There are some really great shows on Friday night, so I mean no offense to the Wallflowers, who are playing after the races; or the Helio Sequence, who haven't been to the Casbah since 2008; or Built to Spill, who are certainly going to sell out the Belly Up; or even Trails and Ways, who are playing the Hideout; but I have been excited ever since the announcement of the Chappo, Yukon Blonde and Fort Lean show at Soda Bar. The buzzy Fort Lean -- who have two EPs and have supported Haim and Unknown Mortal Orchestra -- open the show in anticipation of their debut full-length releasing in October, while direct support comes from Yukon Blonde (from Canada). Then, of course, Chappo, the Brooklyn band who won us over a few years back at SxSW and with every subsequent tour through San Diego. Their spaced-out rock is intense yet fun, and I've never seen a Chappo show I didn't love. If you don't have plans, make this one your priority.
Friday, July 17:
- Pride of Hillcrest Block Party @ Normal & University (6-11 p.m., 21+)
- Chappo, Yukon Blonde, Fort Lean @ Soda Bar
- The Wallflowers @ Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Summer Concert Series
- The Helio Sequence, Quarto Negro @ Casbah
- Muscle Beech, Inspired and the Sleep @ Black Cat
- Built to Spill, Slam Dunk, Genders @ Belly Up
- Soda Bar presents Chon (CD release), Polyphia, Yvette Young @ Irenic
- Trails and Ways @ The Hideout
- Leftover Cuties @ AMSD Concerts
- J. Cole, Big Sean, and Jeremih @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre
- Sure Fire Soul Ensemble (record release), Taurus Authority @ Winston's
- The Blank Tapes, Lee Gallagher & the Hallelujah, Loom, Mad Alchemy @ Til-Two Club
- Mr. Blow & Friends @ Bar Pink
- Atomic Groove Happy Hour @ Belly Up (5 p.m.)
- Sacra: Profana @ Spreckel's Theatre
- Charlie Chavez y su Afrotruko @ Dizzy's
- Outlands (CD release), Focus in Frame, Guidelines, Leave the Universe, Set to Stun, Little Heroine @ SOMA
- Fistfights with Wolves, OF @ The Balboa
- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy with the San Diego Symphony @ Embarcadero Marina Park South
- San Diego Rebelfest 2015, featuring Illuminate, Undercurrent, City of Crooks, Victimized, Lynch the Landlord, Shawshank Redeemed, Vile Creations, Peace in Terror @ Legend Records
- Global Affront, Oddball, Castoff, Bainbridge @ Brick By Brick
- Street Liegal @ Tio Leo's
- Johnny Deadly Trio, Fanny & the Atta Boys @ Lestat's
- Natalie Emmons @ Java Joe's
- Groove International Sound the Groove @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
- Paper Diamond, Astronomer @ House of Blues
- Bearracuda San Diego, featuring DJ Brian Maier @ The Merrow
- The Blessed Hellhounds, Los Mas Cerratis, the Shallow End @ The Bancroft
- Lee Churchill @ U-31
- Sue Palmer @ Croce's Park West
- Trade Winds @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (5 p.m.)
- Beta Maxx @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (9 p.m.)
- Danyavaad & the Shimmy Sisters @ Tango del Rey
- Qstn @ El Dorado
- F---ing in the Bushes Britrock, with DJs Dan Sant and Rob Moran @ Whistle Stop
- Big Sean, Reflex @ Fluxx
- Nervo @ Omnia
- Hayden James @ Bang Bang
- Junior theDISCOpunk @ Henry's Pub
- Moves @ 98 Bottles
- DJs Dan Mascari, Mullin, Craig Visser, Ghost @ Kava Lounge
- K.L.N.M. & 7 Seal Dub, featuring Layne Tadese, DJ RM @ Gallagher's Irish Pub
- Club Musae @ Boar Cross'n
- Art Loomer @ 710 Beach Club (5-8 p.m.)
- The Village Squares, 2 Day Job & Special Guests @ 710 Beach Club (9 p.m.)
Rosemary Bystrak is the publicist for the Casbah and 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.
