When I was a little younger, I didn't really like New Year's Eve. It seemed like so much anticipation and pressure was put on the night -- and expectations were so high -- that disappointment seemed inevitable. You get a little older, however, and you realize it's just a night like any other, that doing something you love with the people you love is never disappointing. Around here, that means locking plans up with your favorite bands and DJs, and celebrating the arrival of 2014 at any of the numerous places we love. The Casbah's annual party at the Lafayette has flourished and is once again sold out, with Transfer headlining, while Terraplane Sun lead a killer lineup at the Casbah itself. Scarlet Symphony reunite for a blowout at Soda Bar, while Big Night features one of our favorites, Gone Baby Gone, in a length lineup of DJs and bands. It's going to be a spectacular night, no matter where you turn.
Tuesday Dec. 31, 2013:
- Terraplane Sun, Jackson Price, The Paragraphs, Yes Team @ Casbah
- Casbah presents Transfer, Ziggy Shuffledust & the Spiders From Mars, Blackout Party, Dead Feather Moon, Low Volts, In Motion Collective @ Lafayette Hotel (sold out)
- Scarlet Symphony, Zodiac Death Valley, Hills Like Elephants @ Soda Bar
- The Expendables, Seedless @ Belly Up
- The Great Gatsby: NYE 2014 @ House of Blues
- Neon Beat @ Bar Pink
- Big Night San Diego, featuring Kristina Sky, DJ Glimpse, Gone Baby Gone, DJ Happee, Mike Czech, Deejay Al, Agua Dulce, JT Douglas Band @ Hilton Bayfront
- Mermaid Masquerade with May*Star @ The Merrow
- Raw Nerves, Age of Collapse, Piglife, Griever @ The Void
- OMFG! NYE 2014 Night 2, with Boys Noize, Brazzabelle, Bro Safari, Cole Plante, Diplo, DJ Snake, Feed Me, GTA, Henrix, Laidback Luke, Madeon, Nero (DJ Set), Nervo, Ookay @ Valley View Casino Center (18+)
- LED presents Brazzabelle, Yusef @ Bang Bang
- Adam Salter & Saul Q present Stardust @ El Dorado
- PopRx @ Humphreys Backstage Live
- Gilbert Castellanos & The New Latin Jazz Quintet @ Croce's
- Brothers Gow @ Winston's
- NYE Big Top Extravaganza @ Fluxx
- Candye Kane @ Belly Up (5:30 p.m.)
- From Scars, Pageripper, Caskitt, Se Vende @ Tower Bar
- San Pedro El Cortez, Go Go Lords, Sailing Stones, the Pheasants, DJ Richard Thompson @ Til-Two Club
- Deadly Birds, Saint Diego @ Gallagher's Irish Pub
- Three Chord Justice @ Riviera Supper Club
- Master Spinner & the Shredders @ Coyote Bar & Grill
- Tomcat Courtney @ La Gran Tapa
- Omega Squad, Austin Speed, Arkon, Sarah Cranberry and Gage b2b, Joey Animals @ Kava Lounge
- The Devastators @ 710 Beach Club
- Trey & T @ Patrick's Gaslamp Pub
- Donald Glaude @ Moonshine Flats
- Kitten With a Whip @ Crush
- The Blue Moonies @ Mr. Peabody's (Encinitas)
- The Routine @ Pacific Beach Cantina (1466 Garnet Ave)
- The Oceanside Sound System, Loose Nutts @ Boar Cross'n
- Trunk Monkey @ McP's Irish Pub
Rosemary Bystrak writes about the San Diego music scene, events and general musings about life in San Diego on San Diego: Dialed In. Follow her updates on Twitter or contact her directly.
