Sounds Like A Plan
Up to a dozen musicians will take the stage at the Gaslamp’s Balboa Theatre when classical music-inspired Latin jazz/pop band Pink Martini smoothes into San Diego January 29. Portland, Oregonian Thomas Lauderdale founded Pink Martini (which he describes as a “little orchestra”) 20 years ago. Since then, the band has toured the world, sharing stages with internationally acclaimed symphonies and selling out arenas from New York to Europe to Australia and everywhere in between.
Nearly two years in the making, Pink Martini’s seventh studio album, Get Happy, was released in September. Appearing on the record are singers China Forbes and Storm Large (Large will perform at the 1/29 San Diego show), plus special guests including singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright and The von Trapps - the latter being the great grand children of Captain and Maria von Trapp from The Sound of Music.
Given that Get Happy includes songs in French, Spanish, Japanese, Turkish and Japanese (among other languages), Pink Martini’s stage show promises to be a unique, multilingual/ multicultural music experience.
1/29: Pink Martini @ Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org
(Editor’s note: By the way, which one’s Pink?)
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1/4: Tower of Power @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
This soul/funk band will tour with Journey and Steve Miller Band throughout summer 2014.
1/4: Reel Big Fish @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com
O.C. ska rockers most known for their 1997 hit “Sell Out.”
1/7: James Durbin @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
The American Idol Season 10 alum (he finished fourth) will release his second rock album, Celebrate, in April.
1/9: Sea Wolf @ Luce Loft, sodabarmusic.com
The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack featured this indie rock band’s song “The Violet Hour.”
1/9: Snoop Lion @ FLUXX, fluxxsd.com
In October, Dee-Oh-Double-Gizzle released Reincarnated, an album, documentary and book about his hip-hop journey to enlightenment.
1/10: Jonny Lang @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
In March, this Grammy Award-winning blues/gospel rocker will (once again) join other all-star guitarists in paying tribute to the late Jimi Hendrix at the annual Experience Hendrix Tour.
1/10: Mobb Deep @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com
Rappers Kejuan Muchita and Albert Johnson (aka Havoc and Prodigy) comprise this hip-hop duo from Queens, New York.
1/11: Michael Schenker @ Ramona Mainstage, ramonamainstage.com
German rock guitarist most known for his stint as lead guitar in the hard rock band UFO.
1/11: Nipsey Hussle @ Porter’s Pub at UC San Diego, porterspub.com
Los Angeles-based rapper who’s worked with Drake and Snoop Lion.
1/13: Janelle Monae @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com
The six-time Grammy Award-nominated R&B singer-songwriter released her second album, Electric Lady, in September.
1/13-14: Pinback @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com
Songs from these local indie rockers have been used in TV shows Yo Gabba Gabba! and The O.C.
1/16: X @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com
This punk rock quartet played the Coachella Music Festival in 2009.
1/16: Falling in Reverse @ SOMA, somasandiego.com
Hardcore screamo band touring with Escape the Fate, Chelsea Grin and Survive This! for the Bury the Hatchet Tour.
1/17: Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
Psychedelic roots band whose album In These Times made iTunes’ “Best of 2012” list.
1/21: The Aristocrats @ Brick by Brick, brickbybrick.com
Instrumental rock band on a worldwide tour to promote its recent album Culture Clash.
1/21: 3 Doors Down @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com
After their 2000 hit, “Kryptonite,” these rockers founded The Better Life Foundation to help provide children around the world with food, shelter and medical care.
1/22: Randy Rogers Band @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
Country boys from Texas.
1/23: STS9 @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com
Instrumental rock/EDM band Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) has performed at Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and many other music festivals since its formation in 1998.
1/23: Kisses @ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com
Indie pop duo comprised of writer/blogger/keyboardist Zinzi Edmundson and singer/instrumentalist Jesse Kivel.
1/24: E-40 @ 207 at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, 207sd.com
This Bay Area rapper is best known for his 2006 hits “U and Dat” and “Tell Me When to Go.”
1/24-25: Ozomatli @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
Known for their political activism, all members of this Latin hip-hop/rock band have been named U.S. State Department Cultural Ambassadors.
1/25: Islands @ The Griffin, thegriffinsd.com
Canadian indie rockers on a mostly California tour with Haunted Summer.
1/25: Wooden Shjips @ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com
Psychedeljic rock band from San Francjisco.
1/25: Of Montreal @ The Irenic, casbahmusic.com
In 2012, this indie rock band raised nearly $100,000 through Kickstarter to fund its feature-length documentary, Song Dynasties.
1/25: STYX @ Pechanga Resort & Casino, pechanga.com
American rock band responsible for the iconic ‘80s hits “Babe” and “Mr. Roboto,” among many others.
1/25: Skinny Puppy @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com
Electro-industrial band on its North American Live Shape for Arms Tour.
1/25: Tommy Emmanuel @ Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org
Readers of Guitar Player magazine named this Australian the “Best Acoustic Guitarist” in 2008 and 2010.
1/26: David Garrett @ Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org
While attending Juilliard in the early 2000s, this German violinist picked up part-time modeling gigs for extra cash.
1/26: Christopher Cross @ Sycuan Casino, sycuan.com
The pop rock singer-songwriter won an Academy Award in 1981 for “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do),” the theme song for the film Arthur, starring Dudley Moore.
1/29: North Mississippi Allstars @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
Southern rockers on tour to promote their September 2013 album, World Boogie is Coming.
1/29: Reggie and the Full Effect @ The Irenic, sodabarmusic.com
Inspired by front man James Dewees’ recent divorce, this indie rock band titled its fourth album Songs Not to Get Married to.
1/29: Off! @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com
The video game Grand Theft Auto V features this hardcore punk band’s new song, “What’s Next?”
1/30: Passafire @ The Irenic, sodabarmusic.com
This reggae/rock band’s fifth album, Vines, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart in November.
1/30: The Mezingers @ Ché Café, frontgatetickets.com
Pennsylvania punk rockers who’ve toured with Anti-Flag, Against Me! and The Gaslight Anthem.
1/30: Mayer Hawthorne @ House of Blues, houseofblues.com
This soul singer-songwriter’s track, “Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin,” was featured on the Season Four finale of Ugly Betty.
1/31: George Strait @ Valley View Casino Center, valleyviewcasinocenter.com
The King of Country hasn’t played in San Diego in nearly 20 years. This show, with special guest Miranda Lambert, sold out in minutes.
1/31: MXPX @ The Irenic, sodabarmusic.com
Christian punk rockers who played the Rebellion Festival in 2012 (UK’s version of Coachella).
1/31: Blue Oyster Cult @ Sycuan Casino, sycuan.com
Seventies rock band most recognized for its 1976 hit “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and 1981’s “Burnin’ for You.”
1/31: Wilson Phillips @ Pala Casino, palacasino.com
Never having stopped fighting to regain their 1990s glory, this pop trio recently starred in TV Guide Network’s Wilson Phillips: Still Holding On.
1/31: Foreigner @ Harrah’s Rincon Casino, harrahsrincon.com
Hits “Feels Like the First Time,” “Double Vision,” “Juke Box Hero” and many others helped this ‘80s rock band sell more than 75 million albums to date.
1/31: Travis Porter @ 207 at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, 207sd.com
Georgia school buddies Ali, Quez and Strap comprise this hip-hop trio.