Joshua Pressman

More contemporary acts, like Tel Aviv's shock-rock troupe Monotonix and Baltimore's experimental electronic whiz Dan Deacon, clearly flourish on Bumbershoot's bleeding edge. They do cater to the youthful and rather brazen demographic. But the irrepressible synergy between fringe artist and audience truly befit the moment—as if they had somehow hand-sewn the festival's very seams.

Sunday afternoon in LA has been taken over by matinee performances. We're really excited about Kid Rockers, a wondrous series of shows that aims to bring families and great indie music/comedy together. LA-based indie rockers the Deadly Syndrome and the Afternoons will be playing at the Echo for the kiddies, along with comedians Patton Oswalt and Seth Herzog. You must have a child in hand to gain entrance. Inara George ("bird") and Greg Kurstin ("bee") will be performing a special solo show up the street at Tangier Restaurant in Los Feliz. But for those of you who are looking to enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon, we suggest you save your energy for the Bigler Benefit Show at the Echoplex. The fundraiser, which features hometown favorites No Age and the Movies, is being held in Michele Bigler's honor. Recently, the artist/local music scene fixture was diagnosed with cancer and, like far too many Americans, does not have health insurance. All proceeds will go towards Bigler's treatment.

Tonight LA will face a glut of shows. We've got the GuerilLA Fest, which is essentially a renegade traveling circus of sorts. Six bands, including LAist favorites the Happy Hollows (LAist Review), will form a caravan, traveling around the city and playing succinct sets at six different public locales. New Orleans-by-way-of-Chicago Telefon Tel Aviv will be demonstrating their electronic mastery at the Avalon with Detroit-based, dance floor-oriented singer-songwriter Matthew Dear. If you're into archetypal metal, or Guitar Hero for that matter, then Austin-based the Sword will be performing at the Henry Fonda Music Box. Tonight will also mark the final show of Richmond-based Denali's reunion tour. The girl-fronted indie rock act will be performing—original lineup and all—at the Echoplex. It will surely be a night to remember! And, lastly, Kentucky's own troubadours These United States will grace the rather schlocky Cocaine at Live Jazz. But, all in all, the Barack Obama benefit show at the Smell seems to be most promising. LA locals the Mae Shi (LAist Interview) will be rocking out for the cause, along with Bad Dudes and a slew of other experimental rock bands.

There are far too many good shows in LA tonight for any one music enthusiast. First and foremost, Bay Area indie rockers Facing New York and Orange-based Local Natives will be playing at the Troubadour. Sweden's own Graveyard will be performing at Spaceland with LA-based singer-songwriter Imaad Wasif. And Brooklyn-bred experimental rockers High Places will bring life to the drab interior of the Smell with LA locals Abe Vigoda and Baltimore-based Ponytail. It will be a night filled with endless sonic curiosity. But the hole-and-corner Pehrspace will play host to a loose-knit Durham-based collective, Daniel Hart's the Physics of Meaning. The violin virtuoso has lent his skills to St. Vincent, John Vanderslice and the Polyphonic Spree in times past. Now, Hart has a forthcoming sophomore effort, 2008's Snake Charmer & Destiny At The Stroke Of Midnight, to call his own. Don't miss out!

Tonight we suggest you take a walk on the wild side. Start things off at Amoeba Records, where LA locals Abe Vigoda will be performing songs from 2008's Skeleton. The band's third album to date is an eye-opening, punk-infused tour de force. Then we recommend heading over to the Knitting Factory for what will undoubtedly be referred to as the noisiest lineup to come through town in some time. NY-based Ghengis Tron, Florida-based Yip Tip, LA's own Clipd Beaks and, of course, hometown noise heroes HEALTH are slated to take turns raping and pillaging your eardrums without restraint.

There is a plethora of shows tonight in LA. But none of them really spark our interest. Tucson-based indie rockers Giant Sand will be headlining the Echo. Our good friend Mike Watt is scheduled to perform at Harold's Place in San Pedro. And to top the night off, we've got Dub Club at the Echoplex and Club NME at Spaceland. However, we suggest heading over to Tangier to watch Guy Fantastico's debut performance. The twenty-something singer-songwriter, who once fronted the LA-based alt-rock band Acute, will be testing out songs from his forthcoming solo record, Nesting, which was produced and recorded by none other than Bobby Birdman.

Tonight LA offers up a few relatively low-key options. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jackson Browne will be playing at Amoeba at 6 PM for free. NY-based singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata (LAist Review) is slated to perform at Largo at the Coronet. And, lastly, the Hotel Cafe will be hosting a night with Danger Bird recording artists Eulogies (LAist Review), Ed Laurie and La Rocca (LAist Review). But we suggest paying the Troubadour a visit to see Indianapolis-based indie rock collective Margot & the Nuclear So and So's. The eight-piece band will be premiering material from their forthcoming albums, Animal and Not Animal. It is our understanding that the notion of a two-disc release arose when the band and their label could not agree on which seventeen songs to release. So it will certainly be interesting to watch all of that play out.

Following a particularly boisterous weekend of exhaustive shows, Los Angeles will remain relatively mum. Liz Phair will be concluding a two-date stint at the Troubadour, revisiting Exile in Guyville in its entirety once more. NPR is currently streaming last night's performance. And as per usual, we've got the free Monday Night Residency at the Echo and Spaceland. Fresno-based indie rock act Rademacher (LAist Review) will be headlining the Echo with other noteworthy local acts Radars to the Sky (LAist Review) and Light FM. But we recommend heading over to Spaceland to see English folk rockers Noah and the Whale. Tonight will be the band's final performance in the States before returning to their side of the pond.

The Virgins' self-titled debut, a virtually surefire blockbuster that has major label honchos and bloggers panting, is fashioned from trendy, tasteless yet entertaining pop-rock fodder--a method that is often attempted but seldom successful in the long haul. The potentially precarious move may solidify the inordinate hype across the blogosphere. But at what cost?

Much like Victor Bermon and Minotaur Shock before him, Toronto-based electronic whiz Shaw-Han Liem, otherwise known as I am Robot and Proud, systematically assembles shards of swarming notes. Each symphonic strain—a puzzle piece comprised of blips, bloops and beats—is pieced together in a hyperactive yet thought-provoking manner. The premise alone prods the spirit of inquiry.