fri 8/12
Wye Oak: See Friday.
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Dom Kennedy, Overdoz
@GLASS HOUSE (POMONA)
Local — more precisely, Leimert Park, as he reps often in his raps — lyricist Dom K might not be the most exciting artist in the city's crackling hip-hop scene, but he's probably the steadiest. Since his 2008 summertime ode "Watermelon Sundae," he's quietly been building quite the empire: He released his commercial debut, From the Westside With Love II, a little more than a month ago on his own record label, watched it reach No. 2 on iTunes, and keeps selling out shows on both coasts. On the other hand, his freaky, tongue-in-cheek weed fiend Inglewood neighbors, the R(aw) & B(angin') duo Overdoz, just began to stir the pot this spring, with Pharrell recently tweeting his approval. We say this with the utmost anticipation and admiration: These two are L.A.'s weirdest "ones to watch." —Rebecca Haithcoat
The Decemberists, Wye Oak
@GREEK THEATRE
Portland, Ore.'s Decemberists purvey generally appealing folk-pop songs on their new album, The King Is Dead, which comes off like a more countrified version of R.E.M. or perhaps a less political Mekons. It's all quite enjoyable, although the band is more compelling on relatively deeper tracks like "This Is Why We Fight." While the Decemberists are fairly traditional, openers Wye Oak are much more free-spirited on their latest album, Civilian, with songs ranging from the ethereal intimacy of "Two Small Deaths" to the towering riffs and jagged rhythms of "Holy Holy." Throughout, Jenn Wasner coos beguiling melodies over her choppy guitar riffs, while Andy Stack constructs mighty stacks of sound while simultaneously playing drums and keyboards. The Baltimore duo's combo of pretty pop idylls buried in waves of grungy layers is charming yet unsettling. —Falling James
Rodrigo y Gabriela
@HOLLYWOOD BOWL
It's not surprising that Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero had to cancel their tour last year due to severe stress and pain in Quintero's right hand. Quintero puts so much passion and energy into her strumming and percussive banging that exhaustion seemed almost inevitable. After some R&R and a presumably cushy gig writing tunes for the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie, Rodrigo y Gabriela are back on the live scene. In addition to performing their explosive brand of flamenco-rock at a presidential state dinner earlier this year, they've been hitting the European festival circuit and are playing their only scheduled West Coast dates tonight and tomorrow with the L.A. Philharmonic. They've obviously come a long way from their humble beginnings busking on the streets of Dublin. Also Sat. —Laura Ferreiro
Also playing:
EELS at El Rey Theatre; BUSDRIVER, 2 MEX at the Roxy; THE ARRIVALS, HEX DISPENSER, TOYS THAT KILL at American Legion Hall; JUNIP at Bootleg Bar; RAFAL SARNECKI QUARTET at Blue Whale.
sat 8/13
Pentagram, Eyehategod, Pelican
@ECHO/ECHOPLEX
Though instability incarnate over recent years, pioneers of pounding (yet relatively melodic) doom metal Pentagram bring instant credibility to this two-venue "Power of the Riff" festival. A product of the early 1970s, and with only eccentric frontman Bobby Liebling a constant factor, Pentagram nonetheless continue to conjure sets of sinister, Sabbathesque majesty. New Orleans' Eyehategod spatter their detuned sludge with punk's lip-curled pessimism and grizzled vocals, to alarming effect. Thoughtful Chicago foursome Pelican wriggle free of stylistic restraints largely by shunning vocals altogether. But fear not. Their throbbing riffage, sinewy guitars and meandering structures have plenty to say. —Paul Rogers
The Get Up Kids
@THE SATELLITE
There Are Rules, this year's Get Up Kids reunion album, isn't really something to write home about, to quote the title of the second-wave emo band's breakout 1999 disc. Though you have to admire the newly choppy rhythmic pulse likely inspired by bassist Rob Pope's stint in Spoon, the tunes just never materialize. But you should still consider going to see these guys, if only because a 2009 deluxe reissue of Something means they're probably still flogging songs from that record onstage: Like Weezer's Pinkerton or Jimmy Eat World's Bleed American, it's an appealingly overheated blast of sensitive-male angst set to the kind of fuzzy guitar pop that never goes out of style (even when it does). Also Sun. at Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace. —Mikael Wood
Also playing:
GOLD SOIL, RAREBIT, ANENON, ROM-DOS at Bootleg Theater; GIPSY KINGS at Greek Theatre; THE MILK CARTON KIDS at McCabe's; HAMILTON PRICE GROUP at Blue Whale.
sun 8/14
Snoop Dogg
@CLUB NOKIA
To the list of the many hats worn by Snoop Dogg — rapper, actor, Orange County Junior All America Football League coach — add public-health advocate: Tonight the man born Calvin Broadus Jr. headlines the second annual Health Awareness Benefit Concert at Club Nokia, the smallish downtown venue that doesn't require much marijuana smoke to transform into a state-of-the-art hot box. (No one's successfully proven that weed can really damage one's health, right?) Also on the bill: Tank, the dedicatedly understated R&B classicist; New Boyz, the local hip-hop duo whose mainstream breakthrough never quite happened the way it was supposed to; and the Uneek Music All Stars, assembled by Snoop's partner in the benefit, Developing Options founder Eugene "Big U" Henley. —Mikael Wood
