The Constellations headline Seville Quarter's USO-style Military Appreciation Show on Friday, just one of our picks for the best bets of the week. / Phil Bailey/GoPensacola.com
Friday: While we're at the Hangout
We love covering the Hangout Beach, Music and Arts Festival, and we're excited to hit the beach in Gulf Shores, Ala., this weekend. But the Pensacola entertainment scene is stepping things up this weekend, and there is plenty happening in town that we wish we didn't have to miss. So if you're skipping the festival, don't fret — you'll have plenty to do.
It's Gallery Night in downtown Pensacola, and we're really sorry to be missing the big Military Appreciation show at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. One of our favorite bands, Atlanta's dynamic, genre-hopping The Constellations, is anchoring the entertainment at this USO-style show, which also will feature stand-up comedy and "pretty guys and girls" in Seville's Party Plaza.
Not to be outdone, Vinyl Music Hall, 2 Palafox Place, has a free show with KISS tribute band Love Gun. The last time the real KISS came to Pensacola, we had a KISS Lookalike Contest, and bassist and Gene Simmons clone James DeStaffney took home the top prize, so this show should be a lot of fun. Ages 18 and older are welcome, but if you're too young to drink, there is a $5 admission charge.
Looking beyond the bounds of Gallery NIght, The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St., has a great indie-rock show planned with Brooklyn's own Here We Go Magic. Caveman opens the show. Tickets are $12, and if you're too young to drink, tack on an extra $2.
And one of the region's most popular party bands, Fly-By Radio hits the big stage at Live Nightclub, 9121 Pensacola Blvd. Admission to the big rock show is just $10.
Saturday: Weird science
A strange electrochemical reaction seems to come over Pensacolians whenever you say that the Molly Ringwalds are coming back to town. The ever-popular '80s tribute act is back Saturday at Capt'n Fun Beach Club, 400 Quietwater Beach Road, Pensacola Beach. Doors open at 7 p.m., and admission will set you back $10 if you're fully legal (21 and older) or $20 if you're barely legal (18 to 20).
Sunday: He's got talent
Even if you're not hitting the Hangout Fest, you can still see one of the acts performing at this year's festival. Reggae singer Cas Haley will play a free Sunday evening show at Capt'n Fun. Haley's show starts around 6 p.m.
Monday: Skee with me
Head to Play, upstairs at 16 Palafox Place, for week two of the latest GoPensacola.com Skeeball League tournament. This six-week competition is off to a great start, and the big cash and prizes — and the glorious trophy — for the overall winners are still anyone's to claim. Free practice starts at 8 p.m., and we start keeping score at 9 p.m.
Tuesday: Hip-hop or hard rock
A couple of great musical choices are lined up for Tuesday. Vinyl Music Hall has hip-hop hitmakers Bone Thugs-N- Harmony, who you surely remember from the huge hit "Tha Crossroads." Tickets are $25, plus a $5 surcharge if you're too young to drink.
And Seville Quarter has an epic heavy music bill headlined by (hed) p.e. and Mushroomhead. Tickets are $17 in advance or $20 at the door, plus $2 if you're underage.
Wednesday: Where my ladies at?
On a Wednesday, the ladies are at Girls' Night Out at The Fish House Deck Bar, 600 S. Barracks St. The guys flock there, too, hoping to meet the hotties and buy them $2 drinks. Everyone gets to enjoy live and DJ dance music.
Thursday: More music
Seville Quarter has Go Radio, former Mayday Parade frontman Jason Lancaster's new band. Sparks the Rescue, This Century and Select Start open the show. Tickets are $12 in advance or $14 at the door, plus $2 if you're underage.
If the name Brian Olive makes you think of martinis, that's not inappropriate. This talented musician — a veteran of the Greenhornes and the Soledad Brothers — is worthy of a toast. So grab a martini from Patrick Bolster in the attached 5½ Bar and hit Olive's show at Vinyl Music Hall. Elyse Therose will open, and tickets are just $7 in advance or $10 at the door. If you're legally prohibited from buying one of those martinis, add $5 to that price.
