What is the Casbah?:
The Casbah is a San Diego music venue in the Middletown area of downtown. It is arguably the most renown club when it comes to live rock music and is known worldwide.
Why is it notable?:
The Casbah's reputation as a champion of local and up-and-coming national acts is unsurpassed. No other local music venue is as musician friendly as the Casbah. Its owner Tim Mays has supported and promoted local music since the mid-1980s.
What is its history?:
In 1989, after eight years of staging punk shows at various venues here, Tim Mays co-founded the Casbah, which soon became one of Southern California's most celebrated live music clubs. It started as a tiny, 75-capacity club on Kettner Blvd. and in 1993 to its larger, 200-capacity location just three blocks down the street near Lindbergh Field.
What artists have played there?:
A who's who of alternative and indie rock: White Stripes,, Arcade Fire, The Killers, The Strokes, Lemonheads, Alanis Morissette, Morphine, the Amps, The Breeders, Elastica, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Royal Crown Revue, Supersuckers, Ben Harper, Liz Phair, G Love & Special Sauce, Social Distortion, The Cult, and in a single week in mid-1990, Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins. It was also a place where you saw members of bands who later formed Stone Temple Pilots and a young Eddie Vedder before he joined Pearl Jam.
So, it's a hipster cool place?:
Actually, the Casbah is a more of a dive bar than a concert hall (which probably cements its cool reputation). And though indie music and hipsters are its core, its only criteria is that the music is good. Popsters like Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze) and Marshall Crenshaw have played memorable acoustic shows there. The stage is low, the sound is loud and clear, and it's one of the few places where you can get close to the artists performing.
What else is there to know?:
Well, tickets are often around $10, and the bouncers and bartenders are pretty cool. The drinks are cheap and strong. There's a video game area that has Pac Man and Galaga. A smoking area out back. A few bar stools to the side and back of the room, so it's mostly standing room, and can get pretty hot and sweaty when it's packed. Oh, yeah, and parking is on the street in the surrounding neighborhood (take note of the jets overhead as they land at Lindbergh Field).
The Essentials:
2501 Kettner Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92101
619.232.HELL
San Diego, CA 92101
619.232.HELL
Buying tickets for shows at The Casbah:
Tickets for most Casbah shows sell through their online ticketing system - www.casbahtickets.com. You can also charge by phone at 888-512-7469. Service charges are between $1.50 - $2.75 depending on ticket price. When you purchase tickets online or by phone you can have them sent to you via mail or have them placed on will call night of show, which is recommended.
