Concerts at SOMA San Diego 2008-2010

SOMA was THE all-ages venue in San Diego for alternative, indie, and punk rock. The concrete floors, the general admission setup, the young crowds - it was a rite of passage for any San Diego music fan. Here are some memorable shows from my SOMA days.

Indie Excellence

The Shins

James Mercer and crew brought their jangly, melodic indie-pop to SOMA. This was during their "Wincing the Night Away" era, and songs like "New Slang," "Caring Is Creepy," and "Australia" sounded perfect in the venue. The Shins proved that Sub Pop indie rock could fill rooms and move crowds. Read more.

Andrew Bird

Watching Andrew Bird perform live is watching a master at work. His loop pedal work, where he builds entire orchestral arrangements layer by layer with his violin, guitar, and whistling, is mesmerizing. "Fake Palindromes" and his intricate compositions showed musicianship way beyond typical indie rock. His opening act, Loney, Dear, was a nice discovery too - Swedish indie-folk that set the mood perfectly. Read more.

Motion City Soundtrack (2008)

Pop-punk with synthesizers and genuine emotion. MCS brought energy and hooks. "The Future Freaks Me Out" and "Everything Is Alright" were singalongs, and Justin Pierre's vulnerability made their punk feel personal.

Party Energy

Family Force Five

Christian crunk-rock? It's as wild as it sounds. These guys brought costumes, dancing, and high-energy party music. It was ridiculous and fun.

3OH!3

Colorado's 3OH!3 hit SOMA (and later House of Blues) during their peak. "Don't Trust Me" and "Starstrut" were everywhere on the radio, and their electronic-pop-rap energy got the young crowd moving. Looking back, the lyrics were...problematic, but in the moment, it was pure party energy.

The SOMA Experience

SOMA shows meant standing on concrete for hours, getting crushed against barriers, having your ears ring for days, and loving every minute of it. The all-ages policy meant the crowd skewed young, bringing a different energy than 21+ venues. Everyone was discovering music, forming identities, and experiencing live shows for the first few times.

The sound could be hit or miss, the sight lines weren't great if you were in the back, but none of that mattered when you were in the pit for a band you loved.

The Verdict

SOMA was where San Diego kids fell in love with live music. From The Shins' indie-pop perfection to Andrew Bird's virtuoso looping to Motion City Soundtrack's emotional pop-punk, these shows represented a formative time in my concert-going life.

Sadly, SOMA closed in 2017, ending an era. But for those of us who spent countless nights there, the memories remain. Thank you, SOMA, for being San Diego's home for alternative music.