Top concerts this week in San Diego (May 20-26)

Top performances in town this week include Gary Clark Jr., Rich the Kid, Diplo, NKOTB and Jenny Lewis.

5.20: Johnny Marr

The one-time Smiths co-songwriter and guitarist has lent his talents to the likes of Modest Mouse, The Pretenders, Electronic, The Healers, Cribs, The The and others over the years, but started making albums of his own in 2013. The latest (and third solo effort overall), 2018’s Call the Comet, was self-produced with band keyboardist James Doviak.

@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego

5.21: IDLES

If you slept on getting tickets to critically acclaimed, Bristol-based rockers IDLES, unfortunately you’re too late for this upcoming sold-out show. But you can still listen to their sophomore album, Joy as an Act of Resistance, which was released last year.

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com

5.21: NAV

In March, NAV, aka Canadian rapper/producer Navraj Goraya, released his second studio album, Bad Habits, on The Weeknd’s XO Records. It features appearances from Meek Mill, Young Thug, and Gunna, as well as the XO label founder himself.

@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego

5.22: Gary Clark Jr.

Named after his in-your-face take on Woody Guthrie’s classic song, Austin-based guitar slinger Gary Clark Jr. released his third studio album, This Land, in February. It debuted at No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard 200, making it Clark Jr.’s third straight entry in the top 10.

@ Harrah’s, harrahssocal.com

5.22: Dead Boys

Responsible for the classic punk anthem Sonic Reducer, these veteran Cleveland, Ohio, rockers still feature founding lead guitarist Cheetah Chrome and drummer Johnny Blitz. They released a re-recording of their 1977 debut, Young Loud and Snotty, in 2017.

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com

5.23: NKOTB

There are a lot of mixtapes being made these days, but rarely are they actually released on cassette. The current Mixtape Tour from New Kids On The Block isn’t a tape either, but at least it’s rooted in a time where that was a ubiquitous form. Plus, they’re bringing Salt N’ Pepa, Naughty By Nature, Tiffany and Debbie Gibson along to help throw it all the way back.

@ Viejas Arena, viejasarena.com

5.24: Wisin y Yandel

Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Wisin y Yandel (aka Juan Luis Morera Luna and Llandel Veguilla Malavé Salazar) have released a handful of solo albums on their own, but last teamed up in 2018 for Los Campeones del Pueblo: The Big Leagues — their 10th album together. It features guest appearances from Bad Bunny, Maluma, Ozuna, Farruko and others.

@ Viejas Arena, viejasarena.com

5.24: Minnesota

Fun fact: Although he moved to California as a teenager, dubstep and hip-hop producer Christian Bauhofer is actually from the Midwest state that his moniker honors. Bauhofer released his five-track Curio EP, and well a four-track remix companion EP, last year.

@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com

5.24: Diplo

What? Diplo? You mean Diplo like (Thomas) Wes Pentz, the multiple-Grammy-winning producer behind Major Lazer, Mad Decent Records, Jack Ü, Silk City, LSD and significant hits for everyone from M.I.A. and MØ to Justin Bieber and Madonna? Well, hell yes, then.

@ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com

5.24: Rich the Kid

Rich the Kid, aka Atlanta-based rapper Dimitri Roger, sure likes San Diego — and Bassmnt for that matter. The dude just appeared at the venue in March. To be fair, that was the month Roger released his sophomore studio album, The World Is Yours 2, his second album in a row to crack the top five on Billboard’s 200 chart. Now he’s back to properly celebrate.

@ Bassmnt, bassmntsd.com

5.25-26: MY LED USA

LED’s annual Memorial Day weekender always boasts a jam-packed roster of amazing talent and this year’s version is no exception. Artists scheduled to perform include Jauz, Gryffin, Jai Wolf, Seven Lions, Yellow Claw, AC Slater, Anna Lunoe and more. The two-day event also doubles as the kickoff to Petco’s recent expansion, which includes a new musical venue and partnership with both Live Nation and Sycuan.

@ The Park at Petco Park, petcoparkevents.com

5.26: Jenny Lewis

The singer/songwriter, actress and former Rilo Kiley frontwoman released her fourth solo studio album, On the Line, in March. It cracked the top five on both Billboard’s Top Rock and Top Alternative Albums charts and features contributions from the likes of Ringo Starr, Beck, Ryan Adams and Don Was.

@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego

5.26: Sleep

The long-running San Jose-based stoner/doom metal trio has experienced resurgence as of late. Still featuring two founding members, vocalist/bassist Al Cisneros and guitarist Matt Pike, Sleep released their fourth studio album, The Sciences, last year on Jack White’s Third Man Records. It was their first since 1999’s now-classic Dopesmoker.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

5.26: Steve Aoki

After last appearing at OMNIA in February, the Grammy-nominated, globetrotting DJ and entrepreneur continues to tour on Neon Future III, his fifth studio album. The most recent chapter in his Neon Future concept series was released last November and features appearances from BTS, blink-182, Lil Yachty, Mike Posner and even Bill Nye.

@ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com