Hot covers, cool jazz, new genres: Top shows this week

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’s music scene.

Fred Benedetti

Beatles fans won’t want to miss acclaimed guitarist Fred Benedetti’s tribute to George Harrison at Dizzy’s on Feb. 21. Backed by vocalists Regina Moomjean and Julia Picone, bassist Jeff Pekarek, and percussionist James Morton, Benedetti recasts Harrison’s Beatles era classics, including favorites such as “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun,” in stunning new arrangements.

Playing on assorted guitars and ukulele, the concert is a showcase for Benedetti’s virtuoso skills, with Moomjean and Picone’s vocal harmonies just as impressive. Featuring songs up to Harrison’s final solo single, 2003’s “Any Road,” this concert will have Beatles fans hanging on every note.

Fred Benedetti: Saturday, Feb. 21 at Dizzy’s at Arias Hall, 1717 Morena Blvd., 7:30 p.m. $20.

Safety Orange

Beach rock and reggae favorites Safety Orange take the stage at The Holding Company on Feb. 21. Founded in 1997 by singer and guitarist Sol Turpin, the group’s mix of power chords and island sounds has made them a popular club band throughout the Southwest.

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 “Seven Nation Army” and the Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” or a reggaefied version of TV’s “The Golden Girls” theme song, “Thank You For Being A Friend.”

The Cometeers

Jam band and Latin jazz fans are going to want to hear The Cometeers at Winston’s on Feb. 24. The big band cites influences as diverse as Led Zeppelin, Fela Kuti, the JB Horns, and Poncho Sanchez, resulting in a sound that’s driven by Latin grooves, meant to keep audiences up on their feet dancing. As heard on their recent single “Lucero,” one of the bands best features is their tight horn section, whose counter melodies add song hooks to the band infectious rhythms.

The Cometeers: Tuesday, Feb. 24 at Winston’s, 1921 Bacon St., 8:30 p.m. No cover.

Steve Poltz

Legendary singer-songwriter Steve Poltz returns to the Belly Up Tavern on Feb. 21-22 for a two-night birthday party. Currently touring in support of his latest album, “Joyride,” the first night will include an appearance from Poltz’s rock combo, The Rugburns. 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.

Perhaps best known for co-writing the hit “You Were Meant For Me,” 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.

Steve Poltz: Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21-22 at The Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave. 8 p.m. $55 and up.

Hotel California

The Eagles 1975 album “Greatest Hits 1971-1975” 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’s only natural that there would be tribute groups in the Eagles’ honor, and one of the best, Hotel California, appears at The Balboa Theatre on Feb. 22.

Perfect for Eagles fans of all stripes, the band includes hits from “One of These Nights” to “Lyin’ Eyes,” also throwing in solo hits such as Joe Walsh’s “Life’s Been Good” and Don Henley’s “Dirty Laundry.” You can expect two of the night’s biggest cheers in Hotel California’s San Diego tour stop to be for “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and “Already Gone,” two Eagles gems co-penned by Encinitas-based songwriting legend, Jack Tempchin.

Hotel California – A Tribute to The Eagles: Sunday, Feb. 22 at the Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave. 7 p.m. $52 and up.

Whitney Shay

Singer Whitney Shay 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.

As great as those shows are, it’s when Shay is performing her own music, such as at this gig, that she really shines. Playing under the stars in Balboa Park’s beautiful sculpture garden, which houses Panama 66, will add to the magic.

Whitney Shay: Sunday, Feb. 22 at Panama 66, 1450 El Prado. 5-7 p.m. No cover.

Danny Green

Pianist Danny Green accompanied by bassist Justin Grinnell and drummer Duncan Moore will perform at Tio Leo’s on Feb. 22 as part of their Sunday Night Jazz 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’s inspired bass work.

All of Green’s albums come highly recommended, 2014’s “After the Calm,” being a particularly inspired work, but the opportunity to hear him live shouldn’t be passed up.

Danny Green: Sunday, Feb. 22 at Tio Leo’s, 6333 Mission Gorge Road., 5-7 p.m.

San Diego Music Awards

The biggest annual event for local musicians, the San Diego Music Awards will take place on May 6, but first up is the SDMA Nominees Announcement Party, happening on Feb. 23 at Music Box.

Beyond the actual nominations being announced, there will be the screening of “Best Video” 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’s music community.

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.

SDMA Nominees Announcement: Monday, Feb. 23 at Music Box, 1337 India St. 7 p.m. $10. musicboxsd.com.

The Strangulators

Film noir rock? Inspired by gritty detective novels, fedoras, overcoats, and punk rock, The Strangulators, who perform at the Casbah on Feb. 25, may be pioneering a new genre with the release of their album, “You Can’t Unmurder Someone.”

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’ noir themed songs such as “Martinis and Murder,” and “Mother Finds A Body.”

The Strangulators: Wednesday, Feb. 25 at The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd. 8:30 p.m. $14.

Violent Femmes

While folk punk quartet, the Violent Femmes, who stop in at The Sound on Feb. 25, have never scored any major chart hits in their nearly five-decade long career, there is no doubt that they are one of the most influential groups to emerge from the early 1980s.

The Violent Femmes’ latest album, “Hotel Last Resort,” has garnered acclaim, but this night’s biggest cheers will be for songs from the bands self-titled 1983 debut, which has become to be considered an essential classic in the decades since its release. That first album remains a radio favorite to this day, inspiring countless acoustic musicians, with nearly every track, including such favorites as “Add It Up,” “Good Feeling,” and especially, “Blister In The Sun,” sure to inspire crowd singalongs.