Tonight might be the most banging night of concerts this whole summer. Some massive names in music will be spending their Friday night in San Diego, and even if you want to keep it chill and local, your options are strong there, too. Everyone has been buzzing about Death Cab for Cutie and, of course, we love them and have seen them in some of San Diego's largest venues, but their choice to instead play two nights at the relatively intimate space of the Observatory North Park is kind of a big deal and no doubt scammers will be taking full advantage and trying to sell fake tickets -- so be smart and alert and don't fall for fakes. Meanwhile, another big ticket in town is a co-headline bill with two SoundDiego faves, Young the Giant and Fitz & the Tantrums. Coin opens the show at SDSU's Open Air Theatre, so be sure to get there early to catch all the top-notch acts. For the local set, it's been awhile since the last Redwoods Revue, so catch their full roster at the Casbah, or head up to the Belly Up to catch OGs of the San Diego scene, the Paladins. There's a Beatles show at the Embarcadero, Tiki Oasis continues at Crowne Plaza, and Chris Young brings a massive country tour to Chula Vista at the NICU Amphitheatre. It's a lot to take in, but find what sings to you and make a night of it. Nights like these don't come around very often.
Friday, Aug. 9:
- Death Cab for Cutie, Jenn Champion @ The Observatory North Park (SOLD OUT)
- Redwoods Revue with Jake Najor & the Moment of Truth, Dani Bell & The Tarantist, the Midnight Pine, Birdy Bardot, Cardinal Moon @ Casbah
- Young the Giant, Fitz & the Tantrums, Coin @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
- The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band @ Embarcadero Marina Park South
- The Soft White Sixties, the Oxen, the Hiroshima Mockingbirds @ The Merrow
- The Paladins, the Tighten Ups @ Belly Up
- Tiki Oasis 2019: Catch The New Wave @ Crowne Plaza San Diego
- Chris Young @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
- Disco Goth ft. Ruby Haunt, Los Shadows, Glass Spells @ Soda Bar
- The James Day & Tiger Diep Meet Quintet @ Dizzy's
- Grimm’s Law, Super Buffet @ Black Plague Brewing
- We Are Your Friends Indie Dance Party @ Blonde
- Red Not Chili Peppers @ Del Mar Racetrack
- BrokenBeat SD @ Space
- Spice Pistols, Fictitious Dishes @ Bar Pink
- Mad Hat Hucksters @ Panama 66
- Supersonic Dragon Wagon, Red Wizard, Psylow @ Tower Bar
- Fistfights With Wolves, Strange Creature, One Hot Planet @ Black Cat Bar
- Master, Claustrofobia, Dusk, Beekeeper, Osmium @ Brick By Brick
- Wise Monkey Orchestra, Mango Habanero, DJ Oren @ The Holding Company
- Infinity Eyes, Black Market Brigade, Service Interruption, Los Muertos @ Til-Two Club
- Sidney Gish, Julia Shapiro (of Chastity Belt), the Licks @ The Che Cafe
- Piatt Pund, Sea Monks @ Lestat's
- Angel City Bluegrass Boys @ Grand Ole BBQ & Asado
- King Schascha, C-Money, Sandollar, Strictly Skunk, DJ Unite @ Winston's
- The Outliers @ Moonshine Beach
- Megan Ruger @ Moonshine Flats
- The Jack McCain Band @ De Oro Mine Co
- Reggaeton Party @ Atomic
- Rock the Yacht Party Cruise @ Hornblower Yacht
- Emo Night Brooklyn @ House of Blues
- Gilbert Castellanos @ Plaza Bar, Westgate Hotel
- Ska in OB @ Mother's Saloon
- Hidden Sounds: Sara Petite @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
- Rock en Espanol with Zenith @ Border X Brewing
- The Mockery @ Park & Rec
- Becca Jay Band @ Rosie O'Grady's
- Dubbest, Prime Livity, Eureka Sound @ 710 Beach Club
- Sophia Alone @ Martini's Above Fourth
- Groove Factory @ Wildwood Crossing
- Factory with Adam Salter & Ayla Simone @ The Office
- Good Vibes @ Riviera Supper Club & Turquoise Room
- Freeman Fridays @ U-31
- The Siers Brothers @ Tio Leo's
- El Haragán y Compañía, Rebel Cats @ Music Box
- Fuzz Huzzi, Come Out Fighting, Sucker Fish, Wet @ Salty Frog
- Backroads @ Renegade
- Rip Carson @ Himmelberg's
- Funk's Most Wanted @ Humphreys Backstage Live (9 p.m.)
- Fabulous Ultratones @ Humphreys Backstage Live (5 p.m.)
- Get Groovin @ Navajo Live
- Jimmy Thackery, Blitz Brothers Band @ Ramona Mainstage
- Rumors: An '80s New Wave Synthpop Dance Night @ Manhattan Bar
- Los Nuevos Rebeldes @ El Gran Patron Night Club
- Pop Vinyl, DJ Ms Mo @ V Lounge, Viejas Casino
- JB & the Movers, DJ Ms Mo @ Lobby Bar, Viejas Casino
- DPM: Joe Pea, Matty Ladd, Papi @ Spin
- OOkay DJ Set @ Omnia
- DJ Brees @ FLUXX
- Chachi @ Parq
- Pleasure @ Kava Lounge
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.
