After a hiatus of several decades, Emergency Exit is back. The quartet was a fixture of San Diego’s nightspot in the late 1960s and early 1970s, filling dance floors with a mix of what is now considered classic rock and soul. Nothing much has changed in the ensuing years; their sets are still packed with a great collection of songs, from the Doors to KC & The Sunshine Band, tunes that are built to get clubgoers up and moving. In an era when bands don’t last more than a few years, the perseverance of this quartet is to be admired. Emergency Exit: Friday, June 30 at Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St. 8 p.m. 21 and up. Cover TBD. www.tioleos.com The acoustic showcase, “Strummin’ Through Summer” returns to the Wavehouse, on Saturdays through August, from 6 to 9 p.m. While the list of performers was not set at press time, the event is booked by the Acoustic Spot, guaranteeing top-tier talent for each week’s slot.
Even without the list of names, the location is enough to recommend the shows, with the music set to take place right off the sand in Mission Beach. This outdoor location is just about the perfect spot to take in music from some of San Diego’s best musicians, with the bonus of the sunset as a backdrop. Strummin’ Through Summer: Saturdays, at the Wavehouse, 3125 Oceanfront Walk. 6 p.m. 21 and up. www.belmontpark.com/restaurants/wavehouse. If you like ’80s dance music, you’ll want to head to the 710 Beach Club for performances from Freeze Frame and Groove Kitty. Fronted by singer Beth Vinas, the latter is particularly good, with a vast repertoire of tunes and decades in their typical set list, but for this show they’ll highlight classic tunes of the ’80s from the likes of Madonna, U2 and Michael Jackson. Groove Kitty: Saturday, July 1 at the 710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave. 9 p.m. 21 and up. www.710bc.com. Rock and metal fans won’t want to miss Sounds Like Summer, an 11-band extravaganza taking place at Brick by Brick on July 7. On hand will be a great list of up-and-coming rockers including Di Vad, KodaSounds, Ruderalis, The Killing Word, Hand Drawn Tree, Headphone, The Brian Jones Rock ’n’ Roll Revival, Sleepless Under The Earth, Everything Undone, The Cat Chasers, and Light Years Ahead. Short sets will be the order of the day, so you’ll want to get there early, but if you like your rock ’n’ roll loud and in your face, this one’s for you. Sounds Like Summer: Friday, July 7, at Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave. 6 p.m. 21 and up. $12. www.brickbybrick.com. Acclaimed bassist Rob Thorsen appears at Dizzy’s on July 8. One of the lynchpins of San Diego’s music scene, it’s a rare day when Thorsen isn’t performing somewhere often as a sideman with the likes of such jazz heavy hitters as Steph Johnson, Gilbert Castellanos and Peter Sprague. For this performance, he will focus on his own music, including tunes from his latest album, “Solos and Duos — Bass Is the Space,” joined by keyboardist Hugo Suarez and drummer Richard Sellers. Rob Thorsen: Saturday, July 8, at Dizzy’s at Arias Hall, 1717 Morena Blvd. 8 p.m. $15. www.dizzysjazz.com. Singer-songwriter Edwin McCain appears at Humphrey’s Backstage Live on July 9. Best known for his hits, “I’ll Be” and “I Could Not Ask For More,” McCain’s heartfelt delivery is the key to his music.
Edwin McCain: Sunday, July 9 at Humphrey’s Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. www.humphreysbackstagelive.com.
with confessional, strummed songs that instantly sound familiar. He has continued to record over the years, most recently releasing the album, “Oh Edwin Where Art Thou,” though continued chart success has eluded him. That’s no comment on his talents. Indeed, McCain is one of the creators of the template so many fellow singer-songwriters follow today. Edwin McCain: Sunday, July 9 at Humphrey’s Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. www.humphreysbackstagelive.com.