Rock 'n' Roll Suicide with the Midnight Rivals

San Diego band Midnight Rivals showed the crowd at Casbah why they're one of the best rock ’n’ roll bands around. The Rivals opened with a rousing "Kings Are Queens," highlighted by Mark Maigaard’s pummeling drums.

Midnight Rivals displayed wide-ranging styles, from straight-ahead rock to blues and country, all driven by Maigaard and bassist Pete “Petey X” Reichert’s tight rhythm, with guitarists Morgan Smith and new guy Daniel Crawford trading off lead and rhythm duties. Singer Charlie Ware was in rare form, channeling Mick Jagger and leaving it all on the stage.

The Rivals played most of their new CD, Nitty Gritty, plus a couple new tunes. By the time they closed with "Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide," the crowd was done in. In short, it was just what a rock ’n’ roll show should be: loud and sweaty in a beer-soaked bar packed with good people who are all there for the same reason —to rock the fuck out.

Join the fray when the Midnight Rivals do it all again at Bar Eleven on February 25.

• Concert: Midnight Rivals
• Date: January 8
• Venue: Casbah
• Seats: General admission