Happy October! Things are getting busy here in the desert. Here’s a selection of shows from across the Coachella Valley and high desert. Stay safe!
Acrisure Arena has some top notch rock, sports, Spanish and pop! At 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 1, British classic-rock icons The Who will make Palm Desert the location of their final U.S. performance. Come hear hits like “My Generation,” “Who Are You” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” for the last time live on this side of the pond. Tickets started at $63.70 as of this writing. At 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 3, the fabulous Los Angeles Lakers make their Acrisure return for yet another preseason game, this time facing off against the Phoenix Suns. Kick off the NBA season, desert style! Tickets start at $72.45. Pop-punk heroes blink-182 are double-dipping at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4, and Sunday, Oct. 5, performing a set full of their angsty hits and deep cuts. Tickets started at $186.10 for Oct. 4, and $67.80 for Oct. 5 as of this writing. At 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 8, catch modern pop act Maroon 5 fire through catchy numbers like “Moves Like Jagger,” “Payphone,” “Animals” and more! Tickets start at $89.70. If you like norteño music, you’ll love Palomazo Norteño, taking the stage at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25. Tickets start at $99.25. Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Road, Palm Desert; 888-695-8778; www.acrisurearena.com.
The McCallum is in full swing! At 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 7, saxophonist extraordinaire Branford Marsalis will showcase his skills during an enchanting evening. Marsalis has done everything from leading a symphony orchestra to performing with the Grateful Dead! Tickets start at $82.99. Cirque Mechanics brings the circus to the stage for TILT! A Circus Thrill Ride,at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 10. Experience a roller-coaster of a circus show … literally! Tickets start at $15. At 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 12, pianist Stephan Moccio will dazzle, impress and captivate ears and eyes with his magnificent ivory skills! Tickets start at $57.99. Ballet the night away with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, a stunning group of performers who will be waltzing and prancing across the stage at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16. Tickets start at $72.99. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17, revel in vocal bliss when the fantastic voices behind Celtic Thunder head to town. Tickets start at $57.99. Laugh the night away at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18, when comedian Henry Cho grabs the microphone. Tickets start at $53.75. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Fantasy Springs features jokes and jams! At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 10, funk-ateers Kool and the Gang intend to “Get Down on It” in Indio, bringing a serving of classic grooves. Tickets start at $72.50. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17, former Steve Miller Band guitarist and blue-eyed-soul solo act Boz Scaggs will rock the desert. Tickets start at $82.50. At 8 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 19, enjoy a unique mix of rock, pop, cumbia, polka and more from Intocable. Tickets start at $92.50. Enjoy puppet pandemonium from some mischievous marionettes at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25, when Jeff Dunham and his group of hand-controlled characters come to town. Tickets start at $102.50. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Spotlight 29 is hosting some great events and continuing its comedy residency. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 3, country-rock act Parmalee brings the crunchy, heavy twang to Coachella. Tickets start at $53.20. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24 , enjoy the Native American Comedy Jam, a selection of cultural comedians delivering hilarious jokes. Tickets start at $28.50. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25, rock legends Great White and Quiet Riot team up to bring the shredding! Tickets start at $33.65. Honest Goodness Comedy Fridays bring Joey Medina (Oct. 3), Gene Pompa (Oct. 10), Paul Rodriguez (Oct. 17), Jamie Kennedy (Oct. 24) and Los Digits (Oct. 31). Tickets start from $12.51 to $39.19. You must be 18+ to attend. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.
Morongo Casino is featuring two events. At 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 5, experience Smoking Good Times, an evening of fine cigars, spirits, food and live music! Tickets start at $95.50. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17 alternative corridos act Arley Perez will perform Latin outlaw jams. Tickets started at $133.56 as of this writing. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage brings a diverse slate of entertainment. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4, country star Trace Adkins will turn Rancho Mirage into a “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” Tickets start at $48.73. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 11 drag yourself to RuPaul’s Drag Race Werq the World Tour, featuring drag performances from RuPaul alumni and modern stars. Tickets start at $68.90. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17 hop on the British-pop-inspired rockabilly train with Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters. Tickets start at $38.41. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18, the Hollywood Medium Tyler Henry will return to the desert to connect you with the afterlife. Tickets start at $74.06. At 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 30, Black Sabbath tribute band Zakk Sabbath, led by longtime Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde, will pay tribute to the departed Prince of Darkness. Tickets start at $48.73. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 31, experience a special Halloween performance from Mammoth, led by the son of Eddie Van Halen. Guitar wizardry awaits! Tickets start at $43.60. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
Agua Caliente in Palm Springs hosts more residency events! Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays showcase Chicago slide-guitar jams from Jeff Dale and the South Woodlawners (Oct. 1), vintage soul and rock from Tommy Peacock and the Feathers (Oct. 8), washboard guitar sounds from Nathan James Band (Oct. 15), blues, R&B and jazz funk from Len Rainey and the Midnight Players (Oct. 22) and a desert return of Shea Welsh (Oct. 29). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start from $12.51 to $22.11, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Carousel Thursdays bring a tribute to jazz legend Billy Strayhorn (Oct. 2), sweet ’60s sounds from Secret Agents (Oct. 23) and some swooning musical magic from Jazz Cartel (Oct. 30). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $19.98, available at eventspalmsprings.com. A midcentury-modern Halloween party hosted by retro jazz artist Lynda Kay at 7 p.m., Friday Oct. 24, kicks off a brand-new residency titled Cascade Cabaret, promised to be a rotating showcase of entertainment! Tickets start at $24.95, again at eventspalmsprings.com. Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, 401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
Pappy and Harriet’s is hosting a show nearly every day in October, so here are my five picks (not covered elsewhere by the Independent)! At 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4, ’80s dark-surf and post-punk act The Chameleons will perform a super-intimate show at Pappy’s indoor stage. Tickets are $48.96. At 9:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 10, psychedelic Cambodian rock jammers Dengue Fever showcase their unique blend of mystifying grooves. Tickets are $42.74. Instrumental trio LA LOM, who mix old-school soul with Latin boleros, bring their emotional, swaying sounds to the desert at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18. General admission tickets are sold out, but remaining VIP tickets (as of our press time) are $170.20. At 8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 28, experience a tight, sweaty show from U.K.-punk legends Subhumans, who may very well turn the Pioneertown Palace upside down. Tickets are $28.76. Dance away to some dark, hypnotic, synth-punk with The Faint at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 29. General admission tickets are $48.96. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
Mojave Gold has built up a steady entertainment lineup—so welcome to The Venue Report! Here are some October highlights. At 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 1, experience the improvisational punk energy—with a psychedelic, worldly tinge—of TAKAAT, a supergroup of members from Mdou Moctar and Les Filles de Illighadad. Tickets are $23.70; the show is all ages. Local experimental rock outfit Firebug are set to perform at 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16. The event is free to attend, but you must be 21+. At 8:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18, L.A. punks The Hangmen bring their scuzzy rock tunes to town, co-headlining a night with ’80s chord-burners The Joneses. Tickets are $23.70, but you must be 18+ to attend. Celebrate Halloween with one of the most eclectic local musicians—Jesika Von Rabbit, at 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 31. Tickets are $23.70; the show is 21+. Mojave Gold, 56193 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley; 442-205-0192; mojavegolddesert.com.
Oscar’s has three-non residency events on the calendar. At 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 2, enjoy a storytelling-filled evening with Susan Powter, the ’90s fitness icon and infomercial star. Tickets start at $39.95. At 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17, experience sweet, piano-playing bliss from pianist/singer Mike Maimone. Tickets are $10. At 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 20, ’80s star Tiffany, whom you know from her “I Think We’re Alone Now” cover, visits Oscar’s to discuss her new line of drinks, answer audience questions—and sing! Tickets start at $39.95. All shows include a food and drink minimum. Oscar’s Palm Springs, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-325-1188; oscarspalmsprings.com/events.
The Purple Room features weekends of double-dipping entertainment! At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 3, and Saturday, Oct. 4, renowned pianist and singer Billy Stritch shares songs and stories. Tickets start at $61.15. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11, enjoy a jazz-centric evening with stellar vocalist Jane Monheit. Tickets start at $61.15. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct. 18, the “towering inferno of talent” Meghan Murphy will do everything from pop parodies to jazz. Tickets start at $50.85. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 25, romantic vocalist Anthony Nunziata will explore jazz, soul, pop and more. Tickets start at $45.70. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 31, and Saturday, Nov. 1, catch two-time No. 1 Billboard vocalist Deborah Silver! Tickets start at $61.15. All ticketed shows include dinner reservations two hours before show time. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www.purpleroompalmsprings.com.