And just like that, it’s February! I took a quick jaunt up to La La Land this weekend to watch some gymnastics and catch some music. Every once in awhile, it’s nice to have a quick overnight somewhere else. I got some quality time with friends as well as some nose boops from a furry friend. All in all, no complaints. Saturday is THE night to go out this week but there’s some other fun stuff this week as well.

Monday: Writer’s Round @ Ould Sod at 6pm
AND: COWBOYS: A Play by Business Casual w/ BONAVEGA @ Soda Bar at 6:30pm

Tuesday: Joss Stone @ Balboa Theatre at 7:30pm
AND: Hayes Carll @ Belly Up at 8pm
AND: Amarionette, Ikana @ Soda Bar at 6:30pm
AND: Fiore, Trevor Davis @ Prohibition Lounge at 8pm

Wednesday: Sons of Cream @ Belly Up at 8pm
AND: 12 Gauge Trixie @ Soda Bar at 7:30pm
AND: Vurv @ Casbah at 8:30pm

Thursday: Aviator Stash @ Belly Up at 8pm

Friday: Dan Mangan @ Soda Bar at 7pm
AND: Dexter and The Moonrocks @ House of Blues at 8pm
AND: The Pine Mountain Logs @ Belly Up at 9pm
AND: Three Legged Dog @ The Holding Company at 7:30pm

Saturday: Alex Sampson @ House of Blues Voodoo Room at 8pm
AND: Ruston Kelly, verygently @ Belly Up at 5:30pm
AND: The Resinators, The Reckless, Russ Blvd @ Winstons OB at 9pm
AND: TX2 @ Soma at 6pm
AND: The Rural Alberta Advantage @ Casbah at 8:30pm
AND: Emo Night w/Brothers Grim @ Brick By Brick @ 8pm
AND: Sqwerv @ The Holding Company at 7:30pm

Sunday: Aries @ Observatory North Park at 8pm

Keep in Mind:
February 25th: Joseph @ Music Box
February 25th: The Violent Femmes @ The Sound
February 26th: The Violent Femmes @ The Sound
March 5th: The Strumbellas @ Music Box
March 9th: Nine Inch Nails @ Pechanga Arena
March 13th: Colony House @ House of Blues
March 19th: Lady A @ Viejas Resort
March 20: Foreigner & San Diego Symphony Orchestra @ Rady Shell
March 23rd: Hawthorne Heights @ House of Blues
March 27th: The Maine @ Observatory North Park
April 1st 2026: Calum Scott @ Soma
April 4th: The Happy Fits @ Observatory North Park
April 5th: Elise Trouw @ Music Box
April 24th: Cheap Trick @ Humphreys
May 9th: The Academy Is… @ Observatory North Park
May 10th: The Avett Brothers @ Rady Shell
May 17th: MGK @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
May 20th: Yungblud @ Rady Shell
May 29th: Pitbull @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
June 12th: Rod Stewart @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 10th: Chris Stapleton @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 11th: Chris Stapleton @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 12th: Wolfmother @ Observatory North Park
July 17th: Evanscence @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 21st: Ed Sheeran @ Petco Park
July 23rd: Rainbow Kitten Surprise @ Gallagher Square
July 31st: Zach Bryan @ Snapdragon Stadium
August 9th 2026: O.A.R., Gavin DeGraw, Lisa Loeb @ Cal Coast Credit Union Theater
August 12th: Toto, The Romatics @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
August 30th: My Chemical Romance @ Petco Park
September 2nd: Guns N’ Roses @ Snapdragon Stadium
September 18th: Motley Crüe @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
October 9th 2026: Jack Johnson @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

We are blazing through January at an alarming pace. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve gotten older that times seems to go faster or if the world really is moving at such a pace it feels impossible to keep up…

Monday: Writer’s Round @ Ould Sod at 6pm
AND: Rickie Lee Jones @ Belly Up at 8pm – SOLD OUT
AND: Auz Fontaine @ Soda Bar at 7pm

Tuesday: Madison Cunningham, Mike Viola @ Belly Up at 8pm
AND: The Dimes @ Casbah at 8pm

Wednesday: Hannah Juanita and The Hardliners, Mose WIlson, Kimmi Bitter @ Casbah at 8pm
AND: Foghat @ Belly Up at 7:30pm
AND: Kayo Dot @ Soda Bar at 7pm

Thursday: Ernest @ Belly Up at 8pm
AND: Eric Sage, Split Rail Fence and Ryan Hiller @ The Holding Company at 7:30pm
AND: The Album Leaf @ Casbah at 8:30pm

Friday: Ash Easton @ Moonshine Flats at 9:30pm
AND: Moontricks @ Belly Up at 9pm
AND: Guttermouth, Signal For Pilot, and more @ The Holding Company at 6:30pm
AND: Priscilla Block @ House of Blues at 7pm

Saturday: Shaky Feelin’ @ Winston’s OB at 9:30pm
AND: Ash Easton @ Moonshine Flats at 9:30pm
AND: Andy Frasco & The U.N. @ Belly Up at 9pm
AND: Paging the 90’s @ The Holding Company at 8pm

Sunday: Avery Cochrane, Hannah Geller @ Music Box at 7pm

Keep in Mind:
February 7th: Alex Sampson @ House of Blues Voodoo Room
February 25th: Joseph @ Music Box
February 25th: The Violent Femmes @ The Sound
February 26th: The Violent Femmes @ The Sound
March 5th: The Strumbellas @ Music Box
March 9th: Nine Inch Nails @ Pechanga Arena
March 13th: Colony House @ House of Blues
March 19th: Lady A @ Viejas Resort
March 20: Foreigner & San Diego Symphony Orchestra @ Rady Shell
March 23rd: Hawthorne Heights @ House of Blues
March 27th: The Maine @ Observatory North Park
April 1st 2026: Calum Scott @ Soma
April 4th: The Happy Fits @ Observatory North Park
April 5th: Elise Trouw @ Music Box
April 24th: Cheap Trick @ Humphreys
May 9th: The Academy Is… @ Observatory North Park
May 10th: The Avett Brothers @ Rady Shell
May 17th: MGK @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
May 20th: Yungblud @ Rady Shell
May 29th: Pitbull @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
June 12th: Rod Stewart @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 10th: Chris Stapleton @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 11th: Chris Stapleton @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 12th: Wolfmother @ Observatory North Park
July 17th: Evanscence @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 21st: Ed Sheeran @ Petco Park
July 23rd: Rainbow Kitten Surprise @ Gallagher Square
July 31st: Zach Bryan @ Snapdragon Stadium
August 9th 2026: O.A.R., Gavin DeGraw, Lisa Loeb @ Cal Coast Credit Union Theater
August 12th: Toto, The Romatics @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
August 30th: My Chemical Romance @ Petco Park
September 2nd: Guns N’ Roses @ Snapdragon Stadium
September 18th: Motley Crüe @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
October 9th 2026: Jack Johnson @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

Look at this calendar starting to fill out! Not bad for January in San Diego.

Monday: Auz Fontaine @ Soda Bar at 7pm

Tuesday: Pinback @ Casbah at 8:30pm – SOLD OUT
AND: Jason Dea West @ Soda Bar at 7:30pm

Wednesday: Fuzz @ Belly Up at 8pm
AND: Pinback @ Casbah at 8:30pm – SOLD OUT
AND: Tommy Stinson @ Whistle Stop Bar at 8pm
AND: Leavers @ Soda Bar at 7:30pm

Thursday: The Runarounds @ Observatory North Park at 8pm
AND: WYO, Nathaniel Stewart @ Belly Up at 7:30pm
AND: Weakened Friends @ Whistle Stop at 9pm
AND: Analog Dog, Daddy, The Band Cope @ Soda Bar at 7pm
AND: JMSN @ Music Box at 9pm
AND: Pinback @ Casbah at 8:30pm – SOLD OUT

Friday: Billy F Gibbons and the BFG Band @ Belly Up at 9pm – SOLD OUT
AND: Seahaven @ House of Blues Voodoo Room at 8pm
AND: American Mile @ Moonshine Flats at 9pm

Saturday: Mickey Avalon @ The Holding Company at 7:30pm
AND: American Mile @ Moonshine Flats at 8pm

Sunday:

Keep in Mind:
February 7th: Alex Sampson @ House of Blues Voodoo Room
February 25th: Joseph @ Music Box
February 25th: The Violent Femmes @ The Sound
February 26th: The Violent Femmes @ The Sound
March 5th: The Strumbellas @ Music Box
March 9th: Nine Inch Nails @ Pechanga Arena
March 13th: Colony House @ House of Blues
March 19th: Lady A @ Viejas Resort
March 20: Foreigner & San Diego Symphony Orchestra @ Rady Shell
March 23rd: Hawthorne Heights @ House of Blues
March 27th: The Maine @ Observatory North Park
April 1st 2026: Calum Scott @ Soma
April 4th: The Happy Fits @ Observatory North Park
April 5th: Elise Trouw @ Music Box
April 24th: Cheap Trick @ Humphreys
May 9th: The Academy Is… @ Observatory North Park
May 10th: The Avett Brothers @ Rady Shell
May 17th: MGK @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
May 20th: Yungblud @ Rady Shell
May 29th: Pitbull @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
June 12th: Rod Stewart @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 10th: Chris Stapleton @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 11th: Chris Stapleton @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 12th: Wolfmother @ Observatory North Park
July 17th: Evanscence @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 21st: Ed Sheeran @ Petco Park
July 23rd: Rainbow Kitten Surprise @ Gallagher Square
July 31st: Zach Bryan @ Snapdragon Stadium
August 9th 2026: O.A.R., Gavin DeGraw, Lisa Loeb @ Cal Coast Credit Union Theater
August 12th: Toto, The Romatics @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
August 30th: My Chemical Romance @ Petco Park
September 2nd: Guns N’ Roses @ Snapdragon Stadium
September 18th: Motley Crüe @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
October 9th 2026: Jack Johnson @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

Happy New Year!! I mean, that already happened last week technically but this is the first full week of 2026. As per San Diego, it’s a slow and sleepy start to the year music wise. Don’t shoot the messenger, ok?

Monday: Writer’s Round @ The Ould Sod at 6pm
AND: Auz Fontaine, Cotton Brain @ Soda Bar at 7pm

Tuesday: Saint Misty @ Casbah at 8pm

Wednesday: Slacker, Emmalee Rainbow, Beth and the Baysides, Doll Riot @ Soda Bar at 7pm

Thursday: Rhinoceros III @ Soda Bar at 7:30pm

Friday: The Emo Night Tour @ Music Box at 8pm
AND: Russ Blvd. @ The Holding Company at 7:30pm
AND: Fiore, Trevor Davis @ Prohibition Lounge at 8pm
AND: Vurv, The Film Company @ Soda Bar at 7pm

Saturday: Dean Lewis, Matt Hansen @ The Sound at 7:30pm
AND: WAR @ The Magnolia at 7pm
AND: Weatherbox @ Soda Bar at 7:30pm

Sunday: Sorry It’s Over, The Gravities @ Casbah at 8:30pm

Keep in Mind:
January 14th: Almost Monday @ Music Box
January 18th: The Temptations & The Four Tops @ Harrah’s Resort
January 18th: Shaun Cassidy @ The Magnolia
February 7th: Alex Sampson @ House of Blues Voodoo Room
February 25th: Joseph @ Music Box
February 25th: The Violent Femmes @ The Sound
February 26th: The Violent Femmes @ The Sound
March 5th: The Strumbellas @ Music Box
March 9th: Nine Inch Nails @ Pechanga Arena
March 13th: Colony House @ House of Blues
March 19th: Lady A @ Viejas Resort
March 23rd: Hawthorne Heights @ House of Blues
March 27th: The Maine @ Observatory North Park
April 1st 2026: Calum Scott @ Soma
April 4th: The Happy Fits @ Observatory North Park
April 5th: Elise Trouw @ Music Box
April 24th: Cheap Trick @ Humphreys
May 9th: The Academy Is… @ Observatory North Park
May 17th 2026: MGK @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
May 20th: Yungblud @ Rady Shell
July 12th: Wolfmother @ Observatory North Park
July 17th: Evanscence @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 21st: Ed Sheeran @ Petco Park
July 23rd: Rainbow Kitten Surprise @ Gallagher Square
August 9th 2026: O.A.R., Gavin DeGraw, Lisa Loeb @ Cal Coast Credit Union Theater
August 30th: My Chemical Romance @ Petco Park
October 9th 2026: Jack Johnson @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

I realize this is a cliché thing to say, but I can’t believe the year is over. I feel like I’ve done a lot and also nothing at all. Do any of you feel the same? I know I was fortunate enough to travel way more than I usually do each year for birthdays, bands, Broadway, and chef cruises alike, but I also feel like I’ve done a lot of nothing. I think at the end of the year, it’s normal to look back and: a) think about where the year went, b) what you accomplished (or didn’t), c) what you learned, and d) what you took away from this year to take into the next. I was pondering this today more so than normal and I’m not sure I’d change a thing, which is something I’m really proud of. I think we all should be proud of ourselves at the end of the year because we made it through and did the best we could. That’s really all anyone can ask for, right?

And now that I’m done waxing poetic, here’s a look at what we have for the rest of the year and the beginning of the new year…

Monday: The Roots @ The Magnolia at 7pm
AND: Writer’s Round @ The Ould Sod at 6pm

Tuesday: Slacker @ Casbah at 9pm

Wednesday: Emo vs. Pop Punk: Myspace Music Video Party @ The Holding Company at 8:30pm
AND: The Record Company, Shane Hall, Joel Eckels @ Belly Up at 9pm
AND: Starcrawler, Plague Vendor @ Casbah at 9:30pm
AND: Aviator Stash @ The Pour House at 8pm

Thursday: Starcrawler, Plague Vendor, Doll Riot @ Casbah at 8:30pm

Friday: Starcrawler, Plague Vendor @ Casbah at 8:30pm
AND: Rotten Cabal, Nathan Raney @ Music Box at 7:30pm
AND: The Cabriolets @ Soda Bar at 7pm
AND: Crimson Coil @ Winston’s OB at 7pm
AND: Dolphins on Acid @ Soma at 7pm

Saturday: The Mystery Lights @ Soda Bar at 7:30pm

Sunday: Duran Duran @ Viejas Arena at 8pm
AND: Seashell Radio, Social Cues @ Soda Bar at 7pm
AND: T.S.O.L. @ Observatory North Park at 5pm

Keep in Mind:
January 10th: Dean Lewis @ The Sound
January 14th: Almost Monday @ Music Box
February 7th: Alex Sampson @ House of Blues Voodoo Room
February 25th: Joseph @ Music Box
February 25th: The Violent Femmes @ The Sound
February 26th: The Violent Femmes @ The Sound
March 5th: The Strumbellas @ Music Box
March 9th: Nine Inch Nails @ Pechanga Arena
March 13th: Colony House @ House of Blues
March 23rd: Hawthorne Heights @ House of Blues
April 1st 2026: Calum Scott @ Soma
April 24th: Cheap Trick @ Humphreys
May 17th 2026: MGK @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
May 20th: Yungblud @ Rady Shell
July 21st: Ed Sheeran @ Petco Park
July 23rd: Rainbow Kitten Surprise @ Gallagher Square
August 9th 2026: O.A.R., Gavin DeGraw, Lisa Loeb @ Cal Coast Credit Union Theater
August 30th: My Chemical Romance @ Petco Park
October 9th 2026: Jack Johnson @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

With Christmas on the calendar, I was expecting it to be a nearly dead week. But much to my surprise, some music is afoot!

Monday: Sunny Day Soap Opera @ Soda Bar at 7pm
AND: Writer’s Round @ Ould Sod at 6pm

Tuesday: Slacker @ Casbah at 8:30pm

Wednesday: Merry X-Mas Eve!

Thursday: Happy Christmas!

Friday: Recovery day?

Saturday: Mumford & Sons, Lord Huron @ Petco Park at 4pm
AND: The Suede Grenades, Dusk Drama, The Gravities @ The Holding Company at 2pm

Sunday: Paul Cauthen, Liam St. John @ Belly Up at 8pm

Keep in Mind:
January 10th: Dean Lewis @ The Sound
February 7th: Alex Sampson @ House of Blues Voodoo Room
February 25th: Joseph @ Music Box
February 25th: The Violent Femmes @ The Sound
February 26th: The Violent Femmes @ The Sound
March 5th: The Strumbellas @ Music Box
March 9th: Nine Inch Nails @ Pechanga Arena
March 13th: Colony House @ House of Blues
March 23rd: Hawthorne Heights @ House of Blues
April 1st 2026: Calum Scott @ Soma
April 24th: Cheap Trick @ Humphreys
May 17th 2026: MGK @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
May 20th: Yungblud @ Rady Shell
July 21st: Ed Sheeran @ Petco Park
July 23rd: Rainbow Kitten Surprise @ Gallagher Square
August 9th 2026: O.A.R., Gavin DeGraw, Lisa Loeb @ Cal Coast Credit Union Theater
August 30th: My Chemical Romance @ Petco Park
October 9th 2026: Jack Johnson @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre