I'm not here to knock Halloween in any way, but let's talk shows for a minute. On Friday, you can catch the legendary eukelele player Jake Shimabukuro at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido, and no doubt he always gives a magical performance -- evidenced in part that he just keeps playing bigger and bigger venues. Meanwhile, Tedeschi Trucks Band perform at Balboa Theatre if you're looking for a show without the chaos of Halloween. That said, there are plenty of spots to enjoy your love of music with the option of dressing up. Unfortunately, the Casbah and the North Park Theatre are off the table, since both shows are completely sold out, but you could get in to our FREE SoundDiego LIVE Halloween bash at the Office with Dead Feather Moon, Ed Ghost Tucker and after-party band Zombie Surf Camp, all hosted by the Local Pyle himself, Tim Pyles -- but get there early, because it's gonna fill up fast, and then you'll need to be on the list for entry. Elsewhere, you can have fun with the Dabbers and Lion Cut at Seven Grand, Soda Bar is throwing a tribute night with some favorite local bands, and Metalachi take mariachi to another level at Brick By Brick. As for parties devoted to the holiday, the list is seemingly endless and no doubt downtown will be a party no matter where you turn, even if it's just to marvel at how many adults get really into this holiday that used to be about the kids.
Friday, Oct. 31:
- Dead Feather Moon, Ed Ghost Tucker, Zombie Surf Camp @ SoundDiego LIVE @ The Office (free)
- The Creepy Creeps, Burning of Rome, Cramped, Schitzophonics @ Casbah (sold out)
- Casbah presents Cut Copy, Gemini Club, DJ Adam Salter @ The North Park Theatre (sold out)
- Ice Cube, 3Lau, Designer Drugs, Justin Jay, Vokab Kompany @ Harrah's Resort Southern California
- Jake Shimabukuro @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
- Dabbers, Lion Cut @ Seven Grand
- Tedeschi Trucks Band, Greyhounds @ Balboa Theatre
- Citizen Cope: Clarence Greenwood Recording's 10th Anniversary Tour @ Humphrey's By the Bay
- Roxy Jones (covering Snoop Doggy Dogg), Wild Wild Wets (covering the Zombies), Ape Machine (covering the Creedence Clearwater Revival), Sleeping Ghost (covering the Ramones), Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra @ Soda Bar
- Metalachi, Geezer, Chica Diabla @ Brick By Brick
- Noche de Brujas, featuring Angel Dust, Northern Tigers, Electrical Healing Sound, the Natives, Baja Bugs, Blood Houds, Young Wants, Gloomsday, the Cardielles, Los Ojos, Batwings @ Til Two Club
- Squirrelly Arts, They Feed at Night, the Shaolin Signal, Morphesia @ Ken Club
- Carnage @ Hard Rock Hotel
- Wildside @ Tin Roof
- Gary Hankins Summer Knowledge, Champ @ Tin Can
- Thriller Halloween Party and Costume Contest @ Bar Pink
- The Lexicons, the Mochilero All Stars, King Dutty @ The Tower Bar
- Halloween Heat, featuring the Earful and '80s Heat (9 p.m.); Atomic Groove (5:30 p.m.) @ Belly Up
- Smiths, Joy Division Masquerade, Still Ill Tribute Band @ Whistle Stop Bar
- DJ Beatnik @ Rooftop 600
- Sue Palmer @ Croce's Park West
- DJ Scotty Boy @ W Hotel
- Spirit of San Diego Yacht Halloween @ Flagship Cruises
- Fetish Halloween, with Travis Porter LIVE @ Fluxx
- Sunny Rude @ Gallagher's Pub
- DJ Seize @ Fuse
- Sweater Beats @ Somewhere Loud Event Center
- Whiiite @ Bassmnt
- Caroline D'amore @ Inspiration Hornblower
- Carlo, Gina Caderoni, Bryn, Raw Russ @ Spin Nightclub
- Mani Dollaz, Honey Cocaine @ World Beat Center
- Betamaxx @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
- The Broken Stems, the Verigolds, Sister Speak @ 710 Beach Club
- Full Strength Funk Band @ Tio Leo's Lounge
- Kid Wonder @ U31
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.
