Orange County this week: a punk weekend at the Observatory, with Buzzcocks and The Damned's farewell run

Buzzcocks open the weekend in Santa Ana and The Damned close it, with Blue Öyster Cult, The Ghost Inside and Movements in between — Orange County's best shows for Nov 9–15.

Twenty-nine shows are listed in Orange County this week, and the Observatory in Santa Ana gets the two that matter most to anyone who grew up on first-wave punk. Buzzcocks play the 550-capacity room on Friday. On Sunday, The Damned bring their 50th-anniversary farewell tour to the same stage. Between them, the weekend has something for almost every era of rock.

Thu, Nov 12 — SOFT VEIN at La Santa, Santa Ana, 9 p.m. A 300-capacity warm-up to the weekend. Tickets.

Fri, Nov 13 — Buzzcocks with Modern English and Grade 2 at The Observatory, 6 p.m. Two British bands from the punk and post-punk years on one bill, in a room small enough to feel it. $38.55–$106.20. Tickets.

Fri, Nov 13 — Blue Öyster Cult with Hillbilly Vegas at City National Grove of Anaheim, 7:30 p.m. $59.40–$310.50. Tickets.

Fri, Nov 13 — The Ghost Inside at Garden Amp, Garden Grove, 7 p.m. Metalcore under the open sky in a 540-capacity amphitheatre. Info.

Fri, Nov 13 — Noise Pollution: The Music of AC/DC at House of Blues, Anaheim, 6:30 p.m. The cheapest big-room night of the week at $21. Tickets.

Fri, Nov 13 — The Calling at The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, 8 p.m. A 480-seat South County option. Tickets.

Sat, Nov 14 — Movements with Balance and Composure, Midrift and NIIS at Observatory Festival Grounds, 6 p.m. The Happier Now USA Tour moves outdoors. $75.50–$80.50. Tickets.

Sun, Nov 15 — The Damned with Agent Orange and The Courettes at The Observatory, 7 p.m. The Final Damnation tour marks fifty years, and the band has said it's "fairly unlikely" they'll do anything like it again. Agent Orange on the bill gives it an OC punk touch. $59.50–$194.70. Tickets.

Friday's crowded night in Anaheim lands at the House of Blues, which moved from Downtown Disney to GardenWalk and reopened there in 2017. The main hall holds about 2,200 people, and there's a 400-seat room called The Parish.

If this really is the last time, Santa Ana is a good place to say goodbye.

Our pick is to book both Observatory nights and treat them as a pair. If this really is The Damned's last time through, a 550-person room with Agent Orange opening is a good way to see them off.

Sources: BrooklynVegan — The Damned announce 50th anniversary Final Damnation US tour (brooklynvegan.com); Pollstar — House of Blues Anaheim readies grand opening (news.pollstar.com); WDW Info — Anaheim House of Blues to reopen in March (wdwinfo.com); Blooloop — House of Blues to open at Anaheim GardenWalk in March (blooloop.com)