July 10 – July 16 • Essential Weekly Concert Guide • L.A. Edition

Des Delgadillo

Logic w/ Joey Bada$$ at Greek Theatre | July 10
Two of the best rappers to come out of the modern cypher stop off at The Greek for a big show full of bigger sounds and rhymes that are downright larger than life. For many, a tour with both MC’s on the bill was the stuff of dreams, but now it’s real and it’s coming.

J. Cole at The Forum | July 11 + 12
Give J.Cole a beat, any beat, and witness the damage the Fayetteville, N.C. native leaves in his wake. His latest album “4 Your Eyez Only” exposed a whole new layer of vulnerability for the conscious MC, and so many of those poignant verses are best experienced live and in person.

P.O.D. w/ Alien Ant Farm at Regent Theater | July 12
There’s no better way to rock Los Angeles than with a band as loud and as passionate as P.O.D., an outfit who have tasted success on every level from Grammy nominations to reaching triple platinum status. They are supported by friends Alien Ant Farm, an alt-metal quartet from Riverside, Calif.

RAC w/ MNDR at The Echo | July 12
The Remix Artist Collective have worked their magic on over 200 tracks so far and have no intentions of stopping any time soon. They’ve put their signature spin on everyone from The Shins and Two Door Cinema Club to Bob Marley and Ella Fitzgerald. Supported by singer-songwriter MNDR, those in attendance at the Echoplex are in for one fine evening of dance.

Russ at Shrine Auditorium | July 12
With a sharp tongue and an array of beats incorporating virtually every genre under the sun, Russ refuses to fall under one umbrella for long. The Atlanta rapper makes his own beats, pens his own rhymes and does his own work, and at The Shrine, he will make the fans dance.

Teammate at Resident | July 12
Synths chime delicately before growing ever louder until they crescendo in a cacophony of thunderous drums. Those are the makings of a song by Teammate, a synth pop act spearheaded by duo Scott Simons and Dani Buncher. Their brand of synth-pop can drive an audience to crazy levels of fervor, a talent that will be on full display at The Resident.

XXL Freshmen ft. Playboi Carti, Kyle, Madeintyo, Ugly God, Amine, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Kamaiyah, PNB Rock and Kap G at The Novo | July 12
The latest XXL Freshmen class take the stage for a performance full of surprises. With so many different artists on the bill hailing from so many different places and backgrounds, this one’s bound to be an eclectic event.

Luca Lush at The Roxy | July 13
When it comes to chill songster Luca Lush, no tune is sacred. The LA native has remixed everything from Drake to M83, putting his own stamp on each one complete with blaring bass and heavy textures. Couple those big name remixes with his own original work and a Luca Lush set becomes something very worth experiencing once, twice, as many times as it takes.

Marcia Griffiths at Santa Monica Pier | July 13
The reggae community has something to celebrate in Santa Monica this week, as the “Queen of Reggae” will perform some of her best hits as part of a free summer concert series right on the pier. Griffiths rose to prominence through her work with Bob Marley, providing backup vocals for him as part of the I-Threes. Supporting Griffiths at this free reggae showcase will be Jamaican singer/songwriter Jah9.

Niia at Hammer Museum | July 13
Niia’s songs have been known to take on dreamlike textures, transporting listeners from the realm of reality to a new world with her masterful songwriting as the only guide back home. With L.A. songwriter Spelles and a DJ set from KCRW, this is another example of why The Hammer Museum has really become a music-lover’s go-to this summer.

Sports w/ Yeek at The Echo | July 13
Sports specialize in the kind of pop music that makes you want to hit the streets with the top down, wind flowing through your hair, with only the sweetest of melodies to keep you company. They’re a perfect act for The Echoplex, a space designed for swank dance parties like this one.

Rise Against w/ Of Mice and men at Shrine Auditorium | July 13 + 14
Ever since they reached a level of international notoriety, punk rock group Rise Against has leveraged that platform into a medium for their social justice message. Their eighth studio album, “Wolves,” continues that message, and their live shows stir such passion that it’s hard to ignore what the group is saying. Supported by Of Mice and Men, this show is bound to light a fire in somebody.

Big Black Delta at The Viaduct | July 14
Nestled under the North Broadway Bridge is one of the more unique venues in L.A., but what The Viaduct lacks in presence it more than makes up for in its musical offerings. Big Black Delta will play the new “Whoru812” album in its entirety at this all ages event.

Brian Chase (of Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Molly Surno Present “We of Me” at The Getty | July 14
There are some truly remarkable experiments going on at the Getty right now, perhaps none more remarkable than Brian Chase and visual artist Molly Surno’s carefully choreographed “We of Me” performance. Psychedelic rock band Araw will also perform at this free event.

Chic ft. Nile Rodgers at The Wiltern | July 14
With a founding member back at the helm, Chic returns to L.A. with their immersive disco-driven brand of rock. The legendary Nile Rodgers will be front and center for this breathtaking performance.

I Love The 90s ft. TLC, Blackstreet, Montell Jordan, Kid’ N Play at Greek Theatre | July 14
Nostalgia and good times are all anyone needs for a Friday night worth remembering. TLC leads this 90s tour into L.A., so there will be plenty of hits from a bygone era to enjoy.

Jon B at The Novo | July 14
A special $5 show at The Novo, soul crooner Jon B shares his powerful music wrought with influences from past hitmakers like Earth Wind and Fire. His devotion to the genre is enough to unleash a kind of musical catharsis, and for only $5, that’s a steal.

Wolfgang Gartner at Exchange L.A. | July 14
Part of the venue’s weekly “Awakening” series, Exchange L.A. showcases artists with big sounds begging to be explored. Wolfgang Gartner has just that sound, with dance songs that pulse and swell into something huge. The self-proclaimed “Glitch Master” knows how to give his audiences a night worth remembering.

Tony Bennett and Dudamel at Hollywood Bowl | July 14 + 15
There will be countless collaborations this year, but when a legend like Tony Bennett teams up with the LA Philharmonic Orchestra, there’s nothing to do but get lost in the textures of a truly blissful partnership. Thankfully this show runs for two nights, because it’s one fans might need to take in again to really appreciate.

Los Angeles Soul Music Festival at Exposition Park | July 14-16
Three days of soul in sunny Exposition Park? Can things get any hotter? With artists like Musiq Soulchild and BJ The Chicago Kid involved, this might be L.A.’s signature summer event going forward.

Agenda Festival ft. Tyler The Creator, Ludacris, Cam’ron, Lil Dicky, The Beat Junkies, Taco at Long Beach Convention Center | July 15
A giant mix of popup shops and some of the best artists going today describes Long Beach’s Agenda Festival, an attempt to blend the best of both worlds into one killer festival. So many brands and artists will be showcasing their stuff at this event, it’ll be hard to come away without finding your new favorite artist, designer, or something else.

Miguel w/ Gabriel Garzon-Montano and Stretch Armstrong at Annenberg Space for Photography | July 15
Grammy-award-winning Miguel serenades this photo space as a kickoff performance for Annenberg’s “Sound in Focus” series. Support includes multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Garzon-Montano and a DJ set by Stretch Armstrong. The show is free but RSVP is required.

Now, Now at The Echo | July 15
Minneapolis indie outfit Now, Now just polished off their second studio album, “Threads,” and they’re eager to show the world how they’ve evolved as songwriters and as musicians in general. The Echo hosts their perfectly layered synth and guitar driven rock this weekend.

Prince Royce at Greek Theatre | July 15
Get ready for frenzy like you’ve never experienced before when Latin mega-star Prince Royce hits The Greek. A winner of every Latin award that comes to mind, Royce has gone multi-platinum all over the world, and his raucous fanbase will surely be out in full force for his L.A. return.

The Game at Fox Theater (Pomona) | July 15
The Game has a reality show, a slew of acclaimed albums, and even something of an acting career, so an intimate performance from an artist of his stature is pretty rare. He’ll do just that in Pomona, though, when he pumps the venue full of the jams he created. It will be a party for the ages.

The Wallflowers at Pershing Square | July 15
With a ton of free music coming to Pershing Square, it’s a great time to be an Angelino. Veteran rockers The Wallflowers bring their sounds to the free stage, exposing their sonic delights to new fans as well as fans of old.

The Classic West ft.  Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, Journey and More at Dodgers Stadium | July 15 + 16
They’re calling it “The Classic West” because everyone wants to be there. It’s a mammoth-sized rock show with some of the genre’s biggest innovators gracing the stage in front of upwards of 50,000 screaming fans. To say Fleetwood Mac and Journey know how to whip a crowd into a frenzy is the grossest understatement. Thankfully there’s no roof on Dodgers Stadium, because this monster show could very well blow it right off.

Jack Johnson at Hollywood Bowl | July 16
“Where’d all the good people go?” asks Jack Johnson on his popular single “Good People.” On July 16, they’re all going to The Bowl for a night of relaxing yet passionate performance. Johnson has been wowing audiences for years with his smooth vocals and even smoother songwriting, and when he arrives in L.A. he will have an even bigger stage to do so.

Natalie Merchant at Greek Theatre | July 16
As part of her latest tour, “Natalie Merchant: 3 Decades of Song,” the talented songwriter and musician is joined by a string quartet to bring her brilliant art to life. The tour works as a preview to Merchant’s career-spanning box set, due out soon.