Fri. Dec. 27 -- The Whisky's 1990 Hair Metal Week (including Steven Adler Sat. and Enuff z Nuff Sun.) continues with Taime Downe's Faster Pussycat ("House of Pain"), plus Jimmy Richardson, Motorbone, The Thrill Seekers, Stormbreaker. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $20; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
Fri. Dec. 27 -- What a band full-toned saxist Walter Smith III has assembled with pianist Gerald Clayton, guitarist Jeff Parker, bassist Joshua Crumbly and drummer Justin Brown to swing that post-traditional jazz. 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.
Fri. Dec. 27 -- Boston saxist Ken Field fields a quartet with local avant bass treasure Jeff Schwartz, guitarist Rick Cox and drummer Alex Paull. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $8 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
Fri. Dec. 27 -- Trained in Europe and Berklee in classical music and jazz, pianist Vardan Ovsepian has nongeneric ideas of what to do with a small ensemble, here featuring bassist Karl McComm-Reichl, drummer Christian Euman and vocalist Michael Mayo. At Sam First, 6171 W. Century Blvd., L.A. 90045 (near LAX in front of Marriott Courtyard); 8 & 9:30pm; $20 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. Dec. 28 -- Deep-rooted keyboardist Larry Goldings ain't kidding about a "feel-good holiday show" with guitarist Joshua Ray Gooch, bassist David Piltch and drummer Jake Reed. 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. Dec. 29 -- Chicago-to-L.A. guitarist Jeff Parker can call up anybody, so it's no shock that his trio includes the beautifully melancholy tones of windman Chris Speed and the crackin' rhythms of Bad Plus drummer Dave King. 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.
Mon. Dec. 30 -- Multi-Grammy-winning keyboardist and conceptualist Billy Childs stuffs the stage with a 14-member ensemble featuring a string quartet, singers Judith Hill & Michael Mayo, harpist Carol Boneham, poet Alexander Gedeon and, like, the royal fusiliers. 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; 21+; parking $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Mon. Dec. 30 -- Marq Torien and all the other original members of Bulletboys ("Smooth Up in Ya") plumb the subtleties of heavy anthem pop. With Dark Horse Rising, Wild Ride, White Collar, Electric Junkies. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 7pm; $20; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.
Tues. Dec. 31 -- With Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis reunited, L.A. Guns ("Electric Gypsy") had something new to celebrate this year via the consistently hard-rockin' sound, beefy production and well-crafted songwriting of "The Devil You Know." (Xtra points for titling their new single "Another Xmas in Hell.") With Venrez, Lowside, Motorsickle, Black Star Sinners. At the Whisky, 8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; doors 8pm; $50; (310) 652-4202; www.whiskyagogo.com.