It’s tough being the offspring of big stars. The expectations can be overwhelming However, Louise Goffin, who appears at Dizzy’s on Sept. 18, has managed to avoid this, carving out a low-key but vital career in the shadow of her parents, legendary songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin. Her first released music was the track “Uptown Boys” in the classic 1982 comedy “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” based on our own Clairemont High School, though today she would fall more into the singer-songwriter category. Goffin is the real deal, inheriting a strong sense of melody and songcraft, evident in such songs as the atmospheric pop of “Sometimes a Circle” or the jaunty, piano-based “Pink Champagne.” • LOUISE GOFFIN: Thursday, Sept. 18 at DIZZY’S, 4275 Mission Bay Drive. 7:30 p.m. $20. www.dizzysjazz.com. Swing dancers or anyone who wants to bust a stylish move will want to check out the Big Daddy Orchestra, performing at Humphreys Backstage Live on Sept. 24. It performs classics from “Fly Me to the Moon” to “Fever,” but this orchestra is no one-trick pony. The band also excels at classic Motown, like Stevie Wonder’s “Boogie on Reggae Woman” or newer dance numbers like the Buster Poindexter favorite “Hot, Hot, Hot.” The band is an entertaining listen, but for the full effect, a little participation on the dance floor is recommended. • BIG DADDY ORCHESTRA: Wednesday, Sept. 24 at HUMPHREYS BACKSTAGE LIVE, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, 7 p.m. $5. www.humphreysbackstagelive.com. Anyone looking for a night out with entertainment beyond the usual cover bands and singer-songwriters will want to head to Reds Saloon, which now offers comedy every Wednesday night. It’s a great spot for comedy, with a warm, inviting interior and an intimate feel. On Sept. 24, the venue will feature an appearance from Andrew Santino, perhaps best known as an actor on “Arrested Development,” as well as a producer of the TV favorite “Punk’d.” Is he funny? Yes, indeed, though the mild-mannered or overly politically correct guests should proceed with caution. Meanwhile, everyone else will have a rip-roaring good time. • ANDREW SANTINO, Wednesday, Sept. 24 at REDS SALOON, 4190 Mission Blvd. 9 p.m. thewoodgroupsd.com/reds. It’s just over 1,600 miles from San Diego to New Orleans, but locals needing a fix of Louisiana sounds need look no further than a gig from The Swamp Critters, which performs at Tio Leo’s on Sept. 30. Playing a mix of Cajun, zydeco, blues and Texas swing, the band’s music is an instant party. There is no ramp-up in the action; the band explodes with irresistible rhythms from the first beat. Even people who hate to dance can’t resist tapping their toes once the tunes start flowing. Tio Leo’s is the perfect spot for such a show, with a hardwood dance floor and a cozy, friendly vibe. If you’re looking for the sounds of Mardi Gras, this is the next best thing to making the journey to Fat City.
• THE SWAMP CRITTERS: Tuesday, Sept. 30. TIO LEO’S, 5302 Napa St. 9 p.m. 21 and up. Cover TBD. www.tioleos.com. Hardcore punk legends Reagan Youth perform at Brick by Brick on Oct. 1. Formed in New York around 1980, the band split at the end of the decade, re-forming in 2006 with an updated, heavier — though no-less-intense — sound. Though it never achieved mainstream success, the band has built a cult following in the decades since its initial run, establishing pioneers of a now-overcrowded field. Anyone who listens to punk rock needs to make this show a priority viewing. There are few originals left, and Reagan Youth was a key piece of the puzzle that made the 1980s bearable for a legion of music fans.
• REAGAN YOUTH: Wednesday, Oct. 1 at BRICK BY BRICK, 1130 Buenos Ave. 8 p.m. 21 and up. $12. www.brickbybrick.com.
