Joshua Pressman

Happy Halloween! Tonight there are tons of concerts across the Greater Los Angeles Area. We were looking forward to the Little Radio extravaganza in the outskirts of Downtown. Unfortunately, "the titanic team-up that had to happen" simply floundered. But, thankfully, that isn't stopping the Henry Clay People. They will be performing tonight at the Cat and Fiddle Pub in Hollweird with Long Beach-based rockers the Tall Hands. The monolithic Parisian electro duo Justice will be headlining a line-up at the Shrine Auditorium that is sure to sate anyone who's craving a dance party—including sets from Daedelus, Soulwax, Boys Noize, Crystal Castles, Crookers and Simian Mobile Disco, among many others. The Secret Machines are the special guests of a psych-induced bill over at Spaceland, which features LA locals the Entrance Band and Dead Meadow's own Jason Simon. And NY-based shoegazer Asobi Seksu will be putting onlookers at the Echo in a heavily distorted trance. It was exactly two years ago to date that Spaceland Recordings released Live at the Echo 10/6/06. We can't rule out the possibility of another recording. So we certainly suggest heading over to commemorate the release and potentially partake in history again. But we're embarking on a rowdy adventure an hour southward! Say what? The Growlers, who recently won Best Rock Band in the OC Weekly's annual Best Of List, and Austin-by-way-of-Dallas the Strange Boys (LAist Review) will be unleashing retro 60s, garage-style blues-rock at the Womens Club in Laguna Beach. We know it's a hell of a drive, but it'll be the most rollicking Halloween experience of your life.

Tonight we're really bummed. Neil Young canceled on us over a pretty murky labor dispute. And with LA's own alt-rockers Everest and indie rock mainstays Death Cab For Cutie opening, it was shaping up to be one of the most memorable shows of the year. We've officially put the Forum on the blacklist, twice over. Alas, English psych-pop rocker Pop Levi will be gracing the Echo. Ray Lamontagne will be performing new songs from 2008's Gossip In The Grain at the Wiltern with NY-based singer-songwriter Leona Naess (LAist Interview) opening. NY-based rock trio the Secret Machines will be playing at the Key Club with Montreal-based indie rockers the Dears. And, lastly, the ruddy-haired Jenny Lewis will be checking into the Orpheum in Downtown with the Beachwood Sparks. But, in light of recent developments, we suggest heading over to the Troubadour to catch Fujiya & Miyagi. The Brighton-based quartet will be laying down funky grooves from 2008's Lightbulbs.

Tonight kicks off early with a performance by local garage rockers the Muslims at Amoeba Records on Sunset. Red Cortez, formerly known as the Weather Underground, will be playing their first night under the new moniker at the Silver Lake Lounge. We're guessing that they may have wanted to ditch the negative political associations. But that's pure conjecture on our part. And, lastly, the Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age will be rocking out at the Avalon for the Blackberry Storm Party. It must have cost them a pretty penny to put together that bill. Tickets were made available earlier at random via text-only. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Henry Fonda Music Box to witness German electro-pop sensation the Notwist. If our calculations are correct, the last time the group came through LA was Feb. 17, 2004. So don't miss out because we can't promise they'll be back for, oh, another four years. The Bay Area will be heavily represented with electronic mastermind Odd Nosdam and Anticon's own drum-pad master Jel as openers.

So many shows, so little time! Tonight Brighton-based pop rockers the Kooks (LAist Review) and the Whigs will be playing at the newly-renovated Palladium in Hollyweird. Gainesville's Against Me! will be doling out heavy-handed punk rock the Wiltern with Ted Leo & the Phamacists and Future of the Left. Venice-based folk songstress HoneyHoney (LAist Review) will be performing at the Largo at the Coronet. And, lastly, Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond (LAist Review) fame will be playing solo at Tangier in Los Feliz. But we recommend catching weyou. at Mr. T's Bowl. The endearing pop-driven twosome is set to host a wondrous night filled with equable duets. You just can't go wrong!

Tonight LA offers a bevy of options that make our show-going brain hurt. We've got the conclusion of the usual free Monday Night Residencies. Kenan Bell will be performing one final night with the Morning Benders and White Arrows at Spaceland. Rademacher and the Western States Motel (LAist Interview) will be wrapping up shop at the Echo with One Trick Pony and Seasons. And Manhattan Murder Mystery will be doing the same with Princeton (LAist Interview) and Divisadero at Mr. T's Bowl. But we're going to try to tackle two shows. How? Well, we'll start things off in the heart of Downtown at the Smell with the jazz-infused pop rock group LAKE and then continue the rather tranquil evening over in K-town at R Bar with LA's own alt-rockers Everest, who will be playing around 9:30 PM. The secret password? "hilljack"

Annual music marathons like SXSW in Austin and CMJ in New York have long served as industry-only gatherings. But now, like never before, they have become regarded as a necessity for those enthusiasts on the cusp of music. They've evolved into a breeding ground for next year's latest and greatest—a musical pageantry of epic proportions.

Tonight LA is taking a breather. We've got the second night of Durham-based folk rockers the Mountain Goats' two-date stint at the Troubadour with Kaki King. Ian MacKaye, of Minor Threat and Fugazi fame, will be doing a Q&A session at Hollywood High. And, lastly, LA-based singer-songwriter Rachael Cantu will be playing the final night of her month-long residency at Tangier. But we recommend heading over to the Echo to rock out with Baltimore-by-way-of-Australia the Death Set. The electro-punk duo will surely raise hell.

Tonight, for some strange reason, Chris Cornell and Timbaland will be performing together at the House of Blues. Don't ask us for an explanation. Durham-based folk rockers the Mountain Goats will be playing the Troubadour with the wild party machine that is Kaki King. And Girl Talk is playing his second night of a two-date stint at the Henry Fonda Music Box. But we suggest heading over to Spaceland to catch LA-based the Monolators. They will be celebrating their record release with an array of other great local bands.

Tonight LA locals Seasons and Les Blanks will be rocking out at Echo Curio. We accidentally listed it yesterday and, in actuality, it will go down tonight. The Keyclub will play host to the Houston-based hip hop artist Devin the Dude, who is currently touring in support of 2008's Landing Gear. LA-based indie rockers Voxhaul Broadcast and Local Natives will be in Downtown for the Zero Film Festival. And, lastly, it will be a rather Canadian affair tonight at Spaceland with indie folk rockers the Acorn and Ohbijou. But we could never pass up a chance to see Greg Gillis practically destroy a reinforced Toughbook laptop with his rigorous sampling. Anyone who is anyone will be at the Henry Fonda Music Box for Girl Talk.

Tonight Thes One and Double K, the self-proclaimed B-boys of People Under The Stairs, will be playing a short and early set at Amoeba Records in support of their forthcoming 2008 LP, Fun DMC. And, lastly, NY-based folk songstress Dar Williams will be performing at the El Rey with her latest effort, Promised Land, in tow. But we strongly suggest that you head over to the Henry Fonda Music Box. Perennial post-rockers Stereolab will be accompanied by lo-fi champion Richard Swift. Both artists will be performing new material from their latest albums—Chemical Chords and Richard Swift as Onasis respectively.