Al Jardine & The Pet Sounds Band, will perform at The Magnolia on Nov. 22. (Photo courtesy of Steve Rood)
The weather may be getting chilly, but former Beach Boys guitarist and singer Al Jardine & The Pet Sounds Band are bringing the sunny sounds of summer to town.
Backed by the same musicians who performed with the late great Brian Wilson, Jardine is coming to the Magnolia in El Cajon with a tour set list that features the Beach Boys 1977 album, “Love You,” bookended by over a dozen of their greatest hits, from surf inspired beginnings to psychedelia. The 10-piece Pet Sounds Band does an incredible job of recreating the music and intricate harmonies of classics such as “God Only Knows” and “Good Vibrations,” but expect the night’s biggest cheer to be for a song in the night’s encore, “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” with its mentions of Del Mar, Swami’s, and La Jolla.
- Al Jardine & The Pet Sounds Band: Saturday, Nov. 22 at The Magnolia, 210 E Main St. 6:30 p.m. magnoliasandiego.com.
A musical holiday tradition, a Mannheim Steamroller Christmas returns to San Diego for two shows, on Nov. 21-22, at The Civic Theatre. Mixing rock and classical music, the orchestra, founded by Chip Davis, is an industry of its own, touring worldwide after releasing an amazing array of albums since their 1975 debut, including 27 Christmas albums to date. With such a vast catalog to choose from, the possibilities for the night’s offerings are endless, but attendees can expect a mix of traditional favorites such as “Carol of the Bells” and fun seasonal tunes such as “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
- Mannheim Steamroller Christmas: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21-22 at The Civic Theatre, 3rd and B St. 7:30 p.m. $53 & up. sandiegotheatres.org
Iconic singer Engelbert Humperdinck makes a rare local appearance on Nov. 22 at The Sound. First coming to the public’s attention in 1967 with the hit, “Release Me,” Humperdinck quickly established himself as a first-rate balladeer, with his best-known song, “After the Lovin’” released in 1976. This night’s performance will include all of his best-known songs, but recent concerts have also seen Humperdinck stretching boundaries and covering songs by the likes of The Cars and Journey. At 89 years old, Humperdinck remains a prolific artist, most recently releasing his album “All About Love” in 2023. If you are a fan of the original pop singers of the 1950s and 1960s, don’t miss the chance to see a legend.
- Engelbert Humperdinck: Saturday, Nov. 22 at The Sound, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., 8 p.m. $110 & up. thesoundsd.com.
The Jonny Tarr Situation stops in for two sets at Lou Lou’s on Nov. 22. Specializing in a dance-oriented mix of R&B and funk, multi-instrumentalist Tarr has won four San Diego Music Awards to date, most recently both “Best Pop Album” and “Album of the Year” for his 2023 release, “The Rules.” Meanwhile, The Situation is a true all-star band, featuring singer Sandi King of the King Taylor Project, percussionist Monette Marino, a 2023 San Diego Music Hall of Famer, and keyboardist Kevin Lum, of ska favorites The English Beat. Tarr is a riveting performer, particularly when he plays saxophone, with a set list full of originals meant to keep the dance floor packed.
- The Jonny Tarr Situation: Saturday, Nov. 22 at Lou Lou’s, 2223 El Cajon Blvd., 8 and 10 p.m. No cover. loulousclub.com.
One of the greatest bands to ever call San Diego home, Americana-tinged, barroom R&B rock ‘n’ rollers The Beat Farmers perform at The Casbah on Nov. 23. Though they haven’t released an album since 1995’s “Manifold,” their fan base remains as strong as ever. The Beat Farmers recently embarked on several West Coast tours and Outlaw Country Cruises, sparking hopes among the band’s followers that a new album is ahead. In the meantime, this afternoon show will have the audience singing along to the band’s hook-filled classics, including “Bigger Stones” and “Hollywood Hills.”
- The Beat Farmers: Sunday, Nov. 23 at The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd. 3 p.m. $32. thecasbah.com.
It’s going to be loud at The Holding Company on Nov. 23. Kicking off at 1:30 p.m., the venue will host the Metality Metal Meeting, a fundraiser for Oceanside food bank, Brother Benno. The day will feature five thrash metal bands: Druide, Brutalion, Helsott, Mythraeum, The Provoked, and headliner Nukem, which recently released their first single in two years, “Random Acts of Violence.” If you like your rock music fast, intense, and in your face, this show is for you.
- Metality Metal Meeting: Sunday, Nov. 23 at The Holding Company, 5046 Newport Ave, 1:30 p.m. $20. theholdingcompanyob.com.
Multi-lingual singer Allison Adams Tucker performs a free concert at The Athenaeum on Nov. 24, as part of the venue’s free Monday Lunchtime Concert series. Blessed with a clear, beautiful voice, Tucker is considered a jazz vocalist, but she can sing anything, from French evergreens such as “La Vie En Rose” to The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun,” and make the song her own. Next month, Tucker will be performing at the annual Charlie Brown Jingles & Jazz concerts taking place at Baker Baum Hall. If you haven’t heard this gifted singer yet, Tucker’s relatively intimate performance at the Athenaeum is a wonderful opportunity to get acquainted with her talents.
- Allison Adams Tucker Trio: Monday, Nov. 24 at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St. Noon. Free. ljathenaeum.org.
No band in Southern California has likely had a longer residency than Electric Waste Band, who perform show No. 1,751 at Winston’s on Nov. 24. Led by singer and guitarist Robert Harvey, the run of shows for the Grateful Dead-inspired band began in 1992 and has since seen them become a beloved local institution and a summer festival favorite throughout Southern California. Electric Waste Band turns in great versions of the Dead’s songs with excellent musicianship, while also capturing the spirit of the music they are covering.
- Electric Waste Band: Monday, Nov. 24 at Winston’s, 4325 Ocean Blvd., 8 p.m. $10. winstonsob.com.
Thirty-five years after his passing, guitarist Jimi Hendrix remains a major influence on musicians worldwide. On Nov. 25, The Belly Up Tavern will hold A Celebration of Jimi Hendrix, featuring a quartet of the area’s finest guitar players: Jeff Moore, Jeff Ruiz, Bob Bucciarelli, and Isaiah Mitchell, the latter best known as a member of acclaimed combos, Earthless, and The Black Crowes. At this show, Hendrix fans will enjoy a run through his best-known songs, from “Purple Haze” to “Stone Free,” though the focus will be more on the solo work and jamming than the songs themselves.
- A Celebration of Jimi Hendrix: Tuesday, Nov. 25 at The Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., 8 p.m. $24 to $37. bellyup.com.
Anyone hoping to find rising talent in San Diego would do well to check out Jeff Ousley’s Live Music Showcase taking place at Humphreys Backstage Live on Nov. 25. On hand playing short sets will be Crescent Blue, Manganista, Celina Rescott & The Embers, and Ousley’s own band, The Party Crashers. All are well worth hearing, but Manganista are in a world of their own. With songs ranging from quirky electronica flecked rocker “Talking To Myself,” to lost powerpop classic, “Angeline,” the group has an arsenal of radio-friendly tunes.
- Jeff Ousley’s Live Music Showcase: Tuesday, Nov. 25 at Humphreys Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 6 p.m. $5. humphreysbackstagelive.com.
READ NEXT