Live music in Pasadena: early to mid November

Sid the Cat Auditorium in South Pasadena keeps its calendar full through November, and most of the month's small-room highlights land in the first half: the buzzy London trio mary in the junkyard plays November 2, singer-songwriter Greg Freeman brings an evening presented with KCRW on November 6, IAN SWEET follows with Luella on November 7, Whitmer Thomas and comedian Clay Tatum share a bill November 11, and post-hardcore mainstays Sparta play November 12. Around town, Candlelight lights Pasadena Presbyterian Church with the Best of Joe Hisaishi on November 13, and Spanish Love Songs closes the month at the same South Pasadena room on November 28. I am Alejandro Espitia, a Broker Associate and REALTOR with Apex Realty and Investments, licensed in California (01213999) since 1996, serving Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Gabriel, and Riverside, fluent in English and Spanish. I keep a running list of what is happening in the neighborhoods I serve, and every show below comes from the venue's own site or current event listings, with sources at the bottom of the post.

November 2: mary in the junkyard at Sid the Cat

On Monday, November 2 at 8:00 pm, the London trio mary in the junkyard plays Sid the Cat Auditorium at 1022 El Centro Street in South Pasadena. The band's psych-leaning indie rock has made it one of the most talked-about young acts on the London circuit, and their first Pasadena-area shows have been filling fast. It is a rare midweek chance to catch a band on the way up in a beautifully restored 1928 schoolhouse auditorium. Listings and tickets are on Concerts50 and the DoLA venue calendar.

November 6: Greg Freeman with Trinity Ace, presented with KCRW

On Friday, November 6 at 8:00 pm, singer-songwriter Greg Freeman plays Sid the Cat Auditorium with Trinity Ace opening. The show is presented with KCRW, which has championed Freeman's warm, careful indie folk, and the pairing with Trinity Ace makes it a full evening of new songs in an intimate room. Tickets are on Dice, with more listings on JamBase.

November 7: IAN SWEET with Luella

On Saturday, November 7 at 8:00 pm, IAN SWEET headlines Sid the Cat Auditorium with Luella opening. IAN SWEET's shimmering, guitar-forward indie rock has earned steady rotation on KCRW, and the band's live show is known for turning small rooms into sing-alongs. It is a solid Saturday-night pick in South Pasadena. Tickets are on Dice.

November 11: Whitmer Thomas, plus comedy from Clay Tatum

On Wednesday, November 11 at 7:00 pm, comedian and musician Whitmer Thomas brings his hybrid comedy-and-songs set to Sid the Cat, with comedy from Clay Tatum on the same bill. It is a looser, laugh-forward evening than the rest of the week, and exactly the kind of show this room does well. Tickets start around $33 and are on Dice.

November 12: Sparta at Sid the Cat

On Thursday, November 12 at 7:00 pm, Sparta plays Sid the Cat Auditorium. The El Paso post-hardcore band, formed by longtime friends of the scene's first wave, still plays with the same urgency that made it a festival staple in the early 2000s, and intimate rooms like this have become their favorite kind of show. Dates and tickets are on the DoLA venue calendar and SeatGeek.

November 13: Candlelight presents the Best of Joe Hisaishi

On Friday, November 13 at 8:30 pm, the Candlelight: The Best of Joe Hisaishi series brings the film composer's beloved scores, from Spirited Away to Howl's Moving Castle and beyond, to Pasadena Presbyterian Church in a string-quartet arrangement played by candlelight. It is the same night as the series' Queen and Beatles tribute, a different program in a different slot, and one of the most atmospheric evenings on the calendar. Tickets start around $33 through Fever, with the listing on AllEvents.

Looking ahead: Spanish Love Songs on November 28

For a late-month plan, Spanish Love Songs plays Sid the Cat Auditorium on Saturday, November 28. The Los Angeles punk band's anthem-heavy, deeply felt album No Joy made it one of the most essential live acts in the genre, and their shows sell out well in advance. Tickets are on DoLA and SeatGeek, with more of the venue's November schedule on the Sid the Cat site.

A note on details: show times, support acts, and ticket availability can shift, especially for small rooms, so please confirm directly with the venue before you go and use the links below for the latest. The first week of the month, including Squirrel Flower and Liana Flores, is covered in the Halloween weekend and early November guide. If you hear of a great show around Pasadena I missed, text me and I will add it to the next edition.

Sources: mary in the junkyard, Concerts50, Sid the Cat Auditorium, DoLA, Greg Freeman, Dice, Concerts in South Pasadena, JamBase, IAN SWEET, Dice, Whitmer Thomas, Dice, Sid the Cat Auditorium, SeatGeek, Candlelight: Best of Joe Hisaishi, AllEvents, Candlelight Pasadena, Fever, and Sid the Cat Auditorium.