Chad Wackerman comes from a highly musical family — his brother Brooks is the drum backbone of Bad Religion. The Long Beach native is best known for his extended period as the drummer for Frank Zappa, from 1981 through 1988, along with more than a decade backing English guitarist Allan Holdsworth. Wackerman’s own music is often as complex as Zappa’s, beginning with 1991’s Forty Reasons through his last release, Dreams, Nightmares and Improvisations, in 2012. Much like fellow Zappa drummer and frequent percussion-duo cohort Terry Bozzio, Wackerman’s emphasis is on musicality behind the drumkit. Tonight’s show at the Baked Potato in Studio City features bassist Doug Lunn and highly regarded guitarist Mike Miller, who has spent much of the past year touring the world with Boz Scaggs.

Fri., Jan. 16, 9:30 p.m., 2015
(Expired: 01/16/15)

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