Kevin Bronson on February 27th, 2009

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[Quite a weekend we have in store musically, assuming, that is, that you and I aren’t on the invite list for Josh Groban’s birthday party:]

Friday: Everest is back; the L.A. quintet brings its vivid Americana to the Echo (with the Parson Redheads and Two Sheds) at the beginning of a West Coast swing that presages more tour dates with Neil Young in April. … Animal Collective does the second sold-out L.A. night in a row, this one at the Troubadour. … The Little Death (that’s the band Moby plays in) has a show at the Dragonfly. … Should I be excited about Goblin Cock playing the Knitting Factory? Maybe I should be. … Mike Watt and the Secondmen hold forth at Spaceland. … Kool Keith gets it going at the El Rey Theatre. … It’s not billed as the Bird and the Bee, but that act’s principals, Greg Kurstin and Inara George, are playing a free show at Home restaurant in Silver Lake. … Happy Dwarf heads a big roster of locals at the Old Towne Pub in Pasadena And Ronnie James Dio disciples DC4 celebrate the release of their album “Explode” at the Key Club.

Saturday: It’s a pretty good fit, having the Submarines and the Morning Benders out on tour together; they bring the co-headlining thing to the Troubadour. ..”  Ra Ra Riot is going to be a pretty big attraction at the El Rey Theatre, but I think many will be coming out to check out New Zealand’s Cut Off Your Hands, the opener. … Faun Fables is down from the Bay Area to play Spaceland. … And John Doe is at Largo, while Martha Wainwright performs at the sold-out Getty.

Sunday: Underappreciated SoCal singer-songwriter Chris Darrow [pictured],whose career included a stint in the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and touring gigs with the likes of Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Sonny & Cher and Helen Reddy, gets a tribute at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. Ben Harper, Howlin’ Rain, Akron/Family, Charlie Wadhams and Michael Andrews will be among the artists performing the songs of Darrow, whose 1973 and ’74 albums, as “Chris Darrow/Under My Own Disguise,” will be released March 10 on local imprint Everloving. … Busta Rhymes pays a visit to Club Nokia. … Divisible plays the Knitting Factory. … Indie rock comes to the Westside at the Air Conditioned Supper Club, the Parson Redheads and the World Record heading up a big bill. … And there’s the Learning Music event at Machine Project [see upcoming post]. I’ve probably missed some too – feel free to chime in with your recommendations.