Fri. Nov. 25 -- Keysman Billy Childs strays from his Grammy-winning chamber-art trip in favor of looser improvisations with his trio featuring bassist Reggie Hamilton and drummer Joey Heredia. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. Nov. 26 -- Poet & trombonist Dorothea Grossman & Michael Vlatkovich mix up their improvisatory impressionism with the redoubtable abstractions of guitarist Tom McNalley and drummer Rich West. Good chance to check out this new artistical venue. At the Harlequin Room, 3013 Gilroy St., Atwater 90039; 8pm; $10; sodas & wine.
Sat. Nov. 26 -- Long-form mainstays of modern prog metal Between the Buried and Me top an exciting package with the instro mastery of Animals As Leaders (read my record review here) and djent kings Tesseract. A major opportunity for observers of Heavytown's extreme intellectual edge. At House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 8pm; $29; all ages; (323) 848-5800; www.livenation.com.
Sun. Nov. 27 -- I must admit I didn't expect the revival of Norwegian black-metal originators Mayhem to persist, but here they are, cranking out the strangely addictive gloom. Fellow countrymen Keep of Kalessin (pictured) mine a somewhat more traditional vein of swordly technical melodicism, Poland's Hate love it to death, and L.A.'s Abigail Williams (who are not a woman) stir up the screaming blackness like champions -- keyboards & all. At House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 8:30pm; $32.50; all ages; (323) 848-5800; www.livenation.com.
Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.