Fri. March 6 -- Prog-metal mainstay Dragonforce's show with Unleash the Archers and Visions of Atlantis is sold out. At the Regent Theater, 448 S. Main St., downtown 90013; 7:30pm; $20; 18+; www.ticketfly.com.
Fri.-Sun. March 6-8 -- Hey, how come I have no need for Journey but dig Steve Smith's fusoid Vital Information, featuring bassist Baron Browne, guitarist Vinny Valentino and keyboardist Manuel Valera? The answer: In his own band, Smith gets to drum however he wants and we don't have to put up with that other Steve. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30pm (7:30 Sun.); $30-$35; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sat. March 7 -- Three bands raise money for the Whale: one fronted by Nick Mancini, Josh Nelson & Kathleen Grace; one fronted by Vardan Ovsepian & Marcel Camargo; and one fronted by Daniel Rotem & John Escreet. Can't lose, seems like. 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 $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. March 7 -- Olympia metalmen Mortiferum deal the death & doom, as they should cuz it always rains there. With Crematory Stench, Civerous, Apparition. At the Lexington, 129 E. Third St., downtown 90013; doors 8pm; $13; 21+; (213) 291-5723; lexbarla.com.
Mon. March 9 -- Angel City Young Artists Competition winner Jasper Dutz has an inside track to some of the city's best improvisers, including vibraphonist Jake Chapman, bassist Marlon Martinez, drummer Anthony Fung and perco-dad Brad Dutz. 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.
Tues. March 10 -- The excellent new "Fluid Existential Inversions" by L.A. metal progsters Intronaut sounds a bit like King's X at times, which is not a bad thing; its tightness and rhythmic complexity is partly attributable to drummer Alex Rudinger, who isn't touring with Intronaut because of commitments to Whitechapel, but Cynic's Matt Lynch will substitute ably. Swedish atmo-sludge vets Cult of Luna headline; poetically floatheavy Red Sparowes singer Emma Ruth Rundle supports. Intronaut photo by Vince Edwards. At the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater, 6122 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8pm; $25; (323) 464-0808; www.fondatheatre.com.
Wed. March 11 -- The piano-vox duo of Adegoke Steve Colson & Iqua Colson lavish the open modern lilt and '60s -rooted abstraction. At Mr. Musichead Gallery, 7420 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90046; 8pm; $15-$25; food, beer, wine on the patio; www.justjazz.tv.
Thurs. March 12 -- Dig this marvelous quartet swirling around electro-windman Andrew Pask (haven't seen him for a while), with bassist Steuart Liebig, bassist Darryl Tewes and drummer Joe Berardi. At Sunspace, 9683 Sunland Blvd., Shadow Hills 91040; 8-10pm; $10.
Thurs. March 12 -- Doors guitarist Robby Krieger has a new album arriving at the end of April; the one track released thus far is a funky twist o' fusion. Krieger's New Experience Band tonight features keyboardist Ed Roth, bassist Kevin Brandino and drummer Dale Alexander. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $28; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.