Music Picks: X, Lucinda Williams, Jackie DeShannon, Fujiya & Miyagi

Lonely Avenue [formerly Ross Garren Blues Band]

BLUE WHALE

Jackie DeShannon: See Monday.

PHOTO BY NELLERY HILL

Penelope Houston and the Avengers: See Saturday.

Location Info

Map

El Rey Theatre

5515 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Category: Bars/Clubs

Region: Mid-Wilshire/ Hancock Park

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The Redwood Bar & Grill

316 W. Second St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Category: Bars/Clubs

Region: Downtown

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The Baked Potato

3787 Cahuenga Blvd. W.
Studio City, CA 91604

Category: Bars/Clubs

Region: San Fernando Valley

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Walt Disney Concert Hall

111 S. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Category: Music Venues

Region: Out of Town

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More About

• Mint Condition (Band)
• Dengue Fever Rey
• Jackie DeShannon
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media
• Punk Rock

Tuesdays at Blue Whale can now be filed under "the best thing you didn't even know existed." In yet another episode we have harmonicist/pianist/composer Ross Garren and his mission to "re-present" American folk music by encapsulating it in more contemporary and artistic forms. This clever composer has arranged music for B.B. King, his songs are compelling and his blues harmonica playing is bodacious. But the heavenly voice of Angela Vincente is to die for; her ability to sing powerfully and sweetly at the same time just might kill you. Bassist Dominic Thiroux and drummer Gavin Salmon expertly round out the stripped-down band, which exposes the songs in all their raw, beautiful and unbelievably soulful affection. Throw away your old Rambo videos, for this music will actually make you proud to be an American. —Gary Fukushima

Also playing:

OLIN & THE MOON at the Echo; DALE EARNHARDT JR JR at the Echoplex; RUTHIE FOSTER at the Grammy Museum; IT'S CASUAL at La Cita; OVERDOZ at the Roxy.

wed 2/1

Fujiya & Miyagi

THE ECHO

Formed in Brighton, England, at the turn of the millennium, Fujiya & Miyagi have always seemed a quick DFA Records endorsement away from making it big. As playfully wry as Hot Chip and as smartly danceable as Yacht, the trio has delivered three hugely satisfying records over the years. Paying dap to forebears like Neu!, Broadcast and Aphex Twin, Fujiya & Miyagi have done their influences well, demonstrating an ear for the arty and angular ("Ankle Injuries," from 2006's Transparent Things), as well as for the upbeat and unequivocally hip ("Knickerbocker," from 2008's Lightbulbs). But last year's Ventriloquizzing felt like a coming-out of sorts, as singer David Best ditched some of his occasionally goofy lyrical non sequiturs in exchange for darker fare, and the band followed suit, creating a set of songs made all the more icy by crystalline synths and subterranean bass. —Chris Martins

Also playing:

EVERYONE DIES IN UTAH at Cobalt Café; KATE CRASH at Silverlake Lounge; JULES DAY at Vitello's.

thu 2/2

Black Bananas

THE ECHO

RTX were Jennifer Herrema's new band after her years in the still-legendary Royal Trux, and they were already unbelievable — heavy-metalloid shredders with snakeskin guitars and Herrema going feral on the floor. But now she has Black Bananas, who are basically the rechristened RTX, and they have a new album called Rad Times Xpress IV. Listen, it delivers nothing short of obliteration. It's like Satanic Majesties, Ash Ra Tempel, Super Ape, Gremlins Have Pictures and "Atomic Dog" have melted down to their most primal common element. Know the concept of the "rock star"? Well, this is rock TAR: thick, heavy, ancient and hungry for your skeleton. Tonight is the release party for this crucial record. Hungry freaks: Eat Black Bananas and get sick! —Chris Ziegler

Black Sheep Wall

COBALT CAFÉ

This California quintet is the slow, sludgy sound of revenge for every wrong ever done to anyone, ever. Deliberate, detuned and often dissonant guitars loom over beats sufficiently sluggish to allow for sudden elaborate spasms, while vocalist Trae Malone suffers for all of us from some lonely, raw-throated and indignant oblivion. Though rarely extending themselves beyond a pedestrian pace, Black Sheep Wall (yes, named for an all-revealing cheat code in StarCraft, nerds) find an attention-holding range of tempos and grooves within their seemingly unending misery, flipping the feel switch with little regard for comfort or convention. If today is the worst day of your life, Black Sheep Wall are your jukebox; if not, find some reason to rail. —Paul Rogers

Doomtree

TROUBADOUR

While some hip-hop collectives make headlines for slapping photographers and using homophobic slurs, Minneapolis seven-piece Doomtree make their trade in something far less controversial but much more inspiring. Doomtree have been churning out beats for nearly a decade, and bring positive energy and spirit to their live performances and their highly literate brand of rap. Several of the group's members, among them P.O.S., Sims, Mike Mictlan, Lazerbeak, Paper Tiger, Cecil Otter and their only female, Dessa, have flourishing solo careers, perform at Coachella and produce albums for other rappers. But they readily admit that they work better together. Their stop at West Hollywood's Troubadour in support of their recent album, No Kings (on their eponymous label) might just prove that there are, in fact, rap kings, and a queen, in our midst. —Laura Ferreiro

Also playing:

THE FEATURES at Bootleg Bar; ED SHEERAN at Hotel Café; JAYHAWKS at the Roxy; MUTEMATH at Club Nokia.