Kevin Bronson on May 28th, 2009

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[Kylie Minogue celebrates a birthday today, and on a more modest scale I submit to you a celebratory list of fine shows tonight …]

St. Vincent, the nom de tune of Annie Clark, returns to L.A. for a show at the El Rey Theatre behind her new album, “Actor.” Should be good: The Times spent some time with her in April when she performed at Hollywood Forever, and some friends aren’t reserved in their praise – I mean, “the saint herself?” … It makes me feel almost lowbrow to admit, in the very next sentence, that I love the High Strung, but I do. The Detroit trio’s fast-paced pop comes at you in 3-minute tickles, even if their April release, “Ode to the Inverse of the Dude,” feels rather mature compared to 2007’s “Get the Guests.” These guys once did a nationwide tour of public libraries – tonight they will settle for the Silverlake Lounge (with You Me & Iowa). … At the Troubadour, the headliner is Passion Pit, whose fake soul gave me a headache at South by Southwest in March, but the main support are the Harlem Shakes, whose college-educated electro-beats made for smart fun. Their new album is called “Technicolor Health.” (Both bands move to the Echoplex on Friday and the Glass House on Saturday.) … There are bigger deals, of course: Fleetwood Mac is playing Staples Center; Ben Harper and Relentless7 (supported by the Henry Clay People) rock the Wiltern; and Pennywise plays the Fox Theater in Pomona. … The forecast calls for good music in other outlying areas too: Lucinda Williams visits the House of Blues Anaheim; Red Cortez heads up a big lineup at Santa Ana’s Yost Theater; and Butch Walker plays the Glass House. … Also: The Wooden Birds at Spaceland; the second night of Jens Lekman at the Echo; the second night of Moe at the Roxy; Nite Jewel at the Smell; Brian Vander Ark at the Hotel Cafe; and the Tartans and the Human Abstract in separate rooms at the Knitting Factory. Whew.

Outside the clubs: Guests this morning on KCRW-FM’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic” are Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros … And at 7 p.m. at Stories Books & Cafe (1716 Sunset Blvd.), Justin and Melissa Gage will have a reading and signing for their new book, “Memphis & the Delta Blues Trail.” Justin (music writer/blogger who does business at Aquarium Drunkard) and Melissa (a travel writer) have authored a travel guide that traces the roots – and the routes – of the blues. There’s free lemonade and ice cream bars, and a set from Le Switch.