Some really big things happened to my life around 1983-1984. First, a band called Culture Club released a record called "Colour By Numbers." Second, a store called Target was expanding around Southern California after acquiring former GEMCO locations, and opened a store on Palomar and Broadway in Chula Vista. I was very young, in elementary school, so after saving allowance for weeks, my sister and I bravely went to our new Target store and split the $5.99 sale price of "Colour By Numbers" on vinyl. Luckily, while most people were buying cassettes or even CDs, we were late adopters in my household and had a couple record players around the house, where I could sing and dance and beg my mom to braid my hair with ribbons like Boy George did on the cover. That I get to see the band all these years later is amazing to me, and I can't wait to bop along to all my favorite jams, just like I did then. If you're going to the show, get there early to catch Groves, from Groves, Texas. Their synth-infused indie-rock has a cool dance vibe and sweet, catchy melodies that will be a great start to a night at Humphreys by the Bay. Around town, the Black Heart Procession at the Casbah is sold out, Stylust Beats are at Belly Up, and D Generation play Soda Bar (note: tonight's Irenic show with Melissa Brooks & the Aquadolls has been postponed to Oct. 30). And in case you're wondering, I still have the vinyl.
Wednesday, Aug. 24:
- Culture Club featuring Boy George, Groves @ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
- The Black Heart Procession, Systems Officer, Nylon Apartments @ Casbah (SOLD OUT)
- D Generation, Dead On the Wire, the Phantoms @ Soda Bar
- Stylust Beats, Trevor Kelly, Shlump, Galangsta @ Belly Up
- Helen Money, John Haughm (Agalloch), Bleak Skies, Monochromacy @ The Merrow
- Melissa Brooks & the Aquadolls, Sizzy Rocket, Caroline, Be All End All @ The Irenic (This show has been postponed to Oct. 30 at the same venue -- tickets for tonight's show will be honored)
- Oh My Snare, Freya Wilcox and the Howl, Freya Wilcox @ Tower Bar
- Wednesday Night Boogie with DJ L @ Bar Pink
- Charles Owens, Bob Boss @ Dizzy's
- Gilbert Castellanos Young Lions Series & Jazz Jam @ Panama 66
- Is This It? with DJ Rees Withrow @ The Office
- Billy Bacon & the Forbidden Pigs, Grampadrew Trio, DJ Strahota @ Whistle Stop
- Club Kingston Presents: Southtown Generals with DJ Carlos Culture @ Winston's
- Rotten Sound, D.I.S., Condemned, Poison Headache, Lurid Memory @ Brick By Brick
- Conor Coughlan, Courtney Preis, Shannon McEhelhaney @ Lestat's
- Karaoke with Cici @ The Bancroft
- Orbitrons @ 710 Beach Club
- Tropical Wednesday with DJ Mo Lyon @ U-31
- Open Mic with Jefferson Jay @ Winston's (6-9 p.m.)
- Da Mac @ Humphreys Backstage Live
- WTF Wednesday @ El Dorado
- Family Beatdown @ Kava Lounge
- Gino & the Lone Gunmen @ Tio Leo's
- Open Mic/Open Jam @ 710 Beach Club
- Ride the Mule @ Henry's Pub
Rosemary Bystrak is the publicist for the Casbah, the content manager for DoSD, 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.
