It’s a long-overdue honor, but one of San Diego’s living legends, bluesman Tomcat Courtney, will be bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award on Oct. 6 at this year’s San Diego Music Awards. Courtney is in lofty company, joining the likes of Iron Butterfly, The Zeros, Nick Reynolds of the Kingston Trio and other music icons. Courtney plays at various venues around town, but his home venue is Café-Bar Europa, where he can be found Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. After four decades of giving his heart and soul to the local music community, it’s nice to see him getting some reciprocal love — and a trophy — from San Diego’s music lovers. • TOMCAT COURTNEY: Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays through September at CAFE-BAR EUROPA, 873 Turqouise St. 7 p.m. 21 and up. www.-theturquoise.com/wordpress. One of the area’s best guitarists, Hank Easton performs at the Kona Kai Resort on Sept. 5. A virtuoso performer, Easton is adept at everything from soul to pop to jazz, one of the qualities that’s made him a standout when he performs with the Steely Damned. For this show, he’ll be in solo mode, the better to hear every nuance of his playing. He has three albums to date, most recently “Eleven,” but live is where he truly shines. At the Kona Kai he’s the perfect soundtrack to a nice dinner or romantic evening overlooking the beautiful marina.
• HANK EASTON: Friday, Sept. 5, 6 p.m., at the KONA KAI RESORT, 1551 Shelter Island Drive. www.resortkonakai.com. Heavy metal gets short shrift in the local music scene, but thanks to the newly revamped Brick by Brick, that may soon change. The club has booked numerous such shows over the next few months, hopefully giving that burgeoning scene a home. On Sept. 5, Brick by Brick will host a show featuring Monarch, Fallen Hero and Hexxen. The latter is of particular interest, a metal band from Tijuana that sings in Spanish, making for a particularly diverse bill. For those who like their tunes loud, aggressive and in your face, Brick by Brick is the perfect place to bang your head. Earplugs optional.
• HEXXEN: Friday, Sept. 5 at BRICK BY BRICK, 1130 Buenos Ave. 8 p.m. 21 and up. www.brickbybrick.com. The Joshua White Trio performs at Dizzy’s on Sept. 12. A nominee for this year’s San Diego Music Awards, White is an enormous talent. A pianist steeped in the gospel tradition and classically trained, he is a passionate jazz performer with original music that both involves you and brings a smile to your face. Featuring bassist Ben Wanicur and drummer Julien Cantelm, Dizzy’s is the perfect environment to hear original jazz by White. Unlike many music venues where music is an add-on to the drink specials, this venue is a listening room where music is the focus. • THE JOSHUA WHITE TRIO: Friday, Sept. 12, at DIZZY’S, 4275 Mission Bay Drive. 8 p.m. www.dizzysjazz.com. Dance fans will want to head to Humphreys Backstage Lounge on Sept. 13 for a set from Pop Vinyl. This multi-talented band has an excellent mix of tunes in its repertoire, capable of anything from Parliament to the Violent Femmes. What sets it apart from typical cover bands, however, is its hip-hop material, which includes everything from Tupac to Jay Z, making for a well-rounded set that no one else in town can touch. Anyone who wants to spend their Saturday night on the dance floor needs look no further.
• POP VINYL: Saturday, Sept. 13 at HUMPHREYS BACKSTAGE LIVE, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 9 p.m. www.humphreysbackstagelive.com.