If you’re feeling nostalgic, this week’s live shows will be right up your alley, from Cypress Hill to My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult. Sandwiched in there are live jazz shows, an Americana and country music showcase, and the delightfully named Rotten Cabal.
Rotten Cabal
Anyone who appreciates great rock guitar will want to hear Rotten Cabal, who take part in a free show at Winston’s on April 21. Led by guitarist Mike Ruggirello, as heard on their songs such as “Sins,” the band uses plenty of melody to go along with the riffs.
A current music teacher and former host of Theory Thursday, a program that spotlighted the area’s guitar playing talent, Ruggirello knows his way around a fretboard, which shows in his tasteful solos, especially live, where he can stretch out a bit and display his prowess.
- Rotten Cabal: Tuesday, April 21, at Winston’s, 1921 Bacon St., 7 p.m. Free.
Manzanita Blues
As heard on their latest album “Gamblin’ On The Groove,” Manzanita Blues is all about music that will keep their audiences up and dancing. Returning to Humphreys Backstage Live on April 17, the group does include cover songs in their sets, but they’ve also penned plenty of tunes, such as “Coiled and Ready,” cut from the same cloth.
Featuring singer Lisa Domkat, the band’s sound is actually a bit more expansive than just blues despite its name, taking in roadhouse music that touches on early rock and a bit of boogie, played with top-notch musicianship.
The Grateful Shred
The Grateful Dead continues to inspire more tribute bands than anybody this side of the Beatles. One currently drawing attention, the Grateful Shred, takes the stage at The Sound on April 17. The band does a great job of recreating the overall sound and harmonies of the Dead’s biggest hits, from “Casey Jones” to “Shakedown Street.”
However, what sets them apart from some of the other tribute groups out there is that, rather than perform note-for-note recreations of these songs, they play them in the “good time music” spirit. San Diego’s legion of Deadheads will enjoy this show start to finish.
- The Grateful Shred: Friday, April 17, at The Sound, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. 7:30 p.m. $39 and up.
Acoustic Evenings
The Acoustic Evenings concert series at the Athenaeum continues on April 17 with a strong bill that includes The Croome Brothers and Les Afriks, as well as a set from host Jefferson Jay with Monette Marino.
It’s once again a solid lineup, with the Croome Brothers in particular well worth hearing. The pair, who are founding members of popular rock and country group Daring Greatly, are originally from Calgary; the have become one of the hottest groups in the Southland since relocating to San Diego. If you like original music in the tradition of such vocal harmony-driven rockers as the Eagles and Pure Prairie League, the Croome Brothers are right up your alley.
Mackenzie Leighton
Acclaimed bassist Mackenzie Leighton brings his all-star quintet to Dizzy’s on April 17. The evening will celebrate the music of bass legend Charles Mingus, with Leighton backed by drummer Tyler Kreutel, tenor saxophonist Brian Levy, trombonist Matt Hall, and award-winning pianist Ed Kornhauser.
Leighton is a great interpreter of classics and an excellent composer in his own right, often heard playing alongside the likes of Peter Sprague, but it’s with his own combos that he truly excels. For fans of instrumental, Blue Note-style tunes, it doesn’t get much better than this. Anyone who appreciates jazz will hang on every note at this show, especially during Kornhauser’s amazing solos.
My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult
Celebrating 38 years of making music, electronic industrial rock band My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult brings their “Delicate Terror Tour” to Music Box on April 17. Blending psychedelia, post-punk guitars, disco, techno, and other rhythm-heavy elements, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult’s music hasn’t aged at all in the ensuing decades since their 1987 beginnings.
Their early singles, such as “Final Blindness,” are still a surefire way to fill a dance floor, though live, they are more rock-inspired, with plenty of multimedia touches in their show. My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult hasn’t released an album in seven years, so lucky fans get a career-spanning, best-of set list on this road trip. For modern dance fans, this rare show from the electronica and rock pioneers will be hard to beat. Opening the show will be Light Asylum, Die Sexual, Devora, and Heavy Halo.
- My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult: Friday, April 17, at Music Box, 1337 India St., 7:30 p.m. $39.
San Diego Music Awards Showcase
It’s no secret that Americana and country music are going through a renaissance in San Diego, with new artists emerging regularly, along with a loyal fan base. On April 18, the Kensington Club will be the site of a San Diego Music Awards Showcase concert, focusing on this year’s Americana nominees. A veritable live jukebox of local talent, the night will be hosted by Sara Petite, with short sets from Chloe Lou, Sutton James, Ashley E. Norton, Lissa Dee, Stucky Leigh, ZB Savoy, Jonny Wagon, Thea the Band, Cathryn Beeks, Marie Haddad, and Shawn Rohlf.
Giving the show an extra fun spin, in addition to original music, the night will include a tribute to legendary soul and R&B artists, guitarist Steve Cropper and singer Aretha Franklin.
- San Diego Music Awards Americana Showcase: Saturday, April 18, at the Kensington Club, 4079 Adams Ave., 8 p.m. $15.
Cypress Hill
Hip-hop fans won’t want to miss an appearance by genre icons Cypress Hill at Petco Park’s Gallagher Square on April 18. The band hasn’t released an album since 2022’s “Back In Black,” but die-hard fans will be happy to hear the current stage show, which changes from concert to concert, is built around the band’s best-known songs such as “I Wanna Get High” and “Insane In The Brain,” the latter’s place in pop culture cemented when Cypress Hill performed it on “The Simpsons” episode, “Homerpalooza.”
Music fans will want to arrive early for sets from openers Bone Thugs ‘n’ Harmony, Tech N9ne, and Coyote.
The Belly Up
In advance of next month’s San Diego Music Awards, the Belly Up Tavern is hosting a special showcase concert featuring seven nominees.
On hand will be a musically diverse cross section of San Diego’s music community, including guitarist Anthony Cullins, indie rockers The Film Company, vocalist Cassie B, blues combo Zavala Sol, hip hop favorites The Brothers Burns, rapper RMthePoet, and Americana-based singer-songwriter Haisley. It’s a terrific bill across the board, with all these performers at the top of their game.
All proceeds from this show go to the San Diego Music Foundation’s Guitars in Schools Program, making this a wonderful opportunity to do a good deed while taking in a lot of great music.
- San Diego Music Awards Showcase: Sunday, April 19, at the Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., 6:30 p.m. $25 and up.
The Casbah
A fun two-band bill happens at the Casbah on April 20, featuring Los Angeles-based new wave punk rocker Kate Clover and country and western group Jenny Don’t and The Spurs. It’s an interesting mix of genres, but it works. Clover mixes ’60s era garage rock attitude, girl group song hooks, and plenty of revved up power chords for a high-energy show. The key to the band’s sound is Clover’s songwriting, with songs such as “Like A Domino” and “Damage Control” sounding like a cross between vintage Blondie and Buzzcocks 45’s.
Meanwhile, attendees won’t want to miss the opening set from tour mates Don’t and her group. They offer up Bakerfield-style classic country, their singles, such as “Pain In My Heart,” offering up plenty of twangy guitar to go with the song hooks.
- Kate Clover: Monday, April 20, at the Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., 8 p.m. $25.