Fri. Sept. 11 -- Dio, Def Leppard and . . . fusion? Belfast-born Vivian Campbell is one musician who fears not the taint of metaljazz, leading Sir Sodoff & the Trainwrecks, featuring guitarist Kara Grainger, bassist Lou Castro, drummer Glen Sobel and harmonicat Michael Fell. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Fri. Sept. 11 -- Drummer Lorca Hart (son o' Billy) doesn't revive the mainstream, he lives it, with sympathetic pianist Josh Nelson, bassist Trevor Ware and vocalist Kenny Washington. 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 $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. Sept. 12 -- With contributors from CoC, Lamb of God, My Ruin, Slipknot, Danzig and many more top heavy bands, the lineup of the new album by Teenage Time Killers can't completely coincide with the lineup of this promo gig, but there's sure to be major overlap. At the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater, 6122 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 9pm; $25; (323) 464-0808; www.fondatheatre.com.
Fri. Sept. 11 -- '90s L.A. black-metal pioneers Noctuary reunite after a long hiatus, supported by excellent local blacksters Exhausted Prayer, plus Diabolus, Serpent Crown. At Complex, 806 E. Colorado St., Glendale 91205; doors 8pm; $8; 21+; full bar; www.complexla.com; (323) 642-7519.
Sat. Sept. 12 -- Thrashy upstart Australians King Parrot try to conquer our cage. With Crowned by Fire, Grand Lord High Master, special guests. At Complex, 806 E. Colorado St., Glendale 91205; 10:30pm; $10; 21+; full bar; www.complexla.com; (323) 642-7519.
Sat. Sept. 12 -- Mike Ness' Social Distortion gotta be one of the most influential melodic punk bands in history; without them no Offspring, Green Day, Blink 182 or the whole Warped Tour, I'd say. But Ness would not desire credit for his wimpier progeny, any more than he likes old women in supermarkets praising his tattoos. Also he'd rather be called a roots artist than a punk, and at this point that's accurate. At the Greek Theater, 2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz 90027; 7pm; SOLD OUT; www.greektheatrela.com.
Sat. Sept. 12 -- Electronic composer Daniel Corral knows why listeners enjoy Philip Glass and Kraftwerk more than abstract stuff: It's the repetition and the beat, dummy! Along with the synth loops, though, Corral's new Orenda Records album, "Diamond Pulses," shines with surging dynamics and subliminal microtonalisms that make for a fresh and involving experience; live visuals, too. The early show features Mike Robbins and Danny Holt playing Louis Andriessen; the late show features Holt tackling Glass. A real good one. At Automata, 504 Chung King Court, Chinatown 90012; 8 & 10 pm; (213) 819-6855; www.automata-la.org.
Sun. Sept. 13 -- SASSAS's monthly Soundshoppe is where electronic musicians meet to tangle cords and bash oscillators, and you get to soak up the spontaneous interaction. A SASSAS presentation at Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 1pm; FREE; (626) 795-4989.
Sun. Sept. 13 -- The Brad Dutz Quartet tickles your brain with its unusual instrumentation (marimba, bass clarinet, cello, oboe) and its unrooted compositions, while making your toe tap even though you probably can't figure out where the damned beat is. Pleasant exercise. 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 $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Wed. Sept. 16 -- I ain't sure how the rather stiff Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra got anointed as keeper of a rather loose Tradition, but you get Wynton Marsalis as spotlight soloist in a rooted framework where he shines. Also with the odd but rewarding combination of fusion-plus piano legend Chick Corea with omnivorous banjo player Béla Fleck, and cool-to-husky old-timish singer Cecile McLorin Salvant. At the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood 90068; 8pm; $12-$53; (323) 850-2000; www.hollywoodbowl.com.
Wed. Sept. 16 -- Southern Lord Records presents a varied lineup of West Coast heavies featuring sludgy Goatsnake (trotting almost two decades now), Seattle deathmen Black Breath, and hardcore punks Battalion of Saints and Obliterations. At Mystery Box, 810 Mateo St., downtown 90021; doors 7pm; $15; tix here.
Thurs. Sept. 17 -- I just go ahead and endorse anything with Kneebody saxist Ben Wendel in it, cuz he's got the chops, the flow and the now attitude. That includes ACT, Wendel's trio with longtime pals Harish Raghavan (bass) and Nate Wood (drums). 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; $20; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
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Adam Rudolph reports the September 7 passing of harpist and CalArts music-faculty mainstay Susan Allen at age 64 from cancer. I have mentioned her many times, because she found ways to incorporate her instrument into a wide variety of the most adventurous and challenging situations with the likes of Vinny Golia, Yusef Lateef and Anthony Braxton. She will be missed.
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Don't you dare leave town until you've soaked up some of the Angel City Jazz Festival, this year featuring the likes of Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (9/25), Mark Dresser (9/26), Empty Cage (10/1), Yosvany Terrry (10/2), Ambrose Akinmusire/Motoko Honda (10/3), Jon Armstrong (10/9), John Beasley (10/10) and Alex Cline (10/11).
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.