I am grateful in my life for always having amazing teachers. In fact, I can't look back at my formative years and think of one who wasn't top notch, but I was especially grateful for my junior year English teacher who was friends with a local musician named Steve Poltz, who she brought in as a guest to perform for my class. My grandfather had died the day before, but I wanted to be around my friends in my mourning, and so when Steve asked for requests, I wrote down what had happened and he played "You've Got a Friend" by James Taylor and "In My Life" by the Beatles, and though I was already a Rugburns fan, I became a Steve Poltz lifer that day. I've seen him play in pretty much every venue in town, every street fair and I've probably still missed even more, but now that he's living in Nashville, these performances are fewer and further between. So, it's no surprise tonight's show at the Belly Up is completely sold out. I wonder if I can call in a favor. Up and comer Bruno Major is also sold out at the Casbah, but luckily you've got another night of the Spits at Space and earlier in the night you can catch Sounds of the Big Easy with an amazing collection of locals at Poway OnStage. Elsewhere, the Lexicons rock out at Soda Bar and former San Diegan Anya Marina plays at Dizzy's. For an extra special daytime treat, head to the Banding Together fundraiser at Belly Up at noon.
Saturday, Feb. 24:
- Steve Poltz Ninth Annual 50th Birthday Bash featuring the Rugburns @ Belly Up (SOLD OUT)
- Bruno Major @ Casbah (SOLD OUT)
- The Spits, Beehive & the Barracudas, Keepers @ Space
- Mr. Gregory Page, Sue Palmer, Casey Hensley, Sharifah Muhammad, the Euphoria Brass Band, Nathan James, the Bayou Brothers in Six String Society’s Sounds of the Big Easy @ Poway OnStage
- The Lexicons, Third Project, Privileged, DJ Tradskin @ Soda Bar
- Comedy Kumite @ Bar Pink (8 p.m.)
- Anya Marina @ Dizzy's
- Saturday Night Hustle with the Husky Boy All-Stars @ Bar Pink (10 p.m.)
- Banding Together's Greatest Hits featuring Dr. Seahorse, Grinnell Trio, Jungle Poppins @ Belly Up (12 p.m.)
- Jesse Cook @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
- San Diego Opera presents Turandot @ Civic Theatre
- Through Being Cool Emo Night with Derek Hubbard & Steven Ora @ Blonde
- Mochilero All-Stars @ Panama 66
- San Diego Sockers vs. RGV Barracudas @ Valley View Casino Center
- Agent 22, Marian Mulock @ Lestat's
- The Aggrolites featuring the Slightly Stoopid Horns, Psydecar, San Diego City Soul Club @ Music Box
- Bob Magnusson & his All-Star Quintet @ Dizzy's
- The Honky's @ Pour House (5 p.m.)
- Wild Wild Wets, Belladon, Dunns @ Pour House
- The Reverend Shawn Amos @ Prohibition
- The Call @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
- Datsik, Space Jesus, Riot Ten, Carbin @ Soma
- The Powerballs, Dr. Explosion, Santa Ana Knights @ Black Cat Bar
- An Evening With Billy Galewood @ Java Joe's
- Booty Bassment with DJs Dmitri and Rob @ Whistle Stop
- Groove International @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
- Dark Star Orchestra @ House of Blues
- Sophia Alone @ Martini's Above Fourth
- Le Saboteurs, the Heartbeat Trail, the Fictitious Dishes @ Tower Bar
- Gutter Candy @ De Oro Mine Co.
- Falling Up @ Bancroft Bar
- Martin McDaniel @ Moonshine Beach
- Jason Mizelle @ Moonshine Flats
- Up Front @ Winston's (3 p.m.)
- Velour @ Winston's (5 p.m.)
- Los Rieleros del Norte and Conjunto Azabache @ El Patron Night Club
- Brothers Gow, the Shakedown String Band @ Winston's (10 p.m.)
- Visions Til-Two @ Til-Two Club
- Musicians United: A Benefit for Vic Nieto lll with Loose Cannon, SlaveSound, Alchemy, Nightshadow, Bunch of Heathens @ Brick by Brick
- Strictly Business with DJs Edroc & KanyeAsada @ The Office
- Punk Goes '90s Pop @ 710 Beach Club
- DJ Junior the Disco Punk @ U-31
- Sleepwalkers, Johnny Ramos, Jaalelnd De Leon, Kid Ramos @ Tio Leo's
- Y3K @ Humphreys Backstage Live (5 p.m.)
- Viva Santana @ Humphreys Backstage Live (9 p.m.)
- Butts Ta Nuts @ El Dorado
- LED presents Dr. Fresch, Hotfire @ Bang Bang
- DJ Shabazzz @ FLUXX
- Lucent, Orkidea, Shugz @ Spin
- Blackout Scorpions @ Navajo Live (8:45 p.m.)
- Blaze of Jovi @ Navajo Live (10:45 p.m.)
- Nelly @ Parq
- Savi @ Omnia
- Rockstar Saturdays @ Henry's
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.
