You Me and Iowa

Things are starting to get back to normal here, after the holidays -- it's a great night in music for Los Angeles. For one, two major arts institutions are hosting some excellent concerts tonight. At the Natural History Museum's popular music and discussion series, First Fridays, Dr. Antonio Damasio, M.D., Ph.D. (Director of Brain and Creativity Institute, USC) will cover how the brain processes memory, language, emotions and decisions. And that's not even the rock and roll part. Sea Wolf, the afternoons and Dublab DJs Allen & Hoseh will fill the museum halls with music. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. and costs $9

And over at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Breakestra will play for audience members after the first orchestral night of their Concrete Frequency series (more on this later in our Pencil this In column).

In the classics cateory, BB King is playing at The Wiltern and the punk rockers who still rock, the Circle Jerks, are at the Henry Fonda.

Laurel Canyon may be famous for its rock and roll history, but we have to give kudos to a western/country band who call themselves Coldwater Canyon. They will be playing tonight at The Cowboy Palace Saloon in the Valley. Over in the San Gabriel Valley, find Louie Cruz Beltran and His Latin Jazz Orchestra at The Holly Street Bar and Grill in Pasadena.

Melora Hardin, who plays Jan on NBC's The Office, is also a singer/songwriter. So if you like that kind of thing or you're in total love with her, she's playing tonight through Sunday at the Catalina Jazz Club on Sunset.

Let's talk about good political timing on this one: indie rockers You Me and Iowa will headline at Spaceland. They are actually a great band, so don't think we are just mentioning them because of the Iowa Caucus. Come on, look at their fun picture above!

Photo of You Me and Iowa by John Lange