Joshua Pressman

Tonight Akron-bred folk rock singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur will be headlining the Bootleg Theater. Former Nickel Creek fiddler Sara Watkins (LAist Interview) is poised to grace McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Mon Mon. And, lastly, local indie rock outfit Warpaint (LAist Review, #2, #3, #4) will be performing at UCLA's Kerckhoff Grand Salon with none other than local rock and roll act Slang Chickens. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Echo to catch Durham-based folk act Megafaun.

Tonight Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders, an alternative rock outfit founded by none other than Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, will be headlining the Troubadour with San Pedro-bred indie rockers Dios (LAist Interview, Review, #2), who will be ringing in their endeavor—2010's We Are Dios...

Beyond the far reaches of LA, where its last subsets of cities have finally dwindled down, lies a strange place: a desolate and scattered collection of cities where any passing bystander is unsure where civilization ends and the desert starts. Indian casinos, gentlemen’s clubs, and outlet malls are a common theme along the freeway, and you kind of get the feeling that this is where Hollywood’s lost dreams end up. The inhabitants seem to know this, too, for their freeway literally says, “10 E - Indio, Other Desert Cities”, directly acknowledging this stark existence on both the literal and metaphorical front. But amidst this barren landscape, something, once a year for the past 11 years, very special happens.

Tonight Akron-bred folk rock singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur will be performing at the Stronghold on Abbot Kinney in Venice Beach. Progressive bluegrass outfit the Punch Brothers, which of course features former Nickel Creek member, virtuosic Oceanside-bred mandolin player Chris Thile, will be performing at the Broad Stage in Santa Mon Mon. And, lastly, local rockers Autolux (LAist Review, #2) are poised to take on the Bootleg Theater.

Tonight Caetano Veloso, most known for his participation in the Brazilian musical movement Tropicalismo, will be gracing the Greek Theatre. Legendary Stockton-bred indie rockers Pavement are poised to take on the Pomona Fox Theater before following an eastward course. And, lastly, Portland-based alt-country duo She & Him (LAist Review), or rather Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, will be performing down the street at the Glass House. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Hotel Café to catch Portland-bred indie rock quartet Archeology.

Tonight LA-based rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures, which is comprised of Dave Grohl, Josh Homme, John Paul Jones and Alain Johannes, will be headlining Club Nokia before heading out to the desert to headline Coachella. NY-bred indie pop outfit Vampire Weekend (LAist Review, #2, #3, #4) are poised to take on the Pomona Fox Theater with none other than LA-based experimental punk outfit Abe Vigoda. And, lastly, famed English singer-songwriter Holly Golightly & the Brokeoffs will be gracing Spaceland with LA-by-way-of-North Carolina alt-country outfit the Hi-Hos. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Echo to catch New Zealand's own indie pop outfit the Ruby Suns (LAist Review). LAist favorites, South Carolina-bred experimental electro pop maestro Chaz Budnick, who performs under the moniker Toro Y Moi, and Silver Lake-based indie pop act Pepper Rabbit are slated to kick things off.

Tonight iconic post-punk outfit Public Image Ltd. will be headlining Club Nokia before heading out to Indio to headline Coachella. Former Ozma vocalist/bassist Daniel Brummel is poised to grace the Silver Lake Lounge. And, lastly, Silver Lake-based indie rockers Links will be taking on Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch Duluth-based indie rock trio Retibution Gospel Choir. LAist favorites, local folk rockers the Stevenson Ranch Davidians are slated to kick things off.

Tonight Canadian experimental electronic duo Crystal Castles will be headlining the Echoplex. Georgia-bred singer-songwriter/producer Butch Walker is poised to perform at the El Rey Theatre with none other than local indie rockers Eulogies (LAist Interview, Review, #2, #3). And, lastly, LA-by-way-of-Chicago indie rock quartet Helen Stellar will be taking on Spaceland with NY-based pop rock outfit the Postelles. But we strongly suggest heading over to Bardot to catch Colorado-based pop-infused folk/bluegrass act SHEL, who will be performing here for their first time ever.

This week the unremitting three-day music marathon known as Coachella (LAist Coverage) takes over our lives. This year's impressive bill boasts a broad array of headliners, including Jay-Z, LCD Soundsystem, Them Crooked Vultures, Muse, Gorillaz, Pavement, Phoenix and Atoms For Peace. Progressive bluegrass outfit the Punch Brothers, which of course features former Nickel Creek member, virtuosic Oceanside-bred mandolin player Chris Thile, will be performing at the Broad Stage in Santa Mon Mon. Classically trained English experimental musician Micachu and the Shapes are poised to grace the Getty Center for this week's edition of Saturdays Off the 405. And, lastly, Colorado-based pop-infused folk/bluegrass act SHEL will be performing here for their first time ever, making their debut at Bardot.

Tonight Washington-bred indie rock god Benjamin Gibbard will be jamming with friends at none other than Largo at the Coronet. Local indie rock outfit Saint Motel's (LAist Interview) are poised to take on the Echoplex with Voxhaul Broadcast, the Pity Party (LAist Interview, Review, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6) and Mississippi Man in tow. And, lastly, LA-based indie pop quartet Robotanists will be gracing Isgoodmusic's Garden Party with none other than Lanterns. But we strongly suggest heading over to the El Rey Theatre to catch New York-based experimental rock trio Liars. LAist favorites, local indie rockers Fol Chen (LAist Review, #2) are slated to kick things off.