In usual form, San Diego brings you blasts from the past while sprinkling in some of the new up-and-comers of various genres. Check out some great shows at some great venues this weekend!

Kitchen Dwellers – 2/2

Soda Bar

City Heights

Bluegrass band Kitchen Dwellers hails from Montana but is hitting the West Coast hard for a Winter/Spring tour. You may have caught them in Tahoe at the end of December when they played with Cajun Slamgrass pioneers Leftover Salmon.

With pop acts incorporating bluegrass elements, it’s refreshing to hear good ol’ bluegrass picking.

Dashboard Confessional – 2/3

House of Blues

Downtown San Diego

There’s no doubt that singer/songwriter Chris Carrabba is the lifeblood of Dashboard Confessional. The band is named after a lyric in the Carrabba-penned “The Sharp Hint of New Tears” before the project grew into a full-fledged group.

For the debut album The Swiss Army Romance’s 10 year anniversary, Carrabba went on a solo tour, playing the album in its entirety.

Rough Cutt – 2/3

Brick by Brick

Linda Vista

Ever wondered what members of Los Angeles metal and hard rock bands did before their well-known stints?

Cue Rough Cutt. This ‘80s band has seen musicians such as Jake E. Lee from Ozzy Osbourne’s band (post-Black Sabbath), Amir Derakh from Orgy, Paul Shortino from Quiet Riot and Craig Goldy and Claude Schnell from Dio’s band pass through its ranks.

Check out this bit of ‘80s metal nostalgia at Brick by Brick.

Vokab Kompany – 2/4

Music Box

Little Italy

Vokab Kompany vocalists Rob Hurt and Burke Baby create a mix of sounds accompanied by their five-piece band. You may have heard some of their tunes in Kia commercials, the Today Show or as the anthem for the new Sacha Baron Cohen movie.

The ensemble has won best Hip Hop album and best Hip Hop performance at the San Diego Music Awards in the past—an interesting feat for a genre-defying group.

Dead Feather Moon – 2/4

Soda Bar

City Heights

An alternative-country, psychedelic blues-rock band from sunny San Diego, Dead Feather Moon won “Best Alternative Band” at the San Diego Music Awards in 2014. Before that, their debut full-length album, Dark Sun, won “Best Alternative Album” at the 2012 San Diego Music Awards.

Their latest album, ///// The Finder, was released in July of 2016 and boasts the same quality they’re known for.