Fri. April 8 -- One of the most inventive and original bands out there, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, says it has been "replaced," and this is its last L.A. show. So naturally it's sold out; mug a hipster for tickets. At the Troubadour, 9081 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; www.troubadour.com.
Fri.-Sun. April 8-10 -- Rachelle Ferrell can do more just by shaping the notes and syllables in that big ol' mouth of hers than anybody I've ever heard; if them American Idol types checked her out, they'd damnwell pack it up. She does standards more than her original soul stuff these days, but that doesn't mean they're standard. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8 & 10pm; $30-$40; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Sat. April 9 -- Exciting pianist-composer Richard Sears opens with a charged modernistic trio featuring bassist Garrett Lang and drummer Kevin Yokota; the softly angular SoCal jazz of Alex Pinto Quartet closes with a release party. At the Blue Whale on the third floor of Weller Court Plaza, south of East First Street between South Los Angeles Street and South San Pedro Street, Little Tokyo 90012; 9pm-midnight; $10; validated parking underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. April 9 -- Another blowout for the new lit & art mag Slake: creative cocktails, Dorian Wood at the piano, Ryan Heffington dancers, and readings by Slakesters Judith Lewis Mernit, James Greer, Justin Warfield, Lauren Weedman and more. It's part of the GOOD L.A. community weekend. At Atwater Crossing, 3229 Casitas Ave., Atwater 90039; 5-7pm; RSVP list filled, but a limited number of admittances available at the door, so come early; full list of GOOD weekend activities here.
Sun. April 10 -- Mesotonal musician Kraig Grady spurned L.A. by moving to Australia, but you can catch some of his compositions being performed, along with electro-extreme soundscapes from Judicanti Responsura and Joseph Hammer, in conjunction with a William Leavitt exhibit. At the Museum of Contemporary Art, 250 S. Grand Ave., downtown 90012; 3pm; FREE.
Sun. April 10 -- Have dinner after the MOCA thing, then walk over and take in the always challenging California EAR Unit, addressing electronics, depressive Ted Hughes poems, "Alice in Wonderland" and inflamed L.A. hills. Conceptual! At REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8:30pm; $20; www.redcat.org.
Sun. April 10 -- The trad-based sound of The Elliott Caine Quartet goes down easy with yer suds, and its new "Hippie Chicks on Acid" primes you for Tuesday's QOTSA show by analogy. At the York Bar and Restaurant, 5018 York Blvd., Highland Park 90042; 9:30pm-midnight; (323) 255-9675.
Tues.-Wed. April 12 -- Queens of the Stone Age make a loud, melodic & fuzzy noise that sounds good to me and also others, as this seems to be sold out. Funny, the QOTSA web site says "no upcoming gigs scheduled." With somebody. At the Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90010; doors 7-ish; $47.20; (213) 388-1400; www.livenation.com.
Thurs. April 14 -- Close your eyes and listen to Brad Mehldau play piano; he'll take you intellectual/sensual places you didn't know existed. Dude has the touch of the generation. At Largo in the historic Coronet Theater, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., L.A. 90048; 7 & 10pm; $40; (310) 855-0350. www.largo-la.com.
Thurs. April 14 -- Drummer Matt Mayhall leads a moody modernist trio; extreme axmen The Kurosawa Brothers (Matt & Goh) trip out. At Royal-T, 8910 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232; 8pm; $12; $8 students; (310) 559-6300; www.royal-t.org.
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.