I know I wasn't the only person in town who just about lost my mind when I heard Arctic Monkeys were playing at the Observatory North Park -- and not just one, but two nights. I mean, I guess I'm always a little surprised when a major artist plays the theatre, opting for just over a thousand people instead of one of the bigger spots in town, but I'm certainly not complaining. It would be hard to find a more charismatic frontman in contemporary music than Alex Turner, and no doubt, the next two nights are going to be epic. If you weren't lucky enough to score a ticket, you've still got solid options, with Lo Moon performing at the Casbah (read the SoundDiego interview), John Doe and Exene of X playing the Belly Up, and a Dream night at Space Bar with Winter, Franky Flowers and Soft Lions.
Wednesday, May 2:
- Arctic Monkeys @ The Observatory (sold out)
- Lo Moon, Kraus @ Casbah (read the SoundDiego interview)
- John Doe & Exene, Dead Rock West (acoustic duo) @ Belly Up
- Dream presents Winter, Franky Flowers, Soft Lions @ Space
- Soul Time! A Soul & Funk Dance Party featuring Gabriel Roth (aka Bosco Mann of Daptone Records/The Dap Kings), Cochemea Guest @ Whistle Stop
- Layne, Selfish Things, LoveGlow, JARA @ Soda Bar
- Sure Sure, Fashion Jackson @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
- The Sons of Rainier, Clinton Ross Davis @ Black Cat Bar
- La Luz @ The Loft
- Death Cab For Karaoke: Live Band Emo Sing-alongs @ Til-Two Club
- Gilbert Castellanos Young Lions Series & Jazz Jam @ Panama 66
- Lisa Sanders & Brown Sugar @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
- Broadway Annual Spring Concert @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
- Joe Pea, Ryan Bauer, Gomez @ Blonde
- Open Mic Night @ Pour House
- Liz Callaway & Jason Graae @ Martini's Above Fourth
- DJ Mike White/ Rockin Trivia @ Crossroads, House of Blues (free)
- Firehouse Swing @ Queen Bee's
- Lost Monarchs, Manzanita Blues @ Navajo Live
- Karaoke @ Bancroft Bar
- Hump Wednesday @ U-31
- Open Mic @ Midnight Jack
- Open Mic with Jefferson Jay @ Winston's (6-9 p.m.)
- Live Music @ Henry's Pub
- DJ EdRoc @ The Office
- DJ LeonarD @ Tio Leo's
- Wats Good Wednesdays @ Kava Lounge
- Open Mic/Open Jam @ 710 Beach Club
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.
