Fri. April 13 -- Continuing the deep legacy of CalArts' late John Bergamo, please enjoy the ingenious international drumming of Hands On'semble, with Randy Gloss, Andrew Grueschow and Austin Wrinkle. 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 $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Fri. April 13 -- Mike Watt & the Missingmen ply the Minutemen bassist's groovedrive with the pounding psychedelia of Fu Manchu/Backbiter spinoffs The Freeks, plus The Schizophonics, High Priestess. At the Hi-Hat, 5043 York Blvd., Highland Park 90042; 9pm; $10; www.hihat.la.
Sat. April 14 -- Cinderella front man Tom Keifer represents a small number of humans who can rock the blues the way it got dun in the '70s, even if he started in the '80s. With Evolution Eden, Murder of Five. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 8pm; $40; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
Sat. April 14 -- Pianist Theo Saunders, bassist John Leftwich and drummer Mark Stevens swing real jazz with a spirit of fun. At Desert Rose Restaurant, 1700 N. Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz 90027; 7-11pm; free, reservations advisable; (323) 666-1166; desertroserestaurant.com.
Sat. April 14 -- Get your doctor's Blue Note from trumpeter Elliott Caine's combo. Dinner reservations advisable here, too -- does this mean jazz is popular? At Colombo's Restaurant, 1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 9:30pm-midnight; no cover; (323) 254-9138.
Sun. April 15 -- Elliott Caine mixes in a few more originals and obscurities when he plays this hep hang. At the York Bar and Restaurant, 5018 York Blvd., Highland Park 90042; 7:30-10pm; no cover; (323) 255-9675.
Mon. April 16 -- Culturati into weird combinations will delectate the entire re-creations of "The Velvet Underground and Nico" and Adam Ant's "Kings of the Wild Frontier" by the equally weird combination of Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro and Ants axman Billy Morrison, with special appearances by Billy Idol, Courtney Love, Corey Taylor and more, all to fund research on and treatment of mental illness. At the Belasco Theater, 1050 S. Hill St., downtown 90015; 8pm; $65; www.goldenvoice.com.
Wed. April 18 -- Flowing & knowing pianist Richard Sears presents a new group with saxist Raffi Garabedian, guitarist Adam Ratner, bassist Garrett Lang, drummer Adam Starkopf and friends. 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 $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Thurs. April 19 -- Theatrics, operatics, Dani's incessant screech: It's Brit black-metal institution Cradle of Filth. With Jinjer, Uncured. At the Belasco Theater, 1050 S. Hill St., downtown 90015; doors 6:30pm; $32-$45; www.thebelasco.com.
* * *
Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here. Read Brick Wahl's noirish music commentaries here.