Fri. Sept. 7 -- A mind-expanding instrumental fix that'll last ya till Xmas: Double Naught Spy Car bills with Mike Watt & the Secondmen. At McCabe’s, 3101 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica 90405; 8pm; $15; (310) 828-4497; www.mccabes.com.
Fri. Sept. 7 -- Dance to the powerhouse Asian disco metal of The Primals. With Prissy Whip, Deth Crux, Sad Boy Punk Songs, DJ Tuna. At the Hi-Hat, 5043 York Blvd., Highland Park 90042; 8pm; $10; www.hihat.la.
Sat. Sept. 8 -- The Nick Mancini Thr3 presents the vibesman's ear-tweaking modern compositions in a trio with bassist Chris Hon and drummer Anthony Fung. At Sound Roads Music, 3017 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica 90405; $25 concert 7:30-9:30pm, wine & snacks reception 6:30pm, $15 improvising clinic 5pm; all ages.
Sat. Sept. 8 -- In-demand drummer Dan Schnelle goes semifusionistic with a star group boasting saxist David Binney, guitarist Anthony Wilson, keyboardist Jeff Babko and bassist Alex Boneham. 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; $20; 21+; parking $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sat. Sept. 8 -- First-gen electrobeat thumper George Sarah keeps expanding in unexpected directions, here presenting flexible ensembles featuring oboe, cello and what-all, and throwing around terms such as "post-industrial," "neoclassical" and "baroque." Whaddaya got to lose? At Silverlake Lounge, 2906 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake 90026; doors 6pm; FREE; 21+.
Sun. Sept. 9 -- Portland doom vets Yob team up with long-established Cali smokers Acid King for raw rock and tubular guitar tones. At Teragram Ballroom, 1234 W. Seventh St., downtown 90017; 8pm; $25; www.teragramballroom.com.
Sun. Sept. 9 -- Who sez country-rock made after 1980 ain't as real as the stuff before. Not I See Hawks in L.A. or Carla Olson. At Old Oak Cellars, 2620 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena 91107; 3pm; $20 tickets here, $25 at the door, includes wine tasting.
Sun. Sept. 9 -- Trumpeter Elliott Caine brings his true-rooted jazz quintet to Hollywood. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 7:30pm; $20; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Tues. Sept. 11 -- Trumpeter Daniel Rosenboom (Burning Ghosts, Quoan, Plotz) always has some intriguing modern twists and an ace band. 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.
Tues. Sept. 11 -- Heavy bluesrockers Gov't Mule play their fave Pink Floyd (and their own hits)? I'm betting Dark Side of the Mule won't be as weird as you think. With The Avett Brothers, Magpie Salute. At the Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90010; 7pm; $20-$53; (213) 388-1400; www.livenation.com.
Wed. Sept. 12 -- Floating, electro-conscious Chicago Underground guitarist Jeff Parker has been an Angeleno long enough to earn the allegiance of many excellent locals, including bandmates Josh Nelson (piano), bassist Anna Butterss and drummer Matt Mayhall. At Mr. Musichead Gallery, 7420 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90046; 7:30pm; $20-$25; www.justjazz.tv.
Wed. Sept. 12 -- Jie Ma plays pipa; Will Salmon sings and plays flute; the books on the shelves vibrate with universal harmony. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
Thurs. Sept. 13 -- Brazilian guitarist Marcel Camargo joins with big-minded pianist Gerald Clayton to retexture your brain folds. 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; $20; 21+; parking $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Thurs. Sept. 13 -- Billy Childs' Prophecy fuses more than just jazz and rock, as the versatile keyboardist stretches out/in with poet Paul Calderon, bassist Ben Shepherd and drummer Donald Barrett. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $28; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Thurs. Sept. 13 -- Flutist Chikako Iverson flows easy with bassist Max Kraus, drummer Anthony Fung and special guests. At Sunspace, 9683 Sunland Blvd., Shadow Hills 91040; 8-10pm; $10.
Thurs.-Fri. Sept. 13-14 -- All hail the long-awaited return of Milwaukee/New York No Wave saxist-vocalist James Chance & the Contortions, who taught a generation of weird white kids how to misappropriate James Brown. Read my 2003 L.A. Weekly story here. At Zebulon, 2478 Fletcher Drive, Frogtown 90039; doors 8pm; $20; 21+; www.zebulon.la.
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RIP: Randy Weston. This African-American pianist was one of my favorite musicians, and one whose records ("The Spirit of the Ancestors," "Khepera," "Uhuru Africa," the three "Portraits" albums) still motivate regular late-night returns. Through extensive travel and study, he internalized African music the way few Westerners have, and made something personal out of it, his mastery growing over the years in contrast to the many artists who never revisit their early heights. I wrote this in 2003, and have not changed my mind: "Something happens when Weston spreads his condor wings across the keyboard. The heart’s motion meets the stars’ stillness. Wild harmony becomes a loving watchdog. True intelligence — understanding — settles in, deep but unpretentious. The complexity of the universe seems simple enough to touch."
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Sept. 30-Oct. 14 -- Angel City Jazz Fest continues to bring you the best in outsider music, and it's worth planning around. This year's performers include Wadada Leo Smith, ROVA Orkestrova, Azar Lawrence, Xenia Rubinos, Craig Taborn and plenty more; check the full lineup here.