I firmly stand by my opinion that September is the best month in San Diego. Friday is no exception, with great events like the Village Music Walk at various locations in Carlsbad for the 2012 Carlsbad Music Festival kickoff; PARK(ing) Day, which has people taking over parking spaces and transforming them into public mini-parks with pop-up concerts; and there's some killer DJs at the Roots Factory in Barrio Logan. In this political season, I would also have to recommend the all-ages Saul Williams spoken-word show at the San Diego Womans Club, and perhaps nudge you to the Casbah to see the former San Diegans of the Soft Pack as they return to party like the good ole days in their hometown. Whatever you choose, pick wisely so you can last all weekend, when there are great events all over town.
Friday, September 21:
- The Soft Pack, Heavy Hawaii @ Casbah
- Casbah Presents Saul Williams (spoken word), Ted Washington @ San Diego Womans Club (3rd & Maple, Bankers Hill, all-ages, 7 p.m.)
- PARK(ing) Day (International Takeover of Parking Spaces), featuring surprise pop-up performances @ Blind Lady Ale House and various locations (Noon to 6 p.m.)
- San Diego School of Rock presents Smiths vs. The Cure @ Sunset Temple
- Village Music Walk, featuring Red Fish Blue Fish, MandoBasso, Calder Quartet, Eric Byers, Timothy Andres, Andy Akiho, Sean Conway, Trouble in the Wind, Susanna Kurner @ 2012 Carlsbad Music Festival
- Atomic Groove @ Belly Up (5:30 p.m.)
- English Beat with Headshine @ Belly Up (9 p.m.)
- DJ sets by Frank Leopold (Mucho L.A.),Ana Brown, Heber V. @ Roots Factory
- Hobo Torch, Behind the Wagon, Raymond Raye & the New Sideshow Roundup @ Soda Bar
- F#--in’ in the Bushes, featuring Stones n' Roses , DJ Rob and Crew @ Whistle Stop
- Friend of the Devil @ The Shakedown
- Gregory Page Bon Voyage @ Java Joe's
- Pilots, Animal Eyes, Fanno Creek, Shiva Trash @ Tin Can
- Taboo @ Til Two Club
- One Theory, Psychothermia, Eken is Dead, Beneath Lanston, Silence Betrayed @ Ruby Room
- Jagged Lines, Strangely Strange @ Ken Club
- Tactical Ffever, Realization Orchestra, Ca. Bleeding, Secret Fun Club, Meat Piled High @ Eleven
- The Styletones @ Bar Pink
- F.U.Z.Z, Soul Ablaze, Brother Burns, DJ EVS @ The Griffin
- Hoodrat, the Last Years, Kids In Heat, Shiva Trash, DJ Tony @ Tower Bar
- Tainted Love, with DJ LV @ House of Blues
- Chad Taggart, Jamie Kent @ Lestat's
- True Press, Kalua Moa @ Winston's
- Rum for the Pirates, Fall to Ruin, Immoral, Skies to Oceans, Achelios @ Soma
- Patti Zlaket @ Humphreys Backstage Lounge (5 p.m.)
- The Mighty Untouchables @ Humphreys Backstage Lounge (9 p.m.)
- Fleetwood Max @ Flying Elephant
- Ronnie Mund Block Party @ 4th & B
- The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra @ Anthology (7:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m.)
- Todo Mundo, DJ Arox @ Gallagher's
- Whitney Shay @ Marble Room
- Junior Sanchez, Erick Diaz @ Voyeur
- Stone the Giant @ The Skybox
- Gabe Vega, Kid Wonder, Saul Q, Jason Waterfalls @ El Dorado
- DJ Jam @ Spin
- Junior theDISCOpunk @ A/C Lounge
- El Puro Party, featuring Kimbo vs. Adam Salter @ El Camino
- J Boogie, Cello Joe, Carlo @ Analog
- DJ E Rock, Ricky Rocks @ Fluxx
- Third Story @ Dizzys (@ 98 Bottles on Kettner)
- Stranger, with Natural Heights @ 710 Beach Club
- Ken Boothe, the Amalgamated, Shocks of Mighty, Ottly Mercer @ Brick by Brick
- The Ballad Mongers @ Tio Leo’s Lounge
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.
