11/11 Concert Calendar

Chris Brown - The F.A.M.E Tour (with T-Pain, Bow Wow, et al)
WHEN: Nov. 6, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, Chula Vista
TICKETS: $38-$54
INFO: livenation.com

Rap/R&B mogul Chris Brown brutalized his Barbadian mega-star of an ex-girlfriend, Rihanna, in 2009, so he’s still one of the most loathed guys in America. But there’s no denying Brown knows his way around an infectious pop hook. His recent copping of three BET awards in early October proves he’s still got it... even after all that counseling.

The Damned 35th Anniversary (with Manic Hispanic)
WHEN: Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: House of Blues, downtown
TICKETS: $25-$27.50
INFO:houseofblues.com

Legendary British Goth punks The Damned haunt the House of Blues Nov. 1. To commemorate the longevity of their prolifically ghoulish career, they’re playing a rare live set of their blistering 1977 punk and psych-punk album classics Damned, Damned, Damned and The Black Album. As if Halloween in SD weren’t freaky enough, The Damned are gonna try their damndest to make it freakier-and louder.

Youth Lagoon
WHEN: Nov. 3, 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Casbah, Little Italy
TICKETS: $8-$10
INFO: casbahmusic.com

Twenty-two-year-old Trevor Smith (a.k.a. Youth Lagoon) posted his first song online in May. Since then, he has signed a two-album deal with acclaimed indie label Fat Possum and booked a national tour. Mixing vocals that sound like a boy trapped in a well with dreamy synth-hooks and muffled electronic beats, the Boise, Idaho, native crafts euphoric bedroom pop that is at once beautiful and evocative.

Holy Ghost!
WHEN: Nov. 13, 10 p.m.
WHERE: Voyeur, Gaslamp
TICKETS: $15
INFO: voyeursd.com

The Brooklyn-based electro-duo Holy Ghost! likes them some ‘80s jams. But while they borrow generously from that decade (via sampling, vintage synthesizers and pure nostalgia), they play it smart by taking cues from all the best (i.e., Duran Duran, Depeche Mode and The Cure). Holy Ghost’s disco-laced dance-pop is so sexy it will have hipsters and jarheads forming a conga line. Well, maybe not-but let’s just say Planned Parenthood will be getting a few extra calls the next morning.

BB King (with Walter Trout)
WHEN: Nov. 30, 8 p.m.
WHERE: Belly Up, Solana Beach
TICKETS: $99-$104
INFO: bellyup.com

B.B. King (“B.B.” stands for “blues boy”) has won nearly 20 Grammys, played on U2 albums, shared the stage with Eric Clapton-and he’s not stopping yet. The 86-year-old legend has been wailing the blues since the 1950s and still plays an average of 125 concerts a year. Sure, he shreds while seated, but Belly Up’s cozy, stadium-style seating allows all in attendance to see (as well as hear) why King has earned his name in this genre.

Future Islands
WHEN: Nov. 19, 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Casbah, Little Italy
TICKETS: $12
INFO: casbahmusic.com

Baltimore-based post-wave band Future Islands brings its love-torn synth-pop to Casbah Nov 19. What makes this show a must-see/hear is the peak-and-valley vocal delivery of theatrically raspy front man Samuel T. Herring (who sounds like a duet of Meatloaf and count Dracula) rumbling over ‘80s-out synthesizers and analog drum machines.

Little Scream (with Bobby)
WHEN: Nov. 15, 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Soda Bar, North Park
TICKETS: $10
INFO: sodabarmusic.com

Multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Laurel Sprengelmeyer (a.k.a. Little Scream) was raised in an “Addams Family meets 700 Club-style” home on the Mississippi River. And after a quick listen to her critically acclaimed debut album The Golden Record, it becomes apparent that those creepy childhood memories have seeped into her art. Little Scream’s songs range from gorgeous, hymn-like ballads to boisterously rocking gems. Backed by an all-star cast of musicians (she’s recorded with members of Arcade Fire), her live show is wonderfully weird and startling. Show opener Bobby is a quirky outfit that makes verdant indie rock that can be pretty spacey-but is often just pretty.