This time last year, I was on my way to South by Southwest in a beat-up 1980s-era Mercedes Benz with a converted diesel engine. Naturally, we had plenty of stumbles and stops along the way, and we met so many random people each time we stopped. If you ever want to get close to rock bands, hang out at random gas stations between San Diego and Austin, Texas this time of year.
One of the bands I met was Said the Whale, an indie-rock group from Vancouver, British Columbia. They were so kind and fun during our brief encounter on the road, and their CD ended up soundtracking the rest of our trip to Austin. This year, the band is doing it all over again, and while it would be magical to once again bump into them at some pit stop along the way, the least I can do is support them with their show tonight at the Tin Can in Banker's Hill.
I can't guarantee they'll be the next big sensation because they tour on their own and are just playing the trenches like so many other bands. But I can guarantee that if you see Said the Whale you will love them, and maybe you'd rather enjoy them as the-little-touring-band-that-could before they eventually get the buzz that they're due.
Friday, March 9:
- Incomplete Neighbor, Said the Whale, Landis @ Tin Can
- Club Pussy Galore, the Spells, Filthy Violets, DJ Robin Roth, Terryn S. Post Show Dance Party @ Whistle Stop
- The Stone Foxes, Schitzophonics, Black Dragon River, Restavrant @ Casbah
- The Green, Passafire, DJ Carlos Culture @ Belly Up
- Casbah presents Saul Williams, CX Kidtronik, DJ Kil Quanti @ Soda Bar
- Pocket @ Bar Pink
- Gal Holiday & the Honky Tonk Revue. Bill Cardinal & the Canyon Band and Paperplanes (Leigh's B Day) @ The Shakedown
- Taboo @ Til-Two Club
- Geezer, Jane's Diction, A Pixies Cover Band @ Ruby Room
- Immovable Objects, Mutantspaceboy, the Slashes, Whqles @ Eleven
- Filligar and Superunloader @ The Griffin
- Feel the Noise Electro Dance with DJs Gabe Vega & Friends @ U- 31
- Lagwagon, Cobra Skulls, Nothington @ House of Blues
- Nik Simon @ House of Blues Voodoo Stage
- Jeff Campbell, Megan Slankard @ Lestat's
- The Remotes, Kilo Hues, Sun Drop Electric @ Brick By Brick
- The Devastators @ Winston's
- Twin Atlantic, PK, Lucky & Wild, Mad Traffic, So Far Gone @ 710 Beach Club
- All Acoustic Nighti Hesse @ Epicentre
- The Material, Silver Snakes, Paper Planet, Limits & Lines, Keep the Change @ Soma
- Daniel Jackson, Charles Owens, Jacques Lesure, Henry Franklin, Chuck McPherson @ Dizzy's (San Diego Wine & Culinary Center)
- Revolt Age @ Humphreys Backstage Lounge (early show 5 p.m.)
- Atomic Groove @ Humphreys Backstage Lounge (late show 9 p.m.)
- Feel the Noise with Gabe Vega @ U-31
- Social D Tribute @ Flying Elephant
- DSB: Americas Favorite Tribute to Journey @ Anthology (Early Show 7:30pm)
- DSB: Americas Favorite Tribute to Journey @ Anthology (Late Show 9:30 pm)
- Dave Patrone @ Marble Room
- Sasha, Bareback DJs @ Voyeur
- Zenbu Fridays with DJ Leif @ Zenbu Cardiff
- Element & Pickster, Cros1, Kid Riz @ El Dorado
- Showstopper with DJ Brett Bodley @ Fluxx
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.
