Tributes and more at Hall of Fame induction
The eighth annual San Diego Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place on Friday at Vision: A Center for Spiritual Living. Open to the public and hosted by Jefferson Jay, this year’s inductees include DJ/musical madman Mojo Nixon, reggae hitmakers Big Mountain, radio legend Claudia Russell, influential rockers The Penetrators, drum hero Larry Grano, barroom R&B combo Lady Dottie & The Diamonds and trombonist Oliver Luck. The night will
feature brief speeches, video tributes and live performances, including appearances from members of Big Mountain, the Penetrators and the Beat Farmers, as well as music from Back to the Garden, Ashley Norton and Electric Waste Band. As a wonderful opportunity to honor some of San Diego’s most important musicians and radio personalities, fans of the area’s thriving music community will love every second of this event.
• San Diego Music Hall of Fame: Friday, Oct. 16 at Vision: A Center for Spiritual Living, 4780 Mission Gorge Place, 7 p.m. $62 and up.
High-octane show at The Casbah
The Casbah has a great night of rock ‘n’ roll planned for everyone on Friday. On hand will be garage rock legends Untamed Youth and keyboard-driven rockers Thee Allyrgic Reaction. Both bands have excellent, high- octane shows, with music that takes in the best of 1960s influences and creates new sonic gems. That said, Untamed Youth, originally from Columbia, Missouri, are in a league of their own. Led by acclaimed guitarist/author/historian Deke Dickerson, the band was a mainstay of the ’90s garage rock scene, delivering terrific barroom surf-tinged rock ‘n’ roll, tour after tour. Recently reunited, the band is still firing on all cylinders, with Dickerson’s inspired guitar playing at the forefront, and a brand-new album “Git Up and Go” to promote. If you’re a fan of garage rock, this show is a must.
• Untamed Youth: Friday, Oct. 16 at The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd. 8:30 p.m. $25.
Folk, jangly rock and post punk meet
Swedish indie pop trio Peter, Bjorn and John stop in at Music Box on Friday. Mixing elements of folk, guitar‑driven jangly rock and post-punk sounds, the group’s music scored bigger outside their home country, making their biggest splash with acclaimed 2006 album, “Writer’s Block,” which features the group’s best known song, “Young Folks.” The occasion of Peter, Bjorn and John’s current tour is the 20th anniversary of that album’s release. The
band is still making great music, most recently issuing the 10-song collection, “Endless Dream,” but this tour’s live run-through of their biggest album promises to be a fun, nostalgic event for longtime fans.
• Peter, Bjorn and John: Friday, Oct. 16 at Music Box, 1337 India St. 9 p.m. $38.
Punk rock originials
The current edition of British punk icons, The Sex Pistols, featuring new singer, Frank Carter, perform at the Observatory on Oct. 16. One of the most influential groups of the past 50 years, The Sex Pistols were founded in 1975 and still include original members Steve Jones (guitar), Glen Matlock (bass) and Paul Cook (drums), alongside vocalist Carter, who does a good job as the new frontman, keeping the manic energy of the show consistently high. The band will be performing their sole studio album, 1977’s “Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols” in its entirety, including such once controversial, now classic tracks as “God Save The Queen” and “Anarchy In The U.K.,” making this show a must for both longtime fans and anyone curious about the roots of today’s punk rock community.
• Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter: Friday, Oct. 16 at The Observatory, 2871 University Ave. 7:30 p.m. $82 and up.
Anniversary celebration
One of the area’s most scenic music venues, Panama 66 at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park, celebrates its 12th anniversary all weekend beginning Friday with an extra helping of music. The weekend’s highlights include eight-piece instrumental combo the Sandpiper Ensemble (Friday), surf-inspired quartet The Red Foxtails and jazz trumpeter
Gilbert Castellanos with his Latin Funk Sextet (both Saturday), as well as the Chunky Hustle Brass Band (Sunday). Whenever you stop by on the 12th anniversary weekend, Panama 66 is offering an excellent soundtrack to go along with the great food and terrific view of the park’s Sculpture Garden and California Tower.
•Panama 66 12th Anniversary: Friday – Sunday, Oct. 16 – 18 at Panama 66, 1450 El Prado. 8 p.m. No cover.
Mix of vets, rising stars at Bayfest
Bayfest returns to San Diego Friday through Sunday for three days of fun in the sun. Taking place at Mariner’s Point Park, the music fest features a mix of reggae, ska and punk, with a focus on island sounds. It’s the perfect mix of music for the event’s setting, steps from the ocean in Mission Bay, with headliners set to include the likes of Rebelution, Steel Pulse, Kohle Kai and The Offspring. Music fans will want to hit the festival grounds early, as Bayfest is also
showcasing some of San Diego’s rising stars, including appearances on tap from Doah’s Daydream, Cappo Kelly, The Resinators and Kela Sako.
• Bayfest: Friday–Sunday, Oct. 16-18 at Mariner’s Point Park, 3119 Mariners Way, Friday: 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: Noon. $140.
Hits and choice covers from Bonnie Raitt
Grammy-winning blues guitarist Bonnie Raitt takes the stage at Rady Shell on Saturday. Raitt hasn’t released an album since 2002’s “Just Like That,” so her current set list is a cross section of tunes from across her career, mixed in with choice covers. Raitt puts on a great show, with touches of gospel and early rock in her sound, as heard in some of her best-known material such as her hit, “Something To Talk About,” but expect the night’s biggest audience response to be for a heartfelt version of her 1991 ballad “I Can’t Make You Love Me.”
• Bonnie Raitt: Saturday, Oct. 17 at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way. 7 p.m. $71 and up.
Greatest hits from 10,000 Maniacs
Folk pop favorites 10,000 Maniacs play at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay on Saturday. Fronted by singer Mary Ramsey, who replaced original vocalist Natalie Merchant in 1993, 10,000 Maniacs still includes key members Dennis Drew (keyboards), Steve Gustafson (bass), John Lombardo (guitar) and Jerry Augustyniak (drums), with Ben Medina taking over the lead guitar role from the late Rob Buck. The band’s current tour features a greatest hits
setlist that’s sure to please longtime fans, as well as being the perfect introduction to their sound for new listeners, focusing on their late ’80s and early ’90s hits, such as still-in-radio-rotation tunes like “Trouble Me” and their cover of Roxy Music’s “More Than This.”
• 10,000 Maniacs: Saturday, Oct. 17 at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 7 p.m. $67.
All-star jazz greats
The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center’s free music series in The Wu Tsai QRT.yrd continues on Oct. 22 with a performance from The Rob Thorsen Quartet. Thorsen is a jazz bass-playing legend having been a first-call session player for decades, recording with everyone from pop singer Anya Marina to jazz legend Mike Wofford. For this show, he’ll be backed by an all-star group of musicians including Melonie Grinnell (piano), Richard Sellers (drums) and Gilbert Castellanos (trumpet), the latter being one of the most important musicians to emerge from San Diego’s music community in the past 50 years, both through his onstage performances and his music education efforts. Jazz aficionados won’t want to pass up this performance from four local jazz greats.
• Rob Thorsen Quartet: Thursday, Oct. 22 at The Wu Tsai QRT.yrd at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave. 4:30 p.m. Free.
Showcase for music discovery
Any music fans looking to discover new sounds in San Diego would do well to check out Jeff Ousley’s monthly Live Music Showcase, which takes place on Oct. 22 at Humphreys Backstage Live. Spotlighting both established performers trying out new stuff and rising stars, this time out attendees will get short sets from singer-songwriter Amanda Cogan, classic rockers The Pushers, newcomers The Good Feels Band and pop songstress Sophie London. The nod goes to Cogan, a three-time San Diego Music Award nominee, whose heartfelt songs of love and loss have made her a favorite on local club stages.
• Jeff Ousley’s Live Music Showcase: Thursday, Oct. 22 at Humphreys Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 6 p.m. $5.
