I gotta say, I laid low last night because I knew tonight would be huge. For one, the always creative, never redundant and forever spectacular Flaming Lips are playing the Observatory tonight. I remember the first time I saw the band live. I was given a photo pass for this one-off festival in downtown San Diego. There were probably two dozen photographers all vying for the best shots, but there I was, with a tiny Sony Cybershot, and I started seeing the clear plastic bubble inflating on the side stage. I maneuvered over, and being in the right place at the right time, Wayne Coyne climbed in and proceeded to roll right over the top of me as he rolled onto the excited crowd. Subsequent performances have been just as stellar, and tonight will be my first time seeing the band in a relatively small room instead of at a festival. I can hardly wait. But it's also a tough call, because Bob Schneider -- one could say he's Austin's Steve Poltz -- plays the Belly Up, and My Chemical Romance guitarist Frank Iero plays the Casbah (after having been in a gnarly car accident last fall). All offer something different and special for a Sunday night, so you definitely don't want to stay home.
Sunday, May 7:
- Cinco de Mayo @ Old Town
- Cinco de Mayo Music Festival @ Chula Vista (H Street corridor between Bay & Marina)
- The Flaming Lips, Klangstof @ Observatory North Park
- Bob Schneider, Trouble in the Wind @ Belly Up
- Elise Trouw (CD release), Tolan Shaw @ The Loft, UCSD
- Frank Iero & the Patience, Dave Hause & the Mermaid @ Casbah
- Rat Sabbath @ Bar Pink
- Karen & the Klassix @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
- Tommy Mitchell CD Release Party @ The Holding Company 1502
- The Black Lillies, Dustin Schaefer @ Soda Bar
- Los Master Plus, Azúcar, DJ Saul Q @ Music Box
- San Diego Women's Chorus presents "Reflections": A 30th Anniversary Celebration @ University Christian Church
- Music Workers with Gabe & Nato @ Pour House (1:30 p.m.)
- Keith Haman & the Tin Stars @ Pour House
- West Coast Weekender with Mark Farina, Oliver Dollar, Manik, Sunshine Jones, Rich Medina, Julius TMT, Mark Quark, Greg Eversoul, Cris Herrera, Eric Medina, Terri Lee, Arielle Z, Post Script, B2B, Positive Language, Memo Rex, Susio, Donald Thump @ World Beat Center
- Mojo Jackson, Nick Crook @ Lestat's
- Mandapa, Big Chocolate, Toadface, Secret Recipe, Psypurp @ Kava Lounge
- Silver & Gold with DJ Pound, Spoiled Bois, Ghost Traps, DJ Listerine, Umenos @ Blonde
- Pants Karaoke @ Til-Two Club
- San Diego Symphony: Mahler Symphony No. 3 @ Symphony Hall
- Blue October, Ryan Delahoussaye @ Brick by Brick
- Salsa Sundays @ Queen Bee's (all ages)
- Burlesque Sunday Tease @ The Merrow
- Earl Thomas Band @ Winston's (5 p.m.)
- Reggae Sunday @ U-31
- Uptown Top Ranking w/ Tribe of Kings @ The Office
- Jason Brown @ Humphreys Backstage Live (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)
- R: Tyme @ Humphreys Backstage Live (7 p.m.)
- Jose Sinatra's OB-o-ke @ Winston's
- Almost Famous Karaoke @ Henry's
- Reggae Sunday @ Spin
- Sunday Funday Karaoke @ 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.
