It was really comforting last Wednesday to wander out of debris strewn Hollywood Blvd, which had become an odd wasteland after tornado Free-Depeche-Mode-Concert hit, and into the Henry Fonda Theater. Especially since it was Mates of State that I had come to see. Their music is nothing if not comforting. I mean take one part true love and one part sunshine pop and you have Mates of State. The husband and wife duo, Jason Hammel and Kori Gardner, faced each other through out the whole set. Him, on his drum set, and her, on her keyboards, sang in harmony, while gazing lovingly at each other. It's like the audience wasn't even there. If it had been a Disney cartoon, tiny bluebirds, chubby chipmunks, and fawns with giant eyes would have appeared on stage and surrounded them. more ›

6 pm // Club Nokia // 800 West Olympic Blvd. Suite A335, Los Angeles // $35 - $50 more ›

Tonight LA has its fair share of shows. Club Nokia in Downtown will play host to Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders, who will be accompanied by prominent indie rockers like Bloc Party (LAist Review, #2), CSS and Black Kids. LA locals Obi Best (LAist Review), a pop songstress who sings back-up vocals for the Bird and the Bee, and El Ten Eleven (LAist Review), a purely instrumental duo, are slated to perform at the Hotel Café. NY-based shoegazers Longwave will be rocking out at the Troubadour, ushering in their first record in over three years. And, lastly, electronic mastermind Daedelus is headlining the 10th Beat Invitational at the Airliner. But we strongly suggest seeing English psych-pop singer-songwriter Pop Levi (LAist Review), who will be sauntering onstage with bravado at Spaceland. more ›

There's something for everyone tonight in LA. The big event of the night is, of course, the illustrious Brooklyn-bred rapper Hova performing at the newly-renovated Palladium. But we know that there are a lot of unfortunate souls who missed out on buying tickets to this sold out spectacular. So, Nashville rockers Kings of Leon will be stopping by the Nokia Theatre with Brooklyn-based indie rock band We Are Scientists and Montreal's the Stills. Jacksonville-based Black Kids will be laying down syncopated dance beats at the Mayan with NY indie heartthrobs the Virgins and LA locals Voxhaul Broadcast. And, lastly, if you're looking for grindcore and strange masks, then head on over to see San Diego's the Locust at the Smell. But we suggest camping out at the Echo with local indie greats the Henry Clay People and Army Navy, who will celebrating the release of their 2008 self-titled debut. more ›