Mariachi metal to jazz to San Diego indie-pop sensations: Live music this week

Metalachi

What do you get if you cross mariachi music with heavy metal? You get the Los Angeles-based combo, Metalachi, who return to The Holding Company on May 29. It’s a great gimmick, taking classic rock tunes by the likes of Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne and Twisted sister and recasting them in Mexican folk music traditions, while also dressed as a hybrid of the two genres. Against expectations, it works. Using traditional mariachi instruments, including trumpet, violin and guitarron, Metalachi’s appearances may be tongue in cheek, but they pull it all off with tight musicianship and a good sense of humor.

• Metalachi: Friday, May 29 at The Holding Company, 5046 Newport Ave, 7:30 p.m. $20.

Two-day Jazz Marathon at The Jazz Lounge

The Jazz Lounge is hosting a two-day fundraising marathon on May 29 and 30. Music will be created live continuously, kicking off at 6 p.m. on Friday, with the last musicians starting their set at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday.

In between, there will be a mix of jam sessions, surprise appearances and ticketed concerts.

The latter includes concerts from Peter Sprague, and Aimee Nolte, who will sing the best of Karen & Richard Carpenter in A Tribute to The Carpenters. With funds raised going to help the venue with rising costs, attending this show is a great way to help the local music community while checking out the best in local jazz. A great option for night owls.

• Jazz Lounge Fundraiser Marathon: Friday & Saturday, May 29 & 30 at The Jazz Lounge, 6818 El Cajon Blvd. 6 p.m.

Ace guitarist Deke Dickerson

Ace guitarist Deke Dickerson performs a free solo show at Panama 66, located outdoors, adjacent to Balboa Park’s sculpture garden, on May 30. Dickerson is a true Renaissance man; a noted music historian, author and musician, seemingly constantly on the move and leaving a trail of great country/rockabilly/Americana tunes in his wake.

Hailing from Los Angeles, Dickerson regularly plays with his band The Whippersnappers, but here he’ll be on his own, the better for his fans to hear his excellent guitar work, alongside his wonderful storytelling.

• Deke Dickerson: Saturday, May 30 at Panama 66 / Copley Hall, 1450 El Prado. 6 – 8 p.m. No Cover.

Yacht Rock Revue

There’s no shortage of bands playing Top 40 hits from the 1970’s, but Atlanta-based Yacht Rock Revue is in a separate class, becoming a major headliner in their own right. Appearing at
Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay for a two-night stand on May 30 & 31, the ten-piece band does a great job of recreating classic songs, ranging from one hit wonders such as Rupert Holmes “The Pina Colada Song,” to disco era favorites like George Benson’s “Give Me The Night.”

Notably, Yacht Rock Revue has also released their own music inspired by the 1970’s, with recent single ” San Junipero (Every Night Like Tonight),” sounding like a dance floor filler circa 1979. Fans of seventies pop will have a lot of sing-along fun at this show.

• Yacht Rock Revue: Saturday & Sunday, May 30 & 31, at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., Shelter Island. 7:30 p.m. $62.

Fiesta Del Sol

Anyone searching for some fun in the sun this weekend needs to look no further than the free, all-ages Fiesta Del Sol, taking place at Fletcher Cove Park on May 30 & 31. The weekend will feature a great mix of eighteen artists, including roots rock icons, Los Lobos, 1980’s ska hitmakers, The English Beat, reggae favorites Common Sense, rising country singer Cody Carter and Grateful Dead tribute, Easy Wind. With no admission fee and offering up something for just about every musical taste, Fiesta Del Sol will be hard to beat as a destination for San Diego’s music fans this week.

• Fiesta Del Sol: Saturday & Sunday May 30 & 31 at Fletcher Cove Park, 101 N Acacia Ave., 11 a.m. Free.

Foxtide

San Diego is currently a burgeoning fountain of talent, with numerous local artists on their way to national acclaim. The latest hot combo is Foxtide, who perform two homecoming shows at The House of Blues on May 30 & 31.

On the road in support of their latest album, “Entropy,” the band’s brand of hook-filled indie pop rock, as heard on their ultra-melodic new single, “Heart In The Ground,” is winning them legions of fans across the country. These two concerts mark the end of Foxtide’s current six-week tour, which included sold-out concerts around the country, so expect the shows to be extra celebratory.

• Foxtide: Saturday & Sunday, May 30 & 31 at the House of Blues, 1055 10th Avenue. 7 p.m. $61 and up.

Joe Jackson

British musician/composer Joe Jackson stops in at The Balboa Theatre on May 31. Currently touring in support of his latest album, “Hope and Fury,” Jackson’s current show features half of that release’s new tunes, set amongst a career-spanning collection of songs that includes his biggest hits, such as “Steppin’ Out” and “Is She Really Going Out With Him.” Longtime fans of Jackson’s music will be happy to hear that legendary bassist Graham Maby, who has worked with Jackson since his 1979 debut, as well as recorded with the likes of Marshall Crenshaw, Natalie Merchant and They Might Be Giants, is part of this tour.

• Joe Jackson: Sunday, May 31 at The Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Avenue. 8 p.m. $50 & Up.

Sorry It’s Over

Quirky alt-pop rockers Sorry It’s Over play at The Soda Bar on June 3. The show is the opening night of a two-week tour in support of their latest single “GOT2GO,” which wraps up in Eugene, Or. on June 13. Led by guitarist Louis Petrella, Sorry It’s Over’s sound is hard to pigeonhole, with songs like “Waiting By The Phone” mixing genres like dream pop and indie rock, but the overall result is music with plenty of hooks and almost instantly memorable choruses. Also on this shows bill will be the Strawberry Cassette and The Cabriolets.

• Sorry It’s Over: Wednesday, June 3 at Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd. 7 p.m. $19.

Celina Rescott and The Embers

Singer-songwriter Celina Rescott and her band, The Embers, take the stage at The Casbah in June. Just back from a tour of Europe, as heard on her new single, “Screamin’ My Name,” Rescott mixes rock, blues and touches of country for a radio-friendly sound. As good as her recordings are, where Rescott really excels is in her live concerts, where she never gives less than a heartfelt, passionate performance. Rescott is a really good singer and a terrific front person, with a ‘take no prisoners’ persona that really captivates an audience.

• Celina Rescott & The Embers: Wednesday, June 3 at The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd. 8:30 p.m. $14.

Blue Healers

On June 4, Washington area blues duo Blue Healers will provide the soundtrack to an evening out at Humphrey’s Backstage Live. Consisting of husband-and-wife team Don (guitar) and Diane (vocals/bass) Forsyth, the pair takes the minimalist approach, with bass providing both counter melody and percussive elements and the lead guitar filling in the rest. Blues fans will appreciate the Blue Healers’ sound, but listeners of torch songs, murder ballads and folk standards will find much to enjoy in their shows.

• Blue Healers: Thursday, June 4 at Humphrey’s Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Dr., Shelter Island. 6 p.m. $5.