Groove: October concert calendar
Musical acts coming to San Diego this month include Mexrrissey, B-52s, Hozier and Noah Cyrus.
10.1: Conor Oberst & The Mystic River Band
The Nebraska-born singer/songwriter once known as Bright Eyes released his eighth solo studio album, Salutations, in 2017. For his upcoming tour, he’s reuniting with The Mystic Valley Band after last releasing an album with them in 2012. Perhaps this is preparation for a trip back into the studio together.
@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com
10.2: 5 Seconds of Summer
These guys are moving on up! Last here in April at the House of Blues, the YouTube celebs turned Aussie boy band get the significant venue upgrade in only half a year. Their third album, Youngblood, was released in June.
@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast
5 Seconds of Summer.
10.2: Ghostland Observatory
After an extended hiatus, the Austin, Texas-based electro duo of Aaron Behrens and Thomas Turner returned with their Life of the Party EP in 2015. They followed that with last month’s first full-length album from the band in eight years, See You Later Simulator.
@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com
10.3: Courtney Barnett
Last here almost exactly one year ago with Kurt Vile promoting the pair’s collaborative Lotta Sea Lice album, the Aussie singer and songwriter returns alone, having released her second solo LP, Tell Me How You Really Feel, in May.
@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com
10.3 MC50
To celebrate the 50th (!) anniversary of the MC5’s landmark live album, Kick Out the Jams, guitarist Wayne Kramer has enlisted members of Soundgarden, Faith No More, and Fugazi to play the album in its entirety each night. Rumor has it there are a few additional MC5 classics that get thrown into the mix as well.
@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego
10.4: Mexrrissey
Led by Mexican Institute of Sound’s Camilo Lara, this earnest tribute to Moz infuses the songs of the former Smiths frontman with traditional Mexican sounds. Their new live show, La Reina is Dead, finds the band interpreting The Smiths’ classic third studio album in its entirety.
@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com
10.5: Interpol
The Paul Banks-led indie rockers released their sixth studio album, Marauder, in August. Produced by Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Ok Go, MGMT), Marauder was the band’s first album in four years.
@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast
Interpol.
10.5: Jon Pardi
Pardi, a country singer who grew up outside of Sacramento, scored a No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Country Chart with his 2016 sophomore album, California Sunrise. Two of the album’s footwear-related singles — Head Over Boots and Dirt on My Boots — have gone platinum.
@ Harrah’s, harrahssocal.com
10.5: Roky Erickson
Psych-rock godfather and founding member of The 13th Floor Elevators returns to San Diego. Erickson’s last album, True Love Cast Out All Evil, was released in 2010. Death Valley Girls open the show.
@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com
10.6: B-52s
Although founding member Keith Strickland no longer tours with the band, fellow originals Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, and Cindy Wilson still Roam the world. And while you may have been able to catch them in all kinds of other cities with Boy George, they were not on that bill last month in San Diego.
@ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
B-52s.
10.9: Ozzy Osbourne
The Ozzman cometh to San Diego. Again. After all, this run is called No More Tours 2. But despite the irony, the Grammy-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee will bring his “final” tour back to America’s Finest City with longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde in tow.
@ Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, livenation.com
Ozzy Osbourne.
10.11: Hinds
Spain’s all-girl rockers get a local warm-up show before heading up the road to Lake Perris for an appearance at the Desert Daze Fest. The band’s sophomore studio album, I Don’t Run, was released in April.
@ The Irenic, sodabarmusic.com
10.12: Dierks Bentley
The country singer/songwriter returns to San Diego on his Mountain High Tour, after releasing his ninth studio album, The Mountain, in June. The Mountain debuted at the top spot of Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart and features collaborations with Brothers Osborne and Brandi Carlisle.
@ Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, livenation.com
10.12: Fitz and the Tantrums
The indie-poppers hit the casino circuit for some blackjack and HandClap after releasing their self-titled third studio album in 2016.
@ Sycuan, sycuan.com
10.12-14: Desert Daze Festival
Moving down from Joshua Tree to just up the road in Lake Perris, the annual three-day psych-fest is now easily accessible to San Diegans. And this year’s lineup is worth the short drive. Tame Impala, Warpaint, My Bloody Valentine, Ty Segall, and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are all scheduled to perform.
@ Lake Perris, desertdaze.org
10.15: Hozier
Hozier must’ve really been moved after someone really did “take (him) to church.” His latest 4-track EP, Nina Cried Power, kicks things off with a title track that features Grammy winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and Kennedy Center-honored gospel singer Mavis Staples.
@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com
10.15: King Khan & The Shrines
Canadian-born, Berlin-based garage rocker King Khan (aka Arish Ahmad Khan) brings his wild stage show, and love for costumes, to Solana Beach. The band’s last album, Idle No More, was released in 2013.
@ Belly Up, bellyup.com
10.16: Sting & Shaggy
This odd pairing of the former Police frontman and the Jamaican singer known as Mr. Boombastic produced the collaborative album, 44/876, earlier this year. The 16-track collection features each singer switching off lead vocal duties, as well as a feature from family reggae band Morgan Heritage.
@ Harrah’s, harrahssocal.com
Sting (left) and Shaggy.
10.17: System of a Down
After reuniting in 2010, the Serj Tankian-led alternative metal act have played sporadically while working on a yet-to-be-released follow-up to their two releases in 2005 – Mezmerize and Hypnotize. They’ll be joined by the recently reunited At The Drive In, who last year released In•ter a•li•a, their first studio album in 17 years.
@ Valley View Casino Center, valleyviewcasinocenter.com
10.17, 23: Thievery Corporation
Washington D.C.’s finest sitar-tinged beat makers return to San Diego for a pair of shows with nearly week between them. Julian Marley will provide support for the first date, while DJ Z-Trip is on board for the second.
@ Belly Up, bellyup.com
10.18: FIDLAR
The L.A. skate punk quartet released their sophomore album, the aptly titled Too, in 2015. They retuned earlier this year with two new singles — Alcohol and Are You High?
@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com
10.18: Noah Cyrus
Unfortunately in the news lately for her breakup with rapper Lil Xan, the 18-year-old actress and singer (and Miley’s little sister) eased her blues with the release of her debut EP, Good Cry, last month.
@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego
Noah Cyrus at Coachella.
10.20: Scallywag!
It’s another day of craft beer, food, and music with the ocean as a backdrop. Headlining punks Rancid, who released their ninth studio album, Trouble Maker, last year, will be joined by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Hepcat, Less Than Jake, The Interrupters and Beach Goons.
@ Waterfront Park, scallywagfest.com
10.22: Simple Minds
Don’t you forget about them. The veteran Scottish act released their first album of original material in four years, Walk Between Worlds, last February. As they enter their 42nd year together, founding members Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill are still at the helm.
@ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
10.24, 25: Alina Baraz
The 24-year-old singer first teamed with Danish producer Galimatias on her 2015 debut EP, Urban Flora. She followed that by touring with Coldplay and releasing a few singles of her own. Her full-length follow-up, The Color of You, was released in April and features a pair of tracks with Khalid.
@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com
Alina Baraz.
10.25: Jay Rock
Top Dawg Entertainment labelmate to Kendrick Lamar, the L.A. rapper released his third studio album, Redemption, in June. In addition to Lamar, the album features guest appearances from J. Cole, Future, SZA, and more.
@ SOMA, somasandiego.com
10.25: Troye Sivan
The South African-born Australian pop singer and actor released his second studio album, Bloom, in August. He also is set to appear in the upcoming film Boy Erased, which will be released in the U.S. on Nov. 2.
@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast
10.27, 30: BØRNS
L.A.-based pop singer BØRNS, aka Garrett Borns, released his second studio album, Blue Madonna, at the start of 2018 on Interscope Records. He visits San Diego on his Fruit of Dreams Tour, which will continue through next year.
@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com
Sign up for the Pacific Insider newsletter
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Pacific San Diego.
