Live music in Pasadena: November 16 to 30

The second half of November around Pasadena belongs to the orchestras and the neighborhood rooms. Saturday the 21st brings the Colburn School's youth orchestras to Ambassador Auditorium for two free-admission concerts, and the week after Thanksgiving holds a comedy night at The Ice House, an indie-rock show in South Pasadena, and a big holiday announcement: Mannheim Steamroller lands at the Pasadena Civic on December 6. 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 check the local listings each week, and every event below comes from a current public listing or the presenter's own site, with dates, times, and sources at the bottom of the post.

Saturday, November 21: Colburn orchestras at Ambassador Auditorium

The Colburn School brings its Community School Orchestras in Concert to Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S. St. John Avenue, on Saturday, November 21, with two programs on one day: the Colburn Youth Philharmonic at 2:00 pm and the Colburn Youth Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra at 7:00 pm. These are the school's most advanced pre-college ensembles, and the Ambassador room makes even a campus concert feel like a big night out. Full details are on the Colburn School calendar, with venue information on the Ambassador Auditorium site. It is a beautiful way to spend a fall Saturday, and a lovely first orchestral concert for kids.

Friday, November 27: Coury Comedy & Friends at The Ice House

The Friday after Thanksgiving, Coury Comedy & Friends takes the California Room at The Ice House, 24 N. Mentor Avenue, at 7:30 pm on Friday, November 27, a rotating lineup of stand-ups in the city's historic comedy club. Standard room rules apply, 21 and older with a two-item minimum per seat, and tickets and details are on the Ice House event listing, with the full club calendar on Bandsintown. It is a warm, local way to spend the holiday weekend evening.

Saturday, November 28: Spanish Love Songs at Sid the Cat

The indie-rock band Spanish Love Songs plays Sid the Cat Auditorium, 1022 El Centro Street in South Pasadena, on Saturday, November 28, at 8:00 pm, with illuminati hotties and Kali Masi along for the night, a show we flagged in the late-November guide. The room, a restored 1928 schoolhouse auditorium, has become the little big venue of the South Pasadena scene. Tickets are on the Sid the Cat venue page.

Every night: Old Towne Pub, The Mixx, and the rooms in between

The dependable heartbeat stays strong through the month. Old Towne Pub at 66 N. Fair Oaks Avenue runs live original bands seven nights a week, from rock and reggae to punk, on its Visit Pasadena listing and Songkick, and The Mixx keeps its salsa and bachata nights going for dancers, from the earlier music guides. Watch the Pasadena concert listings and the Pasadena concerts calendar for additions as the month rolls.

Save the date: Mannheim Steamroller at the Pasadena Civic, December 6

Holiday season officially arrives at the door of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium when Mannheim Steamroller brings its Christmas tour to town on Sunday, December 6, the show to book before the calendar fills up. The venue schedule is on American Arenas and tickets on Ticketmaster. And if you are already thinking past Thanksgiving, the November overview covers everything still ahead this month.

A note on times: concert and comedy listings can shift, and details like start times, ticket availability, or lineups are occasionally updated by the presenters. Please confirm directly with the venue before you head out, and use the links below for the latest. If you hear of a show around Pasadena I have not covered yet, text me and I will add it to the next edition. ¿Prefieres el español? Hay una versión en español de esta guía.

Sources: Colburn School calendar, Ambassador Auditorium, Ambassador Auditorium, Coury Comedy & Friends, The Ice House, The Ice House schedule, Bandsintown, Sid the Cat Auditorium tickets, SeatGeek, Old Towne Pub, Visit Pasadena, Old Towne Pub, Songkick, Pasadena concerts, ConcertFix, Pasadena concerts calendar, Pasadena Civic Auditorium schedule, American Arenas, and Pasadena Civic tickets, Ticketmaster.