Blasts from the past meet the brand-spanking new: Top shows this week

Lots of nostalgia up for grabs in San Diego’s music scene this week. Choose your decade (1950s through the 1990s) and your fighters (original artists, cover bands, a secret third thing), and head on out to a show. There’s also some newer acts in the mix for those of you who would rather take your music future-flavored, of course.

International Women’s Day benefit at Winston’s

On March 8, Winston’s will hold an International Women’s Day benefit concert. On hand will be Sascha and the Sas, Mari y Los Chicos Malos, Rosy Dawn and Oversoul, and Zavala Sol, with music set to kick off at 2 p.m. All the bands are great fun live, with Zavala Sol up for a “Best Blues Artist” at this year’s San Diego Music Awards. Funds raised at this event go toward the Sister League of San Diego and Girls Inc. of San Diego County, giving San Diego music fans an opportunity to hear great music while helping others less fortunate.

International Women’s Day Benefit: Sunday, March 8 at Winston’s, 1921 Bacon St., 2 p.m. Admission is donation-based.

Nine Inch Nails

Industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails comes to Pechanga Arena on March 9. Still led by frontman Trent Reznor with keyboardist Atticus Ross, the band has issued no new music since 2020, save for a soundtrack to the 2025 film “Tron: Ares,” so this is a career-spanning road trip, with four segments covering the band’s entire discography.

Long-time fans will be happy to hear that recent shows have included surprises — such as a David Bowie cover — but the tour’s current closing trilogy of “Hand That Feeds,’ “Head Like A Hole,” and especially an emotional “Hurt,” is hard to beat.

• Nine Inch Nails: Monday, March 9 at Pechanga Arena, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd. 8 p.m. $67 and up.

Blame Betty

Rockabilly trio Blame Betty takes the stage at Humphreys Backstage Live on March 11. Nominated at this year’s San Diego Music Awards in the category of “Best Rock Album” for their latest release, “Who’s to Blame,” the band has built a solid fanbase with their no-nonsense 1950s-inspired rock-n-roll.

Blame Betty’s originals are well worth hearing, but fans of vintage sounds will also love that the band offers up a great selection of classic covers from the likes of Elvis, Chuck Berry, and Vince Taylor in their repertoire.

• Blame Betty: Wednesday, March 11, at Humphreys Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 6 p.m. $5.

Rob Thorsen

Indeed, San Diego’s jazz scene wouldn’t be the same without bassist Rob Thorsen. A combination educator, promoter, and musician, Thorsen has become a vital part of the area’s music community over the past four decades, playing several times a week in various combos around town.

On March 7, he will perform a rare solo show at Dizzy’s with his quartet featuring saxophonist Kahlil Childs, pianist Melonie Grinnell, and drummer Richard Sellers. The night’s set will concentrate on Thorsen’s original material, as heard on his most recent album, “Bass Is The Space,” but whatever he chooses to include promises to be a treat for anyone who appreciates jazz.

• Rob Thorsen: Saturday, March 7 at Dizzy’s at Arias Hall, 1717 Morena Blvd., 8 p.m. $20.

Billy Joel tribute

He hasn’t released an album of pop music since 1993, but Billy Joel remains one of the most popular performers today. The songs Joel produced between 1973 and 1990, in particular, remain ingrained in popular culture, so even folks who aren’t big fans can sing along to most of his tunes.

Joel has been performing live infrequently over the past few years, so it’s only natural that numerous tribute acts have emerged, with one of the country’s most popular, Billy Nation, stopping in at The Magnolia on March 7. For fans of Joel is doesn’t get much better, with a show built around his hit singles, such as “Piano Man,” “My Life,” and “Uptown Girl.”

• Billy Nation – A Tribute to Billy Joel: Saturday, March 7 at The Magnolia, 210 E Main St. 7 p.m. $10 and up.

Sunday Songwriters Showcase

Meant to spotlight the best of San Diego’s burgeoning singer-songwriter community, the latest edition of the Sunday Songwriters Showcase takes place at the Jazz Lounge on March 8.

The evening will feature two of the area’s best duos, Jeff Berkley and Calman Hart, and Will Stuckey and Lauren Leigh, performing their original music. Each is a worthy artist on their own, but in collaboration, they reach new heights. Berkley, in particular, is a local music icon, having worked with everyone from Bob Weir to Tim Flannery. Paired with Hart, the two excel at catchy, heartfelt, observational tunes that mix equal parts Americana, pop, and folk.

Meanwhile, as heard on their latest release, “The Space Between Sessions,” Stuckey and Leigh take those same influences and add a rock edge to their tunes, such as “Purgatory.” These four artists could teach a master class in songwriting; their tunes have hooks that will stay with listeners for weeks.

• Sunday Songwriters Showcase: Sunday, March 8 at The Jazz Lounge, 6818 El Cajon Blvd. 6:15 p.m. $35 and up.

Umphrey’s McGee

Progressive rock/jam band Umphrey’s McGee returns to San Diego for a two-night stand at the Belly Up Tavern March 10-11. Currently touring in support of their new album, “Blueprints,” each show from Umphrey’s McGee is a unique experience, with one-off set lists, plenty of improv, and an eclectic mix of covers that might include a Hall & Oates Top 40 hit one night and a deep cut from jazz legend Billy Cobham the next.

An outdoor festival favorite, die-hard listeners will love this opportunity to see Umphrey’s McGee in a relatively small venue.

• Umphrey’s McGee: March 10-11 at the Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., 8 p.m. $61 and up.

Slady

Fans of British 1970s glam-rockers Slade won’t want to miss an appearance from all-girl tribute group Slady, who play at The Casbah on March 12. Featuring doppelgangers for all their namesake bands members, the U.K. quartet includes singer “Gobby Holder” (aka Danie Cox), bassist “Jem Lea” (Wendy Solomon), guitarist “Davina Hill” (Dill Tasker) and drummer “Donna Powell” (Cheryl Marie Chitty), all doing a great job of both replicating the look and sound of Slade.

Slady will perform what is essentially a “best of” show, with all of the big hits included from “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” to “Cuz I Love You,” with the night’s biggest sing-a-long sure to be for classic rock standard, “Cum On Feel The Noize.” Excellent Oasis cover band, Oasiz, opens the night.

• Slady: Thursday, March 12 at the Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., 8:30 p.m. $25.

Gary Wilson

Legendary artist Gary Wilson is one of a kind. A combination of musician and showman, San Diego-based Wilson has been releasing music since the 1977 album “You Think You Really Know Me.” While he remains an indie artist, Wilson has cast a big shadow, name-checked in song by the likes of Beck and Earl Sweatshirt, with an acclaimed documentary released in 2005, “You Think You Really Know Me: The Gary Wilson Story.”

Nearly 50 years after his first album, Wilson is still going strong with a new collection of songs, “Come On Mary,” showing that he has lost none of his knack for penning quirky, R&B-influenced pop-rock tunes.

• Gary Wilson: Thursday, March 12, at the Tower Bar, 4757 University Ave., 8 p.m. $18.

Odisseo

Mexican alternative rock quartet Odisseo comes to San Diego for a show at Music Box on March 12. Though relatively unknown in the U.S., they have been a major act in Latin America for over a decade, influenced by the likes of British 1980s groups such as The Smiths and The Style Council.

Odisseo’s latest single, “Estrellas de Seda,” shows the band crossing over into a more pop sound, but die-hard fans will be happy to note that their new songs are just as laden with earworms as their previous gems.

• Odisseo: Thursday, March 12 at Music Box, 1337 India St., 9 p.m. $38.