Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, December 17-Wednesday, December 26, 2019

I spent the first half of last week being super sick and trying to lay low with copious amounts of guafenisen laced syrups. On Wednesday I was well enough to get outside and take the dog to Nova's soccer practice and at least breathe some fresh air. By Thursday, I was itching to really get out and was so happy to see the amazing Middle Kids again, this time at Soda Bar. On Friday, tickets for Wrex The Halls came through, and that was a pretty special night, too, though I missed several of the openers because I couldn't get my work done in time. But I did catch Billie Eilish, Third Eye Blind, and Death Cab for Cutie and got to see lots of good friends, too. Our whole weekend was spend in Coronado for Nova's soccer tournament but I was pretty wiped after on both days and have just been sleeping a ton. Which means that I woke up super early (for me) today and got all the listings done through next Wednesday. Darren's mom will be in town this week, we've got a tree to decorate, a ton of cleaning and stuff to do around the house, but I'll definitely be out, too, like my last minute Thom Yorke ticket for tonight and Ziggy Shuffledust on Thursday. Plus we'll get in some nighttime Zoo and Safari Park visits, too. I hope everyone has a great Christmas. My new keyboard is on its way from Hong Kong so hopefully I'll get back to posting again when it's all fixed. Full listings through 12/26 are after the jump.

Livenation Takes Over Observatory

An end of an era and a new beginning for The Observatory.

Pollstar: Live Nation Announces Exclusive Booking Deal With Observatory Venues In Santa Ana, San Diego

91X Announces Wrex the Halls Set Times

Wrex The Halls is happening this Friday night at the newly anointed Pechanga Arena San Diego and I can't believe I'm not going, but that's neither here nor there. If you haven't procured tickets yet, get them here, and check the set times below.

Things To Do In San Diego: Monday, December 10-Monday, December 17, 2018

Last week was crazy busy. I worked at the Irenic four nights in a row, but the shows end early enough that I was able to catch some time at the Office, caught Har Mar Superstar at the Merrow, hung out at the Ken Club, and we got to see Neko Case at the Observatory. That Thursday night rain deluge was no joke, and I guess the cold and rain and walking to and from work didn't really help me out because I've been sniffling and sneezing and taking long naps and trying to stay warm and rested. Listings are all done through Monday and I'm still holding out hope that I can shoot Wrex The Halls and score a Thom Yorke ticket, but if I feel then how I feel now, I'll be home on the couch watching everyone else post about it on Facebook. Monday to Monday listings are after the jump.

Things To Do In San Diego: Tuesday, December 4-Monday, December 10, 2018

I had such a good week, though looking back there was a lot of pajama time and tons of movies, like I finally rented Crazy Rich Asians (so good!) and have been slowly bingeing all of the awesomely terrible Christmas movies spanning Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Hallmark and Lifetime. They're all so bad they're good. Of course, I was super looking forward to boygenius at the Observatory, and Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus were all so amazing individually and together. On Friday I worked the Irenic for Lemaitre and called it an early night. It was nice to get rain in San Diego, too, which resulted in Nova's soccer tournament being cancelled so the kids wouldn't ruin the fields, I guess, but it meant we actually got to do some of the fun stuff on my Holiday listings...like we walked to the North Park Toyland Parade, went to Ponce's for a late lunch, and hung out in Kensington where we browsed the shops and stumbled upon a great little shop with crafts made by adults with Autism and developmental disabilities, then went to the Zen Sanctuary holiday open house. On Sunday, I took Nova to SoNo Fest, then we ran around the Zoo for a bit, then cruised Balboa Park to check out the Dr Seuss tree, then later that night Darren and I went to Bar Pink Holiday Prom. This week promises to be awesome, too. We're planning on getting a tree in the next day or two, and then I've got four marathon nights working at the Irenic, plus probably some shows I'll catch after those early shows end. And of course, an endless supply of Christmas movies.




Tuesday, December 4, 2018:

• Mac DeMarco @ Music Box (SOLD OUT)
• Jonny Lang, Zane Carney @ Belly Up (SOLD OUT)
• Shindigs, Battery Point, Los Shadows, Strangers in a Fire DJs @ Casbah 
• Wanted Noise, Lighterburns, Paige Koehler @ Soda Bar
• Tiki Tuesday feat. The Garners @ Bar Pink
• Analog Lizards of Doom @ Rosie O Grady's
• The Petty Saints, Sideyard, Jesse Howard @ The Merrow
• So You Think You Can Dance Live! 2018 @ San Diego Civic Theatre
• Postponed: Charlie Daniels Band @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido 
• Beats Without Borders @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido 
• Chee Koo Trio @ Seven Grand
• Karaoke @ Space
• Pro Jam Session @ WildWood Crossing
• Techno Tuesdays @ Blonde
• Blue Largo @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
• Decades @ Winston's (9:30 pm)
• Robin Henkel @ Crossroads, House of Blues (FREE)
• Daughters of Triton Holiday Concert @ Che Café Collective
• Karaoke Night @ The Rabbit Hole
• Karaoke @ Bancroft Bar
• Line Dance Lessons @ Moonshine Beach 
• Well-Strung in "A Well-Strung Christmas" @ Martini's Above Fourth
• M.A.S.S. - Musical Artistry of Singers & Songwriters @ Winston's (6pm)
• Trapped with DJ Ramsey & Guests @ The Office
• DJ Lexicon Devil @ Pour House
• Beer Pong @ U-31
• Karaoke @ Riviera Supper Club
• Sue Palmer @ Tio Leo's
• Videodrome @ Whistle Stop
• Comedy Night @ Lestat's
• Rockabilly and Swing @ Henry's Pub
• Karaoke with Christine @ Navajo Live
• Sensi Trails, The Gentle Giants @ 710 Beach Club

Wednesday, December 5, 2018:

• Redd Kross, Dale Crover Band @ Casbah
• Fucked Up, Narrow Head@ Soda Bar
• Big Business, Qui, DJ Justin Pearson @ Whistle Stop
• Aaron Lewis, Anna Vaus @ House of Blues
• nothing,nowhere., Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, smrtdeath, St. Panther @ The Irenic
• Red Fox Tails @ Seven Grand
• Instant Crush with Nastea & Guests @ The Office
• Atomic Groove's Xmas Show @ Belly Up
• Audioscope Radio 360 VR video shoot with Goldettes, Razor Nights, Babydoll Warriors @ Bar Pink
• Wild Country Wednesday @ Moonshine Beach 
• TV Dinner: Hearts Beat Loud @ The Loft, UCSD
• Clay Colton @ WildWood Crossing (Patio)
• Jazz with Leonard Patton and Matt Dibiase @ Tio Leo's
• Paul Gregg @ Sycamore Den
• Reggae en tu Barrio with Karlos Paez @ Border X Brewing
• Gilbert Castellanos Young Lions Series & Jazz Jam @ Panama 66
• First Wednesdays: 60 Minutes of Swing @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• OGHS Winter Concert @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Dance Klassique with Joe Pea, Ryan Bauer, Gomez @ Blonde
• Open Mic Night @ Pour House
• Club Kingston Presents: Something Like Suduction, Eureka Sound, DJ Carlos Culture @ Winston's
• Karaoke @ WildWood Crossing (Music Room)
• Wednesday Trivia @ The Rabbit Hole
• Well-Strung in "A Well-Strung Christmas" @ Martini's Above Fourth
• Michael Head "Moneymen" @ Crossroads, House of Blues (FREE)
• Redemption River, Lions Against Men, The Flood @ Navajo Live
• Karaoke @ Bancroft Bar
• Merca Bae, K.O. aka Koala, lilbodybag&Umenos, Ghostboy, Bakunawa @ Kava Lounge
• San Diego Gulls vs Tucson Roadrunners @ Valley View Casino Center
• Karaoke @ Rosie O Grady's
• Open Mic with Jefferson Jay @ Winston's (6-9pm)
• Live Music @ Henry's Pub
• Bob James @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
• Open Mic/Open Jam @ 710 Beach Club

Thursday, December 6, 2018:

• Squirrel Nut Zippers Holiday Caravan @ Belly Up
• The Buttertones, Tracy Bryant @ The Irenic (SOLD OUT)
• Irradio, Dewey Defeats Truman, Demasiado, Miss New Buddha @ Casbah
• Postponed Laura Gibson @ Grande Ole BBQ Flinn Springs
• Grrrls Independent Ladies Presents Nina Coyote eta Chico Tornado, Le Ra @ Bar Pink
• The Slackers, The Aggrolites, Viernes 13 @ House of Blues
• CANCELED! Con•tact, Shoot The Glass, Braggers, Post Elvis @ Soda Bar
• Casting Crowns @ San Diego Civic Theatre
• Spite, Left Behind, Orthodox, Depths of Hatred @ Soma
• Dead at Midnite, Busted Coffins, The Midnight Block, Gut Punch @ Ken Club
• Harvard Bass & Friends @ Blonde
• Craft + Sip Holiday Edition @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Mark Twain's A Christmas Carol @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Avi Avital and San Diego Symphony @ Jacobs Music Center at Symphony Hall
• Murray Christmas Party with Cutwater Spirits @ The Office
• Logan Mize, Keelan Donovan @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
• Altai Kai: Throat Singing from the Altai @ Worldbeat Center
• Taryn Donath @ WildWood Crossing (Music Room)
• DJ Dunekat @ Rosie O Grady's
• Half Eaten, Heir Gloom, the Colour Monday @ The Merrow
• San Diego Made First Thursday @ Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club & Bungalows (6pm)
• Moved to Dec 13: San Diego County Bike Coalition Joy Ride @ Meet at Panama 66
• Tommy Guerrero @ Panama 66
• Arts & Crafts @ The Rabbit Hole
• Boomboxx Thursdays @ U-31
• Rosy Dawn @ Humphrey's Backstage Live
• Nu Moods: Live Jazz feat. Lexi Pulido, Justin Grinnell, Julien Cantelm, Louis Valenzuela @ Quartyard
• Castle, Nebula Drag, Hours, Dhatura @ Tower Bar
• Psyclon Nine, MXMS, Guidance, Striplicker @ Brick by Brick
• Lee Squared: A Tribute to Liberace and Miss Peggy Lee @ Martini's Above Fourth
• Jimmy Ruelas @ Seven Grand
• Comedy Night @ Midnight Jack
• Tim Norton @ De Oro Mine Co 
• Samsara, Missing Limbs @ Bancroft Bar
• Open Jam Session @ Winston's (6-9pm)
• Bitter Kiddos, The Powerballs, Subsurfer @ Winston's
• Original Stylin (Hip-hop) @ Til-Two Club
• Line Dancing Lessons @ Moonshine Flats
• Bill Caballero Latin Jam @ Border X Brewing
• Throwdown Thursdays @ Moonshine Beach 
• Rock Out Karaoke @ Tin Roof
• Thursday Night Swing @ Queen Bee's
• Open Jam with Jeff Ousley @ Navajo Live
• Tommy Price and the Stilettos @ Tio Leo's
• Liquid Courage Karaoke @ 710 Beach Club
• DJ Yodah @ Henry's Pub

Friday, December 7, 2018:

• December Nights @ Balboa Park
• Pale Waves, Kailee Morgue, The Candescents @ The Irenic
• Beach Fossils & Wavves: The I Love You Tour, Spiritual Cramp @ House of Blues
• The Ataris, Mainsail, Wanted Noise @ Casbah
• Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ The Observatory
• Magic Sword, Crystal Ghost @ Soda Bar
• Sextile, BOAN, DJ Jon Blaj @ Whistle Stop
• We Are Your Friends - Indie Dance Party @ Blonde
• Dom Kennedy, Cozz, Jay 305, Warm Brew @ Soma
• First Friday HipHop Night with DJ Artistic and Friends @ Bar Pink
• Marujah, No Kings @ 710 Beach Club
• December Nights @ Panama 66
• Jazz Ensembles of the San Diego School Of Creative Performing Arts @ Dizzy's
• Avi Avital and San Diego Symphony @ Jacobs Music Center at Symphony Hall
• Sammy Johnson, Etana, Nomad and Swells @ Music Box
• The Division Men, Roger!, Jesse Nova and the Second Line @ Black Cat Bar
• The Guitar Collective: Angel Vivaldi and Nita Strauss, Jacky Vincent @ Brick By Brick
• Daring Greatly @ WildWood Crossing (Music Room)
• Tatanka, Sandollar @ Winston's
• Julian Jaime, Marian Mulock, Ricky Garcia @ Lestat's
• Mattte Gray Band @ Moonshine Beach 
• Whiskey, Cash, and Roses @ Moonshine Flats 
• Crew D'Etat @ Seven Grand
• New Skeletal Faces, Morphesia, Braggers @ Club 207, Hard Rock Hotel
• Rituals - a night of dark danse with Mortal Boy live @ Space
• Slow Caves, Moth Wings, Rain on Fridays South Beacons @ Che Café Collective
• Viscous @ De Oro Mine Co
• Shared Holiday Party @ Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club & Bungalows (6pm)
• Koo Koo Kanga Roo, Kitty Kat Fan Club @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
• Carols By Candlelight @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Mark Twain's A Christmas Carol @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Hip Hop vs Punk Rock w/ Gonkama, Strangely Strange, Tranzformer @ Tower Bar
• Rock En Espanol with Zenith @ Border X Brewing
• Jenn Grinels & Jenn Bostic Concert @ Queen Bee's
• Black Market 111 @ Rosie O'Grady's
• Heart Bones - Har Mar Superstar and Sabrina Ellis do the songs of Dirty Dancing, Geezer @ The Merrow
• Bruja, Rust, Pedal Strike, Akrid @ Bancroft Bar
• Janice & Nathan @ Martini's Above Fourth
• Undercover, DJ Pocket @ V Lounge, Viejas Casino 
• Teach Me Equals, Joey Sprinkles, Of Ennui, & Polux @ Til-Two Club
• All-Vinyl Happy Hour w/Monsieur Turbeau @ The Office (6pm)
• Last Fryday @ The Loft, UCSD
• Bump City Brass @ Tio Leo's
• The Devon Allman Project, Duane Betts, Southern Reign @ Ramona Mainstage
• Mercedes Moore @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (5pm)
• Pop Vinyl @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (9pm)
• Strange Crew, Side Hustle @ Navajo Live (10pm)
• OB Comedy @ Winston's  (6-9pm)
• FNGRS CRSSD: Tiga + The Black Madonna @ Spin   
• Darius @ Bang Bang
• Goodtimes @ Henry's Pub
• Club Musae @ Boar Cross'n

Saturday, December 8, 2018:

• Vinyl Junkies Record Swap @ Casbah ($5, 11am-5pm)
• December Nights @ Balboa Park
• Island Food and Beer Fest @ Waterfront Park
• An Evening With Fleetwood Mac @ Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl, SDSU
• Neko Case,  Destoyer (Solo) @ The Observatory North Park
• Echosmith, Josh Vietti, Ben Benavente @ Westfield UTC
• Hands Like Houses, Emarosa, Devour The Day, Arlington @ The Irenic
• Author & Punisher, Lingua Ignota, Street Sects, Otherr, New Crimes @ Casbah 
• DJ Mike Delgado @ Bar Pink
• Club Sabbat @ The Merrow  
• West Coast Podcast Expo @ Worldbeat Center
• Gnarlywood Presents: 16th Annual Turtleneck & Sweater Party with The Young Guns @ Belly Up  
• Sol Orchid @ Seven Grand
• End of Data (witch house, glitch, dark electro night) @ Space
• Late Night Jackin Holiday Party with Arturo Garces, Josh Lewis, Paul Najera, Boys Don't Disco @ Blonde
• December Nights @ Panama 66
• Avi Avital and San Diego Symphony @ Jacobs Music Center at Symphony Hall
• Fred & Friends @ WildWood Crossing (Music Room, 4:30-6:30pm)
• West of 5 @ WildWood Crossing (Music Room, 8-11pm)
• Another Holiday Show feat Fashion Jackson, Retra, yujin13 @ Lestat's 
• Don Vedda, Ben Limpic, 33 North, The Adam Bruck Experience, The Infidels featuring Aaron New, Why July @ Soma
• Nathan James @ Pour House (5:30pm)  
• Booty Bassment with Dmitri & Rob @ Whistle Stop
• Inspired and the Sleep, Miles Bandit, Petite Lumière @ Pour House  
• 4SDA's Nutcracker @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Mark Twain's A Christmas Carol @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Carols By Candlelight @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Pilita Corrales & Sonny Turner @ Sycuan
• San Diego Seals Free Open Practice + Scrimmage @ Valley View Casino Center
• The Original Blues Brothers Band @ The Events Center, Harrah's SoCal Resort 
• Drainbows, Black Hesher, The Resinators @ Black Cat Bar
• Java Joe Presents: Jeff Berkley, Veronica May, Lindsay White, Lisa Sanders, Bobo Czarnowski, Cici Artemsia @ Backdrop (formerly Java Joe's)
• 25 Years of Enter The Wu-Tang @ Border X Brewing
• Whitechapel -"This Is Exile" 10th Anniversary Tour, Chelsea Grin, Oceano, Slaughter To Prevail @ House of Blues
• Asi Suena Presents Allison, Buen Viaje, Tesuque Revolt @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
• Sophia Alone @ Martini's Above Fourth
• Drac & The Swamp Rats, The Writhers, Busted Coffins @ Tower Bar
• The Rinds, PUKE, Suburban Park, Remedelics and AVO @ Che Café Collective
• Electric Division @ De Oro Mine Co
• Watch me Burn, Cave Bastards, ARToWAR @ Bancroft Bar
• Fungineers "Ice Cream Truck Show" @ Quartyard
• Whiskey, Cash, and Roses @ Moonshine Beach 
• Matte Gray Band @ Moonshine Flats 
• Sometimes Julie @ Winston's (5 pm)
• Boostive, The Routine @ Winston's (10pm)
• Wild Heart @ Rosie O Grady's
• Naughty is the new Nice: Brolesque Show @ Queen Bee's 
• Crimeapple, Eto, Big Twin @ Til-Two Club
• Shred For Dime — Annual Tribute Show @ Brick By Brick
• T-Dance @ The Merrow
• Strictly Business w/DJs Heminguey & Gabe Vega @ The Office
• Paging the '90s Pacific Beach Party @ 710 Beach Club
• Karaoke @ WildWood Crossing (Patio)
• UFC 231 @ U-31
• Rising Star, DJ Ayla Simone @ V Lounge, Viejas Casino 
• Detroit Underground @ Tio Leo's
• Sue Palmer @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (5pm)
• GruvMatic @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (9pm)
• Ego Trip Presents: Creatures of the Forest ft. Emancipator @ Spin
• Serious Guise @ Navajo Live 
• Saint Clair @ Oxford Social Club
• Galactic Goddess @ Kava Lounge
• Rockstar Saturdays @ Henry's

Sunday, December 9, 2018:

• Kurt Vile & The Violators, Jessica Pratt @ The Observatory North Park
• Cayucas, Nico Yaryan @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
• ALT 949 Not So Silent Night with Thirty Seconds To Mars, AJR, Elle King, Alice Merton @ Del Mar Arena
• Wafia @ Casbah
• SUUNS, Graham Van Pelt @ Soda Bar
• Skating Polly, potty mouth, Con-Tact @ Space
• Wavves, Beach Fossils: The I Love You Tour, Spiritual Cramp @ House of Blues
• Stephen El Rey, Daniel Crawford and Ariel Levine @ The Cordova (formerly Morena Club)
• Mud Slide Slim Holiday Show: the Music of James Taylor, Carole King @ The Music Box 
• Besos Trio @ Panama 66
• Runsdeep, Single Lash, Language Of Flowers @ Whistle Stop
• Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn (seated show) @ Belly Up (SOLD OUT)
• Craft Workshop with Chicanistas @ Border X Brewing
• Rockademy @ Music Box 
• Bar Pink Craft Bar-Zaar with The Jason Hanna Trio @ Bar Pink (12 pm)
• Rat Sabbath with DJ Ratty @ Bar Pink (10 pm)
• The Primals, This White Light. @ Bancroft Bar
• Syncopated Ladies, Sole Talk @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• Mark Twain's A Christmas Carol @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• DAIKAIJU!!!, Secret Samurai, Dinosaur Ghost @ Tower Bar
• San Diego Gay Men's Chorus Jingle @ Sycuan
• East Village Holiday Market & Tree Lighting @ Quartyard (3-8pm)
• California Fire Foundation Benefit Show featuring L.i.f.t., Sitting On Stacy, Alternate Era, Halo Boy, David Twist, HRRY @ Soma 
• San Diego Tennis Federation Holiday Party @ Martini's Above Fourth
• Members Holiday Party @ La Jolla Athenaeum
• Showstoppers Talent Contest - Grand Finals @ The Merrow (5pm)
• The Playground- Sunday Night Dance Party with DJ Heather Hardcore @ The Merrow (8pm)
• Divinity Presents Chvrch @ Blonde
• C-Kan @ El Gran Patron Night Club
• Pants Karaoke @ Til-Two Club
• Rock Goddess Tribute Night feat Roni Lee, Bobbi Baur, Juliet Hawkins, Bahar Shahidi, Rhythm Rose Turner, Francesca Valle, Michele Whitlow, Colette Lopicollo, Shamini Jain @ Brick By Brick
• Salsa Sundays @ Queen Bee's (All Ages)
• Nikki Hill, Laura Chavez, The Sleepwalkers @ Tio Leo's
• ALU, Sushi Neko Roll, Ba Bête, Vaginals, Modesty @ Kava Lounge
• Reggae Sunday @ U-31
• Uptown Top Ranking @ The Office
• Underworld.Gothic.Industrial @ Navajo Live 
• Major Interval @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (7pm)
• Jose Sinatra's OB-o-ke @ Winston's
• Almost Famous Karaoke @ Henry's
• Reggae Sunday @ Spin
• Sunday Funday Karaoke @ 710 Beach Club

Monday, December 10, 2018:

• AFI, Cold Showers @ The Observatory
• Distressor, Sway, The Rightovers, hug @Soda Bar
• Mainsail, Avenue Army, Teazed @ Casbah
• djgirlgroupgirl @ Bar Pink
• 6th Annual Fernet-Branca, Henebery & AKA Holiday Party @ The Office
• The Bucket Show: Featuring James Schrader & Joe Grillo @ Ken Club
• Jazz Jam at Rosie's w/Louis V @ Rosie O'Grady's
• WWE Monday Night Raw @ Valley View Casino Center
• Electric Waste Band @ Winston's
• Makossa Mondays with DJ Tah Rei @ Seven Grand
• Doyle, Society 1, Vuture, SouthTowne Sham, Cylon 78 @ Brick by Brick
• Blue Monday Dark 80s New Wave Night with DJ Camilla Robina, Aaron Wallace @ Blonde
• Fox and Bones, BJ Jezbera @ De Oro Mine Co
• Andy and Nathan @ Martini's Above Fourth
• Strictly Acoustic @ Navajo Live
• Electric Relaxation @ Whistle Stop
• Line Dancing Lessons @ Moonshine Beach 
• Trivia with Arnie @ Bancroft Bar
• Wheels of the Industry @ Live Wire
• Open Mic @ Lestat's
• Acoustic Night/Industry Night @ Henry's Pub
• 31 Flavors @ U-31

Photos: Rex Orange County at the Observatory, 11.12&13.2018

On November 12th and 13th, Rex Orange County played two sold out shows the Observatory North Park. As regular listeners of Sirius XMU, we were well aware of the hype from the easy, breezy "Loving Is Easy," but I had no idea how insane and devoted his fans were. There's something deep that they're connecting with, whether it's the self-deprecating lyrics ("I said that I don't mind if you hate me 'Cause baby if I were you I would probably hate me too"), his average-white-guy and therefore accessible appearance, or his aw-shucks demeanor, but on both nights, the crowds lapped it up, sang along to every lyric, and participated with every request, like shining cell phone flashlights overhead and completely losing their shit when the confetti machines blankets the crowd. I left the show feeling like I'd never seen anything like this...but then just days later caught Billie Eilish and she had a similar fan response, which makes me just think kids are just dying for something with which to connect and right now, Rex and Billie bring it. I only had a photo pass the second night, but took some phone ones from the first night, too. They're all after the jump.

Things To Do In San Diego: Tuesday, November 27-Monday, December 3, 2018

As I was looking for a photo to add to this week's listings, it occurred to me that I didn't really go to any shows over the past week. The nights I wanted to, I got caught up with work, and then there was the holiday, and then Darren and I went to Ken Club Karaoke, and then there was a ton of family time, and then I worked the Ghostemane show, but it was all fog machines and a massive circle pit and that I'm-way-too-old-for-this feeling. So here's a cell phone shot from Chula Vista marina, where I took the girls to run off some of their pent up energy from being holiday TV zombies all week. I felt super refreshed after the week but I'm still behind on everything and my laptop still tweaks out an entire row of letters so that when I use my 'shift' or 'ctrl' key, type 'c' or 'v' or 'm' or 'return', it only works about 25% of the time. FML. Or FL if you're paying attention. This laptop is only a couple years old, but maybe I already have to swap to a new one this Christmas. blerg. Full listings for the week are after the jump. Also, I don't know if I should bother with my Holiday Events listings this year. Let me know in the comments or on socials if you think it's valuable, otherwise this year I'll save myself the headache. 

San Diego Symphony: Cyber Monday Offer- 50% Off All Friday Shows

San Diego Symphony is offering 50% off all Friday shows through the end of their season. There are a lot of great Cyber Monday offers out there, but this is definitely one to take advantage of, particularly if you feel like the Symphony is inaccessible or price-prohibitive at regular prices. Click here for tickets and use promo code CYBER.

Jacobs Masterworks Concert: Music of Lutosławski, Mozart and Dvoŕák
Fri 11/30/18 8:00PM Copley Symphony Hall

Jacobs Masterworks Concert: Music of Bach, Liadov, Stravinsky and more
Fri 12/7/18 8:00PM Copley Symphony Hall VIVALDI AND BACH WITH AVI AVITAL

NOEL NOEL
City Lights Special Concert: San Diego's favorite downtown holiday music tradition returns!
Fri 12/21/18 8:00PM Copley Symphony Hall NOEL NOEL

PAYARE AND WEILERSTEIN
Jacobs Masterworks Concert: Music of Richard Strauss, Britten and Shostakovich
Fri 1/11/19 8:00PM Copley Symphony Hall PAYARE AND WEILERSTEIN

THE YOUNG ROMANTICS
Jacobs Masterworks Concert: Music of Mendelssohn, Liszt and Berlioz
Fri 1/18/19 8:00PM Copley Symphony Hall THE YOUNG ROMANTICS

MATT’S PLAYLIST: ECHOES OF THE FUTURE
Jacobs Masterworks Concert: Music of Beethoven, Stravinsky, Schubert and much more
Fri 1/25/19 8:00PM Copley Symphony Hall MATT’S PLAYLIST: ECHOES OF THE FUTURE

AUGUSTIN HADELICH RETURNS
Jacobs Masterworks Concert: Music of Janáček, Dvoŕák, Bartók and Brahms
Fri 2/15/19 8:00PM Copley Symphony Hall AUGUSTIN HADELICH RETURN

A CELEBRATION OF FRANK SINATRA WITH MICHAEL FEINSTEIN
City Lights Concert: America's premier cabaret artist and songbook historian holds the stage at Symphony Hall with his piano.
Fri 2/22/19 8:00PM Copley Symphony Hall A CELEBRATION OF FRANK SINATRA WITH MICHAEL FEINSTEIN

EDO DE WAART CONDUCTS MAHLER 4
Jacobs Masterworks Concert: Music of Samuel Barber and Gustav Mahler
Fri 3/1/19 8:00PM Copley Symphony Hall EDO DE WAART CONDUCTS MAHLER 4

PUCCINI'S GLORIOUS MASS
Jacobs Masterworks Concert: A rare performance of Giacomo Puccini's youthful choral masterwork, containing many themes which resurfaced later in his famous operas.
Fri 3/22/19 8:00PM Copley Symphony Hall PUCCINI'S GLORIOUS MASS

LING CONDUCTS BRAHMS
Jacobs Masterworks Concert: Music of Weber, Chopin and Brahms
Fri 4/12/19 8:00PM Copley Symphony Hall LING CONDUCTS BRAHMS

SAINT-SAËNS’ ORGAN SYMPHONY
Jacobs Masterworks Concert: Music of Berlioz, Poulenc and Saint-Saëns
Fri 5/3/19 8:00PM Copley Symphony Hall SAINT-SAËNS’ ORGAN SYMPHONY

SEASON FINALE WITH CRISTIAN MĂCELARU
Jacobs Masterworks Concert: Music of Shepherd, Rachmaninoff, Richard Strauss and Bernstein
Fri 5/24/19 8:00PM Copley Symphony Hall SEASON FINALE WITH CRISTIAN MĂCELARU

Photos: Old Sea Brigade, Frances Cone, Tall Heights at House of Blues Voodoo Room, 11.4.2018

I generally post my photos with the headliner at the top, but on December 4th, I went to the House of Blues Voodoo Room as a guest of Old Sea Brigade, who was opening the show. I decided to stick around for Frances Cone and Tall Heights, and it ended up being an all-around great show. It had also been awhile since I'd been to the Voodoo Room and I totally appreciated the stage renovations. The crowd was small so the fact there wasn't a photo barrier wasn't a problem. There was a group of people up front who seemed more concerned with what flavored vodka was available at the bar than the show, but once they settled down, the rest of the show was pretty awesome.

Full pics from the show are after the jump. I also shot a couple videos of Old Sea Brigade that are after the jump as well.

Things To Do In San Diego: Tuesday, November 20-Monday, November 26, 2018

Yes. I keep telling you that I have a lot of catching up to do but I also have to sit back and acknowledge beauty before my own eyes. I got to see Rex Orange County and Billie Eilish in the same week, and while I'd like to say this isn't the stuff that makes me pulse, these artists speak to the kids, and that is kind of enough for me at this moment. It's Thanksgiving week, so I'll do my best to catch up and post photos, but in the meantime, here are the listings through Monday. After the jump.