Your October concert calendar is here
Concerts headed to San Diego in October include Banks, Vampire Weekend, Logic, Lana Del Rey, The Who, Jonas Brothers, Lizzo and Hozier.
10.1: Mercury Rev & Beth Orton
The best musical stew that’s come together in these parts for a while: Brit chanteuse Beth Orton (Chemical Brothers) joins forces with vet indie rockers Mercury Rev (who appear without founding vocalist David Baker) to perform Bobbie Gentry’s 1968 album The Delta Sweete. And if that’s not enough, former Heartless Bastards frontwoman Erika Wennerstrom opens the show.
@ Belly Up, bellyup.com
10.1: Roy Orbison & Buddy Holly Hologram Tour
OK, OK. Yes. This is an entire concert of long-dead rock and roll pioneers in hologram form. And while this sort of thing hasn’t exactly caught fire since the Tupac Shakur hologram made a 2012 debut at Coachella, J-Pop/Vocaloid hologram “singer” Hatsune Miku is a bona fide superstar. Also, a full-scale Amy Winehouse hologram tour was planned for later this year (until it was recently postponed due to “unique sensitivities”).
@ Magnolia Performing Arts Center, magnoliasandiego.com
10.2: Banks
Singer/songwriter Jillian Rose Banks released her third studio album, the appropriately titled III, in July. The former CRSSD headliner’s latest collection cracked the Top 25 on the U.S. Billboard Chart and features co-production from Sohn, Hudson Mohawke and Tim Anderson.
@ SOMA, somasandiego.com
10.2: Stiff Little Fingers
Yes, the Irish punk pioneers are at the start of their fifth decade of making and performing music together. But with founding lead vocalist Jake Burns and bassist Ali McMordie still in the fold, and guitarist Ian McCallum and drummer Steve Grantley both more than 20 years in, the band has never sounded better.
@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego
10.3: Vampire Weekend
Father of the Bride, the Grammy-winning, New York-based indie rockers’ May-released fourth album, is their first without founding multi-instrumentalist/producer Rostam Batmanglij. And while Batmanglij ultimately did contribute to a pair of songs on the album, collaborators like Chromeo’s Dave Macklovitch, Danielle Haim and Mark Ronson helped fill the void.
@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast
10.4: Calexico and Iron & Wine
The love affair continues! After releasing 2005’s joint EP In the Reins, Calexico (Joey Burns and John Convertino) and Iron & Wine (Sam Beam) have stayed friendly by occasionally appearing on each other’s albums. But in June, the super trio fully reunited once again for new album, Years to Burn, and a world tour that runs through November.
@ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
10.5, 6: Angels & Airwaves
Just here in August for a pair of shows at North County’s Belly Up and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, the Tom DeLonge-led supergroup took a month off before returning to San Diego proper.
@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego
10.6: Morrissey/Interpol
How excited you are for this show is likely related to how much you appreciate the former Smiths frontman’s recent unsolicited foray into the political arena. But hey, even if that is giving you pause, remember: Interpol also will be there.
@ Pechanga Arena, pechangaarenasd.com
10.6: Bad Religion
The L.A.-based punk vets were just here in June to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game. The band returns on the heels of releasing its 17th studio album, Age of Unreason, Bad Religion’s first release of original music in six years.
@ SOMA, somasandiego.com
10.8: Black Lips
These veteran Atlanta garage rockers came through town last year for a co-headlining show with Danish punks Iceage. They head to the perfectly cozy confines of Casbah on this solo return trip.
@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com
10.8: Van Morrison
Sir Van Morrison, that’s right, he’s been knighted, heads to Chula Vista with none other than the great Mavis Staples in tow. Hopefully, the pair will make time for a duet or two, but the Grammy-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee is still sure to play hits like Brown Eyed Girl, Moondance and Tupelo Honey.
@ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, livenation.com
10.9: Stone Temple Pilots
After releasing their second self-titled album in a row (and first since 2010) last year, the one-time San Diego-based rockers (who have featured both Scott Weiland and Chester Bennington as vocalists) return for a local show with two-time X Factor contestant Jeff Gutt at the helm.
@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast
10.9: Cass McCombs
Not only did the veteran singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist release his ninth studio album, Tip of the Sphere, this year, he also makes an appearance on the latest release of Anti- label mates and fellow October Groove entry Tinariwen (who play here three days later).
@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com
10.11: Logic
The Maryland-based rapper heads back to San Diego after making a stop at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre last summer. Logic (aka Sir Robert Bryson Hall II) downsizes the venue a bit despite his latest album, May’s Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, debuting at the top spot of the U.S. Billboard 200 – Hall’s third album in a row to accomplish that feat.
@ Viejas Arena, viejasarena.com
10.11: Lana Del Rey
The singer and songwriter’s recently released sixth studio album, Norman F-----g Rockwell, debuted at No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard 200, and at the top of the U.K. albums chart. It also prompted Rolling Stone to call it “massive and majestic,” and Pitchfork to deem Del Rey “one of America’s greatest living songwriters.”
@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast
10.12: Tinariwen
The Grammy Award-winning Tuareg musicians released their eighth full-length album, Amadjar, last month. Recorded with West African historian and storyteller Noura Seymali in Mauritania, it also features collaborations with Warren Ellis, Stephen O’Malley and Cass McCombs (see above).
@ Belly Up, bellyup.com
10.13: J Balvin
The Colombian reggaeton singer’s 2018 album, Vibras, produced the worldwide smash, Mi Gente, and claimed the top spot on the U.S. Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. Balvin followed it in June with Oasis, an eight-track collaborative EP with Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny. Once again, the album hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and it cracked the top 10 on the U.S. Billboard 200.
@ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, livenation.com
10.13: Morcheeba
This show sold out in a hurry and that’s because, until just recently, the pioneering U.K. trip-hop trio was performing as a duo under the moniker Skye & Ross. But now the OG gang is back together and people are excited for a night of their favorite tracks from the band’s classic catalog.
@ Belly Up, bellyup.com
10.13: Bastille
The band had never before experienced the kind of worldwide smash it did when lead singer Dan Smith teamed with DJ Marshmello on the 2018 single, Happier. Smart enough to quickly build on that kind of priceless exposure, Bastille released its third studio album, Doom Days, in June.
@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast
10.15: Ride
After a 20-year hiatus, the pioneering U.K. shoegazers returned with their fifth studio album, Weather Diaries, in 2017. They followed it with another, This Is Not a Safe Place, in August. Both new albums were produced by DJ Erol Alkan.
@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego
10.16: The Who
“It’s ooooonly teeeeenage wasteland!” It’s really kind of hard to believe, but even in their 55th year (!!) the indomitable U.K. rockers are still at it. But with Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend continuing to suit up every night, there’s no excuse to not go and see these legends one more time.
@ Viejas Arena, viejasarena.com
10.17: Jonas Brothers
Pop superstar siblings Nick, Joe, and Kevin Jonas have reunited for the first time in six years and are celebrating the occasion with a new album and tour. The new album, Happiness Begins, was released in June and debuted in the top spot on the U.S. Billboard 200. It also went to No. 1 in Mexico and Canada, and cracked the top 10 in countries across the globe.
@ Pechanga Arena, pechangaarenasd.com
10.18: Clairo
Singer/songwriter Clairo, aka 21-year-old Claire Cottrill, released her debut album, Immunity, in August. It features Danielle Haim on a pair of tracks and was produced by former Vampire Weekend multi-instrumentalist/producer Rostam Batmanglij.
@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego
10.19: Tyler, The Creator
The rapper, producer, fashion designer and one-time leader of the Odd Future hip collective released his self-produced fifth studio album, Igor, in May. It features appearances from Playboi Carti, Kanye West, Solange, Pharrell and others, while also standing as Tyler’s first-ever No. 1 album. Rapper Goldlink opens the show.
@ Pechanga Arena, pechangaarenasd.com
10.19: Bring Me The Horizon
There’s a pretty stark contrast between the U.K. metalcore outfit’s 2006 debut, Count Your Blessings, and its January-released sixth studio album, Amo. The one-time caustic screamers have evolved into a genre-defying collective that relies more on programming than it does on guitars. Amo even features collaborations with beatboxer Rahzel and dream pop siren Grimes.
@ Viejas Arena, viejasarena.com
10.23: Caravan Palace
Despite the recent departure of founding member Hugues Payen, the French electro-swing sextet is still led by singer Zoé Colotis. The fourth studio album, Chronologic, was released in August and features collaborations with Charles X and Tom Bailey.
@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com
10.24: Lizzo
What more can be said about this Minnesota-based siren? The newly anointed superstar has ruled the charts for months with the hit single Juice and runaway smash Truth Hurts from her April-released third album, Cuz I Love You. In fact, her songs have resonated so intensely with fans that an old cut, Good As Hell from 2016’s Coconut Oil EP, made its way onto the charts.
@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast
10.24: Andrew Bird
The classically trained violinist, singer, songwriter, and actor will soon appear in FX’s Emmy-winning limited series Fargo. But before that, the multi-instrumentalist and composer hits the road to support his March-released, politically-tinged 12th album, My Finest Work Yet.
@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego
10.25: Black Pumas
This show sold out shortly after it was put on sale weeks ago and for good reason. The Austin, Texas-based duo’s self-titled debut is equal parts Sam Cooke, 13 Floor Elevators, and Ghostface Killah. Try to talk your friend with an extra ticket into taking you along or don’t miss them the next time they’re in town.
@ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com
10.25: Rocket From The Crypt
Most recently coming out of hibernation to participate in last year’s Dia de los Deftones at The Park in Petco Park, the John Reis-led and perennial San Diego favorite, Rocket From The Crypt, hits the Gaslamp for a show of its own. El Vez, Death Valley Girls and L.A. Witch (among others) also are on the bill.
@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego
10.26: Hozier
The Irish Take Me To Church singer was in San Diego almost exactly one year ago promoting his four-track EP, Nina Cried Power, at the Observatory in North Park. He gets the venue upgrade after releasing his second studio album, Wasteland, Baby!, in March. It debuted in the top spot on both the U.S. Billboard 200 and the Irish Albums Chart.
@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast
10.26: Devendra Banhart
The Venezuelan/American freak-folk poster boy released his 10th studio album, Ma, last month. It’s his first release since 2016’s Ape in Pink Marble. Banhart is donating one dollar from each ticket purchased for the accompanying Ma tour to the World Central Kitchen.
@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com
10.28: Lucy Dacus
Here in 2018 as part of the supergroup boygenius (with Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers), the Virginia-bred singer/songwriter heads back to San Diego for a solo show. Dacus released her second studio album, Historian, last year, and a trio of new singles – La Vie En Rose, My Mother & I and Forever Half Mast – in 2019.
@ Belly Up, bellyup.com
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