Fri. Oct. 25 -- Tattooed thrashpunkers Agnostic Front and edgy guitarist-vocalist Tommy Victor (pictured) of Prong, now there you got some campaigners who've rocked hard and long. With Berthold City. At the Roxy, 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 8:30pm; $20; (310) 278-9457; www.theroxy.com.
Fri. Oct. 25 -- Sludge and heavy lava erupt from Gatecreeper's new "Deserted." With Kömmand, Section H8, Death Bells. At Zebulon, 2478 Fletcher Drive, Frogtown 90039; doors 8pm; $20; 21+; www.zebulon.la.
Fri. Oct. 25 -- Scot Ray slides his lap-steel guitar with a spacy trio featuring bassist Steuart Liebig and drummer Corey Fogel. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
Fri. Oct. 25 -- Drum master Peter Erskine celebrates his new album with mellow-toned tenor man George Garzone, longtime collaborative pianist Alan Pasqua and pocket-dwelling bassist Darek Oles. At Sam First, 6171 W. Century Blvd., L.A. 90045 (near LAX in front of Marriott Courtyard); 8 & 9:30pm; $30/$25 plus one-drink minimum per set; full bar; snacks; small parking lot in rear, reduced-rate validated parking at nearby Joe's Auto Park; (424) 800-2006; www.samfirstbar.com.
Sat. Oct. 26 -- The cello-piano duo of Artyom Manukyan & Vardan Ovsepian create from a Eurofolk-classical base. At Sam First, 6171 W. Century Blvd., L.A. 90045 (near LAX in front of Marriott Courtyard); 8 & 9:30pm; $20/$15 plus one-drink minimum per set; full bar; snacks; small parking lot in rear, reduced-rate validated parking at nearby Joe's Auto Park; (424) 800-2006; www.samfirstbar.com.
Sat. Oct. 26 -- Currently fronted by Jizzy Pearl, L.A. pop-metal founders Quiet Riot ("Metal Health") once springboarded Randy Rhoads and Rudy Sarzo into Ozzydom, and still feature the incredible drumming of Frankie Banali and the long-running bass of Chuck Wright. With six more bands. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 6pm; $30; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
Sat.-Sun. Oct. 26-27 -- Trumpeter Avishai Cohen weaves a melodious trance with pianist Fabian Almazan, bassist Barak Mori and drummer Ziv Ravitz; read my March live review here. 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; $25; 21+; parking $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Sun. Oct. 27 -- Veteran Cali twin-guitar death thrashers Exhumed dig up the remains. With Necrot, BruceXCampbell, Phalanx. At the Hi-Hat, 5043 York Blvd., Highland Park 90042; doors 7pm; $18; www.hihat.la.
Sun. Oct. 27 -- Drummer Jonathan Pinson's Boom-Clap hits a light semitraditional groove. At Sam First, 6171 W. Century Blvd., L.A. 90045 (near LAX in front of Marriott Courtyard); 8 & 9:30pm; $20/$15 plus one-drink minimum per set; full bar; snacks; small parking lot in rear, reduced-rate validated parking at nearby Joe's Auto Park; (424) 800-2006; www.samfirstbar.com.
Mon. Oct. 28 -- Amazingly co-intuitive guitarists Jim McAuley & Scot Ray (buy their super new "Second Earth") join with Colorado guitarist Janet Feder. At Sunspace, 9683 Sunland Blvd., Shadow Hills 91040; 8-10pm; $10.
Mon. Oct. 28 -- Slow + heavy = Crescent City rockmen Eyehategod. With four more bands. At Teragram Ballroom, 1234 W. Seventh St., downtown 90017; 8pm; $25; www.teragramballroom.com.
Tues. Oct. 29 -- Few musicians own the care, imagination and skill displayed in the compositions and arrangements on vibesman Nick Mancini's new "Reverence," whose colors and changes feel like something Gary Burton might have admired in the '60s; lovely, resonant stuff. Read my review of Mancini's medium-large Collective here. That's at 10pm. At 8:15 dig the sax-piano-bass-drums quartet of David Binney, John Beasley, Tim LeFebvre & Andy Sanesi, topmost modernists all. A jazz fan could really settle in tonight. At The Trip, 2101 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica 90405; no cover; one-drink minimum per set; 21+; (310) 396-9010; www.tripsantamonica.com.
Tues.-Wed. Oct. 29-30 -- Drummer Scott Amendola has a wonderfully varied and creative mind, here grooving with organist Will Blades, renowned guitarist Jeff Parker, blurty saxist Skerik and percussionist Cyro Baptista. 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.
Wed. Oct. 30 -- Souljazz saxist Dave McMurray turns down the silk sheets. At Mr. Musichead Gallery, 7420 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90046; 7:30pm; $15-$25; www.justjazz.tv.
Thurs. Oct. 31 -- Seasoned modern saxist David Binney continues his monthly residency. 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. Oct. 31 -- Lizzy Borden used to sing and hire great rockers like Joe Holmes; on his latest album he just went and played most everything himself. Talented dude, and his costume magic makes him a great Halloween host. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $25; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.