Fri. July 13 -- Hell of a metal orgy: Demolition, Infamy, Letum Ascensus (one of the best hair-twirling bands around, pictured) and a legion more. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 6pm; $13; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Fri. July 13 -- Open sound, rhythmic suggestibility, melodic precocity: L.A. jazzmen Slumgum got the goods for an outdoor show, plus they're fielding vet avant trumpeter Hugh Ragin, who also collaborates on their brand-new album. At LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; Friday summer jazz schedule here.
Sat. July 14 -- Slumgum + Hugh Ragin under the low lights, y'all. At the Blue Whale on the third level of Weller Court Plaza, south of East First Street between South Los Angeles Street and South San Pedro Street, Little Tokyo 90012; 9pm-midnight; $10; validated parking underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. July 14 -- Talk about the Jungian mind, NewTown has assembled a blazing constellation of 13 spontaneous improvisers, half of whom interacted with Dottie Grossman at her final Monday Evening Concerts performance in March. The names: Dan Clucas, Michael Vlatkovich, George McMullen, Kira Vollman, Will Salmon, Kaoru Mansour, Joe Berardi, Alex Cline, Rich West, Mark Dresser, Jessica Catron, Cassia Streb, Lewis Keller. Oh yeah. At the Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness, 2222 Laverna Ave., Eagle Rock 90041; 8pm; $10 cheap.
Sun. July 15 -- The swinging, crowd-pleasing trombonist Phil Ranelin continues to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Tribe Records, which sprang up to showcase the soul-freak music of his native Detroit in revolutionary days. A Dublab presentation at Levitt Pavilion, 30 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena 91103; 8pm; FREE; (626) 683-3230; www.levittpavilionpasadena.org.
Sun. July 15 -- Slick/hot guitarist Elizabeth Schall and the versatile Dreaming Dead headline a metal fest featuring Doomsayers, Dawn of Ruin, Infinite Death and 666 more. At Airliner Club, 2419 N. Broadway, Lincoln Heights 90031; 7pm; $8.
Sun. July 15 -- Major chilling time with a reggae sprawl headlined by classic roots bedrockers Toots & the Maytals (pictured), plus Ziggy Marley (faithful re-creations of Bob and others), Maxi Priest, Freddie McGregor, Bob Andy. That's me and the gang way up in the bleeder seats, soaking up the beer & wine & food we brought in (yep, permitted tonight) and nodding like Trenchtown zombies. At the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood 90068; 7pm; $18-$146; (323) 850-2000; www.hollywoodbowl.com.
Wed. July 18 -- Founded in 2007, an expanding reggae lineup called The Lions (stocked with musicians who've played with Macy Gray, Beck, De La Soul, etc.) coalesce around the riddim to promote their new album. Also a video-DJ set by Peanut Butter Wolf, and the world-class Echodelic DJs. Dub Club at the EchoPlex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park 90026; doors 9pm; $10; www.attheecho.com.
Thurs. July 19 -- Maybe Al Green owes Obama a kickback for the presidential take on "Let's Stay Together," but hey, we never forgot one of soul's greatest voices. Even if his throat has coarsened a bit, Green can put you on a cloud (wish he'd do "Dream"). With Allen Stone. At the Greek Theater, 2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz 90027; 7:30pm; $35-$110; www.greektheatrela.com.
Thurs. July 19 -- Look out, the super in/out 10-piece ACE Jazz Collective featuring windwoman Beth Schenck, saxist Brian Walsh, bassist Ivan Johnson (Empty Cage), vocalist Jodie Landau (a multiple talent to watch) plus six. Texture plus serious composition, I'm betting. At the Blue Whale on the third level of Weller Court Plaza, south of East First Street between South Los Angeles Street and South San Pedro Street, Little Tokyo 90012; 9pm-midnight; $10; validated parking underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
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Most avantists have dug John Coltrane's 1965 mass blowout "Ascension," and ROVA Saxophone Quartet are no exception. They dig it so deep, in fact, that they're putting on a concert September 7 at the Guelph Jazz Festival in Ontario, Canada, with musicians including Nels Cline, Carla Kihlstedt, Fred Frith, Rob Mazurek and more. They also aspire to making a pro DVD out of the show with the aid of Kickstarter; they're halfway toward their goal and would love you to push them toward the top with a contribution here.
Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.