Fri. March 22 -- Sweden's Crucified Barbara may be a better all-femme melodic hard-rock band than the Runaways were, but in fairness, it took 30 years of rock history and over a decade of personal experience to get 'em to this pro level. (Too bad trademark laws prevented them from using their preferred name. The Barbies also make an in-store appearance before the gig at the nearby Sound Check Hollywood, 8872 Sunset Blvd., 8pm.) Swedish glamsters Crashdiet headline; with Sleazestain, Paleface, more. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 6pm; $20; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Fri. March 22 -- Stellar jamz abound when Tool drummer Danny Carey and Volto rage with bassist Lance Morrison, guitarist John Ziegler and new keyboardist Matt Rohde. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Fri.-Sat. March 22-23 -- Azar Lawrence has been absent from this gig lately, resting up from a month of Euro gigs maybe, but his super bandmates (Alphonse Mouzon, Henry Franklin, Theo Saunders) are supporting two of our town's finest Trane-influenced saxists this weekend: Justo Almario (Friday), and Chuck Manning (Saturday). At the RG Club, 2536 Lincoln Blvd., Venice 90291; 9 & 11pm; $15; (310) 822-1715; rgclubvenice.com.
Sat. March 23 -- You can stand a little world peace from shakuhachi (etc.) player George Abe and tabla (etc.) player Christopher Garcia. At Shamans Vision, 5222 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90027; 8:30pm; $10; reserve at info@shamansvision.org.
Tues. March 26 -- No, Ohm ain't metal, despite guitarist Chris Poland's early Megadeth history, it's a fuzzier fusion thing that intuits Poland's sci-fi obsession, featuring Rob Pagliari on bass and David Eagle on drums. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Wed. March 27 -- Always the rebel, I'm going on record as an opponent of multiple sclerosis, along with all the other Rock Against MS Benefit participants -- Glenn Hughes, Lemmy, John 5, Steven Adler, Jeff Pilson, Kenny Aronoff, Tommy Victor and the rest. At the Key Club, 9039 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 6:30pm; $40-$175; 18+; www.keyclub.com; (310) 274-5800.
Wed. March 27 -- East Coast proto-thrashers Anthrax are reprising their whole classic "Among the Living" album on a star-packed bill featuring Bay Area contemporaries Exodus, vicious croak & riff from High on Fire, 'boarding beer-blast from Municipal Waste, and twin-guitar thrash rumble from Pasadena's melodic Holy Grail. Energy plus. At House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 6pm; $35; (323) 848-5100; www.livenation.com.
Thurs. March 28 -- Hope Latino thrashers Bonded by Blood slept in good after last night; hard to imagine they didn't attend a show where their former labelmates Municipal Waste played, and where Exodus (after whose album they named their band) also held forth. With Hatchet, Hexen, Exterminate, Ophiucus, Engraved Insanity, Scarred Condition, Crimson. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Thurs. March 28 -- At the Bowl last year, Mr. Hibbert proved that Toots & the Maytals ain't just a foundational reggae band, they're a ROCK band, and they will rock you. At House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 9pm; $29.50; (323) 848-5100; www.livenation.com.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.