Dec. 18: El Vez holiday party at Casbah. He is the Mexican Elvis.
Dec. 19: Strung Out at Brick by Brick. Melodic punk-rock from Simi Valley, started in 1989.
Dec. 20: Motley Crue at Viejas Arena. It's the band's last show ever in SD.
Dec. 21: The Frightshakers at Casbah. It's gonna be a honky-tonky kind of night.
Dec. 22: Juice Box, Kid Wilderness, the Struggle at Soda Bar. Support local music.
Dec. 23: Berkley Hart at Music Box. Local Americana legends with epic harmonies.
Dec. 24: Merry Christmas Eve
Dec. 25: Merry Christmas
Dec. 26: Mr. Tube & the Flying Objects, the Bassics, the Lumps at Soda Bar. Mr. Tube is a legend you should look into.
Dec. 27: Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven at Belly Up. It's time to take the skinheads bowling...
Dec. 28: Dani Bell & the Tarantist, Bandalier, the Sinclairs at Casbah. All-local bill, booked by this author.
Dec. 29: Luna at Casbah. From the ashes of Galaxie 500 came Luna in 1991. Great indie dream-pop.
Dec. 30: Hot Chip at Casbah. DJ set, so bring your dancing shoes!
Dec. 31: The Sess at Soda Bar. Local cholo punks reunite -- for one show only?
Happy New Year! I thank you all for a great 2015!
Tim Pyles, a longtime local who grew up in La Jolla, is the unofficial mayor of local music and hosts Loudspeaker via 91x every Sunday from 7-10 p.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
