Sing Along to Sweet Caroline!
Iconic singer-songwriter Neil Diamond may have retired from touring a decade ago, but his music’s popularity only seems to have increased in the ensuing years. There are currently multiple tribute acts around the country performing Diamond’s music, with one of the most popular being So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience, starring Robert Neary.
Neary and the gang are stopping off at the Epstein Family Amphitheater on September 11. The band is terrific, and Neary does a good job of replicating Diamond’s signature moves and sound. Diamond released a new album earlier this year, Wild at Heart,” but this show is all about his amazing catalog of hits, with songs such as “Forever In Blue Jeans,” “Solitary Man,” and, of course, “Sweet Caroline,” sure to be amongst the evening’s highlights.
- So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience: Friday, September 11 at the Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive. 7:30 p.m. $20 and up.
Take a non-chill PiL at the House of Blues
Post-punk combo Public Image Ltd. (PiL) returns to San Diego on September 11 for a show at the House of Blues. Formed in 1978, PiL is still led by former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon, with the group currently on tour promoting a new concert album, “Alive.” Their set list on this road trip focuses on the band’s edgy, bass-heavy, rhythmic singles, including their best-known tunes, such as “This Is Not a Love Song,” “Flowers of Romance,” and “Death Disco.” While Lydon is certainly the band’s main focal point, music fans should note that the current edition of PIL is an all-star group that also includes acclaimed guitarist Lu Edmonds, who has played with numerous other artists, ranging from The Damned to Tracy Ullman, and bassist Scott Firth, who’s performed with the likes of Shriekback and Elvis Costello.
- Public Image Ltd: Friday, September 11 at the House of Blues, 1055 5th Avenue. 7 p.m. $50.
A great case of the Blues — Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ hit Humphrey’s
Blues giants Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ recently teamed up as the duo, Tajmo, for the second time in a decade to record and release the album, “Room on the Porch.” Blues fans won’t want to miss the pair’s current road trip celebrating the album’s release, which stops in at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay on September 11. This is a true collaborative performance. While a handful of songs from their solo careers are in the current set list, alongside a few choice cover tunes originally by the likes of Jimmy Cox and Sleepy John Estes, the bulk of the night’s music will be from Taj Mahal and Keb Mo’s two solo albums to date.
- Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’: Friday, September 11 at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., Shelter Island. 7 p.m. $88 and up.
Casbah dance party with Funky But Chic
Get your dancing shoes ready! On September 11, the Casbah hosts a special event featuring an appearance from Schizophonics side project, Funky But Chic. Dressed in costumes reminiscent of Parliament-Funkadelic, the group, led by Schizophonics guitarist, Pat Beers and drummer Lety Beers, specializes in fun dance floor filling cover songs from a wide range of artists including Rick James, Dee-Lite and Prince. Attendees will want to get to the show early for a performance from psychedelic electro rocker Jesika von Rabbit, with DJ Mazee and DJ StackAly keeping the party going between sets.
- Funky But Chic: Friday, September 11 at The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd. 8:30 p.m. $20.
My Town Fest in Ocean Beach
My Town, a two-day music festival celebrating San Diego’s punk community, takes place at the Holding Company on September 12 & 13. Almost two dozen groups will perform across the weekend, with some of the highlights set to include a reunion show from 90’s era favorites Everready, costumed mayhem from tongue-in-cheek rockers, The Spice Pistols, and adrenaline-charged trio, The Mice, playing their first gig in six years. However, the event’s top spot goes to pioneering and influential South Bay band The Zeros, whose classic singles such as “Don’t Push Me Around” and “Beat Your Heart Out” still pack a punch nearly 50 years after their initial release.
- My Town Fest: Friday & Saturday, September 12 & 13 at The Holding Company, 5046 Newport Ave. 1 p.m. $20 per day.
John January in September
Blues guitarist John January will bring his band to The Harp on September 13 for a free show. One of the linchpins of San Diego’s music community, January has been in over a dozen top-rated local bands since he started performing in local clubs back in the late 1970’s. An excellent guitar player, January and company turn in solid versions of songs by the likes of John Mayall, but he also has good originals such as “So Much Going On,” from his latest album, “True,” that sound like they are cut from the same cloth as the songs of his musical heroes.
- The John January Band: Sunday, September 13 at The Harp, 4935 Newport Ave. 2 – 5 p.m. No Cover.
Black Uhuru Still Going Strong
Long-running reggae group, Black Uhuru, returns to the Belly Up Tavern for a show on September 14. Formed in 1972, the band hasn’t issued a new album since 2022’s “New Day,” but there are over 100 singles in their discography, so there is no shortage of choice material for the night’s setlist. Black Uhuru has had a changing lineup in its nearly five-decade-long existence, with founding member Derrick “Duckie” Simpson, now joined by singers Kaye Starh and Andrew Bees. While the group’s lineup has changed over the years, they remain one of reggae’s best live acts, with an energetic show to match their superb musicianship.
- Black Uhuru: Monday, September 14 at The Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Avenue. 7:30 p.m. $37 and up.
Mar Picao brings Afro-Cuban Jams to the Athenaeum
On September 14, The Athenaeum hosts jazz quintet Mar Picao as part of their free, Monday lunchtime concert series. Led by composer and keyboardist Julio Valdes, as heard on their new album, “Antecedente,” Mar Picao mixes Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz and touches of rock, for a lively sound that in a non-library setting would surely have an audience up and dancing. While jazz listeners will enjoy this show, so will fans of jazz-influenced artists such as Santana and Steely Dan, particularly during the extended solos.
- Mar Picao: Monday, September 14 at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St. Noon. Free.
Blues Pioneer Bobby Rush at the Music Box
92-year-old blues legend, Bobby Rush, plays Music Box on September 15. A blues pioneer, Rush worked with nearly all the genre’s early icons, from Muddy Waters to Willie Dixon, even joining a band alongside fellow legends, Elmore James and Pinetop Perkins, with a catalog of his own releases that goes back to the early 1960’s. Rush’s latest album is a collaboration with fellow guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepard, “Young Fashioned Ways,” with a few songs from the album, including “Uncle Esau,” in the current set. However, the bulk of the night’s music will be from Rush’s own lengthy string of releases. Rush is a force of nature, still belting out tunes with good humor and passion. There aren’t many original blues musicians left. If you are a blues fan, this show is an absolute must. Manzanita Blues open the show.
- Bobby Rush: Tuesday, September 15 at Music Box, 1337 India Street. 8:30 p.m. $38 and up.
Indie-Pop quartet Meltt pops into The Quartyard
On the road in support of their new album, “Pathways,” Vancouver-based indie-pop quartet Meltt makes an appearance at the Quartyard on September 16. Fans of modern pop will love the band’s atmospheric, radio-friendly tunes, such as their new single, “Goodbye,” with lead singer Chris Smith’s vocals giving everything a soulful edge. Aficionados of groups such as Johnny Hates Jazz or Maroon 5 will find much to appreciate in Meltt’s music.
- Meltt: Wednesday, September 16 at The Quartyard, 1301 Market St. 6 – 9 p.m. $28.
