Ask any music writer what they like, and you'll hear a whole variety of classic staples. But dig a little deeper, and I would venture to say that everyone has some artist they've clung on to over the years for myriad reasons. For me, that artist is Rocky Votolato. Discovering his music fresh out of college, it really changed things for me. He opened a window to small shows, to the value of finding music beyond the repetitive trappings of radio, and the music of Votolato, as he's grown and changed over the years, is also a living document of my own growth and change and cycles of life and love and hardships and successes. Every song has a connection, and thankfully I'm not alone, as evidenced by his dozen shows at the Casbah over the past decade with other fans mouthing along to every word. At Monday's performance, he will be accompanied by his brother, Cody Votolato (of the Blood Brothers), on electric guitar, which should make for an exceptionally dynamic show.
Monday, June 9:
- Rocky Votolato, Lotte Kestner, Kevin Long @ Casbah
- The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, Rick Vito @ Belly Up (sold out)
- Il Volo @ Humphrey's Concerts By the Bay
- DJs Nate "Macho Man" Bohy, Queen Aida, The @Largester @ Bar Pink
- Velvet Cafe @ Alexander's (30th & Upas)
- The Tin Can Country Club Showcase feat. Emily Shrader @ Tin Can
- The Fabulous Ultratones @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
- Aleks Syntek @ House of Blues
- Wheels of the Industry @ Live Wire
- Open Mic hosted by Chad Taggert @ Lestat's
- Electric Waste Band @ Winston's
- Dub Dynamite @ The OFfice
- Kinetic Soul with Antonio Aguilera, Joey Jimenez, Jonny Tarr @ Henry's Pub
- Industry Night with DJ Kid Wonder @ U-31
Rosemary Bystrak is the publicist for the Casbah and The North Park Theatre, 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.
