August 22 – August 28 • Essential Weekly Concert Guide • L.A. Edition

Matt Matasci

Digable Planets and Camp Lo at Regent Theater | Aug. 22
The original Digable Planets lineup has reunited, marking the first time in 11 years the trio have hit the road together. Consisting of Mary Ann “Ladybug Mecca” Vieira, Craig “Doodlebug” Irving and Ishmael “Butterfly” Butler, the group was part of the early 90s alternative hip-hop explosion.

“The Rock Hall Three For All” Heart, Joan Jett And The Blackhearts, Cheap Trick at The Forum | Aug. 23
Three of the biggest names in classic rock team up for an unforgettable night of rock ‘n roll. Heart recently released their sixteenth album, “Beautiful Broken” in July, while Cheap Trick released their seventeenth album in April.

Broods at The Novo | Aug. 23
New Zealand brother-sister duo Broods released their excellent second album “Conscious” earlier this year. The group specializes in gorgeous vocal harmonies backed by intriguing, synthy pop soundscapes.

MEGA NOVA ft. Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana and LA Philharmonic at Hollywood Bowl | Aug. 24
Carlos Santana heads to the Hollywood Bowl to perform with Herbie Hancock at an event billed as MEGA NOVA. Santana will of course be on guitar and Hancock on keyboards, while Santana’s wife Cindy Blackman Santana will be on drums with Wayne Shorter on sax.

Alexis Taylor at Hotel Cafe | Aug. 24
While Hot Chip is best known for energetic electronic pop style, lead singer Alexis Taylor opted for a different approach for his solo career. Taking on a more classic singer-songwriter style, it is fitting that Taylor would perform at the intimate Hotel Café in Hollywood.

Belly at Teragram Ballroom | Aug. 24-25
One of the biggest names to emerge from the mid-90s alternative scene, Belly is led by Tanya Donnelly. Donnelly has been in some of the biggest groups of the era, including Throwing Muses and The Breeders. Both nights are sold out but a limited number of tickets can be found here and here.

Blood Orange at Theater at The Ace Hotel (FYF After Dark) | Aug. 24-25
With FYF Fest this weekend, there are a ton of huge names in town. FYF has taken advantage of this situation by booking several theater and club shows in advance of the festival, billing it FYF After Dark. Perhaps the biggest of all is back-to-back performances by Devin Hynes, aka Blood Orange, who just released his acclaimed “Freetown Sound” this year.

DIIV + Wild Nothing w/ Alex G at The Fonda (FYF After Dark) | Aug. 24-25
Also part of the FYF After Dark series, The Fonda plays host to one of the most stacked lineups of the week. DIIV released their acclaimed second album in 2016, further exploring their indie rock sound. Meanwhile, indie pop group Wild Nothing also released a new album in 2016, titled “Life of Pause.”

Deftones, Yelawolf and Sister Crayon at Greek Theatre | Aug. 24
Deftones made their glorious return this year with “Gore,” a moody and atmospheric album that is punctuated by powerful fits of aggression. The band will be joined at the Greek Theatre by Southern rapper Yelawolf and electronic duo Sister Crayon.

Save Ferris at Santa Monica Pier (Twilight Concert Series) | Aug. 25
Santa Monica’s Twilight Concert series marches on with ska-punk heroes Save Ferris taking the stage on the pier. The Orange County band released two albums in the late 90s, capitalizing on the ska trend in punk music.

Julien Baker at The El Rey (FYF After Dark) | Aug. 25
Indie rocker Julien Baker is a rising star in the underground music world. The singer from Tennessee made a name for herself with 2015’s acclaimed “Sprained Ankle.” Catch her at the El Rey before she heads out to FYF Festival for the weekend!

Boris at Regent Theater (FYF After Dark) | Aug. 26
Japanese avant-garde metal group Boris is one of the few heavy acts to be featured on this year’s FYF Festival lineup. The band will warm up for the festival by taking their sludgy sound to Downtown Los Angeles’ Regent Theater.

Peter Bjorn and John at The Roxy (FYF After Dark) | Aug. 26
The band that made a name with the one-off whistle-based hit “Young Folks.” Fast forward 10 years and the trio is still cranking out unforgettable indie pop hits, including their latest LP “Breakin’ Point,” which was released earlier this year.

Beach House at The Theatre at Ace Hotel (FYF After Dark) | Aug. 26
Baltimore indie-pop duo Beach House are no rookies when it comes to playing FYF. The group returns to the Southern California festival this year, but first they will perform at The Theater at Ace Hotel. With two albums released last, the band will have plenty of new material to showcase.

Father John Misty at El Rey Theatre (FYF After Dark) | Aug. 26
Another one of the biggest names in indie rock will take part in the FYF After Dark series. Father John Misty released the acclaimed “I Love You, Honeybear” back in 2015. Misty is one of the most acclaimed performers in the music world, falling deep into character while on stage.

Wolf Parade at The Echo (FYF After Dark) | Aug. 26
Wolf Parade recently announced their reunion, following up that news with a brand new EP. The band will perform at The Echo before they take the stage at FYF this weekend. Tickets are sold out but a limited number can be found here.

Josh Groban, Sarah McLachlan and Foy Vance at Greek Theatre | Aug. 26-27
The golden-voiced wonder Josh Groban heads to the Greek for a night of his awe-inspiring vocal abilities. Joining him on stage will be Sarah McLachlan and rising singer-songwriter Foy Vance.

“Rhondavous: Paradise City” w/ Floating Points and Junior Boys at Belasco Theater | Aug. 26
Fans of electronic music cannot miss the upcoming “Rhondavous: Paradise City” at The Belasco Theater in Downtown LA. The concert includes performances from Floating Points and Junior Boys as well as an array of up-and-coming electro artists.

Culture Club at Hollywood Bowl | Aug. 26-27
Culture Club is one of the most representative British pop groups of the 80s. With hits like “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” and “Karma Chameleon” and their ever-colorful frontman Boy George, Culture Club was one of the biggest and best of the decade.

KDAY Fresh Fest w/ E-40, The Dogg Pound, N.O.R.E. , Suga Free and Ying Yang Twins at The Shrine | Aug. 27
Hip-hop heads trek to the Shrine for a day with some of the genre’s biggest names. Oakland rapper E-40 tops the bill, with support from groups like The Dogg Pound and Ying Yang Twins and rappers like N.O.R.E. and Suga Free.

FYF Fest w/ Kendrick Lamar, LCD Soundsystem, Grace Jones and More at Exposition Park | Aug. 27-28
This year’s boasts perhaps their best ever lineup. With headlining sets by Kendrick Lamar, Grace Jones, Tame Impala and LCD Soundsystem, the festival reaches into a diverse range of genres, providing something for everyone. Tickets are sold out but a limited number of two-day passes can be found here, Saturday passes here and Sunday passes here.

Ohana Festival at Doheny State Beach ft. Eddie Vedder, Lana Del Rey, Elvis Costello and More | Aug. 27-28
Down the coast in Southern Orange County is the newest festival in the region, Ohana Festival at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point. Headlining this new festival are big names like Eddie Vedder, Lana Del Rey, Elvis Costello and Band of Horses.

Santana and Journey at The Forum | Aug. 28
Carlos Santana is having a busy week in Los Angeles, performing first at the Hollywood Bowl and then joining Journey for an evening at The Forum. The two legends of rock ‘n roll are known for their incredible performances throughout the years, so this is a can’t- miss performance for fans of classic rock.

Kool & the Gang, Bootsy Collins, Doug E. Fresh at Microsoft Theatre | Aug. 28
It’s time to get funky when Kool & the Gang come to Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theatre. These funk legends will be joined with some of the most innovative and important artists of funk and R&B, Bootsy Collins and Doug E. Fresh.