HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. HITCHCOCK – PSYCHO (1960) 4K digital restoration, unrated version, Fri; NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959), Sat; REAR WINDOW (1954) 4K remaster, Sun; SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1943), Wed; SABOTEUR (1942) 4K restoration, next Thurs; various times, Nuart Theater, WLA, $12.
THE HOT CLUB OF LOS ANGELES – Virtuosic breakneck Django-style swing music (but no room for swing dancing!) in the tiny Culver City dive celebrating 75 years. Every Mon 9 p.m., Cinema Bar, Culver City, no cover.
EM – An amazing performer in every way, for her piano pounding, vocals, leadership of her outstanding band The Gems, her songwriting, and the way she absolutely takes over a stage (and the floor) with nonstop high energy (but her occasional ballads are exceptional too), and prior to relocating here she co-authored a NY Times bestseller book with her buddy Lady Gaga, so yeah, you will return to see this show and bring your friends. Every Tues 9:30 p.m., Harvelle’s, Santa Monica, $10.
ROBERT PLANT, ALISON KRAUSS – When I heard in 2007 that these two very different music stars had recorded an album together, my first thought was, well, I don’t see how that can work, Zeppelin bluegrass? It was neither and it worked beautifully, because their voices do blend mellifluously, the songs were terrific and the arrangements perfect for them. That was “Rising Sand” and their new one is “Raise the Roof” — they don’t, but it is a nice collection of oldies from the likes of Merle Haggard, Everly Brother, Allen Toussaint, even little-known UK guitar virtuoso Bert Jansch - and who knows why they waited 14 years but they have done it again, T Bone Burnette again producing, they are touring, and their dhow should be memorable, maybe even a little magical. Next Thurs 7:30 p.m., Greek Theater, LA, $70-230.
RECOMMENDED:
TONIGHT! - BOOKER T. JONES – Few could be named who are such a walking history of great American music over the last six decades, at 17 he formed Booker T & the MGs, two black guys two white, in the early ‘60s, pre-voting rights, and they not only pulled off unheard of chart success as an instrumental band, they became the house band for the amazing Stax Records label, recording with Otis, Sam & Dave, Wilson Picket, Bill Withers, Carla and Rufus Thomas and probably God (“more cowbell!”). Even if he can’t find a keyboard, I would go just to hear his stories. Thurs 8 p.m., Skirball, LA, free ($20 parking), reservations required, none left but a few for walk-ups.
ROY ZIMMERMAN – OK Jack Newworth, you win. He’s been dropping his name for a month now, then told me he was going to write one of his “Laughing Matters” columns about him, so I did something I never do, neer have time to do, I checked out some info and songs of an artist I’m unfamiliar with and I hate to admit it but it seems Jack was right, maybe for the first time in all the years I’ve known him. Take a look at Neworth’s column from last Friday (www.smdp.com/sing-laugh-hope-at-mccabes/219992) and he’ll probably convince you too. Or this alone might do it for you: Joni Mitchell says, “Roy’s lyrics move beyond poetry and achieve perfection.”Fri 8 p.m., McCabe’s, Santa Monica, $26.
LITTLE FEAT, HOT TUNA – Who’s in Little Feat these days? It’s likely a moot question because ever since losing their monstrously multi-talented frontman Lowell George in 1979, most of the rest of the band has carried on magnificently. With Hot Tuna, the superb blues duo that came out of Jefferson Airplane decades ago, opening with an acoustic set, this is a show for music lovers to get excited about. Fri 8 p.m., Theatre at Ace Hotel, LA, $
THEATRICUM BOTANICUM – Everything they do is top rate, – acting, staging, costumes, writing. And often offering a banquet of food for thought. “WESTSIDE WALTZ” – Fri 7:30 p.m., “THE MERRY WIVES of WINDSOR” - Sat 7:30 p.m., “TROUBLE THE WATER” - Sun 7:30 p.m., All shows Theatricum Botanicum, Topanga Canyon, $10-60 (discounts for seniors, students, teachers, veterans, AEA, ages 5-15).
CHEECH & CHONG – This should be hilarious and a cultural excavation of note. Tommy Chong gets to touch on his ridiculously unfair prison time as political punishment, and now we have to look at Cheech Marin not as a lost stoner but as the significant art collector he has been for decades, recently opening The Cheech in Riverside, an impressive exposition of Latino art, the entire first floor being rotated from his massive personal collection. I highly recommend a drive out to see it. Sat 8 p.m., Saban Theatre, Beverly Hills, $59-109.
LIBRARY GIRL: “People of the Valley” – Aren’t some things best left gone and forgotten? But what do I know about The Valley of old? When I moved here in 1980 I followed the advice of locals to avoid that cultural wasteland but tonight’s lineup of poets and musicians will, as with every monthly LIBRARY GIRL revelation, no doubt reveal heretofore undiscovered treasures and resurrected gems. It’s all perspective, isn’t it, and you get wise, witty and insightful bunches of that at every LIBRARY GIRL. Sun 7 p.m., Ruskin Group Theatre, Santa Monica Airport, $20.
NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS – This is all I’ve got to say: they’re really good and I’ve been a fan for years. They may not knock your socks off (or they might) but at the end of their show you will say, dang, they’re really good, why didn’t I know about them years ago? (If you’d been listening to 88.5 FM, you would have.) Sun 7 p.m., Hollywood Bowl, $20-145.
TOLEDO DIAMOND -- The true hipster (when that sobriquet meant something way cool), choreographer to the stars, smoky svengali, showman supreme, Toledo always fascinates and pleases, if you are ready for the very different. Every Sun 9:30 p.m., Harvelle’s, Santa Monica, $12.
COMING ATTRACTIONS: TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND, Greek Theater, 8/19; “THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR” 8/19, 28, 9/4, 9, 17, 25, “TROUBLE THE WATER” 8/20, 26, 9/4, 11, 16, 24, “THE WESTSIDE WALTZ” 8/21, 27, 9/3, 11, 18, 23, “A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM,” 9/2, 5, 10, 18, 25, Theatricum Botanicum; “GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER,” Ruskin Group Theatre, 8/19, 20, 21, 9/2, 3, 4; TOLEDO DIAMOND, Harvelle’s, 8/21, 28, 9/4, 11, 18, 25; HOT CLUB OF LOS ANGELES, Cinema Bar, 8/22, 29, 9/5, 12, 19, 26; EM, Harvelle’s, 8/23, 30, 9/6, 13, 20, 27; STEVE EARLE & The Dukes, 8/23, 24; DIANA ROSS, Hollywood Bowl, 8/26, 27; BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA, Burton Chace Park, 8/27; GERALD CLAYTON-STEVE LEHMAN-JOEL ROSS, Sam First, 8/30; LA PHIL, BEETHOVEN’S 9TH, Hollywood Bowl, 8/30; HERWAY TO HELL, Harvelle’s. 9/2; ALICIA KEYS, Greek Theater, 9/6, 7; ELIZA GILKYSON, NINA GERBER, McCabe’s, 9/16; BONNIE RAITT with MAVIS STAPLES, Greek Theater, 9/24; PORCUPINE TREE, Greek Theater, 9/30.
Charles Andrews has listened to a lot of music of all kinds, including more than 3,000 live shows. He has lived in Santa Monica for 36 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world. Really. Send love and/or rebuke to him at therealmrmusic@gmail.com
