Sounds Like A Plan
By Catlin Dorset
5/23-25: Maxwell
Grammy Award-winning R&B/funk/soul singer-songwriter Gerald Maxwell Rivera (Maxwell, for short) has a career that spans nearly 25 years. His most recent album, 2009’s BLACKsummers’night, debuted at Number One on Billboard’s “Top 200” chart and won him gold gramophones for Best R&B Album and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 2010 Grammys. Maxwell headlines the San Diego Jazz Festival this Memorial Day Weekend at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad. The three-day live music event features performances by soul/funk/jazz artists Jill Scott, Charlie Wilson, Anthony Hamilton and many more. sandiegojazzfest.com
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5/1: George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic @ House of Blues, hob.com
This funky psychedelic rock band holds the No. 58 spot on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “100 Greatest Artists.”
5/2: Tribal Seeds @ SDSU’s Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu
San Diego-native reggae artists with a new album, Representing, dropping May 13.
5/2: Tokyo Police Club @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
Indie rock foursome travelling North America for its Forcefield tour.
5/2: Danny Brown @ UCSD’s Porter’s Pub, porterspub.com
This rapper performed his recent single “25 Bucks” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in January.
5/3: The Commodores @ Pala Casino, palacasino.com
R&B/soul band most recognized for its ‘70s hits “Easy” and “Brick House.”
5/3: Chiodos @ SOMA, somasandiego.com
These post-hardcore rockers released their fourth album, Devil, on February 25.
5/6: Manchester Orchestra @ House of Blues, hob.com
Songs from these alt. rockers have been featured in TV shows Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and 90210.
5/7: Riff Raff @ House of Blues, hob.com
Rapper Horst Christian Simco (aka Riff Raff) collaborated with Drake, Snoop Dogg, 2 Chainz and others on his recent album Neon Icon.
5/7: Big Mountain @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
Pop reggae band most known for its 1994 cover of Peter Frampton’s “Baby, I Love Your Way.”
5/8: Tom Jones @ House of Blues, hob.com
The “What’s New Pussycat” pop/ rock crooner is a judge on The Voice UK.
5/9: Ingrid Michaelson @ Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
Songs by this indie pop singer-songwriter have been used in commercials for Target, Old Navy, Ritz Crackers and more.
5/9: Tristan Prettyman @ Paradise Point Resort & Spa, sandiego.surfrider.org
This indie pop Del Mar native will perform a special acoustic set during Surfrider’s 14th Annual Art Gala held at Paradise Point Resort & Spa.
5/9: Channel 933 Summer Kickoff @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre, chulavistaboxoffice.com
Chris Brown, Fall Out Boy, Tiësto and more satisfy Top 40 appetites with a smorgasbord of musical flavors.
5/9: The Pains of Being Pure At Heart @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com
Indie pop band touring to promote its new album, Days of Abandon, set to release May 13.
5/10: We Are Scientists @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com
These indie rockers toured with Kings of Leon in 2008.
5/11: Hed PE @ Ramona Mainstage, ramonamainstage.com
Gangsta rap/punk band on its Born 2 Ride 2 tour with Soil and Sunflower Dead.
5/11: Earth, Wind & Fire @ Harrah’s Resort SoCal, harrahsresortsocal.com
R&B/jazz/disco band best known for the ‘70s and ‘80s hits “September” and “Let’s Groove.”
5/11: Steel Pulse @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
These guys were the first non- Jamaicans to win a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.
5/12: Paganfest America 2014 @ Ramona Mainstage, ramonamainstage.com
Paganfest makes its first-ever San Diego appearance, bringing big-time metal bands Korpiklaani, Turisas, Chthonic, Varg and Winterhymn to North County.
5/13: People Under the Stairs @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com
Double K and Thes One comprise this hip-hop duo that’s expected to release a new album, 12 Step Program, on May 6.
5/13: Lindsey Stirling @ Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
This violinist and composer was one of four finalists on Season Five of America’s Got Talent.
5/14: BlessTheFall @ SOMA, somasandiego.com
Screamo rockers from Arizona.
5/14: Christina Perri @ Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
This alt. pop singer-songwriter became an overnight success in 2010 after her single “Jar of Hearts” was featured on TV’s So You Think You Can Dance.
5/14: Stephen Marley @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
Bob Marley’s son is taking reggae on a national road trip with his The Fruit of Life Tour.
5/15: Journey @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre, chulavistaboxoffice.com
Everyone channels their inner American Idol for a few notes when the chorus from this rock band’s hit “Don’t Stop Believin’” streams across the airwaves.
5/16: Great White and Slaughter @ Casino Pauma, casinopauma.com
Hard rockers from Los Angeles, still riding their success from the ‘80s.
5/16: La Santa Cecilia @ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com
This Latin rock band made a cameo appearance in a 2010 episode of HBO’s Entourage.
5/17: Tim McGraw @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre, chulavistaboxoffice.com
The country superstar collaborated with his equally famous wifey (Faith Hill) on the recent single “Meanwhile Back at Mama’s.”
5/17: Blush @ Harrah’s Resort SoCal, harrahsresortsocal.com
Pop girl band that’s opened for Jessie J, Justin Bieber and Black Eyed Peas, to name a few.
5/17: Iggy Azalea @ House of Blues, hob.com
This 23-year-old’s current hip-hop hit “Fancy” features Charli XCX.
5/18: Red Fang @ UCSD’s Porter’s Pub, porterspub.com
Heavy metalers on their North American Situation:Awesome! tour.
5/18: Gregg Allman @ Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
In 2012, this gospel/blues rocker penned My Cross to Bear, an autobiography about his musical journey through drugs, death and illness.
5/19: Band of Skulls @ House of Blues, hob.com
Songs from this alt. rock band have been used in video games Gran Turismo 5 and Tony Hawk: Ride.
5/19: Keb’ Mo’ @ Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, scripps.org/concertforcancer
The three-time Grammy Award-winning blues artist will headline the Scripps Concert for Cancer to celebrate survivors and remember those lost.
5/20: Black Flag @ House of Blues, hob.com
Hardcore punk band rumored to be working on a new album for release later this year.
5/20: Nickel Creek @ Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org
On April 1, this acoustic bluegrass trio released A Dotted Line, their first album in nine years.
5/20-21: Katchafire @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
Roots/reggae Kiwis.
5/21: DevilDriver @ House of Blues, hob.com
Heavy metal band touring to promote its latest album, Winter Kills.
5/21: Romeo Santos @ Valley View Casino Center, valleyviewcasinocenter.com
The former lead singer of Aventura is now a solo bachata singer and record producer.
5/22: The Marshall Tucker Band @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
Songs from these Southern rockers were used in the 2008 flick Swing Vote, starring Kevin Costner.
5/22: For the Fallen Dreams @ SOMA, somasandiego.com
These hardcore rockers’ new album, Heavy Heart, dropped April 8.
5/23: Against Me! @ House of Blues, hob.com
Punk rock band led by transgender woman Laura Jane Grace.
5/24: YG @ House of Blues, hob.com
Keenon Daequan Ray Jackson (aka YG or Young Gangsta) is a rapper from Compton most known for his classy 2009 jingle, “Toot It and Boot It.”
5/24: Hellogoodbye @ The Irenic, casbahmusic.com
Indie pop band from Huntington Beach on the road with Vacationer and Heavenly Beat.
5/24: Marco Antonio Solis @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre, chulavistaboxoffice.com
This Latin pop musician collaborated with Enrique Iglesias for a track on his recent album, Gracias Por Estar Aquí (Thank You For Being Here).
5/25: Suzanne Vega @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
Pop/folk singer-songwriter responsible for the catchy ‘90s tune “Tom’s Diner.”
5/26: Blood Red Shoes @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com
Alt. rock duo from across the pond.
5/27: Crystal Fighters @ The Irenic, casbahmusic.com
Songs from this alt. dance band have been used to help sling products in commercials for Target, Puma, Sony and more.
5/29: Birds of Tokyo @ Hard Rock Hotel San Diego’s 207, 207sd.com
Alt. rockers Birds of Tokyo will perform at this official X-Fest pre-party, with an opening set by EDM acts Big Data and Feather.
5/30: 91X-Fest @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre, chulavistaboxoffice.com
91X’s annual alt. rock megafest brings 311, Panic! at the Disco, Foster the People and more to Chula Vista.
5/30: Merle Haggard @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
This country music legend received the Crystal Milestone Award at this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards, honoring his 50th year in the industry.
5/30: Ron Pope @ House of Blues, hob.com
Pop rock singer-songwriter promoting his recent album, Calling off the Dogs, with a worldwide tour by the same name.
5/31: Hugh Laurie & The Copper Bottom Band @ Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org
FOX’s Dr. House is also a blues singer and pianist who has released two chart-topping albums.
5/28: Backstreet Boys @ SDSU’s Viejas Arena, as.sdsu.edu
Backstreet’s back, alright! The pop boy banders will travel internationally with opening act Avril Lavigne during their In a World Like This Tour.