The heat is on in San Diego and summer is fading, but these are still the best times in our city. This is when we get our city back from the myriad visitors from around the world (mostly Arizona). But I digress. We LOVE our visitors, and we welcome you back with open arms -- just go see a local band when you are here. Here are a few highlights for August, but there's always loads more than what I point out, so get out there and see some shows!
August 4, psychedelic desert rockers Gram Rabbit touch down at the Griffin.
August 5, legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach is at Embarcadero Marina Park.
August 6, it's the Drive Tour at the Casbah. You know the movie, well this is music from the movie with College, Anoraak and Electric Youth, and it's Anti-Monday League as it is every Monday.
August 10, O.C. punkers the Offspring play the Del Mar races. You've got to keep em' separated!
August 11, prolific whistler Andrew Bird plays Spreckels Theatre downtown or punk rock supergroup cover band Me First & the Gimme Gimmes at the House of Blues. Choices, choices...
August 12, KISS and Motley Crue will bring out the spandex and hairspray crowd at Cricket Wireless Amphitheater.
August 13, it's either Scottish alt-rockers Franz Ferdinand at House of Blues or Japanese pop-punkers Shonen Knife at Casbah's Anti-Monday League.
August 14, the "jazz singer" Neil Diamond will rule Cricket Wireless Amphitheater. A true superstar!
On August 15, it’s Fun. You know the "We Are Young" song, well that’s them, and they play SDSU's Open Air Amphitheater.
August 16, you got to pick between Alabama Shakes' blues-soul rock with a singer that channels Janis Joplin at House of Blues or the emo/post-hardcore of influential band Braid at the Irenic.
August 18 is a big day, All this goes down -- holy cow -- so pick one:
- Identity Fest at Cricket Wireless which features the kings of electronic digital music, an all-day affair.
- Ben Harper at Del Mar Racetrack, Ben has more soul than most artists.
- The Dickies at the Griffin: classic and legendary punk band, with a touch of wit.
- Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys at the Normal Heights Masonic Temple, Western swing and American roots music.
- The Silent Comedy at the Belly Up Tavern: local band that brings a rock & roll revival to every show.
- Summergrass at the Antique Gas Steam Engine Museum: bluegrass, bluegrass, bluegrass.
- Berlin at Sycuan Live. One word: SEX.
- Wilson Phillips at Embarcadero Marina Park. I know, but why not mention it: I just saw Bridesmaids.
- Yes at Humphreys Concerts By the Bay: kings of prog rock.
August 19, legendary surf-rocker Dick Dale at the Belly Up Tavern or Hank III, grandson of Hank Williams and son of Hank Jr., at the House of Blues.
August 22 and 23, the new wave R&B sounds of Twin Shadow at the Casbah, good enough for two nights.
August 23, Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers at Humphreys Concerts By the Bay. Steve plays banjo and his band rocks it bluegrass style.
August 24, Jimmy Cliff at the Del Mar Racetrack: ska and reggae legend who has a new record produced by Tim Armstrong of Rancid.
August 25 is another cornucopia of choices, pick one:
- Alejandro Escovedo (the Nuns, Rank & File) and Jesse Malin (D Generation) at the Griffin.
- Three Mile Pilot at the Belly Up Tavern: legendary local band that's reuniting and releasing new material.
- Unity Tour with 311, Slightly Stoopid and SOJA at Cricket Wireless Amphitheater: should be a big show for the beach crowd.
August 28, go see dubstepper Alex Clare at House of Blues or big-in-the-'80s and always-amazing Concrete Blonde at the Belly Up Tavern.
August 31 it's either the electronic sounds of M83, named after a spiral galaxy, at SOMA or the world sounds of Ozomatli at the Del Mar Racetrack.
Thank you for your time and support, the last thing I want to remind you about is our next SoundDiego LIVE which I am hosting. It goes down August 30 at the Boar Cross'n in Carlsbad and features the Howls, Trouble in the Wind and the Garage to Glory winner. Please RSVP and I'll see you there.
Tim Pyles hosts The Local 94/9, FTP show and the Coup d'Eat on FM94/9 on Sundays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. He also books local acts at the Casbah and hosts the weekly Anti-Monday League. Check out his website and follow him on Twitter @thelocalpyle. You can reach him directly here pyleste@yahoo.com
