by Jen Van Tieghem
Oct. 11 – Gilbert Castellanos
This special performance dubbed “Noche de Boleros: The Romantic Side of Gilbert Castellanos” will feature the renowned jazz trumpeter along with several other talented musicians: Kamua Kenyata, Carlos Vasquez and Mackenzie Leighton. On upright bass, Leighton is a deft performer bringing a youthful energy to the classic instrument. Castellanos and his support talents always give a rousing performance laced with Latin and soul influences. If you need a date night with musical accompaniment this month, this is your best bet. 8 p.m. $20 advance/$25 door.
Oct. 30 – Tiffany Jane and The Kicks with special guest Rebecca Jade
Jane and her band are no strangers to the Back Room at 98 Bottles. The emotive singer slays on original tunes blending funk, jazz, pop, soul and other genres. She also brings a repertoire of covers, which get the band’s — and Jane’s — own spin, and they are instant crowd-pleasers. For this show, they’ll be joined by the multi-talented Rebecca Jade, whose vocals are full of enchanting soul. The opportunity to see these two songstresses share the stage should not be missed. 8 p.m. $10 advance/$13 door.
Oct. 9 – Old Tiger; Oh, Spirit; The New Kinetics; and Second Cousins
Old Tiger hasn’t hit the stage since last year’s San Diego Music Awards (where they took home the award for Best Pop Album). With this long-awaited return the retro rockers will be reintroduced into the wild in a big way. The lineup of rad local talent includes openers Oh, Spirit, who conjure up the spirit of The Beatles with a modern alternative. Also playing are The New Kinetics, who fire off high-energy on garage rock anthems. Rounding it out in the Atari Lounge, Second Cousins will bring their folk rock harmonies between main stage sets. 8:30 p.m. $6.
Oct. 31 – The Creepy Creeps, The Burning of Rome, Cramped and Schitzophonics
Each year our classic rock club puts together a great Halloween party. This year All Hallows Eve falls on a Friday, giving ghouls and ghosts one more reason to get out and enjoy some great tunes. Besides having the perfect name for this occasion, The Creepy Creeps bring a space-rock madness to the stage. Their trippy tunes will undoubtedly have the dance floor full. Equally enthralling, The Burning of Rome will certainly break out some of their spooky tunes for this one. Check out their song “Norman Bates” for a taste and axe any other plans for the night. 8:30 p.m. $20 advance/$22 door.
Oct. 6 – San Diego Music Awards
This celebration of local music will include lots of elbow-rubbing for musicians and fans alike – and the event couldn’t be at a better venue. The outdoor acoustics and waterfront locale of Humphreys make it the ideal host. Each year the awards also showcase a handful of bands representing our diverse music community with live performances. This year jazz pianist Joshua White, psychedelic rockers The Donkeys and ethereal folk darlings The Midnight Pine (all of whom are also nominated this year) are just a few highlights. The event is also the primary fundraising vehicle for the Guitars for Schools program by the San Diego Music Foundation. 7 p.m. $35.
Oct. 31 – Citizen Cope
This show promises to be a very special occasion for fans of the soulful singer-songwriter, who will be accompanied by a full band. In honor of its 10th anniversary, Citizen Cope (aka Clarence Greenwood) will perform his 2004 breakout album The Clarence Greenwood Recordings in in its entirety. The disc’s emotionally-charged rock tunes include the powerful “Son’s Gonna Rise” featuring Carlos Santana. A second set of other Citizen Cope tunes will be an added bonus to their one-of-a-kind concert. 7:30 p.m. $41.
Oct. 9 and Nov. 1 – Whitney Shay
The Vessel restaurant at Kona Kai will present this sexy siren twice in the next month. Shay’s classic beauty matches her vocal chops, which lend themselves to big band numbers and jazzy standards. Whether she’s bringing sultry blues or upbeat peppiness she’s mesmerizing to watch and always has local talents to accompany her sets. 6 p.m. Free.
Oct. 16 – Missy Andersen
Andersen is known for her passionate vocals, which she uses to blend soul, R&B, blues and other genres. The smokiness to her style is powerful and reminiscent of classic singers of the past. Andersen is nominated for a San Diego Music Award for Best Blues performer — a stop by this set or any other by this active songstress will easily showcase why. 6 p.m. Free.
—Jen Van Tieghem can be reached at [email protected].
