I have been waiting for this weekend since -- well, if we're being honest -- last weekend, so I'm excited for so many great shows to be in town. San Diego Civic Theatre will be packed to the rim with music lovers catching the theatrical and melodic performances of the Avett Brothers and Lake Street Dive while diehard indie singer-songwriter fans might find themselves at Soda Bar for Molly Burch. Beach Goons are probably gonna make the crowd violate the no-stage-diving rule at the Irenic and Metalachi and Spice Pistols will be a little out of the Friday usual for Belly-Uppers. Casbah has another Emo Nite, Con-Tact play the Ken Club, and Homeshake gets the booties moving at the Observatory North Park. It's a great night of music all around and I am so here for all of it. Hopefully you are, too.
Friday, Aug. 23:
- The Avett Brothers, Lake Street Dive @ San Diego Civic Theatre
- Molly Burch, Jackie Cohen @ Soda Bar
- SOJA @ Del Mar Concert Series
- Beach Goons, Junkie @ The Irenic
- Saweetie @ Bassmnt
- Metalachi, Spice Pistols @ Belly Up
- Emo Nite LA presents Emo Nite @ Casbah
- Con-Tact, Sin + Passion, Runs Deep, Distressor @ Ken Club
- Stick To Your Guns, Counterparts, Terror, Sanction, Year of the Knife @ SOMA
- Homeshake, Keith Charles @ The Observatory North Park
- Aghori, Vatican Falling, Defy the Tyrants, Contortion, Warpath @ The Merrow
- Panther Modern, Newboy, Lower Tar, DJs, Mario Orduno's Birthday @ Whistle Stop
- Euphoria Brass Band @ Seven Grand
- Drought Tolerant Bluegrass @ Grand Ole BBQ & Asado
- Sandollar, Of Good Nature, Skyler Lutes @ Winston's
- We Are Your Friends Indie Dance Party @ Blonde
- DJ Saul Q @ Bar Pink
- Party with Fabulous Downey Bros, Riston Diggs @ Space
- Open Mic Cypher (5-7 p.m.), Oak Palace, the Heavy Twelves, Lunatron (acoustic), Nastea @ Hostelling International Downtown
- Bubu the Prince, Apollo, DJ Kutz, Smalls Uno, Goomson, Boxcutta Maxx, hosted by Badluck Cortez @ Black Cat Bar
- Nebula, Sasquatch, Desert Suns @ Brick By Brick
- All Beat Up, Pure Heel, Reclaim, COD, Madrugado @ The Che Cafe
- Little Life Crisis, Erick Taylor & the Vibe, Cherry Road @ 710 Beach Club
- Shelton Road @ Moonshine Beach
- Canaan Cox @ Moonshine Flats
- Digisaurus @ De Oro Mine Co
- Still Ill @ The Rabbit Hole
- Leoni Torres @ House of Blues
- Casual Yak, Maiden Name, DJ Byrd and Oren @ The Holding Company
- The Amalgamated @ Ramona Mainstage
- Hidden City Sounds: Kiyoshi @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
- Rock En Espanol with Zenith @ Border X Brewing
- Whitney Shay @ Park & Rec
- Josh Rosenblum Band @ Rosie O'Grady's
- Psychotic Reaction, Space Force, Death Boys @ Pour House
- California Rangers @ Pour House (5 p.m.)
- Shark Blood, the Slop, Hot Piss, the Rock & Rollies @ Tower Bar
- Sideshow @ Bancroft Bar
- Gilbert Castellanos @ Plaza Bar, Westgate Hotel
- Cedrice & the Mojo Sessions @ Martini's Above Fourth
- A Perfect Tool, Up the Irons, Sweet Soul Sister, Aether X @ Music Box
- Three Chord Justice @ Wildwood Crossing
- Factory with Adam Salter & Ayla Simone @ The Office
- Rosa’s Cantina @ Riviera Supper Club & Turquoise Room
- Morta Skuld, Disciples of Death, Guillatine, Defixion @ Til-Two Club
- DJ Kid Wonder @ U-31
- Groove Mercenaries @ Tio Leo's
- Wanted Noise, the Midnight Block, Late for Life, Tomorrow Can Wait @ Salty Frog
- Redneck Rodeo @ Renegade
- The Hiroshima Mockingbirds, BabyDoll Warriors, Filmspeed @ Himmelberg's
- Detroit Underground @ Humphreys Backstage Live (9 p.m.)
- The Reflectors @ Humphreys Backstage Live (5 p.m.)
- Brett Ellis Band, Taz Taylor, Los Santos @ Navajo Live
- Totally '80s Band @ Indian Joe Brewing
- The Moneymen @ Crossroads, House of Blues (FREE)
- Noel Torres @ Blue Agave
- The Gold Souls @ The Dubliner
- Fidel Rueda, Grupo Reo @ La Luz Ultra Lounge
- Caliber, DJ Pocket @ V Lounge, Viejas Casino
- Private Domain, DJ Pocket @ Lobby Bar, Viejas Casino
- Supafly Friday with DJs Charlie Rock & KidRiz @ El Dorado
- Awall @ Parq
- Lauren Lane @ Bang Bang
- Bingo Players @ Omnia
- Bootleg Kev @ FLUXX
- Tech Support ft. Matth, My Digital Habit, Dylan Andrew @ Kava Lounge
- SD Union 9-Year Anniversary with DJ Craze @ Spin
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.