fri 8/5
Cypress Hill: See Saturday.
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Naked Aggression, All or Nothing H.C., Union 13
@THE BLVD
Hardcore punk rock has a reputation for inspiring mayhem and wanton destruction, but the bands on tonight's bill are motivated by loftier concerns, such as saving the world. Of course, the social activism and politically charged lyrics espoused by these groups are delivered with relentless brutality and superfast tempos, but the overall message is one of unity, not violence. On the Rag editrix and All or Nothing H.C. frontwoman Renae Bryant comes at punk rock from a fiercely feminist, vegan and pacifist perspective, and she passionately decries anti-immigrant tea partiers ("Line in the Sand"), gives a shout-out to her hero Jack Kevorkian ("Death With Dignity") and offers hope for suicidal cutters ("Control the Inside Out") on Bring Me the Head of ..., the Norco band's new split CD with Naked Aggression. Led by singer Kirsten Ellis, the similarly intense Naked Aggression rail about corporate oppression and the widening class divide, while Boyle Heights' Union 13 confront racism and youthful alienation with astonishing speed and power. —Falling James
Katy Perry, Robyn
@Cal State Dominguez Hills* (1000 E Victoria St. Carson, CA) *11am-9pm
We like our pop-star personas complex, from Britney's schoolgirl-becomes–psychotic mom transformation to anything Gaga will ever do. So, while few could have predicted the wild success of Katy Perry — a Warped Tour veteran who first got us titillated by proclaiming her affection for female tongue-swapping, and who also openly discusses her nose picking and farts — it's hardly a surprise. Yes, her chest gets more love than her chops, but by contrasting artsy ("E.T.") with adolescent ("California Gurls"), the 26-year-old has cleverly positioned herself as equal parts avant garde and garishly girly. Now, with help from her latest single, "T.G.I.F.," Perry will become the first female with five chart-toppers off a single album (2010's Teenage Dream). She's joined by Robyn, the recently rejuvenated Swedish cyborg dance queen who tore up Coachella. Also Sat. and Sun. —Dan Hyman
Also playing:
KIM LENZ at Webers; SUMMER DARLING at the Satellite; DEATH HYMN NUMBER 9, THE SHRINE at Vlad the Retailer; SWEATER GIRLS, SUMMER TWINS at the Smell; ANCESTORS, YOB at Echoplex; SEARCHING FOR ELLIOTT SMITH screening at Bootleg Theater; QUARTETTO FANTASTICO, CHEZ QUARTETTE at Grand Performances; BEN WENDEL, JOHN ESCREET, DAVE ROBAIRE, MARK FERBER at Blue Whale; DAVID BROMBERG at McCabe's; JIMMY EAT WORLD at U.S. Open of Surfing, Huntington Beach Pier.
sat 8/6
HARD Summer Music Festival
@L.A. STATE HISTORIC PARK
[See Page Two.]
Cypress Hill
@THE TROUBADOUR
These days, Cypress Hill are most often associated with a cloud of marijuana smoke — not that there's anything wrong with that — but the influential Latino collective are far more than just hip-hop's equivalent to Cheech & Chong. The South Gate group might be looking back with tonight's show, where they'll celebrate their 20th anniversary with a full-length performance of their 1991 self-titled debut album, but they still remain vital. On last year's Rise Up, B-Real cleverly insinuated his distinctively pinched vocals alongside contributions from guest stars Mike Shinoda, Pitbull, Tom Morello and Evidence & the Alchemist, and word on the street is that DJ Muggs is back onboard after sitting out last year's tour. Given the hometown nature of tonight's show, expect more guest stars and the pungent aroma of sacramental, herbal celebration. —Falling James
High Places, Sun Araw
@BOOTLEG THEATER
L.A.-via-Brooklyn electronic duo High Places are multi-instrumentalist Rob Barber and vocalist Mary Pearson, two city dwellers who love nature and weave the sounds of the natural world into bass-heavy beats, syncopated rhythms and fragile vocals. Before forming High Places, Pearson was a bassoonist with a deep classical repertoire and Barber was an art instructor at the Pratt Institute, where he taught lithography and etching — highly technical and process-based art forms that have heavily impacted how the band makes music. Together, they make lo-fi, minimal tracks that provide brief escapes from urban claustrophobia. High Places will release their highly anticipated third full-length, Original Colors, in October on Thrill Jockey. —Lainna Fader
Ohio Players, Dazz Band, Mary Jane Girls, Morris Day & the Time
@GREEK THEATRE
Ain't no party like an old-skool party cuz an old-skool party don't stop — really. With baby-faced rappers doubling back to dip into the canon of '80s rap songs that sampled funky-soled classics, the hits of tonight's groups keep finding new fans. The bill is heavily weighted toward the Midwest, with two of Ohio's finest funk bands, Ohio Players and Dazz Band, and Prince associates the Time, led by wacky wild card Morris Day. As if the night weren't sexy enough (we'll take funk's simmering innuendo over "S&M" any day), L.A.'s own Mary Jane Girls are in the house. Barely legals, go watch your mom and dad show you how to dance all night long. —Rebecca Haithcoat
Also playing:
RADARS TO THE SKY at the Satellite; NEW LOS ANGELES FOLK FESTIVAL at the Smell; YEMEN BLUES, WATCHA CLAN at Grand Performances; DISASTER RADIO, CAPTAIN AHAB at the Smell; TIM LEFEBVRE QUARTET at Blue Whale; SUSAN JAMES at the Mint; ARNOLD MCCULLER at Baked Potato.
