I was fortunate to catch a lot of great live performances this year. Here are twenty of my favorites, plus some extras for good measure. What were your favorite concerts of 2024?
(Photos by Donna Daly)
1) 09/09 Paul Weller at The Magnolia. An excellent 29 song set, mixing tracks from his new album, 66, with a handful of classics from The Jam and The Style Council. Great interaction between the band and the audience and the new songs, especially “Jumble Queen,” went down a storm. One of the best solo shows I’ve ever seen him play.
2) 01/30 Herb Alpert & Lani Hall at The Sound. A superb look back at Alpert’s career in song and video. Lots of highlight’s including a cover of Jason Mraz’s hit tune, “I’m Yours,” but the biggest response was for the medley of his many hit songs with the Tijuana Brass.
3) 01/27 Don Randi at NAMM. Keyboard / Wrecking Crew session playing legend Don Randi (Phil Spector / Nancy Sinatra etc. etc.) gave a performance at NAMM’s Xvive booth with a trio, playing instrumental bits of tunes such as “Hit The Road Jack” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Randi played on hundreds of hits, such as hits as “Thes Boots Were Made For Walking,” Good Vibrations,” “Different Drum,” “God Only Knows<” and The Jackson Five’s “ABC.”
4) 09/27 Hoodoo Gurus at Humphrey’s Concert’s by the Bay. Greeted by an enthusiastic crowd, the band played a killer 25 song set featuring their debut 1984 album, Stone Age Romeos, in its entirety, and an audience request, “Poison Pen.”
5) 01/25 Rocket From The Crypt at The Casbah. Just a great night of rock and roll, as only John Reis and company can deliver. The fact that it was also the debut show of Owl be Damned, just added to the whole thing.
6) 05/26 Laurie Beebe Lewis & Electric Underground at Coronado Promenade. A record crowd at this outdoor event was treated to a great afternoon of 1960’s classics, highlighted by tracks from Lewis’s time in the latter-day Mamas and Papas. The band was really on their game at this show, particularly on harmony laden songs such as “I Saw Her Again Last Night.”
7) 06/09 Maybe I’m Amazed at the Music Box. Joined by Laurence Juber of Wings on lead guitar, the band showcased a run through Wings 1979 album, Back to The Egg, and closing out with a batch of McCartney’s 1970’s best. As a bonus, Juber opened the show with an acoustic solo set. Great!
8) 08/25 The Tourmaliners at Birds Surf Shed. The perfect match of venue and band. The Tourmaliners blasted through tracks from their 2020 Surfidia album, plus a few choice vintage classics, including the “Hawaii 5-0” theme.
9) 05/09 Alan Parsons at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay. Basically a 17-song greatest hits set, with a strong first half that included “Don’t Answer Me,” “Psychobabble,” and “Time.”
10) 05/11 Weezer at Wonderfront. A 20-song career spanning set, including an encore of “Buddy Holly,” and featuring a cover of the Hole song, “Celebrity Skin.” A giant sing-a-long in the park.
11) 05/31 Peter DiStefano at North Park Music Festival. An intimate outdoor set, with an outsize acoustic performance from DiStefano (of Porno for Pyros) at this music fest, featuring a spirited run through “Pets.”
12) 06/20 Soft Machine at Dizzy’s. A 14 song + drum solo set from these British legends. The lineup of the band has changed over the decades, but led by guitarist John Etheridge, they are still making great music. The night’s performance opened with 1970’s “Facelift,” and included such classics as 1975’s “The Man Who Waved at Trains.”
13) 10/30 The Jackets at The Casbah.
High energy garage rock at its best with the bonus of an opening set from The Loons.
14) 11/30 Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra at Vinyl Junkies. Professor B Miller and his musical friend, robot SP-20, captivated the crowd at this outdoor instore / parking spot performance, 3-D glasses included.
15) 07/02 Redd Kross at The Casbah. A 17-song set, including an encore of KISS’s evergreen, “Deuce.”
16) 06/10 The Walrus at Hessfest. There are a lot of very good Beatles tribute bands out there, but these guys are extra good, playing a mix of hits and deeper cuts. Excellent vocals and musicianship, topped by a drummer who plays keyboards at the same time. Fun!
17) 01/20 Pleasure Pill, The Uni Boys at The Soda Bar. Anyone who says there isn’t still great new rock and roll or powerpop to be found these days, just isn’t looking hard enough. This was an excellent concert that once again showed that (cliché alert!), the kids are alright.
18) 02/27 Evan Dando at The Casbah. A great reminder of what a way Dando has with a song hook.
19) 12/15 Kimmi Bitter and Westside Twang at the Casbah. A terrific opening spot for the Beat Farmers was topped by a wonderful version of her tune, “My Grass is Blue,” and a nifty take on Johnny Kidd’s 1960 classic, “Shakin’ All Over,” complete with a Led Zeppelin guitar quote in the excellent solo from Willis Farnsworth.
20) 03/ 24 Kela Sako and Daring Greatly at Pechanga Arena. This hockey game, featuring the Calgary Wranglers vs. the San Diego Gulls, not only had singer Kela Sako performing the U.S. national anthem, but also featured Daring Greatly singing the Canadian national anthem, “Oh Canada.”
Bubbling Under: 04/04 Orianthi at the Belly Up Tavern, 04/13 Pete Escovedo at The Music Box, 08/08 Grand Funk Railroad at Humphrey’s Concert’s by The Bay, 08/21 Haircut 100 at the Sound, 11/15 Pinback at the Sound.
Always A Good Time: Gilbert Castellanos and The Young Lions at Panama 66 on Wednesdays, Michael Gonzales, aka Gonzo, at the Hotel Del Coronado’s outdoor patio adjacent to the Babcock & Story Bar, Thursday – Saturday, Jason Hanna & The Swingin’ Bananas Wednesdays at the Riviera Supper Club. On 10/23 A birthday dinner for a friend’s son, was soundtracked by Hanna and company in the lounge, topped by a jazzy version of “Happy Birthday.”
