Fri. March 7 -- Versatile jazz guitarist Anthony Wilson goes chambersville, playing his "Seasons" suite with a four-guitar ensemble. Four guitars? Four seasons? Do we sense a pattern? The Edye at the Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica 90401; 8pm; $25; www.thebroadstage.com.
Sat. March 8 -- Long-running San Diego crusaders Cattle Decapitation engorge their rasping vegan metal with a wide range of dynamics, timbres and compositional forms. Support arrives via King Parrot, Nausea, Dreaming Dead (dig their technically advanced female guitarist), Slain Vitals, Consuming Terror. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; www.whiskyagogo.com; 7pm; $20; (310) 652-4202.
Fri.-Sun. March 7-9 -- Flogging their lively, bluesfusiony "Krush" ("Car Crash Red" is a blast), all-stars Niacin come at ya heavy with the thrubbledippity bass of Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big), everybody's fave drummer Dennis Chambers (CAB) and powerhouse Hammond man John Novello (Chick Corea). At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Sat. March 8 -- Good to see instro-metal pilots Scale the Summit headlining after several years of hard work, preceded by tidal waves of heavy immersion from The Ocean, plus The Atlas Moth, Silver Snakes. At the Lyric, 520 N. La Brea Ave., L.A. 90036; 6:30pm; $16; www.lyrictheatrela.com.
Thurs. March 13 -- Original bassist-voxman Jeff Becerra rejiggers Bay Area proto-thrashers Possessed alongside a few newer conscripts. With Unsanctified, Mortifixation, Lethal Fire, Velosity, Darkult, Miscreancy. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 7pm; $20; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Thurs.-Sat. March 13-15 -- The Landau family settles in with Karen's spooky folk project Hazey Jane on Thursday, and the weighty fusion of The Michael Landau Group (drummer Gary Novak, bassist Jimmy Johnson) on Friday & Saturday. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.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.