November Concert Round-Up in Spokane, WA

Due to the holidays, November is often a dead zone for shows, but this year, Spokane actually has a fair number of interesting acts playing, both locally and touring. 

Take some time off holiday prep, or just escape the incoming cold, and enjoy the variety of music Spokane has to offer this month!

MAITA; Nov. 4, at Lucky You Lounge – Main Stage

Tickets are $12 to $14

I will admit that before I started doing research for this roundup, I had never heard of MAITA (MAITA is composed of Maria Maita-Keppeler and her band). 

Thank the music gods I took this assignment! After listening to them and watching a few of their videos, I scrambled to buy tickets to this show. Hint, hint: You should do the same.

MAITA’s sound is at once familiar and unique: The emotional intensity and penchant for playing with loud-and-soft dynamics remind me of Mitski, The Mountain Goats and Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), while many of their songs also have a crunchy, early 90s indie-rock vibe that hits a particularly nostalgic spot in my soul. 

I’m very, very much looking forward to this show.

Chelsea Cutler; Nov. 5, at the Knitting Factory

Tickets are $30

Chelsea Cutler is a young musician who spans many genres. From contemplative, folksy vibes to upbeat, soft electronica that sounds like it could be sampled by Tiesto or Zedd, she’s definitely up-and-coming in the pop universe.

Her voice is unique, and her songs tend to focus on relatable aspects of love and the mundane joys of being a young person in the world. 

Spokane Symphony Pops: John Williams’ 90th Birthday Celebration; Nov. 5, at Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox

Tickets are $47 to $100

The ominous power of “The Imperial March” from “Star Wars;” The lilting magic of “Hedwig’s Theme” from “Harry Potter;” The wonder of the song “My Friend, The Brachiosaurus” in “Jurassic Park;” there are so, so many more iconic movie themes that I just don’t have time to list here.

John Williams’ sound is often instantly identifiable, and always powerful. The Spokane Symphony will be performing the works of this venerable composer to celebrate his 90th birthday. 

Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox; Nov. 6, at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox 

Tickets are $35 to $210

I would like to assert that there are two types of music lovers in this world: Those who love quirky or “reimagined” covers of pop songs and those who do not. 

For anyone in the former camp, this band is for you. Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox is a musical collective founded in 2011 by arranger and pianist Scott Bradlee. 

They have become famous (particularly on YouTube) for remaking “The pop hits of today into the classic sounds of the legends of yesterday,” their website states. This was one of Baldree’s goals, the website said: “Miley Cyrus became The Platters. Bruno Mars became Frank Sinatra. The Spice Girls became The Andrews Sisters. Guns ’n’ Roses became Bessie Smith.”

Postmodern Jukebox always puts on a high-energy, joyful show… and the vintage vibes of the Fox are a perfect venue for their sound. Don’t be surprised if people are swing-dancing in the aisles!

Machine Head; Nov. 9, at the Knitting Factory 

Tickets are $30

Machine Head, founded in 1991, was one of the original voices in the new wave of heavy metal, along with bands like Korn and Pantera. 

Though their sound has changed a few times over the years – from Nu Metal to Thrash and back again – they’ve continued to push the boundaries of the metal genre. This show should be a head-bangin’ good time!

*Writer’s note: There’s no shame in wearing earplugs to loud shows. Our hearing is one of the few things in our bodies we can’t heal once it’s been damaged. 

No show, no matter how awesome, is worth permanent damage. A good pair of earplugs is an invaluable addition to your show kit (and most are almost unnoticeable to others once you put them in). I personally recommend the Music Original earplugs by EarPeace.*

The Smashing Pumpkins with Jane’s Addiction; Nov. 9, at the Spokane Arena

Tickets $49-150

As a child of the 90s who spent way too much time listening to pop and college radio, many of my early music memories are indelibly colored by Billy Corgan’s nasal-yet-somehow-affecting voice, and the gently psychedelic songs off the “Siamese Dream” and “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” albums.

After The Smashing Pumpkins broke up in 2001, I kind of stopped paying attention to them. In doing my research for this piece, I was heartened to find out that there are multiple newer albums that I need to catch up on! This show seems like a perfect excuse to do just that!

Spokane Symphony Masterworks 4: Fire & Ice; Nov.12-13, Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox

Tickets are $19 to $68

The Masterworks series, especially, is a fantastic combination of recognizable classics and less-known works. 

This particular lineup is intended to be a set of wintry pieces to herald in the cozy season. Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Dance of the Skomorokhi” from the opera “The Snow Maiden,” is an exuberant, expressive celebration. 

This should contrast nicely with the haunting, snowy stillness of Stephen Montague’s modern-classical piece “Snowscape: St Pölten,” which has been described by the composer as “A multi-voiced canon unfolding freely from a single sound into large, fluid pitches like imaginary thermal forces in a developing weather front.” 

Phantogram; Nov. 12, at the Knitting Factory

Tickets are $30 to $129

Phantogram has been described as “glitch pop,” “psych pop,” “dream pop” and “trip hop,” but the experience of listening to their music is often an undefinable type of magic.

 Sarah Barthel’s ethereal vocals float like spider silk – soft, yet undeniably strong – over Josh Carter’s dark, throbbing electronic beats.

 Billie Eilish covered their song “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore,” which you may have heard, but do yourself a favor, and listen to the original. It’s an absolute banger. 

The Flaming Lips; Nov. 13, at the Knitting Factory

Tickets are $45

While I do not have tickets to this show, I have been to a Flaming Lips concert in 2017, so believe me when I tell you, this is one of those times where I want to grab you and emphatically tell you: “GO! It’ll be so worth it. I’m jealous!”

Wayne Coyne and his band put on an absolutely incredible show – It’s definitely more of an experience than just a rock show. The last time I saw them, Coyne rode around the crowd on a life-size animatronic unicorn, the band rolled over the pit in inflatable hamster balls, the light show was gorgeous, and the crowd’s energy was off the charts.

A psychedelic rock band should have a stage show to match their sound… and the Flaming Lips deliver in grand style. 

I’m serious: go. Tell me about it after!

The Flaming Lips play at the Knitting Factory on May 13, 2017

November 18-19: Handel’s Messiah; Nov. 18-19, at the St. John’s Cathedral

Tickets are $13.50 to $32

Handel’s “Messiah” is one of those theatrical experiences – like Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” – that can bridge the gap between those who love classical music and those who don’t have quite that same appreciation. Many of the pieces contained within this oratorio (similar to an opera, but without defined characters or costumes (that’s your trivia fact for the day!)) are familiar even to lay audience,  including the “Hallelujah Chorus,” which is one of the most instantly recognizable melodies in Western music. 

This production will be staged at St. John’s Cathedral, which should only heighten the majesty of the Spokane Symphony Chorale and Chamber singer’s beautiful work.

Richard Marx; Nov. 20; at the Pend Oreille Pavilion at Northern Quest

Tickets are $49 to $69

A staple of late 80s and early 90s adult contemporary radio, Richard Marx is one of those artists whose songs you’ve probably heard a hundred times but couldn’t immediately identify. Head over to YouTube and search for “Right Here Waiting”… I’ll wait. 

Yep, even that piano intro is instantly familiar, right? Very much in the vein of Bryan Adams and other scions of the soft-rock pantheon, Marx’s music isn’t going to challenge your musical boundaries, but not all music has to! 

Sometimes, earnest, romantic, easy-listening vibes are exactly what you want. 

Trivia moment! Richard Marx also wrote “This I Promise You” for NSYNC!

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve; Nov. 25, at the Spokane Arena

Tickets are $29-100

Growing up, I think my family listened to Trans-Siberian Orchestra more than most traditional holiday music. How do you say no to big, wailing electric guitars, chunky drums and soaring vocals? Who knew melodic heavy metal paired so well with Christmas? 

In concert, Trans-Siberian Orchestra is known to put on a multimedia, no-holds-barred show that includes lasers, light shows, giant video screens, moving stages and platforms: A true arena-rock show that’s still fully family-friendly. 

As the weather gets cooler and the days get shorter, I know how tempting it can be to go into hibernation mode and spend less time out and about, but the music scene in Spokane is still hot. Which concert will you go see this month? I hope to see you on the dance floor!