Tonight is a massive night for music with the Who playing Viejas Arena, the (Brian Wilson-less) Beach Boys at Humphreys for their first of two nights, and Bela Fleck at the Balboa Theatre. But I don't think I need to regurgitate their merits and career-spanning accolades for you to know whether you're going to any of those shows. But I will highlight a couple other shows that might be in our gig-economy millennial budgets, like Surf Curse at the Observatory North Park, who play a lush melancholic indie-pop, and have been making a name for themselves in LA and beyond. The Atom Age, meanwhile, bring "horn-tinged 21st-century rock & roll" to the Casbah, or head to House of Blues to see Briston Maroney, who's being called the next big artist out of Nashville, with vulnerable lyrics paired with bluesy electric guitar. It's a big night in San Diego, so find a way to get out and participate because nights like this don't happen all the time.
Wednesday, Oct. 16:
- The Who, Liam Gallagher @ Viejas Arena, SDSU
- The Beach Boys @ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
- Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer @ Balboa Theatre
- Surf Curse, Dirt Buyer @ The Observatory North Park
- The Atom Age, Shake Before Us, True Stories @ Casbah
- Briston Maroney, Slow Caves @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
- Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes @ Casbah (CANCELED)
- Bloom, Cold Moon, Nights Like Thieves, Life in Discord @ Soda Bar
- Drug Hunt, Aunt Cynthia's Cabin, Bear Call @ Whistle Stop
- Death Cab for Karaoke @ The Office
- The Side Deal (ft. members of Train, Sugar Ray, PawnShop Kings) @ Belly Up
- Club Possession with DJPJ and Wenzo, Forest Grove @ Bar Pink (9:30 p.m.)
- Neutral Shirt, Get Married, Perspective (a lovely hand to hold), Matt Caskitt & the Breaks @ Til-Two Club
- Eggs of Gomorrh, Putrid Temple, Antebellum, Dhatüra @ Space
- Jinx, Sway, Was, Anti Run, Means Of Control @ The Che Cafe
- Charlie Arbelaez @ Plaza Bar, Westgate Hotel
- Chevelle, Aeges @ House of Blues
- Lost Ox @ The Holding Company (11 p.m.)
- The Road to Wonderfront: Battle of the Bands with the Strawberry Moons, Pink Eye, the Surrealistics, Aviator Stash, Oak Palace @ Music Box
- Reverie Noise, the End of America, Jehlad Hickson @ The Holding Company (8 p.m.)
- The Jazz Pocket Swing @ Tio Leo's
- Voice of Addiction, War Fever, Inciting Riots, the A-Bortz @ Tower Bar
- Clay Colton @ Wildwood Crossing
- Boss Jazz with Jason Hanna & Friends @ Riviera Supper Club & Turquoise Room
- Gilbert Castellanos' Young Lions Series & Jazz Jam @ Panama 66
- Hyper Active Slackers @ 710 Beach Club (9 p.m.)
- Dance Klassique with Joe Pea, Ryan Bauer, Gomez @ Blonde
- Open Mic Night @ Pour House
- Club Kingston Presents: Better Chemistry, DJ Carlos Culture @ Winston's
- Thirsty Burlington in "Cher Live!" @ Martini's Above Fourth
- Open Mic with Jefferson Jay @ Winston's (6-9 p.m.)
- Whiskey Ridge @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
- Wu-Tang Wednesday with Mister Hek & Guests @ El Dorado
- Open Mic/Open Jam @ 710 Beach Club (7 p.m.)
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.
