Here's where I'd be

These are bands we especially dig, not
full listings. For those, please see
Concerts and Clubs. For more top shows featuring local acts, please see Nightgeist.

Wednesday, June 11

PLAN A: Dax Riggs, The Builders & The Butchers, The Blackout Party @ The Casbah. Dax claims his music sounds like “ghosts being born,” which is apparently what the kids are calling blues-rock these days. PLAN B: The Matches, Scissors For Lefty, Vogue in the Moment @ SOMA. Alternative Press thought enough of The Matches’ new album A Band In Hope to put them on the April cover. And in other news about music magazines nobody really reads, this show is brought to you by Performer. PLAN C: The Burning of Rome, The Sess, Japanese Sunday @ Belly Up. The latest 91X Loudspeaker indie-rock showcase stars Asian Sabbath, The Conflagration of The Italian Capital and, uh, The Sess. BACKUP PLAN: The Fresh Committee @ Winston’s.

Thursday, June 12

PLAN A: The Submarines @ Beauty Bar. CityBeat’s Kelly Davis digs The Submarines. That’s not why they get a Plan A—their indie pop is good—but my mama always said, “Don’t get cute writing about another person’s favorite band.” Or something like that. PLAN B: Mick Fleetwood @ Spreckels. Mick is calling this the “Uncorked Tour” partly because VIPs get to sample Mick Fleetwood Private Cellar wines but mostly because you need to drink a lot to forget that Stevie Nicks isn’t here. PLAN C: Augustana, Wild Sweet Orange, Patrick Park @ House of Blues. The hometown boys in Augustana are making good again with the new album Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt. It still sticks in our craw that their signature song (“Boston”) is about another city. But at least it’s not “Los Angeles.” BACKUP PLAN: Crystal Castles @ The Casbah.

Friday, June 13

PLAN A: Brad Paisley, Jewel, Julianne Hough @ Cricket Wireless. There are plenty of good local shows today (see Nightgeist) but what Paisley has that they don’t is the name of a design pattern and a tiny Oregon town. He also has chaps. And Jewel. Oh, and a 2008 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year award. PLAN B: Andre Legacy, Dirt Nasty, Beardo @ The Casbah. Andre Legacy is an underground California (L.A.) rapper previously known as Metfly and for his work with Dyslexic Speedreaders (they of the not-so-subtle “My Dick”). PLAN C: Andre Nickatina, Yukmouth @ ‘Canes. Andre Nickatina is an underground California (San Francisco) rapper previously known as Dre Dog and for his work with Mac Dre (they of the not-so-subtle Tales of II Andres). BACKUP PLAN: Young Dubliners, The Silent Comedy @ Belly Up.

Saturday, June 14

PLAN A: Steel Pulse, Pato Banton, Mystic Roots Band @ Del Mar Fairgrounds. Today is officially “Reggae Day” at the San Diego County Fair. You know, to distinguish it from the other 364 days a year when there’s absolutely no reggae playing in San Diego. PLAN B: Dionne Warwick, Kool & The Gang @ Copley Symphony Hall. E.T.’s mom and the guys who gave you “Celebration,” “Get Down On It” and “Jungle Boogie” cellllllll-uh-brate good times with the San Diego Symphony, c’mon!. PLAN C: Dirty South @ On Broadway. If you go to this show to get crunk with Lil’ Jon, you’ll be disappointed. If you go to hear an Australian DJ remix The Doors’ “The End” into an apocalyptic dance track, you’ll be pleased.  BACKUP PLAN: Hot Buttered Rum @ Wave House.

Sunday, June 15

PLAN A: The Helio Sequence, Talkdemonic @ Belly Up. A-hem, a-hem, let The Helio Sequence’s Benjamin Weikel clear his throat on this page. PLAN B: New Bloods, Crocodiles, Vaginals @ The Casbah. New Bloods are a strange roots-punk outfit from Portland. Crocodiles is an off-shoot of The Prayers and The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower. Vaginals think they’re pretty clever. I’m inclined to agree. PLAN C: Rock Plaza Central, Avails @ Beauty Bar. It takes some balls for a Canadian band to play good Americana folk-rock. Rock Plaza Central has balls. BACKUP PLAN: Lil Wayne, Dago Braves @ House of Blues.

Monday, June 16

PLAN A: Russian Circles, Daughter, Young Widows @ The Casbah. This is your chance to see Chicago post-rockers Russian Circles up close before their tour with Coheed & Cambria (Viejas, July 27) and Secret Machines. Play nice. PLAN B: Love Meets Lust, Love You Long Time, Nancy Fullforce @ Beauty Bar. Michigan electro-rockers (LML) and geeky Utah/L.A. electro hip-hoppers (LYLT) are the bread. L.A. glam punks (Nancy Fullforce) are the meat. Make me a sandwich. PLAN C: Braddigan, Trevor Davis @ Belly Up. Brad Corrigan (formerly of Dispatch) conjures balmy reggae/surf/folk-rock from the sandy shores of Denver.  

Tuesday, June 17

PLAN A: Times New Viking, Psychedelic Horseshit, Fabulous Diamonds @ The Casbah. Protect your children (and animals) from these bands by reading our public-service announcement on this page. PLAN B: George Michael @ San Diego Sports Arena. Also known as the biggest influx of Hillcrest residents to hit Point Loma since Cher played the Sports Arena in 1990. PLAN C: Extra Golden, Society! @ Bar Pink Elephant. Extra Golden named a song after the only man capable of bringing together Benga music from Kenya and American rock from Ohio (by helping expedite immigration visas for the Nairobi half of the band). The song is called “Obama.” BACKUP PLAN: The Noah’s, Hector’s Revenge @ Belly Up.