Fri. July 31 -- High on Fire, Pallbearer, Lucifer, Venomous Maximus. Heavy rock. At the EchoPlex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park 90026; 8pm; $25; 21+; www.attheecho.com.
Fri. July 31 -- Melt Banana, Torche. Heavy rock. At the Roxy, 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; $31.50; (310) 278-9457; www.theroxy.com.
Fri. July 31 -- L.A. Guns. Vintage hair metal. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Sat. Aug. 1 -- Motoko Honda and band perform Scott Benzel's nine-hour experimental work in a Schindler-designed house around Laurel Canyoon; come and go as you please. 1-10pm; free; details and RSVP here.
Sat. Aug. 1 -- Nick Mancini Chamber Group. Intelligent jazz. At the Norton Simon Museum, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena 91105; 5pm; free.
Sat. Aug. 1 -- I See Hawks in L.A., Rick Shea. Postmodern country. At Boulevard Music, 4316 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City 90230; 8pm; $15.
Sat. Aug. 1 -- Todd Lerew. Experimental music for kids. "Soundspark," a SASSAS presentation at the Children's Theater in West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; noon; FREE; www.sassas.org.
Sat. Aug. 1 -- Christopher Garcia's Mezcla Music. Indigenous extrapolations. A presentation of lthe Carriage House Concert Series at 1215 Garfield Ave., South Pasadena 91030; 8pm; $20 (students & seniors $10).
Sun. Aug. 2 -- Michael Vlatkovich, Hay Fever. Avant improv. At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 7pm; $10; (626) 795-4989.
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Sat. Aug. 8 -- International Swingers play music of bands they were in (Blondie, Gen X etc.), plus originals. Greet bassist Steve Fishman. Pershing Square, downtown; 8pm; free; details here.
Sun. Aug. 9 -- John Daversa Big Band. Post-traditional jazz. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sun. Aug. 9 -- "Soundshoppe." Electronic jam session. A SASSAS presentation at Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 1pm; free; www.sassas.org.
Tues. Aug. 11 -- Bombastic Meatbats. Heavy jams. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $30; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Wed. Aug. 12 -- East Meets West (Mike Watt & Tom Surgal), LFS Trio (Paul Lai, Danny Frankel, Devin Sarno), Taylor Plenn. Experimental/avant. At Café NELA, 1906 Cypress Ave., Glassell Park 90065; 8:30pm; $8; beer only; 21+; www.cafenela.net.
Wed. Aug. 12 -- Bongzilla, Primitive Man. Heavy rock. At Complex, 806 E. Colorado St., Glendale 91205; doors 8pm; $23; 21+; full bar; www.complexla.com; (323) 642-7519.
Thurs. Aug. 13 -- Buddy Guy, The Record Company. Classic blues. A CAP presentation at UCLA's Royce Hall; 8pm; $29-$99; www.cap.ucla.edu.
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Sun. Aug. 16 -- Ziggy Marley, Stephen "Ragga" Marley, Inner Circle, Skatalites. Roots reggae. At the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood 90068; 7pm; sold out except for the usual workarounds; (323) 850-2000; www.hollywoodbowl.com.
LATE ADD: Sun. Aug. 16 -- The king of L.A. avant, windman Vinny Golia, presents a septet of more and less recent conscriipts he especially likes, featuring clarinetist Brian Walsh, tuba player Stephen Kac, cellist Derek Stein, pianist Cathline Pineda, bassist Dave Trachina and drummer Tina Raymond. 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; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sun. Aug. 16 -- Dreaming Dead, Morbid Eclipse, Mysticism, Terraforming. Metal. At Complex, 806 E. Colorado St., Glendale 91205; doors 8pm; $10; 21+; full bar; www.complexla.com; (323) 642-7519.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.