RECOMMENDED
The ten-piece band, Hemisphere (above), celebrates their new album, “Unity,” with a special release show at Humphrey’s Backstage Live on Oct. 22. Produced by acclaimed guitarist Peter Sprague, Hemisphere’s sound is hard to pin down. Dance, jazz, world, and even touches of prog can be heard, while their cover of David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” takes the song into reggae territory. Live, the band is an all-star affair with the likes of Don Bowman (vocals), Rob Shinno (guitar), Tommy Aros (percussion), and Chris Klich (horns) among the players. Modern jazz aficionados in particular will want to hear “Unity,” but anyone who likes music’s adventurous side will also find much to enjoy from the night’s performance.
Hemisphere: Saturday, Oct. 22 at Humphrey’s Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 8 p.m. $25. humphreysbackstagelive.com.
SPOTLIGHTS
On Oct. 14, Baker Baum Hall hosts a free evening of music spotlighting the connection between music and film. Hollywoodland, featuring acclaimed pianists Jacopo Giacopuzzi and Konstantin Soukhovetsk, aka SoloDue, will perform classical tunes that have become familiar through film use, bringing things to the modern age with a closing, “The Queen Fantasy for Two Pianos.” While this is considered a classical event, rock, pop, and soundtrack listeners will also enjoy Giacopuzzi and Soukhovetsk’s musical interplay and arrangements.
Hollywoodland/SoloDue: Friday, Oct. 14 at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center/Baker Baum Hall, 7600 Fay Ave. 7 p.m. Free. theconrad.org.
One of the biggest music icons of the ’60s and ’70s, Graham Nash, performs at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay on Oct. 15. The word “legend” is overused these days, but it certainly qualifies here. As a member of The Hollies and later, Crosby, Stills & Nash, he provided an integral part of the era’s soundtrack, with a string of tunes that includes “Bus Stop,” “Teach Your Children,” and “Our House.” Nash’s current tour set list covers his entire career, with his singing, playing, and storytelling still in top form after nearly 70 years on the road.
Graham Nash: Saturday, Oct. 15 at Humphrey’s Concerts by The Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 7:30 p.m. $56 humphreysconcerts.com.
Singer-songwriter Gabriela Aparicio performs at UTC’s outdoor venue, The Pointe on Oct. 15. Aparicio is an engaging performer, both a gifted singer and guitarist. For shows such as this, she stocks her set full of crowd-pleasers but keeps an ear out for her original tunes as well. Songs such as “You Captivate Me” and “Sin Miedo” showcase Aparicio’s terrific bilingual vocals and strong use of melody. While many singer-songwriter sets can quickly become background music, Aparicio’s tunes will engage her listeners from start to finish.
Gabriela Aparicio: Saturday, Oct. 15 at UTC The Pointe, 4545 La Jolla Village Drive, Ste E-25. 5 p.m. Free.
The Athenaeum’s Acoustic Evening’s concert series continues on Oct. 21, with appearances from Tim Flannery, Wax, Jefferson Jay, with Michael James. All are well worth hearing, but when it comes to local icons, it’s hard to top Flannery, who spent 11 seasons with the San Diego Padres, post sports heading into music. For this show, Flannery will spotlight songs from his new album, “Waiting on a Miracle,” his 15th overall. Normally Flannery is backed by his group, The Lunatic Fringe, but for this show, he’ll be playing in stripped-down mode giving fans a chance to hear his music in an acoustic setting at one of San Diego’s finest listening rooms.
Acoustic Evenings: Friday, Oct. 21 at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St. 7:30 p.m. $5 – $20 ljathenaeum.org.
Whether you call it Yacht Rock or simply “Hits of the ’70s,” there is no doubt that High Tide Society is one of the top bands on San Diego’s club and festival scene. Appearing at Beaumont’s on Oct. 22, the seven-piece group uses both male and female vocals for a range of songs that might include Rufus and Chaka Khan’s funky “Sweet Thing” or pop classic “Brandy,” by Looking Glass, concentrating on dance floor favorites. Even if you’re not a dancer, High Tide Society’s sets are sing-a-long fun, with something on offer for just about any music fan.
High Tide Society: Saturday, Oct. 22 at Beaumont’s, 5662 La Jolla Blvd. 9 p.m. $10. beaumontseatery.com.
