I do it all for you San Diego. Look at this list -- I mean really look at it. We have some quality stuff on this list if I do say so myself, and I am hosting a SoundDiego LIVE party on May 25 at Park and Rec, so I hope to see you there or at any of the shows listed below -- I'm always available for free high fives and hugs. Support local music from San Diego and Tijuana....
May 1: Vile Assembly, Sixes and Kids on Bridges at the Merrow. I host every Tuesday at the Merrow with a mix of local and touring bands. May is stacked with the In-Itself, Name the Band, New Candys, Bedlam Rebels, Sleeping Jesus, Total Recluse, Trapdoor Social, Sweet Myths, Voice of Addiction, Punchcard, War Fever, the Colour Monday, the Great Silver Sun and the Spiritual Motels. For the first time, we have two bands from the UK and one from San Diego, so come on down!
May 2: Lo Moon at the Casbah. LA-based band steeped in electronics and atmospherics.
May 3: King Tuff, Cut Worms at the Casbah. Neo-garage rocker King Tuff just dropped another amazing album -- pick up "The Other" now.
May 4: Khruangbin and the Mattson 2 at the Belly Up or the Fratellis and Blood Red Shoes at the Observatory. Texas-based band performing a '60s style Thai funk with local jazz masters opening.
May 5: Bishop Briggs at Observatory North Park. Dark electro pop from this US-based artist who takes her name from the family's hometown of Bishopbriggs, Scotland. Or, you could see Of Montreal at Soma.
May 6: Desert Daze Caravan Tour with Ariel Pink, Diiv, Los Shadows, Spooky Cigarette at the House of Blues. Desert Daze is an annual festival, and this year it's held Oct. 12-14 and not too far away. This show is a teaser with two locals opening up. Psych rock/pop music....
May 7: Acid Mother's Temple, Yoo Doo Right and the Color Forty Nine at the Casbah. Japanese psych rock with rotating members but always Kawabata Makoto at the core.
May 8: Dessa and Monakr at Soda Bar. Dessa is a rapper and spoken word artist on the Doomtree label out of Minneapolis.
May 9: Afghan Whigs, Built to Spill and Ed Harcourt at Observatory North Park. A match made in heaven, seriously great booking with some stellar music to be experienced. Check out our interview with Afghan Whigs here.
May 10: Slayer, Testament, Anthrax, Lamb of God and Behemoth at Valley View Casino Center. Metal! Metal! Metal! Metal! Metal!
May 11: Hot Snakes and Le Bucherettes at Observatory North Park. Presented by 91x Loudspeaker 30 -- let's show our hometown heroes some love and sell this mother out!
May 12: Rainbow Kitten Surprise and Caamp at Observatory North Park. From Boone, North Carolina, a band with an amazing name and songs to back it up -- a soon to be festival favorite.
May 13: Franz Ferdinand at Observatory North Park. Scottish indie rockers return to the whale's vagina.
May 14: Nada Surf at the Belly Up. Are you popular? One hit song still on the radio, but the depth of their music is something to experience.
May 15: Ezra Furman and Shannon Lay at the Casbah. Ezra is here to expand your mind and what you think about normalcy -- this should be fun!
May 16: The Human League at Sycuan Live and Up Close. When you think of '80s synth-pop, this band is always in the top ten.
May 17: La Escalera Fest 7 from May 17-20 in San Diego and Tijuana at Soda Bar, Til Two Club, Bar Pink, the Office, Red Brontosaurus, Tower Bar and Moustache Bar. Bands include Pears, Pity Party, Success, Western Settings, Gentlemen Prefer Blood, Rayner, Buckfast Superbee and more. Go here for more.
May 18: Cults at Soda Bar or an all ages show? I am putting my money on Public Square Coffee House in La Mesa with Sixes, Former and Good Girl Vibe. Either way, you are supporting local music, and I applaud you.
May 19: MGMT at San Diego Civic Theater or Peter Hook & the Light at the House of Blues. I'd like to see these bands on the same bill, but you have to make a choice.
May 20: Pond and Fascinator at the Casbah. Tame Impala backing band without Kevin Parker, basically. Last time the band played San Diego, Kevin Parker was actually there and my friend Marco embarrassed himself, but not sure he knew -- maybe it was me that was embarrassed.
May 21: Death Eyes, Constant Lovers, Wild Powwers and Qui at the Casbah. Part Rats Eyes, part Death Crisis, so you get Death Eyes -- it's hardcore! Other bands are either going to melt your face or shake your a--.
May 22: Godspeed You! Black Emperor at Observatory North Park. Canadian-based experimental music collective. It's post-rock -- it's shimmering, beautiful and then hits you like a brick.
May 23: Angelic Upstarts and the Briefs at the Casbah or the James Hunter Six at the Belly Up. Real '77 style street punk from the UK or soul from Londoner James Hunter? It's a win-win and both are from the Great Britain.
May 24: G.B.H., Fireburn, the Widows and Authenic Sellout at Observatory North Park. Another legendary '70s street punk band from the UK, plus Fireburn from LA features ex-members of Nails, Bad Brains and Danzig. Two kicka-- locals open the bill....
May 25: SoundDiego LIVE at Park & Rec with Slares from TJ and the Strawberry Moons from North County. Let's meet in the middle. RSVP here.
May 26: Kimbra and Son Lux at the Belly Up. You have to see Kimbra. It's hard to explain, but let's just say she is multi-faceted. Synth rockers Son Lux open.
May 27: Sofi Tukker at Observatory North Park. "Best Friend" is my jam and guilty pleasure. Maybe you've heard it?
May 28: Subhumans, Karbonite and Final Conflict at the Casbah. More UK punk rock! Subhumans are back with memorable songs like "Mickey Mouse Is Dead" for you to sing along or beat up your friends to.
May 29: Sur at the Casbah. Gritty and real, you might want to check this guy out, because he could be big, and you can say you saw him at the Casbah.
May 30: Heir Gloom, New Speak and Dragon Dragon at Soda Bar. I might need to expose myself to this show -- as far as I can tell they are all local. Support local music!
May 31: D.O.A. and M.D.C. at Brick by Brick. It's '70s punk rock people!
See what I mean? I wouldn't lie to you guys; I love this town. Great shows abound, especially if you like '70s anarcho punk rock. Did you see all of those legendary bands playing San Diego? Even if you aren't a punk rocker, I listed something for everybody, and my taste in music is reflected above. Now get off your a--, and I'll see you at a show!
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
