It is no surprise that Mariachi El Bronx is sold out tonight. The band holds lots of local connection, and when they perform, it's such an incredibly entertaining spectacle that fans flock back to every local appearance they make. On top of a sick performance, they always have really cool merch, so make sure to bring some extra scratch. Meanwhile, legendary blues man Taj Majal is back -- this time with a headlining slot at the San Diego Blues Fest. I'm kind of a nerd when it comes to music documentaries, and I feel like Taj is in a ton of them and always has something new to say about artists who shaped modern music. At the Casbah, Big Sandy and His Flyrite Boys step into the headline position after Blasters frontman Phil Alvin was hospitalized with walking pneumonia. We hope the best for him, a speedy recovery and hopefully some rescheduled tour dates down the road. Around town, Jason Nash is at the Observatory, Chris Cresswell strikes out on his own at Soda Bar and Liberty Station hosts a small local hip-hop festival.
Saturday, Sept. 7:
- Mariachi El Bronx, Tropa Magica @ Belly Up (sold out)
- San Diego Blues Fest featuring Taj Mahal, Phantom Blues Band, Eric Gales, Larkin Poe, Curtis Salgado, Chris James & Patrick Rynn, Black Market III, Whitney Shay, the Sleepwalkers, World Famous Jim Gibson @ Embarcadero Marina Park North
- The Blasters, Big Sandy & His Flyrite Boys, the Johnny Deadly Trio @ Casbah
- South Park Fall Walkabout @ 30th & Fern/Juniper (3-8 p.m.)
- Jason Nash @ Observatory North Park
- Chris Cresswell (the Flatliners), Brian Wahlstrom, Zach Quinn (Pears) @ Soda Bar
- Sleepless San Diego 2019 with Michael Ketterer, Ruslan, Influence Music, Jon Keith, Social Beingz @ Liberty Station/NTC Park
- Marisela Y Amanda Miguel @ Civic Theatre
- DJ Milky Wayne @ Bar Pink
- '80s vs. '90s DJs with Gabe Vega & Saul Q @ Whistle Stop (9 p.m.)
- Grampadrew's Flim Flam Revue @ Whistle Stop (5 p.m.)
- Charles Owens Quartet @ Dizzy's
- New Skeletal Faces, Flaunt, Homeless Sexuals, Quiet Fear, Christ Killer, Hellmarch @ Ken Club
- Ash Code, Belladonna Grave, Aurat @ Space
- Just Like Heaven '80s New Wave Night @ Blonde
- Andrea Hammond Band @ Museum of Making Music
- Mad Hat Hucksters @ Panama 66
- Jordin Sparks with special guests Funk's Most Wanted hosted by Kiki Shepard and comedian Adrian “Adee” McCovy @ Music Box
- Tighten Ups @ Pour House (5 p.m.)
- Bumpasonic @ Pour House (9:30 p.m.)
- Aries, Biskwiq @ Soma
- Edgar Degas: Works on Paper @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
- A Salute to Teachers @ Balboa Theatre
- Louis V & the Aesthetics @ Seven Grand
- Clinton Ross Davis @ Black Cat Bar
- Rip Carson & the Carcin-O-Genics @ Grand Ole BBQ & Asado (5-8 p.m.)
- The Downs Family @ Grand Ole BBQ & Asado (1-4 p.m.)
- Kalimba: Somos Muchos Y Venimos Todos @ House of Blues
- Black Pool, Rorre, Ten Bulls (fka Sights and Sages) @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
- UFC Fight Hosted by Jesse JT Money Taylor @ The Holding Company
- UFC 242 @ Indian Joe Brewing
- Sophia Alone @ Martini's Above Fourth
- Shake Before Us, the Hiroshima Mockingbirds, Mistress 77 @ Tower Bar
- Cuarto Menguante @ De Oro Mine Co.
- Wolf City Radio, Yeah Buddy @ Bancroft Bar
- Cosmic Kitten and Spookey Ruben @ SD Content Partners
- Jerry Jacobs @ Moonshine Beach
- Still Ill, Thieves Like Us @ 710 Beach Club
- Seth Cook @ Moonshine Flats
- Carlos Rock Experience @ Winston's (2 p.m.)
- Benefit for Ocean Beach Elementary School with David & the Goliaths and the Audiohounds @ Winston's (5 p.m.)
- Desert Rhythm Project, Psydecar @ Winston's (9:30 p.m.)
- Rockabilly Shakeout: Jesse & the Rock & Roll Three, the Shanghais, DJ Stack Aly @ Til-Two Club
- Tassels and Tails @ Brick by Brick
- Country Brunch Live with Sickstring Outlaws @ House of Blues (10 a.m.)
- Greg Douglas @ Wildwood Crossing
- The Amalgamated @ Himmelberg's
- Bear Night Summer Blow-Out @ The Merrow
- Steph Johnson @ Plaza Bar, Westgate Hotel
- Bummer Dreams, Art Disposal, Golden Siddhi @ Salty Frog
- Beta 7, Mad Cow Disease, DJ Yaya Byrd @ Manhattan Bar
- Strictly Business with DJs Edroc & Heminguey @ The Office
- Baja Bugs @ Riviera Supper Club & Turquoise Room
- Acoustic Revolt with Kevin Skalba, Ian Trumball, Tim Frog Fennelly, Zach Brosi @ Rosie O'Grady's
- Sickstring Outlaws @ Renegade
- "Art of Flamenco" Dinner Show @ Cafe Sevilla
- Detroit Underground @ Tio Leo's
- Evidence Band @ Humphreys Backstage Live (9 p.m.)
- The Reflectors @ Humphreys Backstage Live (5 p.m.)
- Finesse, DJ Autumn @ V Lounge, Viejas Casino
- Private Domain, DJ Autumn @ Lobby Bar, Viejas Casino
- Luca Lush @ Bassmnt
- Front Left x Family Reunion present Dumb Fat Records Takeover @ Spin
- Scooter @ Fluxx
- Serious Guise @ Navajo Live
- Vavo @ Parq
- California Cage Wars presents Regulators @ Oak Room, Viejas Casino
- Ascension with DJs Robin Roth, Kaerie, Treston Maus @ Kava Lounge
- DJs & Dancing @ Henry's Pub
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.
