Fri. Oct. 18 -- Connoisseurs of metal, Halloween costumery and liquid filth choose GWAR. With rising latter-day thrashers Whitechapel, plus Iron Reagan, A Band of Orcs. At House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 7:30pm; $28; (323) 848-5100; www.livenation.com.
Fri. Oct. 18 -- Supersuckers improbably succeed in combining hard rock, humor and occasional cowboy hats. With Hellbound Glory, Matt Mann & the Shine Runners, Scattered Hamlet. At the Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 8pm; $15; (310) 652-7869; www.viperroom.com.
Fri. Oct. 18 -- An especially zoomin' week at the Whale launches with Otmaro Ruiz's Lado B, featuring the brilliant Latin-jazz pianist plus ultimate California guitarist Larry Koonse, supercentered bassist Edwin Livingston, Brazilian singer Catina DeLuna, Venezuelan drummer Aaron Serfaty and percussionist Clarice Cast. 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; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. Oct. 19 -- Ease into the intelligent modern groove that is Slumgum, featuring tenor saxist Jon Armstrong, pianist Rory Cowal, bassist Dave Tranchina and drummer Trevor Anderies. One of the city's best outfits. 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; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. Oct. 19 -- Rob Cavestany and original '80s Bay Area thrash kings Death Angel are back with the speedy new "The Dream Calls for Blood" on Nuclear Blast; hard-touring latter-day soul mates 3 Inches of Blood support, along with Battlecross, Revocation, Diamond Plate, Ophiuchus, Vanguard, Monolith, Iron Blade. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Sat. Oct. 19 -- Jazz ain't got as many supergroups as rock or Julio Iglesias, but we do got S.F. Jazz Collective, with tenor man David Sanchez, altoist Miguel Zenon, trumpeter Avishai Cohen, trombonist Robin Eubanks and four more. Reliable. A presentation of the Jazz Bakery's Movable Feasts at the Colburn School's Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown 90012; 8pm; $35; www.jazzbakery.org.
Sat. Oct. 19 -- Psychedelic heartland cowboys I See Hawks in L.A. (10:30) provide the thinkin'; you provide the drinkin'. With Rick Shea (9:00, pushing a new record) and Lisa Finne (8:00). At Viva Cantina, 900 Riverside Drive, Burbank 91506; cheap; (818) 845-2425; www.vivacantina.com.
Sun. Oct. 20 -- When you're talkin' death metal, Brit vets Deicide are as rad as they come.With Broken Hope, Disgorge, Necronomicon, several more. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 4:30pm (so you can worship Satan right after church!); $22; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Sun. Oct. 20 -- Brian Wilson. Jeff Beck. Don't know how those two names ever got linked, but I love it. At the Greek Theater, 2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz 90027; 7:30pm; $48-$96; www.greektheatrela.com.
Tues. Oct. 22 -- Jus' like Ornette useta, bassist Anthony Shadduck leads a churning avant double quartet, with painter Norton Wisdom whipping up images in the very moment. 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; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Wed. Oct. 23 -- Vibraphone genius Nick Mancini gathers a trio with bassist Gabe Noel and drummer Zach Harmon; one more week to go in Mancini's month of Wednesdays here. 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; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Thurs. Oct. 24 -- Mark Dresser is one of the few bassists that can pull off a fascinating solo performance, but you sure can't complain when he's got electro-twisters like Joshua White (keys) and Michael Dessen (trombone) on board, not to mention saxist Ben Schachter and drummer Kjell Nordeson. 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; $15; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Thurs. Oct. 24 -- Modern progressive metal twiddles its non-thumbs with Periphery, Born of Osiris, Dead Letter Circus, Twelve Foot Ninja, Ampora.
At the Roxy, 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 7pm; $18; (310) 278-9457; www.ticketmaster.com.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.