Fri. Nov. 4 -- Deep master of fusion (and neoclassical) Terry Bozzio drums up his trio with guitarist Alex Machacek and bassist Jimmy Johnson. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Fri. Nov. 4 -- I See Hawks in L.A. You too? With the gauzy fairy folk of Gwendolyn. At Cinema Bar, 3967 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City 90036; 9pm; no cover; (310) 390-1328; thecinemabar.com.
Fri.-Sat. Nov. 4-5 -- A metal festival is always a fun hang. "Legions of Abomination" has Scorched Earth and Unholy Lust headlining Friday; Ceremonial Castings and local black-metal showmen Sothis Saturday (plus many more of course). At the Black Castle, 855 W. Manchester Ave., LA 90044; 7pm; $12; bar; all ages.
Sat. Nov. 5 -- Operatic black metal with a side of woodwind? Why, sure. That's SoCal's own Ana Kefr, which means "I Am Infidel" in Arabic, they say. My Ruin recommended these guys to me, and the more I listen, the more I hear why. Different. And banned in Tupelo for atheism! Plus seven more bands, all hosted by goth goddess Metal Sanaz. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $15; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Sat. Nov. 5 -- Electro-acoustic music interacting with electronically generated/manipulated images -- it's a growing art form, and SCREAM Fest (Southern California Resource for Electro-Acoustic Music) presents recent manifestations from all over the world. I'm no expert and can't tell you who's hot, but it's a trip. The still above is by Elsa Justel. A co-production with New Town at REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8:30pm; $20, students $16; www.redcat.org.
Sat. Nov. 5 -- Clear your head for the beauty and the challenge, the pensiveness and the perversity, of former Zappa pianist Don Preston, in a trio with Grande Mothers drummer Christopher Garcia and bassist Anders Swanson. At South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory, 1509 Mission St., South Pasadena 91030; 8pm; $10; free parking behind; (626) 403-2300. Also Sunday at Alva's Showroom in Long Beach.
Sun. Nov. 6 -- Trumpeter Bruce Friedman congeals his edgewise compositions with his own ensemble and in special duo with pianist Motoko Honda. And longtime jam pals Steuart Liebig (bass) and Bill Barrett (harmonica) display their love for Captain Beefheart, Howlin' Wolf and extreme soundsculpting. At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 7pm; $10; (626) 795-4989.
Sun. Nov. 6 -- Artist, writer, musician, comedian and all-purpose cultural irritant Dave Shulman opens his exhibition of Nixon-themed art with a reception. Check out his renderings of the famous jowls here. Wendy Gilmartin hosts! At Elephant Gallery, 3325 Division St., Glassell Park 90065; 5-9pm; free.
Sun. Nov. 6 -- Talk about visual music (see REDCAT above), how would you like to enter the Vortex Immersive Dome and soak up a theatrical experience called "Migrations," with composers No'a Winter Lazerus & Francois LeRoux, visual artist Audri Phillips, and guest artists Sonja Drakkulich, Benjii Simmersbach, Octavius and Spencer Ludwig? I thought so. At the Vortex Theater within L.A. Center Studios, 1201 W. Fifth St., downtown 90017; 7pm; $27; tickets here.
Mon. Nov. 7 -- Burn your leftover Halloween coffins to celebrate Gram Parsons' Birthday along with Rosie Flores (!), Ronee Blakley (!!), James Intveld, Carla Olson (with Barry Goldberg & John York!), I See Hawks in L.A., Rick Shea and about a dozen more tributors, starting in late afternoon and ending with an after-midnight open jam until the cocaine runs out. Ronnie Mack's Barn Dance at Joe's Great American Bar & Grill, 4311 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank 91505; no cover; call (818) 729-0805 for set times.
Wed. Nov. 9 -- Love the way vibraphonist Nick Mancini keeps doing musical backflips, this time reuniting with old NYC friend Yukari Watanabe (flute), Zach Harmon (percussion/tablas) and Artyom Manukyan (cello). Also a master class at 5:30; bring your instrument. 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.
Thurs. Nov. 10 -- I've been a fan of pianist Mike Garson since his Bowie days, especially the fantasias on "Aladdin Sane." He can destroy a standard or set his own standards, and he's equally ingenious at both. Great trio, too, with Roberto Miranda on bass and Bert Karl on drums. 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.
Thurs. Nov. 10 -- Slake, the literary quarterly of modern slobs like me, launches a new readings series with L.A. Times columnist Hector Tobar slicing off hunks of his new novel about SoCal privilege and penury. At Atwater Crossing, 3245 Casitas Ave., Atwater Village 90039; 7pm; free; free parking in lots.
Thurs. Nov. 10 -- Not just metal: Biohazard's Evan Seinfeld introduces his new Attika 7, plus the post-Puya rhythms of Ankla, the real rockin' Soulbleed and a couple more. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 6pm; $15; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.