Kevin Bronson on May 12th, 2011

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[Birthday greetings go out today to Deep Sea Diver’s Jessica Dobson …]

Tonight’s top outings, and then some:

‣ The Cars’ new album “Move Like This” – their first in 24 years – sounds like … well, the Cars. Not an old or watered-down version, either, which is gratifying in a time aging hitmakers recycle themselves, or get nicked by younger hitmakers seeking to recycle ideas. On Tuesday, the day the album was released, the band kicked off a big tour in Seattle (setlist here, fans), and tonight they visit the Palladium. [Through the weekend, you can stream the whole new album here.]
‣ Elvis Costello and the Imposters do a second night at the Wiltern.
‣ Sweet Homes for Alabama, a benefit for tornado relief, goes off at Harvard & Stone, with performance by locals Patrick Park, Army Navy, Stone Darling and Mohawk & Elsinore (Morgan Kibby of White Sea and Jonathan Leahy of the Broken Remotes) – along with Birmingham musicians Sanders Bohlke and Preston Lovinggood.
‣ Another benefit, this one for Red Cross Japan, brings Adam Goldberg’s the Goldberg Sisters, Hands, Corridor and Venus Illuminato to the Bootleg Theater. Mischa Barton hosts.
‣ And one more benefit – local imprint Hopeless Records’ 10th annual Take Action Tour hits the House of Blues, with performances from Bayside, Silverstein, the Swellers, Polar Bear Club, and Texas In July.

Also:

Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Del McCoury Band at UCLA’s Royce Hall
The Knitters and Slang Chickens at the Autry Center
Booker T. Jones at the Grammy Museum
Calle 13 at Club Nokia
Hayes Carll and the Romany Rye at the Troubadour
Alien Ant Farm at the Key Club
Femi Kuti & the Positive Force at the El Rey Theatre
Brian Wright and Kathryn Calder at the Hotel Cafe
Viva City, Suddyn and Jetstream at the Silverlake Lounge
Cold Cave at Space 15 Twenty (free, doors at 8 p.m.)
The Greenhornes and Jeff the Brotherhood at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa
London Shover and Birds of Paradise at the Roxy
Ras G, Jon Wayne, Take and others at the Hit + Run Party at the Echo
The Purrs and Sky Parade at the Redwood
KT Tunstall at the House of Blues Anaheim
Eric Himan and Michael “The GEICO Guy” McGlone at the Mint