It's finally Friday, and tonight feels like one big party all over San Diego. The Heavy Guilt celebrate Al Howard's birthday at the Loft at UCSD, where they'll be joined by the Howls and Low Volts. By the time that show is over, the campus won't know what hit it. At the Casbah, there are two shows: an early one with Matthew Good and Emily Greene, and when that's all done New Mexico opens for Gardens & Villa. The first time I saw Gardens & Villa made me an instant fan and their trajectory has them poised to be a breakout band, so catch them in a small venue while you still can. Through North Park and the Heights, you've got the Styletones at Bar Pink, the kickoff of the International Pop Overthrow Festival at Eleven, and a twangy lineup over at Soda Bar.
Friday, February 17:
- The Heavy Guilt (Al Howard’s Birthday Extravaganza), the Howls, Low Volts @ The Loft at UCSD
- Matthew Good , Emily Greene @ Casbah (early show, 6:30 p.m.)
- Gardens & Villa, New Mexico @ Casbah
- 91x presents an Evening with CAKE @ Belly Up (Sold Out)
- River City, Briertone, Bill Cardinal & the Canyon Band, Old Tiger @ Soda Bar
- The Styletones @ Bar Pink
- F’ing in the Bushes with DJ Rob Moran @ Whistle Stop
- Devil's Brigade (featuring Matt Freeman of Operation Ivy & Rancid), Dimerunner & the Strikers @ The Shakedown
- The Cigarette Bums, Tectonic Fundraiser: Pilots, Children of Nova, Misc. Ailments @ Tin Can
- Taboo @ Til Two Club
- Golden Chicks Sideshow, Latin Hip-Hop Night and Drag Show @ Ruby Room
- International Pop Overthrow Festival (7:30 p.m. Eugene Edwards Band, 8:15 p.m. Phil Vandermost and Telesound, 9:00 p.m. Plane Without A Pilot, 9:45 p.m. King Washington, 10:30 p.m. Yoya, 11:15 p.m. the New Kinetics, 12:00 a.m. Dave Rave) @ Eleven
- A Night of Ska and Reggae with Shocks of Mighty, Oceanside Sound System, Ottly Mercer @ The Griffin
- Feel The Noise Electro Dance w/DJs Gabe Vega & Friends @ U- 31
- The Expendables Winter Blackout 2012 featuring the Expendables, Pour Habit, MTHDS, Micah Brown, Zen Robbi, DJ Unite and DJ Peril of Tribe of Kings @ House of Blues (Doors 6pm)
- Cultivation @ House of Blues (Voodoo Stage)
- Lily Bee Music, Sarah Maisel @ Lestat's
- Kids 4 Hope Benefit featuring: Unset, London Falling, Burden of Truth, Future Falls @ Brick By Brick
- Stranger @ Winston's
- Chasing Claymores w/ the New Addiction, Last Bullet, Idlehands, and Vignette @ 710 Beach Club
- The Take Off Movement, Super Groupie, Revive & Revolt, the League, Dream Boy @ Epicentre
- Killing the Messenger, Lion I Am, Rum for the Pirates, Before the Flood, Aechoes, Avarice @ Soma
- Dizzy's presents Perla Negra Quintet @ 98 Bottles
- The Steely Damned @ Humphreys Backstage Lounge (7:30pm & 9:45pm)
- Goapele @ Anthology (early show 7:30 p.m., late show 9:30 p.m.)
- Stoney B Blues Band @ Marble Room
- Pierce Fulton, Brazzabelle @ Voyeur
- Zenbu Fridays with DJ Leif @ Zenbu Cardiff
- Hickies and Dry Humps 1-year Anniversary with Adam Salter, Jason Waterfalls, Saul Q, Kid Wonder @ El Dorado
- Asleep at the Wheel @ Ramona Mainstage
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.
