The Front Row – San Diego’s Hottest Concerts For May

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FTP playing 5/26 at The Observatory North Park

San Diego music venues are packed with solid live shows in May! Among the mind-blowing shows coming through this month; Fuel with Marcy Playground, Mariachi El Bronx, Ann Wilson of Heart, Jefferson Starship, Dave Grohl’s old punk band Scream, the Adicts and Foster The People.

Check out the calendar below which features some of our favorite local live music spots. With all the talent flowing through our fine city, you’re guaranteed to find a good time out here.

Belly Up

This classic, higher-end SD music venue has been a staple since 1974. With top-shelf sound and acoustics, you’ll find everything here, from ripping up-and-coming artists to established icons.

Featuring musicians ranging from alt. rock to reggae, hip-hop to blues, Belly Up has Dweezil Zappa rolling in this month. This second-generation guitar master will be featuring the music of his legendary father, Frank Zappa at Belly up.

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Dweezil Zappa (here with legendary father Frank) to play 5/4

5/1 Crystal Bowersox Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 8:00 pm $25

5/2 Kiefer Sutherland Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 8:00 pm $SOLD OUT

5/3 WildEyes Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 8:00 pm $8

5/4 Dweezil Zappa: 50 Years Of Frank Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 8:00 pm $38

5/5 Mariachi El Bronx Doors: 8:00 pm / Show: 9:00 pm $SOLD OUT

5/7 Bob Schneider Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 8:00 pm $18

5/9 Fuel and Marcy Playground Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 8:00 pm $25

5/10 Stephanie Brown & The Surrealistics Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 8:00 pm $9

5/11 Sully & The Blue-Eyed Soul Band Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 8:00 pm $12

5/13 Common Sense Doors: 8:00 pm / Show: 9:00 pm $18

5/14 Creed Bratton (from The Office) comedy show Doors: 8:00 pm / Show: 9:00 pm $18

5/17 Marty Stuart Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 7:30 pm $35

5/18 Grim Slippers Doors: 8:00 pm / Show: 9:00 pm $8

5/20 Wild Child (The Doors Experience) Doors: 8:00 pm / Show: 9:00 pm $20

5/21 Ann Wilson of Heart Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 8:00 pm $70

5/24 Elephant Revival Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 8:00 pm $18

5/25 Jefferson Starship Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 8:00 pm $30

5/27 Los Lonely Boys Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:00 pm $40

5/28 Mustache Harbor and GRACEBAND Doors: 8:00 pm / Show: 9:00 pm $16

5/31 MarchFourth Doors: 8:00 pm / Show: 9:00 pm $18

The Casbah

This intimate (around 200 maximum capacity) venue is a true San Diego classic, opening originally in 1989. The Casbah has featured incredible bands over the years; from San Diego originals like Lucy’s Fur Coat and Rocket From the Crypt to Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins.

Get up-close and personal with top-shelf indie musicians while enjoying legit cocktails in a friendly environment. All shows are 21+.

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O.G. punks Face To Face to play San Diego 5/6

5/1 Nite Lapse Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:00 pm $6

5/2 Starlito & Don Trip Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $15

5/3 Nick Thune Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $12

5/4 Tim Kasher Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $15

5/5 LA DIABLA, Thee Commons, The Sleepwalkers Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $10

5/6 Face to Face Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $30

5/7 Frank Iero and the Patience Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $18

5/8 Atlantic Answers Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $6

5/9 Amigo, State to State and Chiefs Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $6

5/10 Gabriel Garzon-Montano Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $15

5/11 Schizophonics Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $12

5/12 Matt Pryor Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $13

5/13 Joy, Loom (SD), Sacri Monti, Petyr Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $12

5/14 All Them Witches Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $13

5/15 Joe Goddard Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $15

5/16 Pallbearer Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $17-$19

5/17 six60 Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $12-$14

5/18 Matthew Logan Vasquez (Delta Spirit) Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $15-$17

5/19 Woods Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $15

5/20 MAGIC GIANT Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $12-$39

5/21 Mother Mother Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $15

2/22 Omega Three, Spice Pistols, Dream, Burglar Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $6

2/23 Hoops, Parts Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $10-$12

2/24 Fakear Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $12-$15

2/25 L.A. Takedown Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $10-$12

2/26 Dream Joints Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $10

2/27 Shawn P. Rohlf , Jeff Berkley ,Veronica May Doors: 9:00 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $10-$12

2/28 Booty Bassment Doors: 9:00 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $10

2/30 Barrows , Deep Sea Thunderbeast, Bleak Skies Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $8

2/31 Sam Outlaw Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $12-$15

Soda Bar

This is one our favorite ‘dive-bars’ in the county. Small over-all space, but has two viewing rooms on different sides of the stage; features inexpensive ticket and drink prices.

SB has friendly staff and customers, which makes it a great spot to see shows up-close without spending your whole pay-check.

Iconic D.C. punks Scream to play 5/31

5/2 gobbinjr Show: 8:30 pm $7

5/3 Current Swell Show: 8:30 pm $12-$15

5/4 Charly Bliss Show: 8:30 pm $10-$12

5/5 Koffin Kats Show: 8:30 pm $10-$12

5/6 The Weeks Show: 8:30 pm $10-$12

5/7 The Black Lillies Show: 8:30 pm $15-$20

5/8 Joshua Powell & the Great Train Robbery Show: 8:30 pm $7

5/9 The Gravities Show: 8:30 pm $6

5/11 The Wind Playing Tricks Show: 8:30 pm $6

5/12 Timber Timbre Show: 8:30 pm $15

5/13 Author & Punisher Show: 8:30 pm $8

5/14 Alex Dezen (of The Damnwells) & His Band Show: 8:30 pm $10-$12

5/15 Las Cruxes Show: 8:00 pm $8-$10

5/16 Tow’rs Show: 8:00 pm $8

5/17 Blessed Show: 8:30 pm $6

5/18 Deaf Poets Show: 8:00 pm $8

5/19 L.A. WITCH Show: 8:30 pm $15

5/20 Sweet Spirit Show: 8:30 pm $10

5/21 Lion’s Law Show: 8:00 pm $10-$12

5/22 Flynt Flossy and Turquoise Jeep Show: 8:30 pm $15

5/23 Marty O’Reilly & The Old Soul Orchestra Show: 8:30 pm $10-$12

5/24 Booze & Glory Show: 8:30 pm $12-$14

5/25 GIUDA Show: 8:30 pm $12-$14

5/26 Ten Foot Pole Show: 8:30 pm $10-$12

2/27 CRX Show: 8:30 pm $12-$15

2/28 Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas Show: 7 pm $12-$14

2/29 NAVVI Show: 8:30 pm $10

2/30 SCREAM Show: 8:30 pm $15

The Observatory North Park

Easily the best acoustics in the city, this historic venue is an amazing cultural experience. Many of their shows are all-ages or 18+ so the kids can come rock too!

A great environment to see a show; with the West Coast Tavern‘s killer food and drinks located just through the lobby, this spot has everything you could want. If you don’t have a great night here, you’re doing it wrong.