Joshua Pressman

Never before in Jenny Lewis' hyper-extended career has the ruddy-haired front woman sounded so affected. Her folksy, small-town image—which has been trumped by her larger-than-life affiliations—does give way to some semblance of musical authenticity. And, surely, the majority of her most ambitious effort to date, 2008's Acid Tongue, is performed with great gusto. But Lewis can not avoid giving the slightest impression that she is straining for her effects. Sometimes in the grip of great passion you fail to uphold your intent.

Los Angeles-based music blog Confession of a Would-Be Hipster has compiled its first compilation, appropriately entitled Plastic Snow, just in time for the holidays. The sixteen-track disc features wintry tunes by some of the best bands the local music scene has to offer, including Great Northern, Earlimart (LAist Review, #2), Princeton (LAist Interview), Pierre de Reeder (of Rilo Kiley fame), The Monolators (LAist Review), Let's Go Sailing (LAist Interview, Review) and Letting Up Despite Great Faults. And as if that impressive cast wasn't enough, 100% of the profits from Plastic Snow go to benefit Los Angeles' longest running homeless shelter, Midnight Mission. Dropping a measly ten dollars has never felt so good!

Tonight legendary English rock band the Who will be stopping through the Nokia Theatre. Van the Man will be performing 1968's Astral Weeks in its entirety at the Hollywood Bowl once more. And, of course, Coheed and Cambria will be plowing through the third night of a series of shows at the Avalon in which they perform their catalog in its entirety—tonight they'll be revisiting 2005's Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness. SF-based buzz band the Dodos will be playing at the Echoplex with local blues-rock duo Restavrant. Lastly, LA-by-way-of-DC psych-rockers Dead Meadow will be checking into the Troubadour for a night of hazy riffs. But we strongly suggest heading over to Spaceland to see Portland-based Starfucker (LAist Review). The auspiciously-named electro-pop trio seized hold of the masses at this year's CMJ Festival in New York. Catch them before they're huge!

Tonight Van the Man will be performing 1968's Astral Weeks in its entirety at the Hollywood Bowl. British power metal band Dragonforce will be tapping out wailing solos at the Wiltern. NY-based rockers Coheed and Cambria will be taking on the second night of a series of shows at the Avalon in which they perform their catalog in its entirety—tonight they will revisit 2003's In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3. Cincinnati-based garage rock band the Heartless Bastards will be playing at Spaceland with local favorites the Broken West. And, lastly, Jon Brion and friends will be gracing the stage at Largo at the Coronet. But we suggest heading over to the Echoplex to get your electro fix. Los Angeles-based experimental producer Daedelus is slated to open for renowned laptop musician Flying Lotus. We're dying to see Mr. Darling get the floor moving with a monome!

Talk about a show explosion! Tonight Madonna will be entertaining the masses at Dodger Stadium. NY-based rock band Coheed and Cambria (LAist Review) will begin a series of shows at the Avalon in which they play each of their four albums in their entirety—tonight they'll be revisiting 2002's The Second Stage Turbine Blade. Local blues-rock band Rumspringa (LAist Review) will be playing at the Viper Room for the Day of the Living Party. And just about every music blogger and their mother will be in attendance at 3 of Clubs tonight, where SF natives Birds & Batteries and the Blacks will be performing. But the real tough choice of the night is between the Happy Hollows' (LAist Review, #2) EP Release Event at the Echo and TV on the Radio (LAist Review) at the Wiltern. The former certainly affords a bevy of superb lesser-known acts, like LBC's the Soft Hands and our personal favorite, Austin-by-way-of-Dallas the Strange Boys (LAist Review, #2). However, we can't deny the latter's latest effort, 2008's Dear Science. So head on over to the Wiltern to catch the buzzworthy Brooklyn-based indie rock quintet.

Now that the election is over with the show-going commences. Tonight we've got electro sensation-turned-dud the Faint playing at the Wiltern with LA-based noise rockers Mika Miko. And speaking of shoddy electro-pop, we've got Shiny Toy Guns performing a KROQ-related contest-only event at the Viper Room. And, lastly, Brooklyn-based rock quintet Apes & Androids will be stopping by Spaceland for CLUB NME. But Portland's own folk rockers Musee Mecanique will be playing at Bordello with LA locals EXITMUSIC, Xu Xu Fang and Voice On Tape. Go, go, go!

Tonight LA will pause for the election. However, dj/producer Diplo and LA rockers Abe Vigoda will be playing at the Echoplex. Dead Ponies will be playing at Spaceland for free! HoneyHoney (LAist Review, #2) will be performing at the Hotel Café. And, lastly, St. Albans own electro-pop sensation Friendly Fires will be gracing Cinespace in Hollyweird. But we suggest you take the night off to vote and watch the results of the election.

It's the first Monday of the month and thus we've got a bevy of new Monday Night Residencies. Local indie rockers the Western States Motel will be kicking things off at Spaceland. And WEAVE! will be embarking on their month-long residency at the Echo. Fresh off the heels of a record release party, LA-based the Monolators will grace the hole-and-corner Pehrspace. Delaware-based pop rock maestros the Spinto Band will be performing at the Echoplex with Scottish indie rockers Frightened Rabbit and one of our favorite local bands, Miniature Tigers (LAist Review). Lastly, Vancouver's own Mother Mother will be showcasing their disjointed yet entirely appealing tunes at the Silver Lake Lounge. But the lineup at the El Rey Theatre tonight is downright irresistible. Swedish songstress Lykke Li (LAist Review, #2) will be accompanied by not only SoCal mainstays the Mae Shi (LAist Interview, Review, #2) and Grand Ole Party (LAist Review, #2, #3), but also St. Albans own electro-pop act Friendly Fires (LAist Review).

Tonight LA will be taken over by folk-driven rock. As you very well know, we already doled out the opportunity to witness the Experience Hendrix concert at the Greek Theatre. But Maine-based singer-songwriter Ray Lamontagne will be concluding a two-night stint at the Wiltern. And we never thought we'd find ourselves saying this, but Portland's own folk troubadour Adrian Orange, or rather Thanksgiving, will be performing at Echo Curio with experimental rockers White Fang. Also, our favorite children's show host Lance Rock will be taking over Amoeba Records on Sunset for a Yo Gabba Gabba! session of sorts. However, we suggest catching Whispertown 2000 (LAist Review, #2), who will be playing an early show at the Echo with another Rilo Kiley-related act, the Elected bassist Michael Runion.

We're pooped from yesterday's festivities, but there are far too many shows to stay in tonight. Portland-based alt-country duo She & Him, or rather Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, will be performing at the Wiltern with LA's own Lavender Diamond. Local pop rockers the Parson Red Heads will be gracing Spaceland with the Spires. And rock trio the 88 will be ringing in their new album, Not only...But also, with Dhani Harrison's thenewno2 at the Troubadour. And, lastly, Hella front man Zach Hill will be performing 2008's Necromancer in its entirety at the Smell in Downtown. But we recommend heading over to the Henry Fonda Music Box to catch Boston-based electro-pop sensation Passion Pit. We saw a whole lot of them at 2008's CMJ Festival and they did not disappoint.