San Diego's must-see spring concerts: 30 Shows to Catch in April and May
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J Balvin is headed to Pechanga Arena in May. Photo: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
Spring concert season is here.
The big picture: We've rounded up 30 shows worth knowing about, whether you're into classic rock, hip-hop, pop, indie rock or punk, everywhere from intimate clubs to arenas and multi-day festivals.
Mark your calendar:
April
2 — Chiodos, the post-hardcore band, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album at Soma.
4 - 6 – Indie-soul group Willis, multi-instrumentalist and composer Adrian Younge and dance/funk/pop duo Rubblebucket headline Quartyard's three-night party for its 10-year anniversary.
10 — Los Pirañas headline a night of psychedelic instrumental world sounds along with standout local group Spacehall Sound Machine at Soda Bar.
10 — Youth Lagoon, an experimental pop and electronic artist, is playing Casbah.
11 — Ducks Ltd., a jangly Canadian indie-rock duo, are amazingly playing on Whistle Stop's intimate stage.
17 — Clikatat Ikatowi, part of San Diego's "It's Gonna Blow" era, are playing Casbah.
20 — Dance-punk group Jagged Baptist Club headlines a triple bill along with local surf rock newcomers The Sines at Soda Bar.
23 — Too $hort, the West Coast hip-hop pioneer, is playing Belly Up.
24 — Hip-hop legends The Pharcyde headline a three-act bill at Music Box.
May
2 – Georgie Greep is an over-the-top satirist whose music is confrontational and… weird, honestly. He's playing at Quartyard.
2 — La Luz is a female surf noir band from Seattle playing Music Box.
2 — The Jesus Lizard are a bridge between 80s indie rock and the 90s alternative boom, and they're coming to Belly Up.
4 — Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin is playing Pechanga Arena.
6 — Yo La Tengo, an indie-rock institution for nearly 40 years, visits the Belly Up.
7 — Soul/disco revivalist Neal Francis and psych-rock throwback Color Green head to Belly Up.
7 — MIKE, a hip-hop artist whose sound straddles 70s soul to 2010s rap, is coming to Quartyard.
9 — Elton John is playing a rare show, and a cancer benefit, at Petco Park.
10 - 11 — James Taylor brings a catalog you know every word of to the Rady Shell.
13 — Art rocker Devendra Banhart is playing a solo show at Belly up.
13 - 14 — They Might Be Giants are playing two nights of funny and catchy indie rock at the Observatory.
15 — The Outlaw Music Festival at North Island Credit Union Amphitheater again features Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, and this year adds bluegrass whiz kid Billy Strings.
16 — Hermanos Gutiérrez are a hypnotizing Latino instrumental duo headlining The Sound.
16 - 18 — Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival, San Diego's biggest multi-genre festival, features headlining sets this year from Peggy Gou, Anderson .Paak, Khruangbin,, Gary Clark Jr., Foster the People and Daniel Caesar.
29 — Gang of Four, the influential post-punk band, is playing their most famous album in its entirety at Belly Up.
29 — Hippie Sabotage, an hip-hop/electronic group, is playing Gallagher Square at Petco Park with singer/songwriter Two Feet.
31 — Fiesta del Sol, Solana Beach's annual free music fest, this year features San Diego-based DJ Z-Trip, folk singer-songwriter The White Buffalo, and more over two days on the beach.