May 1 – May 7 • Essential Weekly Concert Guide • L.A. Edition

Joseph Baura

Laura Marling at Mayan Theater | May 1
Having garnered a ton of success in the UK, Laura Marling is looking to make waves in the United States with her latest album, “Semper Femina.” The recipient of several nominations for Best Female Solo Artist for the Brit Awards, Marling’s classic folk tunes make her one of the pioneers of England’s “nu-folk” wave.

Son Volt at The Roxy Theatre | May 1
Led by lead singer Jay Farrar, Son Volt brings a solid mix between alternative rock, country, and folk music that sounds like it came straight out of the 70s. With the release of their latest album, “Notes of Blue (Thirty Tigers)” in February, Son Volt is continuing the trend of leading the genre of Alternative Country.

The Palms at Troubadour | May 1
Made up of duo Johnny Zambetti and Ben Rothbard, The Palms have orchestrated a sound that they describe as the “perfect soundtrack to a summer night in Los Angeles.” The Palms blend one-part indie, with and equal part of soul with a small tinge of blues to make a sound that is as relaxing as it is at times emotionally driven.

Betty Who at The Fonda Theatre | May 2
Having recently released her sophomore studio album, “The Valley,” Australian songstress Betty Who brings an upbeat sound that incorporates aspects of synth pop and dancehall for a tempo that is perfect to get you on your feet. Although she hasn’t had record-breaking success in the States, Betty Who is best known for her hit single “I Love You Always Forever” which peaked as a top 10 single in Australia.

Boogie at The Roxy Theatre | May 2
Hailing from Compton, Boogie has come at the right time with the public’s eyes turned towards west coast hip hop with artists like Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q making shockwaves throughout the genre. Boogie brings a sense of versatility with his flow, ranging from a quick, rapid fire, no nonsense flow, to a more toned down, low, almost gospel-like approach to his delivery.

Ozomatli at Troubadour | May 2
Hailing from Los Angeles, Ozomatil is a perfect mirror of the culture and music scene that is highly influenced by Latin culture. Since their start in 1995, the band has toured with the likes of Carlos Santana, and has been featured in countless films. Their brand of rock which features influences from genres like salsa, hip hop, reggae, and funk is sure to pique the interest of everyone, Spanish-speaking or not.

Lady Gaga (Filming “A Star Is Born” Music Video) at Greek Theatre | May 2-3
For a special engagement, Lady Gaga will be performing at the Greek Theatre in conjunction with the filming for the music video for her single, “A Star Is Born.” As the video will be portraying a country western concert, fans in attendance are encouraged to wear their best country attire to the filming of the music video as fans will have a chance to appear in on camera. All proceeds from ticket sales will be given directly to Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation.

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness at The Belasco Theater | May 3
Formerly of the band, Jack’s Mannequin, Andrew McMahon has branched off on his own and created his side project, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. The sound, quite similar to his work with Jack’s Mannequin, brings an indie pop sound mixed with some alternative rock. His self-titled debut album was met with critical praise, and his recent release, “Zombies On Broadway,” was met with an even higher amount of praise.

Keifer Sutherland at The Roxy Theatre | May 3
Through his storied acting career in films like “The Lost Boys” and “Stand By Me,” and television roles in programs like the hit series, “24” you never would have guessed that actor-turned-musician Keifer Sutherland had the itch to make country music. With the release of his album, “Down In A Hole,” in 2016, Sutherland is satisfying his itch for music and proved to be a solid first venture.

Yo Yo Ma at Walt Disney Concert Hall | May 3
As a musical prodigy, Yo-Yo Ma has been creating exceptional music behind his cello for many years having received several Grammy awards and having performed for many famous dignitaries. Ma will be performing with musicians Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile for a special group that they call, Bach Trios.  Tickets are sold out; however, there’s still some available on StubHub.

Daley at The Regent Theater | May 4
Having been featured on the Gorillaz 2010 single, “Doncamatic,” Daley broke out onto the music scene from Manchester, England with his smooth take on R&B and soul. His vocals which are presented with a very ethereal presence compliment his songs about heartbreak and love.

Day Wave at Amoeba Music | May 4
In celebration of the release of their album, “The Days We Had,” Oakland-bred indie rock act Day Wave (aka Jackson Phillips) will be performing a special intimate live performance at the famed records store. While dubbed as a band, Day Wave masterfully plays all the instruments on his albums with precision and creates a sound that is comparable to classic 80s bands like Joy Division and New Order.

Diet Cig at The Echo | May 4
The pop-punk duo that is Diet Cig is focused on one thing and one thing only and that is to bring as much fun to their music and live performances as possible. Hailing from New Paltz, New York, guitarist/vocalist, Alex Luciano, and drummer, Noah Bowman, have created a great simple chemistry that is infectious and evident in their latest punk album, “Swear I’m Good At This.” The soft and airy vocals from Luciano nicely offset the rugged and rough guitar riffs and drum fills.

Lil Wayne at Fox Theater (Pomona) | May 4
With two decades under his belt in hip hop, Lil Wayne has arguably put out the most classic mixtapes and albums that the genre has ever seen. Once regarded as one of the most clever and inventive emcees, Lil Wayne is truly one of the living legends in a short list of what is considered to be the greatest rappers of all time. Despite a short hiatus from making music, Lil Wayne recently announced that his long awaited “Tha Carter V” will be releasing sometime later this year.

Sondre Lerche at Troubadour | May 4
With the release of his album “Faces Down” at the age of 16, Sondre Lerche made waves in 2002 and was considered to be one of Rolling Stone’s top albums of the year. Since then, Lerche has followed up his success with several hit albums that have spanned jazz, pop, and indie rock, and is still currently finding ways to evolve his sound.

Blue October at The Fonda Theatre | May 5
Lead by Justin Furstenfeld, Blue October brings a calming sense of honesty and humility to their songs about family, love, and honesty about life. The band’s calming and approachable sound often paints a picture of comfort and being in a very positive space. Their latest album, “Home,” made its debut at number one in rock on the Billboard charts.

Brandi Carlile at Orpheum Theatre | May 5
After dropping out of high school to pursue music full time, Brandi Carlile was confident that she could teach herself piano and guitar and eventually make a name for herself. With six critically acclaimed albums and a Grammy nomination under her belt, it’s evident that Carlile’s particular style of alternative country and folk is something that she has honed and perfected all on her own.

Old Crow Medicine Show at The Wiltern | May 5
The Old Crow Medicine Show is a traditional folk band in every sense of the word. After winning a Grammy for best folk album in 2014 for their album, “Remedy,” the band was also inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. While the band performs their own style of folk, they often take from inspiration from folk and blues songs from the WWII era.

Feist at Downtown Palace Theatre | May 5-6
With the recent release of her fifth studio album, “Pleasure,” Feist has released what is arguably her best album yet. The Canadian-born songstress presents a dynamic range of tastes in her music from a low, somber voice gliding along hard and aggressive guitar riffs in her song, “Pleasure,” to a more light hearted, airy single in her hit single, “1234.”

Andrew Rayel at Hollywood Palladium | May 6
After starting his EDM career at the age of 17, Andrew Rayel had accomplished more than many DJs could achieve in their lifetime. Despite only being 24, Andrew Rayel has already performed at some of the biggest stages that EDM has to offer, such as Ultra Music Festival, Electric Daisy Carnival, and many others. Known for his solid trance production, Rayel focuses on the melodic elements of EDM, often incorporating strings and pianos into his mixes.

Glitch Mob at Exchange LA | May 6
Hailing from LA, Glitch Mob is undoubtedly one of the biggest acts in EDM around today. As their name suggests, the trio of EDM DJs focus on the glitch subgenre of EDM which essentially takes the faults of audio and flips it into a carefully constructed symphony of distortion. Aside from their own original works, Glitch Mob has created fan favorite remixes of songs like “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes and “Derezzed” by Daft Punk.

Lewis Watson at Troubadour | May 6
While Lewis Watson has drastically changed his look over the past few years, what’s most important about the England born songwriter is that his acoustic tunes about love have stayed completely the same. Now having matured in both mindset and in his music, Lewis Watson still brings the same truthful perspective on his personal experiences with life and relationships.

Oddisee at The Regent Theater | May 6
Oddisee brings back the most refreshing parts of what old souls like A Tribe Called Quest and The Roots brought in the golden age of hip hop. With beats that are reflective of his Washington D.C. roots, incorporating the go-go trend that grew out of the district. His rhymes are also a reflection of his reality as Oddisee presents an honest look of the environment that fueled his urge to pick up a microphone.

A Perfect Circle at Hollywood Bowl | May 7
The rock supergroup known as A Perfect Circle is headed by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. While some may compare A Perfect Circle to Keenan’s other venture with Tool, they make it clear that their sound is a completely different take on the alt-metal genre. Their take on the genre presents a more melodic sound that incorporates orchestral backing to make for a more ambient sound.

Bill Charlap at Walt Disney Concert Hall | May 7
The famed jazz artist will be working with several other artists, including Ann Hampton Callaway and Renee Rosnes for a special performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Charlap will be heading a performance focused around the music of “West Side Story,” with a refreshing jazz twist.

Ray BLK at The Roxy Theatre | May 7
Ray BLK brings out the best of hip hop and blends it with her soulful take on the R&B genre. Having studied music her entire life, Ray BLK found the comfort that she needed in listening to artists like Missy Elliott and Timbaland while watching programs on MTV. Ray BLK brings her raw and honest take on love and heartbreak and lets it all spill out through her silky smooth vocals.