Fri. July 9 -- Bombastic Cosmobats are heavy funkateers Bombastic Meatbats (guitarist Jeff Kollman, bassist Kevin Chown, keysman Ed Roth) with slammin' Cosmosquad skinsman Shane Gaalaas subbing for superdrummer Chad Smith. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Fri. July 9 -- Even if the only original member of The Wailers is bassist Aston "Familyman" Barrett, with the access he's got, there's no way this current nine-member reggae clan is gonna limp. A "Fan-Tastic Friday" after the horse races at Hollywood Park, 1050 S. Prairie Ave., Inglewood 90301; music 10:30pm; $7 before 10pm; $3 beers till 9pm; $2 hot dogs all night; free parking; (310) 419-1500; http://hollywoodpark.com.
Sat. July 10 -- Within its 12-band roster, this year's Mayhem Festival, headlined in stellar fashion by Korn, Rob Zombie and Lamb of God (read my review of LoG's new box here), piles in some other heavyweights I delectate, including Norma Jean, Winds of Plague and In This Moment. Plus some emo-metal. At San Manuel Amphitheater, 2575 Glen Helen Parkway, San Bernardino 92407; 2:30pm; $26-$61.25; (909) 880-6500; www.livenation.com; fest site here.
Sat. July 10 -- Windman Steve Wilson blows with dry sensitivity, intellectual fire and a lotta taste, so you can hear why Chick Corea and Dave Holland, for instance, would wanna hire him. He also makes very listenable records with his quartet, and leads one here tonight. At Vitello's Restaurant, 4349 Tujunga Ave., Studio City 91604; 8 &10 pm; $15 cover plus $13 minimum; (818) 769-0905; www.vitellosrestaurant.com.
Thurs. July 15 -- Trumpeter Miles Evans, son of the great Gil, explores the fusionistic side of his dad's legacy, especially as relates to Jimi Hendrix. It rocks real funky. The star-studded band: bassist Darryl Jones (Rolling Stones), drummer Bernie Dresel (Brian Setzer), guitarist Mike Blumberg (Maceo Parker), keyboardist Mitch Forman (Wayne Shorter), saxist Doug Webb (Stanley Clarke), saxist Bob Sheppard (Chick Corea), cellist Tina Guo (San Diego Symphony) and guitarist Andrew Synowiec (Big Phat Band). At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8 & 10pm; $20; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Tues.-Thurs. July 13-15 -- LAFMS revolutionaries and longtime Portland residents Smegma hit town in various combinations. The Tenses and Wormses are at Pooh-Bah in Pasadena (their original home) on Tuesday at 7pm. Basshaters, Mirage, Damion Romero and Indian Mound (Albert Ortega & Bobby Adams) are at Echo Curio on Wednesday at 9pm. Wormses are on KXLU Thursday at 5pm. And on Thursday, Smegma, Joe Potts and Wormses are at ResBox at Steve Allen Theater, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90027; 8pm; $10; BYO.
Thurs. July 15 -- Various vintages of historic song await with Le Chat Lunatique, Missincinnati and Jessica Fichot. At Human Resources Gallery, 510 Bernard St., Chinatown 90012; 8pm; cheap or free.
Read Brick Wahl’s jazz picks in LA Weekly here, Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.