The Casbah is a nightclub

Nightclub

A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...

 and music venue

Music venue

A music venue is any location used for a concert or musical performance. Music venues range in size and location, from an outdoor bandshell or bandstand or a concert hall to an indoor sports stadium. Typically, different types of venues host different genres of music...

 located near downtown San Diego, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

.

History

The Casbah was first opened in 1989 by Tim Mays, Bob Bennett and Peter English at the site of a former Irish pub at 2812 Kettner Boulevard. Although initially a side project for the three men (who also owned the now-defunct Pink Panther Club), the Casbah hosted San Diego bands such as Rocket from the Crypt

Rocket from the Crypt

Rocket from the Crypt was an American rock band led by John Reis, formed in 1989 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 2005.The band gained critical praise and the attention of major record labels after the release of their 1992 album Circa: Now!, leading to a recording contract with Interscope...

, Lucy's Fur Coat

Lucy's Fur Coat

Lucy's Fur Coat was a rock band that formed in 1992 in San Diego, California, with rhythm guitarist and chief songwriter Mike Santos on lead vocals. Deciding they needed a more prominent front man, they added lead vocalist Charlie Ware within their first year...

, The Rugburns

The Rugburns

The Rugburns was an American musical group originally formed by Steve Poltz, "Dr." Robert Driscoll, and Gerald "Child" McMullin.-History:Starting as classmates at the University of San Diego, the group formed in the mid-1980s and began playing in the San Diego, CA area...

, and Deadbolt

Deadbolt (band)

Deadbolt is a rock band from San Diego, California, U.S.A.. They describe themselves as "The Scariest Band in the World." The band often features two bass players, who are called "The Wall of Thunder."...

. It also hosted bands such as Nirvana

Nirvana (band)

Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...

 and The Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...

. English later left the venture.

Because the original site had a maximum occupancy of 75 people, in 1994 the Casbah moved down the street to a larger facility at 2501 Kettner Boulevard. The new location has a maximum occupancy of more than 200. The new building has a main music room with a full bar, an outdoor smoking

Tobacco smoking

Tobacco smoking is the practice where tobacco is burned and the resulting smoke is inhaled. The practice may have begun as early as 5000–3000 BCE. Tobacco was introduced to Eurasia in the late 16th century where it followed common trade routes...

 patio, and lounge with pool tables

Billiards

Cue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards...

, a bar, and arcade games from the 1980s.

Music

The club usually hosts live music six to seven nights each week. Bands that have played at the current location include: Boss Hog, Alanis Morissette

Alanis Morissette

Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...

, Morphine, the Amps, The Breeders

The Breeders

The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...

, Elastica, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion are an American alternative rock trio, formed in 1991 and based out of New York City, New York. The band consists of Judah Bauer on guitar, backing vocals, harmonica and occasional lead vocals, Russell Simins on drums and Jon Spencer on vocals, guitar and theremin...

, Royal Crown Revue

Royal Crown Revue

The Royal Crown Revue is a band formed in 1989 in Los Angeles, California. They are often credited with starting the Swing Revival movement. Live, RCR has been extremely successful: They participated in 1998's Vans Warped Tour, opened for the B-52s and The Pretenders and played at major US Jazz...

, Supersuckers, Ben Harper

Ben Harper

Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...

, Liz Phair

Liz Phair

Phair's entry into the music industry began when she met guitarist Chris Brokaw, a member of the band Come. Brokaw and Phair moved to San Francisco together, and Phair tried to become an artist there...

, G Love & Special Sauce, El Vez

El Vez

El Vez is the stage name of Robert Lopez, a Mexican-American rock and roll artist, who performs and records original material and covers classic rock songs...

, Social Distortion

Social Distortion

Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...

, The Cult

The Cult

The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...

, and local acts such as fluf

Fluf

-History:O and Jonny Donhowe formed the band after their previous band, Olivelawn, split up, recruiting drummer Miles Gillett. After several seven-inch singles , the band's debut album was released in 1993. Generally knows as Mangravy, each physical format had a different title...

, blink 182, Drive Like Jehu

Drive Like Jehu

Drive Like Jehu was an American post-hardcore and alternative rock band from San Diego active from 1990 to 1995. Formed by rhythm guitarist and vocalist Rick Froberg and lead guitarist John Reis following the breakup of their band Pitchfork, the band's lineup also included bassist Mike Kennedy and...

, Three Mile Pilot

Three Mile Pilot

Three Mile Pilot is an indie rock band from San Diego, California formed by Armistead Burwell Smith IV on bass and vocals, Pall Jenkins Three Mile Pilot (often shortened to 3MP) is an indie rock band from San Diego, California formed by Armistead Burwell Smith IV (a.k.a. Zach Smith from Pinback,...

, Creedle

Creedle

Creedle is an avant-jazz-punk-art-damaged band based in San Diego, California which released three full length albums on Cargo Music/Headhunter Records in the 1990s along with numerous 7" singles. The band was primarily composed of Devon E. Levins a.k.a. Devon Goldberg , PieBoy a.k.a. Tim...

, Tanner and the Black Heart Procession.