Coachella is known for drawing big headliners and bringing legends back to the stage who maybe haven't played in a while, but when it comes to David Byrne, the legend has continued to push the boundaries of music. A few years back, he made a record and toured with St. Vincent, and his audience ranges from original Talking Heads fans who've been with him since the '70s to young hipsters only recently diving into and loving his whole back catalog. He plays the first of two non-consecutive nights tonight at the Civic Theatre, and there are still a handful of tickets left to the show if you want to get your hands on them. Other pre-Coachella shows are sold out tonight, too, but if you're looking for alternate activities, psych-rockers Sacri Monti play Casbah, Inspired and the Sleep headline Belly Up, and Austin pop-star Lou Rebecca headlines Soda Bar.
Thursday, April 12:
- David Byrne: American Utopia Tour @ San Diego Civic Theatre
- Angel Olsen, Priests @ Music Box (SOLD OUT)
- Kate Nash, Miya Folick @ The Observatory (SOLD OUT)
- Sacri Monti, Child, the Bad Vibes @ Casbah
- Inspired and the Sleep, Grizzly Business, the Strawberry Moons @ Belly Up
- Lou Rebecca, Silent Diane, Missions @ Soda Bar
- Ugly Things presents: A Zombie Zoo Productions movie screening ft. El Vez, King Khan, Kitten Natidad, the Mummies and more @ Whistle Stop
- Rock en Espanol Night Live with Mala Vida @ Blonde
- Braindead, Grand Lord High Master, Pissed Regardless, War Hogs @ The Merrow
- Lorraine Castellanos @ Panama 66
- Late Night Jazz Jam @ Ken Club
- The Drowsy Chaperone Cahs @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido
- Bill Caballero Latin Jam @ Border X Brewing
- Rosa's Cantina, Wild Heart @ Sycamore Den
- Boomboxx Thursdays @ U-31
- Rosy Dawn @ Humphreys Backstage Live
- Keepitinside, Veltrek, Craig Shannon, Days Gone Bye, Unpaved Highway, Buddie Roots & the Sons of YHWH, Nick Diaz @ Brick by Brick
- Anne Steele in "Welcome to the Big Top" @ Martini's Above Fourth
- Jimmy Ruelas @ Seven Grand
- James Allen @ Peabody's Encinitas
- Open Jam Session @ Winston's (6-9 p.m.)
- Uptown Rhythm Makers @ Black Cat Bar
- Polyrhythmics, Ghost-Note Spirit of Rhythm Tour @ Winston's
- No Limits with DJ Myson King @ The Office
- Open Jam with Jeff Ousley @ Navajo Live
- Blue Largo @ Tio Leo's
- The Great Electric Quest @ Boar Cross'n
- Live Band Karaoke with ROK! @ 710 Beach Club
- FNGRS CRSSD presents 2MANYDJS (DJ set) @ Bang Bang
- DJ Yodah @ Henry's Pub
Rosemary Bystrak is the publicist for the Casbah and writes about the San Diego music scene, events and general musings about life in San Diego on San Diego: Dialed In. Follow her updates on Twitter or contact her directly.