As far as live variety shows go, it doesn’t get much better than the 826LA Book*Smart events at Largo. The event, which usually takes place once a month, features an author, a comedian and a musician. Saturday’s event centered around headliner Zooey Deschanel, who blew the audience away with her vocal chops and helped raise funds for 826LA with sewn duck heads (it’ll make sense as you keep reading). ...

Rain rain has gone away...so Tuesday we'll go out to play. Here's what's going on around town tonight: MUSIC The LA Phil’s Concrete Frequency series continues tonight. “Songs of the City” is being billed as a program where “urban troubadours share lo-fi songs about city life.” We’ll believe it with a lineup that features: Marc Bianchi, Biirdie, Franklin Bruno, Zooey Deschanel, John Doe, Inara George, Stevie Jackson, Sondre Lerche, Kyp Malone, Bob Mould, Zach......

As the year enters week two, organizations are programming newer music, that which was composed in the last century. This weekend, the Los Angeles Philharmonic began their Concrete Frequency series to an excellent start wth Aaron Copland's "The City" played to film and Edgard Varèse's "Amériques." After the concert, hip-hop violinist duo Paul Dateh and inka one (we interviewed Paul him this summer) played in the lobby by the cafe while Breakestra funked up......

Buck 65 is a Rapper, a Turntablist, and MC who is from good ole Canada. His trademark lyrical presentation and rhyme phrasing keep him on the cutting edge of cool-ness, and makes converts out of traditionally non-hiphop-oriented individuals. The conundrum of categorizing music leaves Buck 65 in a genre vortex. He could be put into Blues, Folk, Country, Rock, all laced with hiphop styles. It's a refreshing sound that leaves you jonesin' for more. Regardless......

TUESDAY • Great Northern, Fielding, Peter Walker (acoustic) and Goldenboy are at Spaceland tonight. Doors open at 9 PM. • The Pretty Babies, featuring Zooey Deschanel and Sam Shelton, perform at the Hotel Cafe tonight from 8–11 PM. • At The Wiltern, a modest $45 will get you in the door to see Green Day tonight at 7:30 PM. No tickets will be sold at the door. You must buy your ticket in advance.......