Fri. Feb. 28 -- Touring in front of their May deposit "Solitude in Madness," long-suffering Polish deathmetalmen Vader (a personal fave) inhabit the dark with Abysmal Dawn, Hideous Divinity, Vitriol, Deformity. Have fun. At 1720, 1720 E. 16th St., downtown 90021; doors 7pm; $20; all ages; full bar; food; website here.
Fri. Feb. 28 -- Revel in the Texas massacre of Malignant Altar, with Mortal Wound, Ruin, Mephitic Corpse, Oldowan Gash. At the Lexington, 129 E. Third St., downtown 90013; doors 8pm; $10; 21+; (213) 291-5723; lexbarla.com.
Fri. Feb. 28 -- Pianist Omar Sosa and violinist Yilian Cañizares dip into the roots of Santeria with a flowing mix of world musics featuring Venezuelan percussionist Gustavo Ovalles. A CAP presentation at UCLA's Royce Hall; 8pm; $29-$59; www.cap.ucla.edu.
Fri. Feb. 28 -- Shout along with the queen of L.A. blues and soul, Barbara Morrison. At Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 8:30pm; $25; (323) 466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Fri.-Sat. Feb. 28-29 -- Saxist Dayna Stephens (Gerald Clayton, Ambrose Akinmusire) fronts a stellar trio with bassist Harish Raghavan (Vijay Iyer) and drummer Eric Harland (Charles Lloyd). 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. March 1 -- Multicultural extrapolation rules with Bay Area Finnish myth nourishers Manala (Rent Romus and Heikki Koskonen) abetted by top local abstractionists Vinny Golia (winds), Emily Hay (flutes), Ben Richter (accordion), Tim Feeny (vibraphone), Sean Riddle (bass) and Alex Cline (drums and bangables); opening is sax extremist Patrick Shiroishi in a solo set. At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 7pm; $10; (626) 795-4989.
Wed. March 4 -- It's the End of the Road World Tour for Kiss, so say the prophets, who have proven an unreliable gang. At Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., LA 90015; 7:30pm; $64 and up; www.ticketmaster.com.
Wed. March 4 -- Andre La Fosse runs old-skool guitar loops; folk mutators Sheriffs of Schroedingham (guitarist John Schroeder and harmonicat Ross Garren) get high & wry. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $7 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
Thurs. March 5 -- Chicago-to-L.A. guitarist Jeff Parker & the New Breed deal angular melodies plus grooves both sprung & straight. At Gold Diggers (dive bar, hotel & recording studio), 5632 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood 90038; doors 8pm; $22 tix here; 21+; parking at 5545 Virginia Ave.; www.gold-diggers.com; (323) 546-0300.
Thurs. March 5 -- Herbie Hancock joins conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the L.A. Philharmonic in a presentation of socially inspirational music including a composition dedicated to Angela Davis from his own Mwandishi period, a selection featuring music by Wayne Shorter with words by Maya Angelou, and more. At Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown 90012; 8pm; sold out unless you know Vito; (323) 850-2000; www.laphil.org.