Horror rock and social commentary meet local stalwarts and stars this week in San Diego’s music scene. This week looks like it’s going to be especially fun, especially on the cover band circuit.
A Nightmare on 80s Street
Horror music fans won’t want to miss a performance from A Nightmare on 80s Street, who play The Holding Company on April 4.
The band plays terrific versions of 1980s-era radio favorites, including tracks by Aha, Billy Idol, and New Order, but what really elevates the group is that they are fully costumed as major horror film icons, including Freddie Krueger (vocals), Hannibal Lechter (drums), Jason (bass), Mike Myers (guitar), and Pinhead (keyboards). It’s a fun multi-media show, with curated video segues and a great mix of new wave and rock favorites.
Film buffs will also appreciate the band performing bits of their namesake’s horror film theme songs between the hits.
A Nightmare on 80’s Street: Saturday, April 4, at The Holding Company, 5046 Newport Ave., 7:30 p.m. $10.Fia
Hawaiian singer Fia opens the Humphreys Concerts by the Bay season with a two-night stand on April 4 and 5. Part of a new wave of reggae-influenced artists, Fia has picked up a strong West Coast following through the release of a string of pop-tinged gems such as his single, “Love Me.”
Fia’s island-inspired sounds and the location, right on the water, are the perfect match of artist and venue.
Fia: Saturday and Sunday, April 4 and 5, at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 7:30 p.m. $56.Acoustic Evenings
The new season of the Athenaeum’s Acoustic Evenings concert series, hosted by Jefferson Jay, kicks off on April 3, with music from Wax and two duos, Lisa Sanders and Brown Sugar, and Jimmy and Enrique.
All the artists are well worth hearing, but make sure to get there early to catch a set from openers, guitarist Jimmy Patton and percussionist Enrique Platas. Perhaps best known for their time playing with Celtic fusion group Skelpin, the duo’s instrumental blend of classical guitar is captivating, with Platas in particular a blur of motion, creating music that belies the fact that only two musicians are playing onstage.
Acoustic Evenings: Friday, April 3 through April 24 at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St. 7:30 p.m. $19-$88.Reggie Watts
Musician and comedian Reggie Watts stops in at the Epstein Family Amphitheater on April 4. Best known as the keyboard-playing band leader of CBS-TV’s “The Late Late Show with James Corden” from 2015 to 2023, Watts is a master at improvisation, using topical discussion to frame a show that includes surreal comedy, rapping, beatboxing, and whatever else occurs to him in the moment.
Anyone who appreciates the quirky side of humor will love Watts’ unique, seemingly stream-of-consciousness performances.
Reggie Watts: Saturday, April 4, at the Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive. 6 p.m. $30 & up.Emmet Cohen
Pianist Emmet Cohen comes to The JAI at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center for four shows on April 6 and 7. The occasion is a joint centennial birthday celebration of trumpeter Miles Davis and saxophonist John Coltrane, meant to showcase the legacies of the two jazz legends in music and popular culture over the past century.
Listeners will enjoy Cohen’s recast versions of classic jazz favorites, showing that this is truly timeless music, offering fresh inspiration to new generations of listeners. While there is a charge for the concerts, jazz aficionados will also want to check out a free interview with Cohen and drummer Joe Farnsworth, discussing Davis and Coltrane’s compositions, which takes place on April 7 at 1 p.m.
Emmet Cohen: Monday and Tuesday, April 6 and 7, at The JAI at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. $65.Elise Trouw
Multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Elise Trouw performs at Music Box on April 5. Trouw, who is originally from Fallbrook, is currently on a nationwide tour in support of her latest release, a concept album called, “The Diary of Elon Lust.”
Trouw has built a major following through touring and a series of well-shot videos, which routinely get millions of views, such as for her latest modern pop single “All You Need Is Lust.” Also impressive are her inspired musical mashups, which might mix Foo Fighters’ rock with Bobby Caldwell’s soul. With her growing fanbase, Trouw is well on her way to being one of San Diego’s leading musical exports.
Elise Trouw: Sunday, April 5, at Music Box, 1337 India St., 8 p.m. $32.The Schizophonics
There are a lot of great bands emerging from San Diego at the moment, but The Schizophonics are in a league of their own.
Performing April 3 and 4 at The Casbah, the trio is led by husband and wife team, guitarist Pat and drummer Lety Beers, playing an incendiary mix of funk rhythms, crossed with Jimi Hendrix styled guitar leads and garage rock attitude, topped by stage moves that would make James Brown’s envious, with Pat Beers in constant motion once he hits the stage.
It’s a sound that has made The Schizophonics festival favorites the world over. These two shows celebrate the release of a new single, “Dirt Dog,” but anyone who enjoys their rock ‘n’ roll gritty, loud, and in your face, will love every second of these two shows.
The Schizophonics: Friday and Saturday, April 3 and 4, at The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd. 8:30 p.m. $23.Super Diamond
Neil Diamond may no longer be touring, but fans still have an opportunity to catch a set from the next best thing, Super Diamond, performing at The Belly Up Tavern on April 4.
Diamond himself has a new album, “Wild at Heart,” available on May 8, but fans can rest assured that Super Diamond sticks to the vintage crowd-pleasers, covering everything from “I’m A Believer” to “Forever In Blue Jeans.” You can expect the night’s biggest audience participation to be for the 1969 single “Sweet Caroline,” but the whole night will likely be one big sing-along.
Super Diamond: Saturday, April 4, at The Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., 8 p.m. $39 and up.Sue Palmer
One of San Diego’s musical treasures, boogie-woogie pianist Sue Palmer, brings her Motel Swing Orchestra to Tio Leo’s on April 7.
Nominated at the 2026 San Diego Music Awards for her album, “Eight to the Bar,” Palmer is a beloved local institution, with a terrific backing group that can handle anything from New Orleans-style R&B and early rock ‘n’ roll to soul and jump blues. If you haven’t caught Palmer and friends live yet, make a beeline to this gig. Tio Leo’s is a great spot, with plenty of room for swing dancers.
Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra: Tuesday, April 7, at Tio Leo’s, 6333 Mission Gorge Road. 7 p.m. $12.The Hector Penalosa Gang
Hector Penalosa is keeping busy. Currently playing bass and touring with Bay Area punk legends The Avengers, as well as occasional activity with his own legendary combo The Zeros, he is simultaneously fronting a new project, The Hector Penalosa Gang, who perform at The Tower Bar on April 3.
If you’ve enjoyed Penalosa’s songs with any of his previous groups, you’ll love his latest combo and their set list full of classic-sounding, hook-filled rock ‘n’ roll originals. Also on the bill are Bowie tribute group Funky Thigh Collectors and film noir rockers, The Strangulators.
The Hector Penalosa Gang: Friday, April 3, at The Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave. 8 p.m.Hence then, the article about nightmarish rock jazz greats a return of local stars live music this week was published today ( ) and is available on Times of San Diego ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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