Fri. Feb. 12 -- Last year's "Sturm und Drang" is the first record Virginia thrashdeath leaders Lamb of God belched out since frontgrowler Randy Blythe's 2013 acquittal from manslaughter after he pushed a fan off a Prague stage in 2010. The band closed ranks behind Blythe, making "Sturm" their most cohesive blast in a decade; the thing has a flow and a concentration on varied songcraft that make me listen to the whole thing every time, and it was richly recorded by longtime LoG producer Josh Wilbur (who also knobbed Megadeth's new "Dystopia") in SoCal, dude. With perennial thrashers Anthrax (new record!) plus Deafheaven, Power Trip. At Hollywood Palladium, 6215 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 6:30pm; some expensive resale tix available; www.livenation.com; (323) 962-7600.
Fri.-Sun. Feb. 12-14 -- Y'know, it's unlikely I would ever attend a Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp, but the axgod presence of Zakk Wylde, Tony Iommi, Warren Haynes, Steve Vai, and nonguit auxiliaries such as Frankie Banali, Vinny Appice and Rudy Sarzo is kinda tempting, and Valentine's Sunday has got to be the absolute perfect time to sign on for the 99 percent of obsessive guitar freaks who have no girlfriends. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; www.whiskyagogo.com; (310) 652-4202.
Sat. Feb. 13 -- Northeast L.A.'s Artwalk presents soul-trad-Latin trumpeter Elliott Caine's 4tet. At Café NELA, 1906 Cypress Ave., Glassell Park 90065; 7-10pm (concurrent art exhibit starts 6pm); free admission; beer only; 21+; www.cafenela.net.
Sun. Sept. 14 -- ECM perennial, Carla Bley collaborator and all-around valuable player Gary Peacock (bass) assembles a star trio with Marc Copland (piano) and Joey Baron (drums). At Moss Theater in the Herb Alpert Educational Village of New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica 90404; 8:30pm; $35 ($30 students); www.jazzbakery.org.
Sun. Feb. 14 -- The Los Angeles Creative Strings Festival is a day of clinics and a night of performances by and for musicians who wanna do something other than just play Brahms (nothing wrong with that, of course). The evening's performers include Turtle Island cellist Mark Summer, do-it-all violist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, postfusional pathfinding cellist Jacob Szekely and more. At Mt. Olive Church, Santa Monica; clinics 10am-3pm ($75); concert 7:30pm ($15); info and tickets here.
Mon. Feb. 15 -- Three guitarists stretching the melody until it becomes a different melody just as pretty: Larry Koonse, Peter Mazza, Julian Coryell. At the Blue Whale on the third level of Weller Court Plaza, south of East First Street between South Los Angeles Street and South San Pedro Street, Little Tokyo 90012; 9pm-midnight; $15; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Tues. Feb. 16 -- Fans of minimalism and nonstandard harmony go for the music on Cold Blue Records, represented tonight by the likes of Aron Kallay, Derek Stein, Lyris Quartet members, Tasha Smith Godinez and Michael Jon Fink. At Monk Space, 4414 W. Second St. near Western, Los Angeles 90004; 8pm; $25 ($20 students); tix here.
Wed. Feb. 17 -- With its twin-guitar shred, 2015's "Hammer of the Witches" has garnered mucho droolo as a return to classic damnation for lead shrieker Dani Filth (the only original member) and Brit black-metal vets Cradle of Filth (and you know they put on a spectacular show). With Ne Obliviscaris, Butcher Babies. At the Mayan Theater, 1038 S. Hill St., downtown 90015; 6pm; $27; www.livenation.com.
Thurs. Feb. 18 -- This one almost sneaked by me: Essential New York continuity lifeline and shape-shifting trumpeter Dave Douglas presents his latest quintet featuring pianist Fabian Almazan, saxist Jon Irabagon, bassist Linda Oh and drummer Rudy Royston. At the Blue Whale on the third level of Weller Court Plaza, south of East First Street between South Los Angeles Street and South San Pedro Street, Little Tokyo 90012; 9pm-midnight; $30 advance tix advisable here; 21+; parking $5 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here.