I ditched high school exactly twice. Once was to get free concert tickets that 91x was giving away and the other was when MTV decided to film their spring break week in San Diego in May. Obviously they hadn't done their research or they would've known that May gray is a real thing and instead of hundreds of high school and college kids in bathing suits, they got hoodies and jeans. You could choose the programming you wanted to be a part of, so my best friend and I got in line for back-to-back tapings of the "Jon Stewart Show" with musical guest the Lemonheads and Rocket From the Crypt. We ended up getting pulled from the standby line and put in the front row as Rocket came out in matching blue shiny tuxedos. I kinda like the idea that 25 years later, they're still banging out the jams. Tonight, they're playing with an amazing lineup at House of Blues for a pre-Halloween party and costumed or not, it's gonna get lit. Around town, the Casbah has a night of cover bands, the hilarious and energetic Peelander-Z from Japan play the Merrow, and the Weeks show that was originally booked at the Irenic has moved to the Ken Club.
Friday, Oct. 25:
- Rocket From the Crypt, Ceremony, El Vez, Death Valley Girls @ House of Blues
- Casbah Covers: Cheap Trick, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, New Order, Spice Pistols @ Casbah
- Peelander-Z, the Touchies, Kitty Plague @ The Merrow
- Black Pumas, Neal Francis @ Soda Bar (SOLD OUT)
- Tab Benoit, Eric Johanson @ Belly Up (SOLD OUT)
- The Weeks, Future Thieves, H.A.R.D @ Ken Club
- The Story So Far, the Frights, Hunny, Just Friends @ The Observatory North Park
- Aviator Stash, Ready Set Survive, Digital Lizards of Doom, Hardly Human, Nick Lanari (Mainsail) @ Legacy Brewing Co
- Jake Najor & the Moment of Truth, MY MYND @ The Rabbit Hole
- The Verigolds @ The Holding Company
- Three Dog Night @ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
- Podunk Nowhere, Jonny Wagon, Collin Ready @ La Jolla Athenaeum
- Ronnie Baker Brooks @ Museum of Making Music
- Parker Meridien, Kaus & Emphasize, Billy No Jokes, Opoetik & Evolve One, Kendall Carter, Shrimpboy, Loki @ Black Cat Bar
- Counterparts, Stray From the Path, Varials, Chamber, Dying Wish @ SOMA
- Fright Night: Modern Bummer, Dean Decay, the Hughes Brothers Band, Zero South, Emerald Bay, Papach, the Danger Field, Stay for the Fireworks, Grand Curator @ Brick By Brick
- Queen Nation, the '80s Underground @ Music Box
- We Are Yr Friends @ Blonde
- Nightmare Before Halloween @ Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club & Bungalows (6 p.m.)
- David Whitman Septet @ Dizzy's
- Spooky Disco @ Space
- DJ Ratty @ Bar Pink
- Dave Gleason Trio @ Panama 66
- Lucky Daye, Marco McKinnis @ Quartyard
- Cody Johnson, the Steel Woods @ Viejas Concerts in the Park
- Lia Marie Johnson, Alicia Eris, Zoe Deer @ Lestat's
- Julie Sage & the Bad Hombres @ Grand Ole BBQ & Asado (5-8 p.m.)
- Dave Gleason Solo @ Grand Ole BBQ & Asado (1-4 p.m.)
- TV Broken 3rd Eye Open, High Step Society @ Winston's
- Chris Weaver @ Moonshine Flats
- Billie Stevens @ De Oro Mine Co
- Iron Kingdom, Headless Pez, NightShadow, Monarch, Tzimani @ Tower Bar
- Euphoria Brass Band @ Seven Grand
- Lorenzo Mendez @ El Gran Patron Night Club
- Musica En La Plaza: Clave Dura @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
- Bonneville 7 @ Mr. Peabody's
- Marbin, Ben Delaurentis @ Ramona Mainstage
- Rock en Espanol with Zenith @ Border X Brewing
- Rock of Ages @ Park & Rec
- The Surrealistics, Howard & the Hopeless, Paige Koehler @ Pour House
- Joe Wood & the Lonely Ones @ Pour House (5 p.m.)
- Social Spit, Missing Limbs, Endless/Nameless, Last Option @ Bancroft Bar
- Gilbert Castellanos @ Plaza Bar, Westgate Hotel
- Robin and Linda Williams @ Templar's Hall in Old Poway Park
- Casual Yak, Something Contagious @ 710 Beach Club
- Soul Fire @ Martini's Above Fourth
- Urban Gypsys @ Wildwood Crossing
- The Becca Jay Band @ Riviera Supper Club & Turquoise Room
- The Barstool Preachers, Grade 2, Toxic Energy, Matamoska, Some Kind of Nightmare, Beta 7 @ Til-Two Club
- Freeman Fridays @ U-31
- The Whiskey Ridge Band @ Tio Leo's
- Cody Carter & Country Fried @ Renegade
- Viva Santana @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (9 p.m.)
- Anthem, Oceans @ Navajo Live
- El Whamo @ Fast Times
- Finesse, DJ Moniq @ V Lounge, Viejas Casino
- Trevor McSpadden, DJ Moniq @ Lobby Bar, Viejas Casino
- Private Domain @ Baron Long Lounge, Viejas Casino
- Trill Fridays @ Bassmnt
- Supafly Friday with DJs Charlie Rock & KidRiz @ El Dorado
- Benny Benassi @ Omnia
- FNGRS CRSSD: Sonny Fodera + Dom Dolla @ Spin
- DJ Brees @ FLUXX
- Brytiago @ Parq
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.
