Fri. March 9 -- Wallow in sludgy riffs from San Francisco's The Watchers and friends. At Five Star Bar, 267 S. Main St., downtown 90012; 9pm; $10; https://fivestarbardtla.com; (323) 428-4492.
Fri.-Sat. March 9-10 -- L.A. Speedfest 3 revs yer cardiac with the blastiest & fastiest of punk/metal subgenres like girthcore and mince. See if you can figure out who & where here.
Sat. March 10 -- Israeli emigre space funksters Maetar welcome you into their world of earthy transcendence. With artistic singer-violinist Lili Haydn and spontaneous painting by Norton Wisdom. Smileable music unlike anything else. At Corazon Performing Arts Center, 125 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga 90290; 9pm; $20 suggested donation; all ages; www.corazonperformingarts.com.
Sun. March 11 -- Chicago's Harm's Way scorch the heavy hardcore oompah. With Ringworm Vein, Queensway. At the Hi-Hat, 5043 York Blvd., Highland Park 90042; doors 7pm; $15; www.hihat.la.
Mon. March 12 -- Despite all the changes, Norma Jean continue to deliver heft, melody and a touch of weirdness. Oh yeah, and some Christ. With Gideon, Tooth Grinder, Grey Haven, Fall of Silence. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $20; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
Wed. March 14 -- Multicultural drummer Atticus Reynolds swirls a trio with bassist Daniel Massey and saxist Shai Golan. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here. Read Brick Wahl's noirish music commentaries here.