Joshua Pressman

There certainly won't be any complaints regarding the lack of interesting shows tonight. We've got the circus-like antics of Philly's Man Man at the Echoplex, which will be appropriately paired with the epic yet disjointed work of Long Beach's Crystal Antlers. The relatively clandestine Pehrspace promises an exemplary triumvirate of Los Angeles-based indie rockers, including Marvelous Toy, Divisadero and One Trick Pony. The show will serve as an album release party for the first two bands. And it's beginning to seem like Jon Brion is always slumped over a piano at Largo. However, the big surprise of the night is the not-so-secret Spiritualized show at the Echo. Thanks to Myspace Secret Shows the concert will be free, but upon a first-come first-served basis. Those willing to brave the inordinate crowds and chaos will likely be treated to an unforgettable experience, which will presumably revolve around 2008's A&E. As much as we like Spiritualized (and standing in serpentine lines), we suggest you head over to catch Silverlake-based indie-pop maestros Castledoor at the Lyric Hyperion Theater. The band will be premiering the new music video for their leading track "Dumpster Diving," as well as affording fans a special set. Tenlons Fort, who appear to be straddling Austin and LA right now, are slated to open the night, heading directly over from their Little Radio-sponsored Park[ing] Day LA performance at 4th & Main in Downtown.

There will invariably be those tending to Vampire Weekend tonight because they missed out last night. If you find yourself in that position, then we strongly advise you to ditch the idea altogether. Why? Well, Brooklyn's best (Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson) will be headlining the Echo after what is presumed to have been a rollicking time at the Vermont House last night. But the best bang for your buck tonight is over at the El Rey, where you can count on a thorough ear bashing with LA locals HEALTH and Oxford's own Foals.

Tough choices tonight in Los Angeles. We've got the battle between cataclysmic psych-infused pop and hair metal (MGMT, RTX) at Henry Fonda Theater, Brooklyn-based folk rocker Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson and Eagle Rock's fresh-fraced Princeton at the rather homely Vermont House and, of course, the opening night of Vampire Weekend's two-date stint at the Wiltern. We suggest hitting up Vampire Weekend and saving MGMT for the Hollywood Bowl spectacular later this week, but only because we're really excited for openers White Williams and Abe Vigoda. Does it get any better than that?

Since you'll probably be at the Wiltern tomorrow night catching Vampire Weekend, you might not feel compelled to catch Airborne Toxic Event's largest gig on their home turf thus far. The Smell in Downtown boasts a stellar, albeit relatively noisy, psych-infused lineup of San Francisco natives. But if you're not too keen on the idea of the dingy locale, then we suggest you head on over to the swanky confines of Tangier in Los Feliz for some low-key indie rock. The night kicks off early (8:30 p.m.) with a solo set from Angela Correa of Correatown, followed by the excessively sweet pop antics of Franklin for Short and, finally, Marcus Very Ordinary.

The Movies are the most enigmatic entity I've ever stumbled across. They are simply legendary in Los Angeles. Fans practically worship the ground that front man Timothy James walks on. Or at least that's what I've witnessed. Regardless, there's a barefaced glory and honor that comes along with calling yourself a fan of the Movies.

In a market where singer-songwriter-types like Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Bareilles can come to prominence virtually overnight, avant-pop songbird Lykke Li will invariably be left in the shadows. That's not to say there isn't any hope for some miraculous crossover, but it's more than unlikely. The primary reason for this being that the sum and substance of Li's debut, Youth Novels, is off-kilter.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: "It was the sound of post-independence Nigeria, not Vampire Weekend." Suffice it to say that Afrobeat has become an increasingly prominent element in today's fusion music. Yet we seldom stop to think where these unique tones originated. So this compilation marks the beginning of a series dedicated to investigating the peaks and troughs of a glossed-over genre. After all, no musical victory is without its unsung heroes.

If in some rare occurrence Beirut, Yann Tiersen and Efterklang were to perform all at once, then you would get a rough idea of what Detektivbyrån sound like. The Gothenburg-based instrumental trio have gradually moved towards a more mature sense of identity and purpose. And even though their 2008 debut, E18, is predominantly comprised of songs from 2006's Hemvägen EP, Detektivbyrån demonstrate a breadth of sound that is awe-inspiring.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: "It was the sound of post-independence Nigeria, not Vampire Weekend." Suffice it to say that Afrobeat has become an increasingly prominent element in today's fusion music. Yet we seldom stop to think where these unique tones originated. So this compilation marks the beginning of a series dedicated to investigating the peaks and troughs of a glossed-over genre. After all, no musical victory is without its unsung heroes.

Nomo have found themselves at the intersection of utmost experimentalism and a certain savoir-faire. Much like Sun Ra's work during his sojourn in New York, the songs on Ghost Rock—their third album to date—are far removed from previous work. And the assemblage of these spatial jams is such that it is nearly impossible to discern the composition from the improvisation.