Jen Van Tieghem | Downtown News
98 Bottles – 98BottlesSD.com
August 8 – Rebecca Jade Presents “Ladies of Soul”
Singer Rebecca Jade is one busy lady. As a member of several groups and a solo performer, Jade showcases her ranging vocal talents singing everything from blues to funk to soul. Her mesmerizing voice will be highlighted by the intimate setting of 98 Bottles’ Back Room. This homage to the “Ladies of Soul” promises to be a special and unique show featuring hits by Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack and more. 8 p.m. $12 advance/$15 at the door
August 14 – 22 Kings
This local duo will bring something distinctly different to the venue, which typically hosts jazz, soul, and R&B based lineups. The two singers of 22 Kings combine country twang with Americana and rock. Both showcase earnest emotional power, whether singing solos on harder numbers or blending together dreamy harmonies on softer songs. 8 p.m. $7 advance/$10 at the door
Casbah – CasbahMusic.com
August 9 – Vinyl Junkies Record Swap
Every couple of months the Casbah opens its doors for a rare daytime event. For just a few bucks, record collectors can peruse the wares of several local record sellers all in one place. The event also features a lineup of “celebrity” DJs spinning their favorites throughout the day. This edition — which is also the one-year anniversary of the event — will include DJing by Casbah owner Tim Mays, former 91X on-air talent Steve West, Pall Jenkins of The Black Heart Procession and Three Mile Pilot plus others. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. $3
August 15 – The Helio Sequence and Liam Finn
The Helio Sequence’s latest album, “Negotiations,” is a couple years old now, but it still sounds as fresh and catchy as any of its contemporary counterparts. Their synth-pop style has just enough rock to keep indie fans happy. Lying along the lines of popular groups like Death Cab for Cutie and The Shins, it’s a wonder the band hasn’t garnered more attention. Opening the show is New Zealand dream pop rocker Liam Finn. The son of famed musician Neil Finn, Liam has made a name for himself heading several bands and releasing a trio of solo albums. 9 p.m. $15
House of Blues – HouseofBlues.com
August 15 – Local Brews, Local Grooves: All Access Fest featuring Rob Bondurant, The Midnight Pine, Josh Damigo and more
If you aren’t familiar with the San Diego music scene, this is a great way to get acquainted. Fourteen bands will play with alternating sets on the main stage at HOB and in the Delta Room just steps away. Bands only get 20 minutes to show off their stuff, so make sure you come early and stay late to catch as much as you can. Plus you can also try out local craft beer at the event. Tonight will include brews by Ballast Point, Green Flash, Modern Times, and many others. Doors at 6:30 p.m., $5 at the door or free from one of the bands.
August 20 – The Zombies, Mrs. Magician, and Cheers Elephant
Iconic English rockers The Zombies will start the West Coast leg of their tour with this show. The legendary psychedelic pop band’s history spans over 50 years and includes well-known hits like “She’s Not There” and “Time of the Season.” Starting the show will be recently reunited local band Mrs. Magician and Southern California-based group Cheers Elephant. Both bands have psych pop elements and are undoubtedly influenced by the renowned band they are opening for. 7 p.m., $35+
Humphreys by the Bay – HumphreysConcerts.com
August 11 – Iron & Wine and Jerome Holloway
Sam Beam has enjoyed a lengthy career recording under the name Iron & Wine. Known for soft folk rock tunes, Beam’s music has evolved over the past few years. Early Iron & Wine music was beautiful for its simplicity, while newer material has explored pop and jazz influences along with a more uplifting style. The song “Joy” from last year’s “Ghost on Ghost” is a prime example of the spectrum of Beam’s talent. 7:30 p.m. $39
The Victory Theater – VictoryTheaterSD.com
August 2 – Erik Canzona CD Release Party with Alfred Howard, Jake Najor, Brothers Grim, and Matthew Molarius
Erik Canzona is best known as front man for local favorites The Heavy Guilt. He’s taken his alt-rock singing chops and put together a solo project heavily laced with Radiohead influences and an experimental edge. His partners on the project, Al Howard (The Heavy Guilt) and Jake Najor (Chess Wars) will be playing tunes from Canzona’s new album at the CD release show. Opening the show are some other heavy hitters from the scene; Brothers Grim is comprised of brothers Josh and Jeremiah Zimmerman (The Silent Comedy) and Matthew Molarius is the front man of San Diego darlings Transfer. Basically this event is a who’s who in the local music scene. Don’t miss it. Doors at 7 p.m. $8 advance/$10 at the door
—Jen Van Tieghem is a San Diego native with a healthy obsession for all things local music. Email her at [email protected].
