Here are my picks for notable November concerts.
1. Cafe Tacvba
This is the last month that Cafe Tacvba will be touring., but the concert that should really be interesting is San Francisco on Nov. 14th - the day after the Latin Grammy awards are announced. Cafe Tacvba has received the most nominations of any band for their album Sino and I can't help thinking that the 14th will be one of celebration.2. Los Tigres del Norte
Los Tigres del Norte continue their "everyman" tour of local rodeos and fairs.3. Vicente Fernandez
I'd be curious to know whether any other artist has ever filled Universal City's Gibson Amphitheatre for 9 nights - which is the number of concerts scheduled for that venue in November. And even with the hefty $200+ price tag for better tickets, the ranchera king packed them in for 6 back-to-back concerts last year. Don't worry - if you're a Vicente Fernandez fan, there are cheaper tickets available.4. Luis Miguel
Luis Miguel is smack in the middle of the tour promoting his new album, Complices. Another good reason for touring might be that the crooner of romantic ballads wants to get away from his turbulent and tabloid-worthy relationship with Aracely Arámbula, though I'm not sure how much truth there is in the scandal sheet reports. The couple just announced they are expecting their second child.5. Julieta Venegas
Mexican rocker Julieta Venegas winds down her El Presente tour this month with 3 datesin the southwest U.S.- Nov. 9: San Diego, CA - Spreckel's Theatre
- Nov. 14: Houston, TX - Arena Theatre
- Nov. 15: Dallas, TX - The Palladium Ballroom
6. Ozomatli
If you've never seen Ozomatli, you might check out the dates. The L.A.-based collective plays their own brand of funky world music, lots of it in Spanslish or Spanish but you'll be treated to other world rhythms as well.- Nov. 6: Boise, ID - Knitting Factory Concert House
- Nov. 7: Portland, OR - McMenamins Crystal House
- Nov. 8,9: Seattle, WA - Showbox at the Market (with Chali 2na)
- Nov. 12: Chico, CA - Senator Theatre
7. Jenni Rivera, K-Paz, El Coyote, German Montero...more
Now here's a star-studded bill of artists for fans of Mexican banda, duranguense and norteno music.- Nov. 22: San Jose, CA - San Jose Convention Center
8. Grupo Niche
There's nothing like Colombian salsa dura to pick-up the spirits; with a Grupo Niche concert following this closely on the heels of the presidential election, here's a chance to either kick-up your heels in celebration or forget your blues as you listen and dance to one of the finest salsa bands in the world.- Nov. 7: New York, NY - The Fillmore
9. Trini Lopez
Trini Lopez was part of the great American folksong movement in the 1960s and went on to make numerous albums as well as take a stab at acting. The Mexican-American Lopez is from Texas and was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2003.- Nov. 11: Los Angeles, CA - The Orpheum
10. Calle 13
If Calle 13's live performances are anything like their just released album Los De Atras Vienen Conmigo, you can expect the unexpected as the duo fuses Puerto Rican rhythms with cumbia and gypsy music from Eastern Europe.- Nov. 15: Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia
- Nov. 22: Miami, FL - La Covacha
11. Mexican Institute of Sound / Volumen Cero
While it hasn't been a great year for some of the more traditional types of Latin music, the same cannot be said about alternative music that makes great use of electronics and computer generated loops. Tijuana's Mexican Institute of Sound takes loops of regional Mexican music and when they're done listeners are treated to something wholly new.- Nov. 16: Hollywood, CA - Roxy Theatre
12. Olga Tanon
Puerto Rico's merengue queen hasn't been on the stage much this year so fans that can make it to Connecticut will be getting a post-Thanksgiving treat.- Nov. 29: Mashantucket, CT - MGM Grand at Foxwoods