Sat. Oct. 29 -- Windman Jesse Sharps and The Gathering carry on the big, wild, writhing tradition of Tapscottian Africanism. Read my review from last year here. At the World Stage, 4321 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park 90008; 9pm (two sets); $20; www.theworldstage.org.
Sat. Oct. 29 -- Rocking heavy, jamming crazy and giving technical mastery a good name: Cosmosquad, featuring guitarist Jeff Kollman, drummer Shane Gaalaas and new bassist Corey McCormick. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. Oct. 29 -- Guitarist Rez Abbasi gets nonspecific but real & breathable with his melody-minded world-music thing; the band includes saxist Mark Shim (Stefon Harris), keyboardist Marko Cnscec and drummer Kenny Grohowski. 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; 21+; parking $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. Oct. 29 -- Guitarist Rob Cavestany's early Bay thrashers Death Angel carry the heavy oompah torch. With Salem's Lott, Exterminate, Trecelence, Festering Grave, Chemical Warfare, System Annihilation, Not My Master. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 6pm; $25; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
Sun. Oct. 30 -- Rap-metal kingpins and M. Manson revivalists Dope reveal at last that everything sucks. With Flaw, Darksun, Slant, Seven Days Lost, 13 Nails, Nothing But Losers, Motograter. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 5pm; $20; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
Mon. Oct. 31 -- This is the best Halloween idea I've seen: a screening of Robert Wiene's 1921 silent German Expressionist film "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" with live accompaniment from Clark Wilson at the gargantuan pipe organ. At Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown 90012; 8pm; still a few $31-$40 upper seats left; call (323) 850-2000; www.laphil.org.
Wed. Nov. 2 -- Daniel Corral presents abstract electronic music in alternate tunings, with light projections shooting out of complete darkness. Exciting stuff; buy Corral's CD on Orenda Records. At MiMoDa Studio, 5774 W. Pico Blvd. (enter thru Paper or Plastik Café), L.A. 90019; 8pm; FREE.
Wed. Nov. 2 -- Dig that extreme death metal? It don't get much more extremerer than New Zealand's jolting, noisacious Ulcerate. With Zhrine, Phobocosm. At Complex, 806 E. Colorado St., Glendale 91205; doors 8pm; $15; 21+; full bar; www.complexla.com; (323) 642-7519.
* * *
Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.