July 24 – July 30 • Essential Weekly Concert Guide • L.A. Edition

Des Delgadillo

Blackberry Smoke w/ The Cadillac Three at Fonda Theatre | July 25
Southern rockers Blackberry Smoke have been on the grind for almost two decades, but with every year that passes, their edge gets a little harder. From sold out shows in Australia to packing out the historic Fonda Theatre, live performances are this crew’s specialty.

Fellow Southern rock trailblazers The Cadillac Three will join the festivities, laying their homegrown brand of rock on an eager and probably rambunctious crowd.

Michelle Branch at El Rey Theatre | July 25
Michelle Branch wooed execs as a teenager with her impressive songwriting and guitar chops before going on to sell two million copies of her major label debut, “The Spirit Room.” It was all up hill from there for the burgeoning songwriter, stacking accolade after accolade on her proverbial mantelpiece. But that was over a decade ago. Embarking on her “Hopeless Romantic” tour, Branch has picked up so much new life experience, the talented songstress is ready to unleash a torrent of new songs tinted with her wisdom.

Mike McCready in conversation with Cameron Crowe at Regent Theater | July 25
Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready has been all over the world alternating between trying to rock its face off and documenting all it has to offer. Now, in support of his new scrapbook “Of Potato Heads and Polaroids,” McCready joins famed director and journalist Cameron Crowe for a thorough discussion of the book and a signing as well, making this the quintessential night out for any Pearl Jam devotee.

Delta Rae at Troubadour | July 26
High energy sextet Delta Rae pack so much instrumentation into their performances, their sound really has no limits. Fixtures of the festival circuit for years now, the group have gotten the art of performance down, and concertgoers will appreciate the elaborateness with which they take the stage.

Manchester Orchestra at Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever | July 26
It’s hard to find a rock outfit that plays music as loud and provocative as Manchester Orchestra. Not only do their sonic arrangements get one’s blood pumping, but they manage to infuse such poignant lyrics into their craft, each song has the narrative scope of a powerful short story or epic poem. That highly emotive lyricism will be on full display when the crew embarks on an acoustic showcase at the legendary Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Van Jones at Hollywood Palladium | July 26
Van Jones is a Yale-educated philanthropist, keynote speaker and bestselling author. Apart of the “We Rise” series of engagements, Jones and a number of other athletes, artists and tastemakers gather to address tactics for tackling the nation’s problems.

Warbly Jets at The Roxy | July 26
Warbly Jets evoke all kinds of rock n roll history with their fuzz-laiden garage sound. The foursome cut right to the chase with razor sharp focus, reminding listeners of a time long ago when the British mounted a rocking invasion. Joining them on the bill is King Shelter, a group that blends everything from grunge to surf to create an eclectic genre they themselves call “salad rock.”

Wolf Alice at The Echo | July 26
This energetic London quartet will have Angelinos howling at the moon by the time all is said and done. Their sound knows no borders, touching everything from atmospheric electro to distorted rock.

ZZ Ward at Grammy Museum | July 26
ZZ Ward brings her bluesy hip-hop blend to The Grammy Museum, who have been serving up quite the live music spread of late. Ward is hitting L.A. in support of last month’s “The Storm,” her second stirring studio effort.

Amber Mark at Hammer Museum | July 27
Amber Mark has traveled everywhere and lived everywhere else, so her life experience was bound to influence her musical stylings. Still relatively new to the music scene, Mark stops by the Hammer Museum in support of “3:33 AM,” her debut EP.

Jeremih at The Novo | July 27
Jeremih might have already left an immortalized mark on music with his viral smash “Birthday Sex,” but the crooner is far from finished. In support of his newest album, “Later That Night,” Jeremih stops off at The Novo for a night of hits that range from club-shaking to baby-making.

Miami Horror at Santa Monica Pier | July 27
RH&S Concerts’ free Twilight Concert Series has been nothing short of incredible lately. Now they up the ante with a free dance party, as Australian disco throwbacks Miami Horror turn it up to 11 for a hot night on the beach. Also on the bill is fellow countryman Cleopold, who penned many of Miami Horror’s singles.

Tinashe at Belasco Theater | July 27
Tinashe’s soulful vocals have dotted many a-hit already, and the R&B diva’s ascent to the top has just begun. At this free show, Tinashe will roll out some of the numbers that propelled her to radio-ready glory almost over night. BJ The Chicago Kid will also be on the blockbuster show.

AJR at Grammy Museum | July 27 + Troubadour | July 30
Three brothers came together to craft electro-pop so captivating and contagious that it’s stuck in our heads forever. Look no further than the group’s smash single, “I’m Ready,” a track that has rocketed them to new heights. They bring that popular cut along with many new ones to both the Grammy Museum and the Troubadour.

Bush w/ She Wants Revenge at Hollywood Palladium | July 28
Two acts that brought countless hits to alternative radio stop off at the Palladium for what should be a truly raucous affair. Bush cultivated a ton of big hits with their heavy, grunge-influenced sound, while She Wants Revenge excelled in their melancholy productions. This show boasts the best of both worlds.

JC Brooks and The Uptown Sound at Levitt Pavilion Macarthur Park | July 28
What started out as a dream of merging soul and post-punk quickly became something so much greater when JC Brooks became fascinated with bending genres, twisting and manipulating them until they fit his sonic palate. His music has a soul poignance with a modern urgency that can’t be denied, and when Brooks and company visit the Levitt, it won’t be.

Slow Magic at Troubadour | July 28
If electronic music with the widest possible scope sounds like something that would be up your alley, Slow Magic has to top your concert list this week. A project encompassing all the best facets of electronic music, Slow Magic merges samples and rhythms into a stunning collage of textures that transcend all barriers.

Garth Brooks w/ Trisha Yearwood at The Forum | July 28 + 29
The legendary Garth Brooks makes two appearances at the Forum, his first in 21 years. Brooks will definitely be making up for lost time when he and his L.A. faithful get re-acquainted over both colossal shows. And as if both shows could get any hotter, singer and culinary mastermind Trisha Yearwood will join Garth to whip up some extra mirth.

Hall and Oates w/ Tears for Fears at Staples Center | July 28 + 29
The Staples Center will be jam-packed with screaming fans hungry for nostalgia, and what an entree they have coming their way in the form of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Hall and Oates. The iconic duo will be supported by international sensations Tears for Fears as they close out a whirlwind North American tour full of timeless classics.

A Tribe Called Red at El Rey Theatre | July 29
This Canadian crew have been turning heads in a big way with their pow wow style music that highlights aboriginal issues, earning plaudits from all manner of outlets including The Washington Post. Their unique and mesmerizing tracks promise to invigorate a whole new audience when they stop by El Rey Theatre.

Baio at Levitt Pavillion at MacArthur Park | July 29
The Vampire Weekend bassist stirs up his own brew of dance and pop and captivates wherever he performs. Supporting act Staro brings a DJ set worthy of a Grammy nomination.

Hippie Sabotage at Fox Theater (Pomona) | July 29
This EDM duo is composed of two brothers who play off each other exceptionally well, making for some riveting and palatable dance music. Their music has attracted big names like Ellie Goulding. Now their sound invades the Fox in Pomona for what will be a happening night fueled by rhythm and chaos.

Los Lonely Boys with Metalachi at Pershing Square | July 29

Expect the air to sizzle with hot latin energy when rock band Los Lonely Boys and the tradition-inverting Metalachi team up for a free show under the stars at Pershing Square. The latter group will kick things off with their trademark intensity before Los Lonely Boys help the audience groove the night away all while wondering just how far heaven is.

Marika Hackman at Bootleg Theater | July 29
In support of her latest release, “I’m Not Your Man,” cerebral songwriter Marika Hackman up-ends the traditional pop song in ways unimaginable, adding her own touch of sophistication that makes every lyric flow with such grace and precision, it’s remarkable she’s only 24 years old. She will share the Bootleg bar stage with London quartet The Big Moon.

Metallica at Rose Bowl | July 29
Undisputed kings of metal return to the L.A. area for a very special, and probably very intense, performance at the Rose Bowl, a venue steeped in prestige in its own right. Metallica has stacked up hit after hit, anthem after anthem, for years, and all will be on display in Pasadena when the band looks to “seek and destroy.”

Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark at Microsoft Theater | July 29
Orchestral Maneuvers in The Dark have been influencing music since their sound-shaping single “Electricity” back in 1979. As part of Microsoft Theater’s fourth 80s weekend, OMD introduces their pioneering music to a whole new generation of fans. A slew of other 80s mainstays will also be filling out the bill.

Pandora Sounds Like You: Summer ft. Big Sean, Machine Gun Kelly and Noah Cyrus at L.A. Coliseum | July 29
Summer’s certainly getting crushed with Big Sean and Machine Gun Kelly on the bill. Both rappers boast their own style of bravado, but when they share a stage there’s no telling what’s going to go down. Plus, a slew of other names will make this Colosseum show nothing short of earth-shaking.

Rhett Miller at Troubadour | July 29
In support of his seventh solo album, “The Traveler,” Miller weaves more tales and casts more emotions into vexing rhymes for a live audience at the Troubadour. His work stands the test of time, both as a solo artist and in Old 97s, and now he brings a bundle of new songs and stories on the road with him.

Rodrigo y Gabriela w/ Natalia Lafourcade at Annenberg Space for Photography | July 29
This duo manages to take the guitar, an instrument we thought we had pushed to its limits, and push it even further. With wildly showy covers of some of music’s biggest standouts, this classically armed pair of virtuosos will fit perfectly into what’s going on at Annenberg’s Space for Photography right now, which is quickly building steam as a can’t-miss concert series. Latin sensation Natalia laFourcade will also be in attendance to make sure the series goes out with a proper bang. Make sure to RSVP for this stellar show, as space fills up fast.

Rooney at Teragram Ballroom | July 29
Rooney shrugged off the shackles of a major label deal and used the freedom to craft music the way it was meant to be made: without apology. The group’s brand of power pop stuns listeners with its various homages to past musical greats peppered throughout. Along with supporting act Swimm, Rooney looks to win over another pocket of L.A. fandom.

Strange Forest ft. Devendra Banhart at The Broad | July 29
A celebration of the sonic sophistication in Japanese Culture, The Broad presents its second event in its Summer Happenings concert series entitled “Strange Forest.” The event features a number of artists who have experimented with influences from that very culture, including Devendra Banhart, whose latest album draws directly from that realm.

Taking Back Sunday with Every Time I Die at Wiltern
July 29
Yell and mosh your way to your heart’s content when two of the late 2000s’ favorite bands get together for a mammoth Wiltern performance. Taking Back Sunday and Every time I Die dominated the emo music scene for a long time, with the former group even amassing some pretty extensive radio play. This one will be a show to remember.

Waxahatchee at Regent Theatre | July 29
An extension for songwriter Katie Crutchfield, Waxahatchee gives her license to shed a piercing light on every chapter of her transforming life. She brings her irresistible hooks and poignant writing to the Regent Theatre for a heart-stopping performance in support of Waxahatchee’s latest album, “Out in the Storm.”

Portugal. The Man at Hollywood Palladium | July 29 + 30
This Alaska crew builds indie rock songs rich in experimentation and layer them into live shows that truly enchant. Their music ranges from atmospheric to blistering in the best way, and the most fun way to experience it is to catch it live.

John Mayer at The Forum | July 30
Mayer’s music and songwriting has touched everyone at one time regardless of the situation, but when he appears at the Forum — the heart of L.A. entertainment — he’s bound to make countless new organic connections. This promises to be one of the more monumental performances of the summer.