Kevin Bronson on December 12th, 2008

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[Dionne Warwick blows out birthday candles today, and just imagining her sing puts me in a warm place for a busy, busy weekend, which, yes, is an excuse for this list being somewhat incomprehensive. Feel free to chime in with what I’ve missed …]

Tonight: It’s the swan song for Phantom Planet, who are going their separate ways after tonight’s show at the Troubadour. … Radars to the Sky rocks a party at Spaceland celebrating the release of “Radars to the Sky: Live,” an album recorded at the Echo in April and being released by Spaceland Recordings. Openers Archways are worth your early arrival. … Run Run Run is back in town and playing the Echo, and we love the message on their MySpace: “Hannah Montana should listen to Joy Division.” … There’s also the kickoff of the three-day “Ho-Ho-tel 2008” holiday shows at the Hotel Cafe — very good lineups all three nights for the benefits for LAFD’s “Spark of Love” toy drives. … Elsewhere, it’s Mike Ness at the El Rey; the Aquabats (with Dusty Rhodes & the River Band) at the Music Box @ Fonda; and the Dickies playing downtown’s Regent Theater. … Mezklah’s show at the Derby tonight will go on despite the absence of bassist Juan-Carlos Ramirez, who sustained serious injuries in a car accident last weekend. Ramirez, expected to make a full recovery, was released from the hospital today. … Zappa Plays Zappa continues at the Roxy. … And your best bet in a wee room: Francisco the Man, Voxhaul Broadcast and Flashing Red Lights, at downtown’s Redwood Bar.

Saturday: I will take this guy’s word for it and not bother with Saturday’s lineup for the KROQ-FM Almost Acoustic Christmas show. Save yourself for Sunday. … Besides, there’s the ridiculously fun Christmas Sweater Festival at the Echoplex, which: a) is a benefit, and b) boasts a great lineup of locals headed by party-starters the Deadly Syndrome. Plus, I remember the parade of outlandish Christmas sweaters from last year’s event. … In Long Beach, there’s a nice party at Open, celebrating the bookstore/boutique’s fifth anniversary; Free Moral Agents and Greater California are among the performers. … Also in the LBC: Lower Heaven at the Prospector. … The Pacific plays the Scene Bar in Glendale, and at Spaceland it’s 18th Dye, along with the Meeting Places. … And it’s a double-dose of cool Mikes at the El Rey, Ness and Stinson.

Sunday: Night 2 of KROQ’s show goes off at the Gibson. … Elsewhere, it’s Van Stone, along with the Ringers, rocking Spaceland, but if you just wanna chill from a busy weekend: 1) the lineup on that third night of the Hotel Cafe benefit looks especially good, or 2) Aaron Espinoza from Earlimart and Pierre de Reeder from Rilo Kiley are among the players for Otik Records’ “A Charitable Night of Music,” benefiting the Midnight Mission, at the Echoplex. Good people top to bottom at both benefits.

Photo of Phantom Planet by Keatley