Joshua Pressman

Tonight will be relatively low-key with regards to the music scene. We've got Laura Marling's second night of a two-date stint at the Hotel Cafe. Brian of the Movies will be playing with his band Very at Echo Curio, opening for Thailand. And Abe Vigoda and Moonrats will be playing for free at USC's Ground Zero. You can't beat that lineup. But we suggest you pay the Echo a visit to sample the relatively eclectic indie rock bill. LA-based Voxhaul Broadcast, who pretty much serve as the West Coast's answer to the Walkmen, will be opening for the roisterous and bluesy Rumspringa.

Tonight we find electronic maestros MSTRKRFT, A-trak and LA Riots thumping out dance floor-worthy tunes at the Henry Fonda Theater. The hole-and-corner Pehrspace will play host to not one, but two of Long Beach's finest indie rock bands—the Valley Arena and the Soft Hands. LA-based folk rockers One Trick Pony and Seasons will be playing the Eagle Rock Bowling & Drinking Club's 3rd Anniversary Show at All Star Lanes. And lastly, Texan duo Restavrant will be celebrating the release of their debut album, Returns to the Tomb of Guiliano Medidici, at the Troubadour. Although we strongly considered checking out the raucous and thoroughly satisfying antics of Restavrant, we simply can't pass up the opportunity to see the opening night of Laura Marling's two-date stint at the Hotel Cafe. The English indie folk singer-songwriter is poignantly candid about love, life and the in between. And she evokes admiration through her minimal performances, which often find her crooning sinuous melody lines alone with her acoustic guitar—a palpable and definitive symbol of utmost vulnerability.

Ah, so many shows, so little time. If teleportation was actually feasible, then we'd be all over LA tonight. The hypothetical festivities would somehow encompass NY-based feel-good pop rockers Ra Ra Riot at the Echo, the Watkins Family and their preposterous display of musicianship at Largo at the Coronet, and, of course, the invite-only No Age gig at the stylishly luxurious Opera & Crimson. Alas, the reality of the situation has finally settled in: Not everyone has an invite or teleportation for that matter. So we suggest you start your night off relatively early at Amoeba Records, where English singer-songwriter Pop Levi will be playing a free, short-lived set of songs from 2008's Never Never Love. Then make your way on over to Safari Sam's to celebrate the release of the Western States Motel's much-anticipated EP, Painted Birds Flying In The Orange Mirror Sun. We are aware that it's sponsored by KROQ, yuck! But Radio Free Silver Lake is equally invested in the event and we feel as though that effectively negates the yuck factor.

Tonight we find Los Angeles amidst a flurry of relatively pedestrian shows, including local indie rock heavyweights the Cold War Kids (LAist Review), who just concluded their stop by KCRW a few short minutes ago, New York City-based electro-pop masterminds Brazilian Girls (LAist Interview) and Swedish rock band the Hives. If you're as bummed as we are about Glasser's cancellation of their gig at the poorly-lit dive 3 of Clubs, then get your dose of underground greatness elsewhere. Aaron Embry of AmniOn's "solo" performances have steadily garnered him wide acclaim. Acknowledged as a musical genius by many, Embry actually played keys for Elliott Smith before Smith's untimely death. He'll be playing the Tangier Restaurant in Los Feliz. But the lineup at Spaceland tonight intrigues us most. Specifically, Obi Best. Or rather Alex Lilly, who can generally be found singing back-ups for the Bird and the Bee. Lilly has penned a whimsical new record that rivals, if not exceeds, the Bird and the Bee's sing-song brand of saccharine pop.

Tonight two lucky dogs will be in attendance at the Raconteurs show thanks to LAist. And if those lucky dogs aren't you, then might we suggest some other options? Austin-based Okkervil River will be rolling through the Henry Fonda Music Box with local favorites Sea Wolf. Zykos, another exemplary Austin act that we are quite fond of, is slated to open as well. Bordello in Downtown will be hosting a superb bill of LA's finest, including Echo Park's EXITMUSIC. And tonight will be the final night of a three-night run featuring Brazilian pop sensation CSS at the Mayan. But, all things considered, the Barack Obama-rama Fundraiser at Spaceland takes the cake. The wondrous female-fronted lineup of predominantly electronic acts (Lady Tigra, the Bird and the Bee and Electrocute) will be belting out notes in support of the 2008 Democratic presidential nominee. As the relatively newfangled saying goes: Love your momma, vote Obama.

We gave a lucky pair of readers tickets to the Raconteurs' concert at the Greek. And although it's hard to pass on the Nashville-based supergroup and their fiery classic rock vibe (Brendan Benson is so dreamy!), there are other shows that will certainly sate your music craving. Hawthorne-born, San Pedro-based Dios (Malos) will be putting on their penultimate night of a month-long Monday Night Residency at Spaceland. To miss all five nights would be, quite simply, a shame. Daniel Brummel of the legendary pop-rock band Ozma will also be playing tonight, continuing his residency at Mr T's Bowl. But if you secured tickets far in advance to see Fleet Foxes, who are currently in high demand, then consider yourself a real winner. The El Rey Theatre will be at capacity both tonight and tomorrow night thanks to the sensational Seattle-based folk rockers. And those in attendance will surely be afforded mind-numbing three-part harmonies, as well as meticulous, utterly tranquil instrumentation.

Crooked Cowboy & The Fresh Water Indians play tonight at the Echoplex | Picture via Crooked Cowboy's Myspace Our Pick: Crooked Cowboy & The Fresh Water Indians @ Echoplex Sunday was clearly not intended for rest, at least in the music world. Tonight LA will be commandeered by electro-pop, particularly female-fronted acts. London-based singer Alison Goldfrapp will be gracing the vaudeville-esque Orpheum Theatre. São Paulo's pop phenomenon CSS will presumably be showcasing material from 2008's...

On what appears to be their umpteenth EP, Lund-based the Radio Dept. exhibit a mastery of retro 80s pop. And as with most Swedish indie-pop artists, the lure is in their purist tone. But for the first time the band has successfully managed to push their deep-seated perfectionism into the realm of the practical.

To say that Seattle, particularly during Labor Day Weekend, is a haven for music lovers is a gross understatement. The sprawling 74-acre fairground in Downtown that is the Seattle Center serves as a refuge for art in general. The Bumbershoot Festival, now in its 38th year, is in many ways a proverbial port in a storm.

Now in its tenth year, the Lobster Festival at the Port of Los Angeles offers a mouthwatering array of not only food but local LA bands as well—most notably the Henry Clay People, Weather Underground and Olive Future. The music definitely overshadows the food this time around. And the Smell, in all of its drab glory, will be hosting LA-based experimental artist BARR and San Diego's Crocodiles, who are best known as the phoenix that rose from ashes of TPTBUTET and the Prayers. (Yes, that is in fact Kristen Gundred of Grand Ole Party's hubby.) However, the Hollywood Bowl is hosting what could easily be the best lineup to come through Los Angeles this entire year. While Brooklyn-based MGMT may be old news in Williamsburg, the buzz continues to shroud them here. The formidable and youthful band of bohemians are slated to open the extravaganza with epoch-making psychedelic pop, followed by Austin-based indie rock mainstays Spoon. And lastly, but certainly not least as far as we're concerned, hometown hero Beck will be wowing the audience, sampling tracks from his rather expansive catalog. The mere possibility of hearing anything off of 1996's Odelay excites us. But for your sake and our mental well-being, please, watch out for those bellicose "security" guards!