Rising reggae stars, a national ska favorite, an iconic punk act, and a showcase night with four of the region’s hottest indie bands highlight a packed week of music in San Diego. Here’s our weekly rundown of ten great shows worth getting out of the house:
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### Doah’s Daydream
**When:** Saturday, Jan. 10, 8 p.m.
**Where:** Winston’s, 1921 Bacon St.
**Tickets:** $10
Rising reggae stars Doah’s Daydream take the stage at Winston’s on January 10. Led by singer Doah, the band considers themselves pioneers of the “island grunge” sound, mixing reggae with rock and pop elements, as heard on their recent singles such as “Girls Girl.”
Doah’s Daydream makes radio-friendly recordings, but where they really excel is onstage. Doah is a captivating performer with stage presence, supported by a tight band that knows their way around a song hook. Already making the move from clubs to festival stages, Doah’s Daydream is a band to watch out for.
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### The Toasters
**When:** Sunday, Jan. 11, 1:30 p.m.
**Where:** The Holding Company, 5046 Newport Ave.
**Tickets:** $25
Ska fans won’t want to miss a rare matinee appearance from New York-based favorites, The Toasters, on January 11 at The Holding Company. Founded in 1981, the band still features frontman Robert “Bucket” Hingley.
Though they haven’t released a new album since 2007’s *One More Bullet*, they remain a formidable touring act. For ska enthusiasts who admire second-wave ska groups driven by keyboards and horns, like The Specials and The Selector, it doesn’t get much better than a Toasters stage show. Also on the bill that day are The Iron Roses and Mustard Plug.
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### Almost Monday
**When:** Wednesday, Jan. 14, 8 p.m.
**Where:** Music Box, 1337 India St.
**Tickets:** $30
Rescheduled from last month, indie pop trio Almost Monday performs at Music Box on January 14. Founded in 2015, Almost Monday is one of San Diego’s most recent success stories, scoring seven hits on the Billboard charts to date, including their most recent single “Lost” from their upcoming, yet-to-be-named album.
Featuring lead vocalist and guitarist Dawson Daugherty, bassist Luke Fabry, and lead guitarist Cole Clisby, the band excels at writing catchy tunes like “Sunburn” that are instant earworms. Fans of artists such as Maroon 5 will find much to enjoy at this show.
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### War
**When:** Saturday, Jan. 10, 7 p.m.
**Where:** The Magnolia, 210 E Main St.
**Tickets:** $82 and up
Legendary soul band War performs at The Magnolia on January 10. War was one of the 1970s biggest hitmakers, scoring over a dozen chart hits during the decade with classics like “Lowrider,” “Cisco Kid,” and “Slippin’ Into Darkness.”
Still featuring original member and former San Diegan Lonnie Jordan on vocals and keyboards, the current lineup includes excellent musicians whose onstage energy is contagious. The night’s biggest sing-along will likely be “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” but the set list features a “best of” selection sure to please casual fans as well.
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### Vurv, The Film Company, Witness, and Go Scarlet
**When:** Friday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m.
**Where:** Soda Bar, 3615 El Cajon Blvd.
**Tickets:** $13
Four of San Diego’s hottest new indie bands join forces for a night of great music at The Soda Bar on January 9. On hand will be Vurv, The Film Company, Witness, and Go Scarlet.
All are well worth hearing, and all except Witness have new music just out. The all-female quartet Vurv will be celebrating the release of their debut album, *What Is A Girl?* Their latest single, “Buzz Song,” delivers a terrific mix of post-punk tinged rock ‘n’ roll with touches of garage rock melody and powerpop. Fans of San Diego’s burgeoning local music scene won’t want to miss this showcase of hot new talent.
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### Beatles A-Z
**When:** Saturday, Jan. 10, 7 p.m.
**Where:** Moxie Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Blvd.
**Tickets:** $20
Acclaimed guitarist Wayne Riker brings his one-man “Beatles A-Z” show to the Moxie Theatre on January 10. Honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 San Diego Music Awards, Riker is considered one of the area’s top guitarists, with numerous instructional books and a long-running column in *Guitar Player* magazine.
For this show, he’s put together a medley of Beatles songs in alphabetical order, each given a different stylistic treatment. This makes for a fun and unique experience for guitar enthusiasts and Beatles fans alike.
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### Tommy Castro & The Painkillers
**When:** Saturday, Jan. 10, 8 p.m.
**Where:** The Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave.
**Tickets:** $35 and up
Blues guitarist Tommy Castro and his band the Painkillers play The Belly Up on January 10. Currently touring behind his new album, *Closer to the Bone*, Castro has had a notable career since his days in the late 1980s as guitarist with Bay Area band The Dynatones.
He built a following through relentless touring and collaborations with key musicians. Most recently, he teamed up with former Elvin Bishop Band guitarist and San Diego resident Johnny Vernazza for a track on Vernazza’s recent Christmas album. Fans of blues with a soulful edge, reminiscent of B.B. King, will love every second of Castro’s performance. Local combo Black Market III opens the show.
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### Adolescents
**When:** Saturday, Jan. 10, 8:30 p.m.
**Where:** The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd.
**Tickets:** $32
Still going strong after nearly 45 years, Orange County punk legends Adolescents make a tour stop at The Casbah on January 10. Their current show focuses on songs from their latest album, *Ceasar Salad Days*, with new tunes like “OC Confidential” fitting well alongside crowd favorites such as the anthemic punk rock classic “Amoeba.”
Also featured that night are local bands Stretcher Case and Owl Be Damned. Arrive early to catch Owl Be Damned’s set, whose hard-driving, loud, and visceral rock songs like “Barcodes” showcase rock at its rawest.
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### Jason Hanna & The Swingin’ Bananas
**When:** Wednesday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m.
**Where:** The Riviera Supper Club, 7777 University Ave.
**Tickets:** No cover
Trumpeter Jason Hanna and his band the Swingin’ Bananas have a weekly Wednesday night residency at The Riviera Supper Club’s retro-styled Turquoise Room. Hanna is a versatile musician whose repertoire ranges from Sinatra’s 1950s Rat Pack standards like “Fly Me to the Moon,” to Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass’s 1960s classics such as “A Taste of Honey,” and even David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World.”
The combination of venue and artist creates a perfect night out with vintage tunes as the soundtrack.
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### Black Flag
**When:** Thursday, Jan. 15
**Where:** House of Blues, 1055 10th Ave.
**Tickets:** $16 and up
Iconic punk band Black Flag returns to San Diego for a show at the House of Blues on January 15. Formed in 1976, the band currently features founding guitarist Greg Ginn as the sole original member, joined by newcomers Max Zanelly (lead vocals), David Rodriguez (bass), and Bryce Weston (drums).
Playing in advance of an upcoming, as-yet-untitled new album, Black Flag will perform two sets packed with seminal punk classics such as “Six Pack,” “Jealous Again,” and their inspired cover of garage punk standard “Louie Louie.” Die-hard fans will not want to miss this night of punk history.
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Get out, support local music, and enjoy an exciting week of live performances across San Diego!
https://timesofsandiego.com/arts/2026/01/06/san-diego-top-concerts-january/
