Next-level cover bands, nineties indie folk-pop darlings, and the possible birth of a brand-new genre, and much more this week in San Diego\u2019s music scene.<\/p>\n
Fred Benedetti<\/p>\n
Beatles fans won\u2019t want to miss acclaimed guitarist Fred Benedetti\u2019s<\/a> tribute to George Harrison at Dizzy\u2019s on Feb. 21. Backed by vocalists Regina Moomjean and Julia Picone, bassist Jeff Pekarek, and percussionist James Morton, Benedetti recasts Harrison\u2019s Beatles era classics, including favorites such as \u201cSomething\u201d and \u201cHere Comes the Sun,\u201d in stunning new arrangements. <\/p>\n Playing on assorted guitars and ukulele, the concert is a showcase for Benedetti\u2019s virtuoso skills, with Moomjean and Picone\u2019s vocal harmonies just as impressive. Featuring songs up to Harrison\u2019s final solo single, 2003\u2019s \u201cAny Road,\u201d this concert will have Beatles fans hanging on every note.<\/p>\n Fred Benedetti: Saturday, Feb. 21 at Dizzy\u2019s<\/a> at Arias Hall, 1717 Morena Blvd., 7:30 p.m. $20.<\/p>\n Safety Orange<\/p>\n Beach rock and reggae favorites Safety Orange<\/a> take the stage at The Holding Company on Feb. 21. Founded in 1997 by singer and guitarist Sol Turpin, the group\u2019s mix of power chords and island sounds has made them a popular club band throughout the Southwest. <\/p>\n Safety Orange has plenty of good original reggae jams in their repertoire, but fans also appreciate their left field cover choices, such as a mashup of The White Stripes \u201cSeven Nation Army\u201d and the Eurythmics \u201cSweet Dreams (Are Made of This),\u201d or a reggaefied version of TV\u2019s \u201cThe Golden Girls\u201d theme song, \u201cThank You For Being A Friend.\u201d<\/p>\n The Cometeers<\/p>\n Jam band and Latin jazz fans are going to want to hear The Cometeers<\/a> at Winston\u2019s on Feb. 24. The big band cites influences as diverse as Led Zeppelin<\/a>, Fela Kuti<\/a>, the JB Horns<\/a>, and Poncho Sanchez<\/a>, resulting in a sound that\u2019s driven by Latin grooves, meant to keep audiences up on their feet dancing. As heard on their recent single \u201cLucero,\u201d one of the bands best features is their tight horn section, whose counter melodies add song hooks to the band infectious rhythms.<\/p>\n The Cometeers: Tuesday, Feb. 24 at Winston\u2019s<\/a>, 1921 Bacon St., 8:30 p.m. No cover.<\/p>\n Steve Poltz<\/p>\n Legendary singer-songwriter Steve Poltz<\/a> returns to the Belly Up Tavern on Feb. 21-22 for a two-night birthday party. Currently touring in support of his latest album, \u201cJoyride,\u201d the first night will include an appearance from Poltz\u2019s rock combo, The Rugburns<\/a>. Poltz is a legend for several solid reasons, including his incredible storytelling, sense of humor and ability to generate a constant stream of earworms seemingly out of thin air. <\/p>\n Perhaps best known for co-writing the hit \u201cYou Were Meant For Me,\u201d Poltz may or may not focus on tunes from his new album at his shows this weekend, but whatever he chooses to include from his vast catalog, his legion of fans are going to have a blast.<\/p>\n Steve Poltz: Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21-22 at The Belly Up Tavern<\/a>, 143 S. Cedros Ave. 8 p.m. $55 and up.<\/p>\n Hotel California<\/p>\n The Eagles 1975 album \u201cGreatest Hits 1971-1975<\/a>\u201d remains one of the most popular albums in history; it was recently lauded for sales of more than 40,000,000 copies in the United States alone. With such popularity it\u2019s only natural that there would be tribute groups in the Eagles\u2019 honor, and one of the best, Hotel California<\/a>, appears at The Balboa Theatre on Feb. 22. <\/p>\n Perfect for Eagles fans of all stripes, the band includes hits from \u201cOne of These Nights\u201d to \u201cLyin\u2019 Eyes,\u201d also throwing in solo hits such as Joe Walsh\u2019s \u201cLife\u2019s Been Good\u201d and Don Henley\u2019s \u201cDirty Laundry.\u201d You can expect two of the night\u2019s biggest cheers in Hotel California\u2019s San Diego tour stop to be for \u201cPeaceful Easy Feeling\u201d and \u201cAlready Gone,\u201d two Eagles gems co-penned by Encinitas-based songwriting legend, Jack Tempchin.<\/p>\n Hotel California \u2013 A Tribute to The Eagles: Sunday, Feb. 22 at the Balboa Theatre<\/a>, 868 Fourth Ave. 7 p.m. $52 and up.<\/p>\n Whitney Shay<\/p>\n Singer Whitney Shay<\/a> performs at Panama 66 on Feb. 22. Shay is an amazing talent, terrific at jazz, blues and rock, she has released a sting of award winning albums, while also gigging around town with any number of combos, most recently as part of reunited soul and funk group, The Styletones<\/a>. <\/p>\n As great as those shows are, it\u2019s when Shay is performing her own music, such as at this gig, that she really shines. Playing under the stars in Balboa Park\u2019s beautiful sculpture garden, which houses Panama 66, will add to the magic.<\/p>\n Whitney Shay: Sunday, Feb. 22 at Panama 66,<\/a> 1450 El Prado. 5-7 p.m. No cover.<\/p>\n Danny Green<\/p>\n Pianist Danny Green<\/a> accompanied by bassist Justin Grinnell<\/a> and drummer Duncan Moore<\/a> will perform at Tio Leo\u2019s on Feb. 22 as part of their Sunday Night Jazz<\/a> series. Green is a wonderful piano player with a warm tone and a fluid style of hitting the keys that never fails to impress, especially when taken in tandem with Grinnell\u2019s inspired bass work. <\/p>\n All of Green\u2019s albums come highly recommended, 2014\u2019s \u201cAfter the Calm,\u201d being a particularly inspired work, but the opportunity to hear him live shouldn\u2019t be passed up.<\/p>\n Danny Green: Sunday, Feb. 22 at Tio Leo\u2019s<\/a>, 6333 Mission Gorge Road., 5-7 p.m.<\/p>\n San Diego Music Awards<\/p>\n The biggest annual event for local musicians, the San Diego Music Awards<\/a> will take place on May 6, but first up is the SDMA Nominees Announcement Party<\/a>, happening on Feb. 23 at Music Box. <\/p>\n Beyond the actual nominations being announced, there will be the screening of \u201cBest Video\u201d nominees, as well as live sets from Matthew Phillips, Alex Bergan, Patch & Maggi, Cheyenne Benton and The Bastards, an all-star group that includes Shawn Rohlf, Jeff Berkley and baseball legend, Tim Flannery. This showcase concert is a great introduction for anyone interested in San Diego\u2019s music community. <\/p>\n Best of all, while there is a $10 cover at the door, admission is free if you RSVP at the SDMA website by Feb. 22.<\/p>\n SDMA Nominees Announcement: Monday, Feb. 23 at Music Box<\/a>, 1337 India St. 7 p.m. $10. musicboxsd.com.<\/p>\n The Strangulators<\/p>\n Film noir rock? Inspired by gritty detective novels, fedoras, overcoats, and punk rock, The Strangulators<\/a>, who perform at the Casbah on Feb. 25, may be pioneering a new genre with the release of their album, \u201cYou Can\u2019t Unmurder Someone.\u201d <\/p>\n Led by guitarist Joe Macaskill, the album itself features backing from Burlington, VA. Band, Rough Francis, with the live band consisting of local music mainstays, guitarist Chris Henry (the Screamin YeeHaws), bassist Spike Mike Muellenberg (The Spice Pistols) and drummer Davey Austin (Shot Out Hoods). Anyone who enjoys the likes of later period Clash, Social Distortion, or The Ramones will want to hear the Strangulators\u2019 noir themed songs such as \u201cMartinis and Murder,\u201d and \u201cMother Finds A Body.\u201d<\/p>\n The Strangulators: Wednesday, Feb. 25 at The Casbah<\/a>, 2501 Kettner Blvd. 8:30 p.m. $14.<\/p>\n Violent Femmes<\/p>\n