Groove: February concert calendar
Top performers coming to San Diego this month include Justin Timberlake, Travis Scott, KISS and Marc Anthony.
2.1: Okilly Dokilly
There are far fewer metal bands than ever these days, but there has still never been one like Okilly Dokilly. The Arizona-based, Ned Flanders-themed rippers stand as the world’s only “Nedal” act and bring their Simpsons send-up to town for the first night of the band’s 2019 ReNEDucation Tour.
@ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com
2.1: Jacob Banks
This British-born, Nigerian soul singer is signed to Interscope and released his debut album, Village, in November. Banks is also the first unsigned act ever to appear on BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge. Fellow countryman Jamie N Commons opens the show.
@ Belly Up, bellyup.com
2.2: MadeinTYO
Editor’s note: This concert has been rescheduled for March 12.
After a string of singles, EPs and mixtapes, Atlanta-bred, L.A.-based rapper MadeinTYO (aka Malcolm Davis) released his debut album, Sincerely, Tokyo, in October. The 14-song collection features a slew of guests including A$AP Ferg, Gunna, Roy Wood$, Blood Orange, Tinashe and Davis’ own brother, 24HRS.
@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com
2.4: Travis Scott
The Houston rapper’s latest album, Astroworld, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200, was certified Gold in its first week of release, and follows 2016’s Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight as Scott’s second No. 1 album. And if that wasn’t enough, the Astroworld Tour features a fully functional roller coaster that operates above the crowd. Scott’s other claim to fame: Being Kylie Jenner’s baby daddy.
@ Pechanga Arena, pechangaarenasd.com
2.5: Gang of Four
Their name may say differently, but pioneering post-punkers Gang of Four have spent most of their career as a two-man mob. And until 2012, that was singer-guitarist Andy Gill and lead vocalist Jon King. The politically minded English quartet still features Gill, but now features John “Gaoler” Sterry on vocals.
@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com
2.5: MØ
Danish superstar MØ (aka singer/songwriter Karen Ørsted) released her second full-length album, Forever Neverland, in October. It features an appearance from longtime collaborator Diplo, as well as Charli XCX, Empress Of and What So Not. Rapper and performance artist Mykki Blanco opens the show.
@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com
2.5: DaniLeigh
The Miami-born, L.A.-based singer, dancer and creative director was discovered by Prince, directed his Breakfast Can Wait video, and has appeared as the lead dancer in others by Daddy Yankee and Nelly Furtado. Her debut album, The Plan, was released in November and features appearances from YG, Lil Yachty and more.
@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego
2.7: KISS
The long-running, Kabuki-costumed rockers are finally (I mean, so they say) hanging it up. Calling this last run “The End of the Road” tour Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer head to Viejas Arena for one more night in San Diego filled with their trademark pyrotechnics, showmanship and arena-sized rock tunes.
@ Viejas Arena, viejasarena.com
2.7: Marc Anthony
The singer, actor, producer and multi-Grammy winner returns to Point Loma on his LEGACY Tour. And even if Anthony never makes a follow-up to his last album, 2013’s 3.0, the multi-faceted performer’s own legacy is well intact. He released a pair of singles recently, Está Rico with Will Smith and Bad Bunny, as well as Adicto with Prince Royce, and has sold over 12 million albums worldwide.
@ Pechanga Arena, pechangaarenasd.com
2.8: Atmosphere
Veteran Minneapolis-based hip-hop duo Slug (rapper Sean Daley) and Ant (DJ/producer Anthony Davis) love the Observatory! They return for this sold-out show to celebrate the 2018 release of their ninth studio album, Mi Vida Local, as well as the 20th anniversary of their fifth studio album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That S**t Gold.
@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com
2.10: 2Cellos
Croatian duo Stjepan Hauser and Luka Šulić are cello-playing virtuosos who perform instrumental versions of well-known pop and rock classics. They also happen to have a social media following in the millions. Listen to them put their spin on songs like Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect,” U2’s “With or Without You,” Celin Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” and more when they bring their Let There Be Cello tour to San Diego.
Click here for a chance to win a pair of tickets.
@ Pechanga Arena, pechangaarenasd.com
2Cellos.
2.10: Lee “Scratch” Perry
The reggae legend and Studio One super-producer, along with his Subatomic Sound System backing band, hit the road to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Upsetters’ seminal Blackboard Jungle Dub LP. Jah Rasta!
@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego
2.15: The Marias
The bilingual L.A.-based psychedelic/soul/lounge quintet released their second EP, Superclean, Vol. II, in September. Dreamer Boy and Vanessa Zamora open the show.
@ The Irenic, theirenic.com
2.15: Sheila E.
The percussionist, singer and longtime Prince collaborator released her latest album, Iconic: Message 4 America, in 2017. It features a collaboration with George Clinton on his iconic One Nation Under A Groove, as well as a cover of the Beatles classic Come Together, featuring Ringo Starr and The Revolution.
@ Sycuan, sycuan.com
2.16: Panic! At The Disco
After starring in Kinky Boots on Broadway, Panic! At The Disco (aka Brandon Urie) released their (his) sixth studio album, Pray for the Wicked, last summer. The album debuted at the top spot of both the U.S. Billboard 200 and Australia’s ARIA Albums charts.
@ Pechanga Arena, pechangaarenasd.com
Panic! At The Disco.
2.21: Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
It’s another farewell from an American classic. Despite releasing his 18th studio album, I Knew You When, less than two years ago, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee is currently on his final stretch of live dates. The Travelin’ Man Tour includes a career-spanning set list that features hits like Night Moves, Old Time Rock and Roll, Turn The Page and more.
@ Viejas Arena, viejasarena.com
2.21: Justin Timberlake
His latest album, Man of the Woods, was released two days before he headlined the halftime show of Super Bowl LII last year, and the accompanying tour of the same name has been seen by almost 2 million attendees and counting. Read more tidbits about Timberlake here.
@ Pechanga Arena, pechangaarenasd.com
2.22: Aurora
The 22-year-old Norwegian electro-pop singer Aurora Aksnes released her second EP, Infections of a Different Kind (Step 1), in September. The eight-song offering is the first installment of a two-part album scheduled for completion by 2020. She also recently recorded the song Baby Mine for Disney’s upcoming live-action reboot of Dumbo.
@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com
2.22: Easton Corbin
Last here in November when he played after the races in Del Mar, the Florida-born, Nashville-based country singer switches to the much cozier confines of a honky-tonk bar downtown for this follow-up performance.
@ Moonshine Flats, moonshineflats.com
Easton Corbin.
2.23: Lauren Daigle
Thanks to her third studio album, Look Up Child, this 27-year-old Grammy-nominated Christian singer spent the last few months alongside artists such as Drake and Ariana Grande at the top of the Billboard and iTunes charts.
@ Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org
Lauren Daigle.
2.23: Brubeck’s Time Out in Concert
Curated by San Diego’s own Gilbert Castellanos, pianist Josh Nelson, saxophonist Danny Janklow, bassist Anna Butterss and drummer Joe LaBarbera tackle the 1959 jazz classic in its entirety.
@ Copley Symphony Hall, sandiegosymphony.org
2.24: Gregory Porter
After releasing a tribute to Nat King Cole in 2017, this multi-Grammy-winning jazz vocalist – and one-time San Diegan – followed it with a concert album, One Night Only – Live at Royal Albert Hall, last year.
@ Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org
2.28: Sharon Van Etten
After nearly five years off (which included giving birth to her first child, going back to school, and acting on the Netflix drama The OA), the singer-songwriter returned last month with her latest full-length, Remind Me Tomorrow.
@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com
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