The Front Row – San Diego’s Hottest Concerts for December

The Music Box

San Diego’s finest venues are packed with solid live shows this December. Checkout the calendar below featuring 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.

Get out of the mall & into the front row of the hottest San Diego concerts this holiday season.

Legendary Ska-punk Dec. 22nd @ Belly Up

Brick by Brick

Here you’ll frequently spot well-known musicians’ side-projects such as master of the six-string Zakk Wylde of Ozzy and Black Label Society playing as “Zakk Sabbath”(playing in January).

BxB features affordable ticket prices, skilled bartenders and always has multiple opening acts to get the most out of your night.

12/1 Dark Tranquility Doors: 6:30 pm/Show: 7 pm $22 adv./ $25 @door

12/2 Shred For Dime Tribute Show Doors: 7:30 pm/Show: 8:00 pm $10

12/3 Sonata Arctica Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 7:30 pm $25 adv./$30 @door/ $65 VIP

12/4 Seeker with special guests Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 7:30 pm $8 adv./ $12 @door

12/5 The Well and Beastmaker Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 7:30 pm $10 adv./ $13 @door

12/9 Symbolic Holiday Toy Drive Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 7:30 pm $5 w/ toy donation or $10

12/10 5th Annual Slabby Holidaze Show with 7 Seconds Doors: 8 pm/Show: 8:30 pm $20 adv./ $25 @door

12/15 Incantation with Greenskull Doors: 7:30 pm/Show: 8:00 pm $17 adv./ $20 @door

12/16 Shot Out Hoods Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 7:30 pm $15

12/17 The Red Tail Riders Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 7:30 pm $12

12/18 The Freeze and Fang Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 7:30 pm $12 adv./ $15 @door

12/19 Sworn Enemy Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 7:30 pm $12 adv./ $16 @door

12/22 September Mourning Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 7:30 pm $15

12/23 A Hero Within -CD Release Show Doors: 8:00 pm/Show: 8:30 pm $10 adv./ $13 @door

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.

12/1 Dave Mason Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 8:00 pm $57.50

12/2 The Expendables w/ The Expanders Doors: 8:30 pm / Show: 9:00 pm $26.75 / $73.25 VIP

12/3 Rising Appalachia Doors: 8:00 pm/Show: 9:00 pm $24.25

12/4 A John Waters’ Christmas -seated show Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 8:00 pm $62.75 / $134.75 Meet & Greet

12/7 Kevin Fowler Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 8:00 pm $18.75

12/9 Jackie Greene w/ Cordovas Doors: 8:30 pm/Show: 9:00 pm $24.75

12/10 Jonny Lang -Saturday Show Doors: 8:00 pm/Show: 9:00 pm -SOLD OUT-

12/11 Jonny Lang – Sunday Show Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 8:00 pm $62.75

12/12 Jonathan Richman w/ Tommy Larkins Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 8:00 pm $24.25

12/13 Sara Watkins Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 8:00 pm $24.25

12/14 The Venice Christmas Show Doors: 7:00 pm/Start: 8:00 pm $24.25

12/15 The Dandy Warhols: Distortland Tour Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 8:00 pm $29.75

12/17 14th Annual Turtleneck & Sweater Party Doors: 8:00 pm/Show: 9:00 pm $22.25

12/18 3rd Annual For The Sender Holiday Show (benefit for Team RWB Surf Camp for Veterans) Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 8:00 pm $22.25

12/19 ANUHEA: All Is Bright Tour 2016 Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 8:00 pm $29.75

12/20 Atomic Groove’s Happy Holidays Twilight Show Doors: 6:00 pm/Show: 6:30 pm $12.75

12/21 Brawley’s 3rd Annual Country Christmas Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 8:00 pm $12.75

12/22 Fishbone & the Aggrolites Doors: 7:00 pm/Show: 7:30 pm $24.25

12/23 Beatles vs Stones Doors: 8:30 pm/Show 9 pm $24.25 adv.

12/29 Donovan Frankenreiter Doors: 7 pm/Show: 8 pm $35.50 adv.

12/30 Brian Setzer 4-piece Doors: 8:30 pm/Show: 9 pm -SOLD OUT-

12/31 Brian Setzer 19-piece Orchestra Doors: 8:30 pm/Show: 9 pm $144.75

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 & Rocket From the Crypt to Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins.

Get up-close and personal with top-shelf musicians while enjoying legit cocktails in a friendly environment. All shows are 21+ and doors for all shows are at 8:30 pm.

12/1 The Widows $5

12/2 Helmet with Local H $20-$24

12/3 Agent Orange $15

12/4 Night Moves $12-$14

12/5 Imagery Machine $6

12/6 The Slackers $18-$20

12/7 91X December to Remember $15-$17

12/9 Elektric Voodoo $7

12/10 Pere Ubu $25-$30

12/11 Sims $13-$15

12/12 Exasperation $6

12/13 The Shelters $10-$12

12/14 Wild Child $15

12/15 Mike Watt $35-$99

12/16 The Blasters -SOLD OUT-

12/17 Small Wigs $35-$99

12/18 Chris Shiflett $35-$99

12/19 The Lulls $6

12/20 Retox $12

12/22 Ziggy Shuffledust $12

12/23 El Vez Merry Mexmas $20-$25

12/28 OFF! $20

12/29 Melvins $25

12/30 Big Sandy $15

12/31 Cash’d Out $25

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

The Donkeys play New Years Eve. @ Soda Bar

12/1 The Besnard Lakes Show: 8 pm $10

12/2 Guttermouth Show: 8:30 pm $15-$17

12/3 Body Language Show: 8:30 pm $10-$12

12/4 Mr. Little Jeans Show: 8 pm $16-$18

12/5 Tasseomancy Show: 8:30 pm $10

12/6 Alex Cameron Show: 8:30 pm $12

12/7 Muuy Bien Show: 8:30 pm $8

12/8 Anthony Raneri Show: 7 pm $13-$16

12/9 Tijuana Panthers Show: 8:30 pm $14

12/10 Benjamin Francis Leftwich Show: 8:30 pm $15

12/11 Valley Queen Show: 8 pm $10

12/12 Veers Show: 8:30 pm $8

12/14 Coral Bells Show: 8:30 pm $6

12/15 Royal Teeth Show: 8:30 pm $12-$15

12/16 Eukaryst Show: 8:30 pm $10

12/17 The Strikers Show:8:30 pm $8

12/18 Svelte Show: 8 pm $6

12/19 The Gorgeous Boyscouts Show: 8:30 pm $5

12/21 Chugboat Show: 8:30 pm $6

12/22 Barb Wire Dolls Show: 8:30 pm $10

12/23 Hideout Show: 8:30 pm $10

12/27 Grim Slippers Show: 8:30 pm $6

12/28 Dreams Made Flesh Show: 8:30 pm $6

12/29 The Downs Family Show: 8:30 pm $8

12/30 Mrs Magician Show: 8:30 pm $10-$12

12/31 The Donkeys Show: 8:30 $20

The Music Box

This place is a great live spot on India St., right Down Town. With fantastic sound, nice staff and a deep well it’s hard not to have a good time here.

The main floor let’s you get up close, while the balcony offers a bit more of an intimate experience with full-stage views.

12/1 Rata Blanca Doors: 7:30 pm/Show: 8 pm $38 adv./ $43 @door

12/2 DYC Doors: 7 pm/Show: 8 pm $12

12/3 Rufus Du Sol Doors: 6:30 pm/Show: 7 pm -SOLD OUT-

12/8 Random Rab Doors: 7 pm/Show: 8:30 pm $18 adv./ $20 @door

12/21 LLR’s Holiday Party Doors: 6:30 pm/Show: 7 pm $free w/2cans of food donation

12/22 A Berkely Hart Christmas Doors: 6 pm/Show: 7 pm $25-$35

12/29 Cracker & Camper Van Beethoven Doors: 7 pm/Show: 8:30 $25-$50

12/30 The Steely Damned II Doors: 7:30 pm/Show: 9 pm $20-$35 adv./ $23-$38 @door

12/31 Justin Martin Doors: 9 pm/Show: 10 pm $45-$65

The Observatory North Park

Easily the best acoustics in the city, this historic venue is an amazing cultural experience.

A great environment to see a show; with the West Coast Tavern‘s killer food & drink 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.