Surf’s up at Tio leo’s on Dec. 18 when the club hosts a “Surfin Christmas Party,” featuring The Tourmaliners and the Bird Rockers. Beyond the classic Ventures and Chantays tunes, the night will include a raffle of a new Gordon and Smith surfboard and gift baskets from Leilani’s Hawaiian Cafe in PB. Proceeds from the raffle go to the Pacheco Mission, a nonprofit drug and alcohol recovery mission and church in Mazatlan, Mexico. Specifically, the new facility is in need of a new roof and remodeling. The Tourmaliners include guitarist Devon Berryhill, son of Surfaris guitarist Bob Berryhill, as well as drummer Jake Najor and guitarist Rob Glickman, best known for his work with NE1. This is a great opportunity to take in a great show while also helping those less fortunate.
Surfin Christmas Party: Tuesday, Dec. 18 at Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St. at 9 p.m. 21 and up. tioleos.com. The Mission Bay High School Music Program hosts its annual Winter Concert on Dec. 19, at the school’s auditorium. Performing under the guidance of music director JP Balmat, the night will feature the school’s Concert Band, Orchestra, Swing Choir, Preservationists and Mambo Orchestra. Make no mistake, while these are students, there is top-tier talent with many of the players just a few years shy of hitting stages across the country. You can expect seasonal favorites among the tunes, but this is a wonderful way to check out the next wave of talent on the ground floor. Funds raised at the concert go to help support the music program.
Winter Concert: Wednesday, Dec. 19 at Mission Bay High School, 2475 Grand Ave, at 7 p.m. All ages. missionbaymusic.com. Java Joe’s is now The Backdrop, but the song remains the same. On Dec. 13, the venue will host the Merry Navikwanzikkah Show, a night of music that will double as a donation spot for Toys for Tots. Hosted by singer-songwriters Gaby Aparicio and Amanda Cogan, there will be a lineup that includes Christopher Dale, Rob Deez, MC Flow, Courtney Preis, Marklyn Retzer, DJ Teelyn and Kimo Shim. The outdoor setting (with heatlamps) makes The Backdrop the perfect spot for a holiday sing-a-long. Merry Navikwanzikkah Show: Thursday, Dec. 13 at The Backdrop, 2011 Congress St. at 7:30 p.m. All ages. thebackdropsd.com. Jazz fans with the Christmas spirit will want to attend the “Holiday Groove” concert taking place at Dizzy’s on Dec. 16. The night will feature seasonal favorites from throughout the decades, with vocals from Allison Adams Tucker and Leonard Patton. Adding to the fun will be an all-star backing group that includes bassist Sean Hicke, percussionist Tommy Aros (Fattburger / Luis Miguel) and guitarist Peter Sprague (Dianne Reeves / Blurring the Edges). Even those jaded by holiday music will find much to enjoy at this concert, which once again illustrates the amazing level of talent in the local music community. Holiday Groove: Sunday, Dec. 16 at Dizzy’s, 1717 Morena Blvd,. at 7 p.m. All ages. dizzysjazz.com. Alongside jazz, blues has also been going through a local renaissance of late, with plenty of young talent joining long-time favorites. One of the brightest talents is singer Mercedes Moore who appears at Humphrey’s Backstage Live on Dec. 17. Moore is a captivating performer with an excellent band that includes acclaimed keyboardist Taryn Donath, mixing up a blend of blues, R&B and rockabilly. Moore’s sultry fiery vocals are great on a catalog of classics such as “I Would Rather Go Blind,” but where she really excels is on more rockin’ tunes, such as her own “Mojo Hannah.” Mercedes Moore: Monday, Dec. 17 at Humphrey’s Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 7 p.m. humphreysbackstagelive.com. Anyone who wants a change from the holiday tunes will want to head to The Casbah for a free Christmas Eve tradition, “Exile On Kettner Blvd.” As the name implies, the whole evening is devoted to the music of The Rolling Stones, covering their early R&B days through the modern era. Making this a must, the music will be performed by a who’s who of local talent, the whole night helmed by guitarist Andrew McKeag, best known for his work with Uncle Joe’s Big Ol’ Driver, Dirty Sweet and more. While the list of musicians is a secret at the moment, this event is never less than fun and a great way to start your Christmas. Exile on Kettner: Wednesday, Dec. 24 at The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., at 9 p.m. All ages. casbahmusic.com.
