This weeked in L.A.: Sonic Youth, Happy Hollows, Atlas Sound, the Motels, Lymbyc Systym

Kevin Bronson on January 8th, 2010

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[Elvis Aron Presley would have turned 75 years old today. I’m not quite sure what to do to honor this non-milestone. I do know that there will be Elvi — is that the plural? — aplenty tonight at the Echoplex for the 24th annual Elvis Birthday Bash. Here are some other weekend highlights:]

Tonight: The year’s first installment of First Fridays at the Natural History Museum features Bradford Cox’s solo project Atlas Sound, along Tune-Yards and DJ Spider – the latter of whom ought to feel right at home with the museum’s arachnid-related lectures earlier in the evening. … There’s the semi-secret, first live performance by Everybody Was in the French Resistance … NOW, the side project of Art Brut’s Eddie Argos. Argos and band are performing as “Hot Sauce Mentor,” with Sweaters also on the bill, at Club Underground at the Echo. … Great lineup for the eighth night of the Viper Room’s “10 Days of 2010” – The Happy Hollows, Useless Keys, Gangi and the Soft Hands. … It’s the first of Sonic Youth’s two rescheduled SoCal shows; tonight they play Pomona’s Fox Theatre. … And Golden Animals will be holding forth at Spaceland. … Also: The Chris Murray Combo at the Troubadour; the Motels down at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano; Andy Clockwise and Austin Hartley-Leonard at the Hotel Cafe; 60 Watt Kid at Synchronicity Space; and the Divine at the Roxy.

Saturday: Sonic Youth takes on the Wiltern, and Rufus Wainwright plays the Terrace Theatre in Long Beach in the big stuff. … Nice to see the Vacation resurfacing at the Viper Room (Lady Sinatra and the Ringers also play). … Good stuff at downtown’s Redwood Bar – Lower Heaven and Eagle Winged Palace, along with Drew Andrews of the Album Leaf. … Also: the Motels at Brixton South Bay; the “Freestyle L.A.” show at Club Nokia featuring Lisa Lisa and C&C Music Factory; 60 Watt Kid and Glasser at Spaceland; Visa at the Troubadour; Timonium at Pehrspace; and Cowboy Mouth at the House of Blues.

Sunday: Lymbyc Systym, the nom de music of Tempe, Ariz.-based brothers Jared and Michael Bell, plays the Bootleg Theatre, with the One AM Radio supporting. … The Viper Room’s “10 Days of 2010” winds up, with Trainwreck (that’s Kyle Gass from Tenacious D) and Ari Shine performing. … Love Grenades gets them dancing at Part Time Punks at the Echo. … And Rival Sons kick off a Sunday night residency at Cinespace. … Also: Seasons, the Terrapin, the Hectors and Divisadero at Spaceland; Pocahaunted at the Smell; and Mia Maestro at the Hotel Cafe.