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Friday, April 17
Panda Bear
THE ROXY
Following projects with Daft Punk and his own group, Animal Collective, Noah Lennox (aka Panda Bear) broke a four-year solo album fast with Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper, released in January to praise from critics and fans alike. Known for his beautiful yet unsettling electronic sounds, Lennox offers dreamy melodies that carry the characteristic wooziness of delayed harmonies, organ drones and sleepy chants. In a room as small as the Roxy, the all-encompassing sound bath should make for quite the sonic head trip. The grim subject of the new album will only make the immersive experience that much more haunting; with any luck, the visuals should be just as disarming. — Britt Witt
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo
SABAN THEATRE
From a quick glance at Pat Benatar’s and Neil “Spyder” Giraldo’s social media, it is clear that the two, who started working together in 1979, have as strong a following as ever. They’re celebrating this fact with an extensive 35th-anniversary tour, accompanied by a PBS special and 14-track CD/DVD live album. For those of you going “Huh?”: Pat Benatar was the first female voice on MTV back when the “M” stood for music. Her powerhouse vocals and singular style, combined with Giraldo’s stellar musicianship, made Benatar a timeless icon. The hits-filled live album proves Benatar and Giraldo defy time, featuring enduring classics such as “Shadows of the Night,” “Heartbreaker,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and “Love Is a Battlefield,” all of which are continually revitalized with remixes and covers. — Lily Moayeri
Saturday, April 18
Brokechella
Downtown L.A.
This downtown anti-fest wasn’t originally intended to be an indie counterpart to the massive Coachella juggernaut, but when the folks at Collaborative Arts L.A. realized that their gathering of disparate musicians and comedians occurred on the same weekend as Coachella in 2011, they renamed their event Brokechella. Now in its fifth year, Brokechella encompasses four stages and includes gigantic jenga puzzles and Puppychella, a dog-friendly meeting place. Music ranges from the grand psychedelic pomp of Moon Honey to the electronica-laced pop of Anabot. The Shifty Rhythms Stage features “beat cyphers” TeamSupreme, futuristic Miami EDM maestro Madeaux and San Diego rhythm connoisseur AbJo, while the outdoor stage brims with experimental, electronic and indie rockers such as Oyls, Battle Tapes and Insects vs. Robots. Ironically, the new $25 door admission exceeds that of the old Sunset Junction fest, which once was considered too pricey. — Falling James
Krush Groove
THE FORUM
Over the past half-decade, KDAY’s Krush Groove — now in its sixth year — has cemented itself as one of the best shows for old-school hip-hop fans. This year’s edition features an eclectic batch of rappers from across the country, many of whom are playing their first area show in years. Though the West Coast will be well represented by Ice-T, E-40, Mack 10 and Da Luniz, the big draws lie elsewhere on the bill, including Dipset’s surprise reunion and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony playing their breakthrough album, E. 1999, in its entirety to celebrate its 20th anniversary. — Daniel Kohn
Charles Bradley
THE ROXY
True soul never goes out of style, especially when you’re a powerful singer like Charles Bradley. It’s a good thing his sound is eternal, as the Florida native started out as a James Brown–influenced vocalist in the 1960s before his career was derailed for decades of anonymity and low-paying jobs. But in the last few years Bradley has been rediscovered by critics and fans; he now is enjoying a remarkable late-career renaissance after releasing a pair of compelling albums on Daptone Records. Bradley pours out his heart on his 2013 album, Victim of Love, where he turns his hard-won life experiences into the stuff of beautifully delivered, emotionally raw soul. Even more remarkable, most of the tracks are Bradley originals, which makes his music feel all the more vital and real instead of nostalgic. — Falling James
Gilberto Gil
ROYCE HALL
Veteran singer-composer-guitarist Gilberto Gil is a veritable icon in his native Brazil and a cultural ambassador, literally — he formerly held the official post of that country’s culture minister. A dazzlingly gifted post-bossa sambista, Gil originally emerged from Brazil’s tropicalismo movement in the late 1960s to help redefine Brazil’s music scene with his self-penned, eclectic stew of African, reggae, Euro-classical and traditional chorro-tinged tunes. His richly melodious singing and nimble-fingered acoustic guitar inventions are things of beauty, and he has a million tales to tell. Gil presents an overview of his storied career in song and words, and pays tribute to bossa nova’s godfather, composer João Gilberto, with help from a really great band: Bem Gil on guitar and percussion, Domenico Lancellotti on drums and percussion and Mestrinho on accordion and percussion. — John Payne
Sunday, April 19
Kevin Eubanks
HAUGH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Guitarist Kevin Eubanks was a fixture on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show for 15 years, as the always-smiling musical sidekick leading a very hot band. When Eubanks’ Tonight Show run ended in 2010, he moved on to concentrate more on his own music, as well as appearing as a member of other all-star bands, most often with English bassist Dave Holland’s Prism. While Eubanks performed frequently at the Baked Potato while he was Leno’s partner, his local appearances as a leader have become rare over the last five years. Citrus College’s Haugh Performing Arts Center in Glendora will host Eubanks’ band for an afternoon matinee performance. Expect the guitarist to feature music from his last two excellent albums, Zen Food and The Messenger. — Tom Meek
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