Fri. Sept. 25 -- Central American folk forms find original expression in Quarteto Nuevo -- percussionist Christopher Garcia, cellist Jacob Szekely, guitarist Kenton Youngstrom and windman Damon Zick. Quiet acoustic music of wonderful beauty and dignity. Starting off a fine bunch of nights at South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory, 1509 Mission St., South Pasadena 91030; 8pm; $10; free parking behind; (626) 403-2300; www.southpasadenamusic.com.
Sat. Sept. 26 -- John and Kelly Fumo are the trumpet-vocal electro-ambient duo Fumosonic. Miles meets World. At South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory, 1509 Mission St., South Pasadena 91030; 8pm; $10; free parking behind; (626) 403-2300; www.southpasadenamusic.com.
Sat. Sept. 26 -- Hit up the quintet of trumpeter Elliott Caine for swinging tradition-plus. At Jax, 339 Brand Blvd., Glendale 91203; 9pm on; no cover; (818) 500-1604.
Sun. Sept. 27 -- The boundless world pianist Larry Karush plays solo as part of the O.C. Creative Music Collective series. At 614 N. Bush St., Santa Ana 92701; 7pm; pay as you will; visit here.
Mon. Sept. 28 -- New Music Monday? Where have I heard that before? This one should convert even Bob Geldof. Percussionist Garth Powell (who’s played with Marshall Allen and John Butcher as well as a lot of West Coast avantists) opens, followed by Bonnie Barnett reading Gertrude Stein and inspiring the improvisations of flutist Richard Wood, bassist Hal Onserud and Mr. Powell. Closing is The Richard Wood Group, featuring the alto/flute guy plus trombonist Dan Ostermann, soprano saxist John Wood, trumpeter Dan Clucas, bassist Onserud and percussionist Marty Mansour. At South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory, 1509 Mission St., South Pasadena 91030; 8pm; $5; free parking behind; (626) 403-2300; www.southpasadenamusic.com.
Tues. Sept. 29 -- Pop is only one letter away from pomp, and the melodic metal of Edguy has got both. The hardworking Krauts are riding a singles collection (“I don’t give a shit . . . I’m a bonus track!") and their exceptionally fine-ground current album, “Tinnitus Sanctus” (produced by Sascha Paeth) not to mention a new video, so I guess after 17 years they still consider rock their job. With Epicurean, Luna Mortis and a local black-metal band to watch, Statius. At the Key Club, 9039 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 6:45pm; $30; 15+; www.keyclub.com; (310) 274-5800.
Wed. Sept. 30 -- Two worthy shows in a row at this high-tech venue; for my money, I gotta pick this amazing lineup with Brazilian heavy rhythm thudders Soulfly, ultimate rock rasper and angular guitarist Tommy Victor’s veteran Prong, ingenious San Diego death-metal poets Cattle Decapitation, and two more. At the Key Club, 9039 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $25; 15+; www.keyclub.com; (310) 274-5800.
Wed. Sept. 30 -- And jeez, what’s going on? On the same night a few miles away, it’s my favorite dual-drummer churn outfit, Georgia’s Kylesa, plus balls-out American bash & thrash from Saviours (titling their new album “Accelerated Living” is truth in advertising), and furthermore, Bison BC and Black Math Horsemen. At the Knitting Factory, 7021 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30pm; $12; http://la.knittingfactory.com.
Wed. Sept. 30 -- And ALSO on the same night . . . Well, it’s a moot point cuz it’s sold out, but I always thought from 1988 to 1994 Alice in Chains did about the best job of blending darkness, heaviness and harmony, and judging from a couple of songs on their MySpace page, their new “Black Gives Way to Blue” album maintains Jerry Cantrell’s vision of guitar layerings, suffering riffs and vocal purgatory despite singer Layne Staley’s death; the new guy’s voice blends with Cantrell’s quite effectively. At Avalon, 1735 Vine St., Hollywood 90028; doors 7pm; (323) 467-4571; www.avalonhollywood.com; www.livenation.com.
Thurs. Oct. 1 -- The Nick Mancini Organ Trio (featuring the creative vibesman plus organist Joe Bagg and drummer Matt Mayhall) starts an every-Thursday residency at chef Eric Greenspan’s classy new restaurant. It wasn’t listed on the place’s site when I posted this, so call to confirm. At the Foundry on Melrose, 7465 Melrose Ave., LA 90046; (323) 651-0915; www.thefoundryonmelrose.com.
Do you value just about the only radio show in the world that consistently plays the really unusual, really out, art-concept-improv stuff? That would be KXLU 88.9 FM’s “Trilogy,” Wednesdays from 9 to 10 p.m., hosted alternately by Michael Davis, Emily Hay and Bonnie Barnett. They’re raising funds, so donate to the station and mention the show. Call (310) 338-5958 or visit www.kxlu.com.
In the dark Eaglified days of 1974-5, when I had just moved to L.A., I wish I had known there was a band like Imperial Dogs, fronted by Don Waller (later a rock journalist of considerable note). They dug Iggy and covered Mott the Hoople, which was exactly my pre-punk meat, and a mutated version of their “This Ain’t the Summer of Love” was a hit for Blue Oyster Cult. They’ve dug up some raw live footage and tweaked the soundtrack so it crunches hard, and a DVD is available for purchase here, along with YouTube previews. More on this later, but I just wanted you to know it’s out there. I bought one! Historic.
Read Brick’s Picks in LA Weekly here and Don Heckman’s picks here.