I've only ever seen Paul McCartney once, and it was kind of by accident. I won tickets to Coachella a handful of years back, and it was the end of the night. I knew Sir Paul was playing, but you know I like my concerts small, and being close to the stage and seeing the beads of sweat on an artist's brow is more interesting to me than just a massive sound amplified with the perfomer looking like an ant on stage. But as I said, it was the end of the night and his set began, and there were lights and pyrotechnics and oceans of people and he went into "Hey, Jude," and the crowd was just embracing and singing and tears kinda just started pouring down my cheeks. I was caught in the moment, found some friends and stayed for the rest of the set. McCartney is definitely a GOAT, and you should be sure to see him at least once in your life before it's too late. During the day, you can enjoy free music at the OB Street Fair, Hess Fest or Sherman Heights Music Fest, or, wait until later in the afternoon for the likes of Lady Dottie at Grand Ole BBQ or Trouble in the Wind at Karl Strauss' Arts & Amps. By nightfall, Scott Russo is sold out at the Casbah, America perform at Humphreys and our pals the Havnauts cause a ruckus at Seven Grand.
Saturday, June 22:
- Paul McCartney: Freshen Up Tour @ Petco Park
- 40th Annual Ocean Beach Chili Cook-Off & Street Fair @ Newport Avenue, OB
- Sherman Heights Music Festival @ Sherman Heights Community Center
- Hess Fest @ Grim Between North Park Way & University, North Park
- Scott Russo, Jason Cruz @ Casbah (sold out)
- Arts & Amps with Trouble in the Wind, Parker Meridien @ Karl Strauss Brewery & Tasting Room (4:30 p.m., free, all ages)
- America, Formerly Alien @ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
- The Havnauts @ Seven Grand
- Bat, the Blackjackits, the Writhers, the Hots @ Soda Bar
- Desperado (Eagles Tribute), SantanaWays @ Belly Up
- Zeptune, Verado @ Bar Pink (8 p.m.)
- DJ Grimm and DJ L @ Bar Pink (10 p.m.)
- Booty Bassment with DJs Dmitri and Rob @ Whistle Stop
- Shawn Rohlf Trio @ Whistle Stop (5 p.m.)
- Lady Dottie & the Diamonds @ Grand Ole BBQ & Asado (5-8 p.m.)
- Gospel Festival featuring the Clark Sisters @ Corona Grandstand Stage, San Diego County Fair
- Xanadoodz: a Tribute to Rush @ Coors Light Rock On Stage, San Diego County Fair
- Stephen El Rey, Low Volts, A Little Blue Rosetta @ Black Cat Bar
- Spirit & Cocktail Festival @ San Diego County Fair
- Transmission: '80s New Wave Dance Night @ Space
- Through Being Cool: Emo Night @ Blonde
- Montalban Quintet @ Panama 66
- The Deep End presents Phil Weeks, Cris Herrera, Sprout @ Music Box (10 p.m.)
- Tom Gun Live @ Music Box (6 p.m.)
- NuVintage @ Pour House (9 p.m.)
- The Tigheen Ups @ Pour House (5 p.m.)
- Uno Sound with Special Guest @ Queen Bee's
- Village Park @ Che Cafe
- Saving the State, Atomic 99, Bad Influence, Ten Til Dawn, Glamour Waves, Virtual Bird @ Soma
- Next to Normal @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
- Turn Up the Lights @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
- The Ginger Cowgirl @ Grand Ole BBQ & Asado (1-4 p.m.)
- Summer Solstice Celebration & Gong Healing @ Worldbeat Center (5 p.m.)
- Emo Night Brooklyn @ House of Blues
- Fish & the Seaweeds @ Crossroads, House of Blues (free)
- Sophia Alone @ Martini's Above Fourth
- Short Temper, Pissed Regardless, Burn Infinite, Gut Punch @ Tower Bar
- The Rogue Pilots @ De Oro Mine Co.
- The Miles, Dum Cumpsters @ Bancroft Bar
- Indian Jazz Journey @ Quartyard
- Dropout Heroes featuring Wizard @ Lestat's
- Matte Gray Band @ Moonshine Beach
- Stephanie Quayle @ Moonshine Flats
- Ocean Beach Street Fair with the Moves, the Blonde Brothers, Casual Yak, Drug Hut, the Powerballs, Life's Little Crisis, DJ Green T @ Winston's
- Cheech & Chong @ Viejas Casino Concerts in the Park
- As Cities Burn, All Get Out, Many Rooms @ Brick by Brick
- Blue Largo @ Wildwood Crossing
- Mandoshanks, the A-Bortz, Roman Watchdogs @ Himmelberg's
- Jehlad, King Whisker, S Mathias & the Honeycombs @ The Merrow (8 p.m.)
- SD Golden Girls, Bears @ The Merrow
- Strictly Business with DJs Heminguey & Gabe Vega @ The Office
- Chickenbone Slim & the Biscuits @ Riviera Supper Club & Turquoise Room
- Digital Bath (Deftones Tribute), the Jagerbombs, Deltaphonic @ 710 Beach Club
- Art of Flamenco @ Cafe Sevilla
- Romi Lux @ Mavericks
- Traveling Fools, Davy Rocket @ Manhattan Bar
- Barbwire @ Renegade
- Jemere Morgan @ Ramona Mainstage
- DJ Junior theDISCOpunk @ U-31
- Dennis Jones Band @ Tio Leo's
- Groove Mercenarie @ Humphreys Backstage Live (9 p.m.)
- Epic XVIII @ Amplified Ale Works
- Pop Vinyl, DJ Moniq @ V Lounge, Viejas Casino
- Tres the Band, DJ Moniq @ Lobby Bar, Viejas Casino
- Butts Ta Nuts with DJs Jason Waterfalls, Julz, Kev Mighty @ El Dorado
- Faizon Love: Can I Live @ Heritage Event Center, Sycuan Casino (8 & 10 p.m.)
- Sweater Beats and Bohkeh @ Bassmnt
- BoB @ Parq
- Pink Heart 10th Anniversary Party @ Spin
- Copycat Killers @ Navajo Live
- Take Flight with Wellman @ Fluxx
- Jayceceoh @ Omnia
- Bang Bang Anniversary with Mason Maynard @ Bang Bang
- Acid Varsity Five Year Anniversary featuring Baseck @ 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.
