Very few tribute bands get as close to the real thing as The Fooz Fighters, who perform at the 710 Beach Club on Feb. 22. Playing the music of Dave Grohl and company, the band nails not only the Foo Fighters sound but also their look. In fact the band’s guitarist/singer, Nicky Rich could pass as Grohl’s twin, making Fooz Fighters shows a must for fans. With their namesake band playing arena’s and stadiums, these days an intimate show such as this is the best way to get up close and personal with the music of Foo Fighters.
The Fooz Fighters: Saturday, Feb. 22 at the 710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave. 9 p.m. 21 and up. $5. 710bc.com.
Heavy metal fans won’t want to miss a four tribute band bill taking place at Brick by Brick on Feb. 22. On hand will be Anarchy X (Queensryche), Anthem (Rush), Blackout (The Scorpions) and Woke Up Dead (Megadeth). While all are solid rockers, the night’s highlight will likely be Anthem. With the recent passing of Rush’s drummer Neil Peart, their music has been put back in the spotlight reminding everyone what a gifted musician he was. Anthem is up to the task of playing Rush’s adventurous music, though they perform as a quartet rather than in the original band’s trio format.
Anthem: Saturday, Feb. 22 at Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave. 7:30 p.m. 21 and up. $12. brickbybrick.com.
Mardi Gras comes to Winston’s in Ocean Beach on Feb. 23. The celebration will run from 4-8 p.m., featuring three of San Diego’s favorite bands, rock-a-billy quartet The Sleepwalkers, roadhouse blues band Lady Dottie and Cajun party combo, The Bayou Brothers. It’s a diverse bill sure to keep the dance floor filled, each band being headliners in their own right. The event includes host Madame LaRoux (aka blues singer Michele Lundeen) and such Mardi Gras essentials as beads and red beans and rice, but this would be a noteworthy music line up no matter the day of the week.
OB Mardi Gras: Sunday, Feb. 23 at Winston’s, 1921 Bacon St. 4 p.m. $10. 21 and up. winstonsob.com.
British rock quartet, The Struts, stop in at SOMA on Feb. 28. Influenced by the likes of Queen, Oasis, The Faces, and Jet, the band’s rep is built on their live shows and hook-filled melodic tunes. The band’s most recent single is a solid version of Motown evergreen, “Dancing In The Street,” but their own previous releases, such as “In Love With A Camera,” are all radio-friendly gems. The band rocks hard, with a truly great frontman in singer Luke Spiller, who seems to meld the best of Freddie Mercury, Mick Jagger, and Tim Curry into his manic performances.
The Struts: Friday, Feb. 28 at SOMA, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd. 8 p.m. All ages. $29.50. somasandiego.com.
Ten-piece classic rock combo The Soul Persuaders come to Humphrey’s Backstage Live on Feb. 28. Featuring a four-piece horn section, the band plays an eclectic mix of danceable tunes ranging from Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” to Bruce Springsteen’s “Tenth Avenue Freezeout.” This is a high energy group, but their secret weapon is frontman Larry Grano, whose wit and stage presence place the Soul Persuaders a cut above the typical bar band. Nominated at this year’s San Diego Music Awards for his own combo, here Grano gets to let loose on a selection of great ’60s and ’70s era cover tunes.
The Soul Persuaders: Friday, Feb. 28 at Humphrey’s Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 8 p.m. $12. humphreysbackstagelive.com.
One of San Diego’s top jazz musicians, pianist Joshua White, performs at Dizzy’s on Feb. 29 with his combo, The JW Trio +1. For jazz fans, it doesn’t get much better than a band that includes White on the piano as well as drummer Tyler Kreutel and legendary bassist Marshall Hawkins. Making this an even more impressive event, the +1 here is award-winning saxophonist Kamau Kenyatta, but even with such accomplished musicians, White is a standout. Often seen around town in the role of sideman, on his own projects, the magic in White’s playing, particularly his improvisational skills, is even more evident.
The JW Trio +1: Saturday, Feb. 29, at Dizzy’s at Arias Hall, 1717 Morena Blvd. 8 p.m. $20. dizzysjazz.com.