Kevin Bronson on June 5th, 2009

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[Big shows, little shows, possibly illicit shows, festivals – this weekend has a little bit of everything. Now if I only knew where Prince’s birthday party was Sunday …]

Today: I seriously don’t know where to start. The Offspring are sure to bring back their heyday at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, and Joe Cocker his at downtown’s Nokia Theatre, and maybe even the Dandy Warhols theirs at the Glass House. … Grammy-winning Erykah Badu plays Club Nokia, while MySpace product Kate Voegele has sold out the El Rey Theatre (opener Amy Kuney is the secret weapon at that show). … Of course, it’s the first week of a new month, which means the Natural History Museum’s First Fridays is going off, this time with Z-Trip. … But the indie scene is bustling, starting at the Roxy, where Von Iva and Gliss [interview] head up a great lineup; at the Echo, where Montreal’s Clues (ex-Unicorns, ex-Arcade Fire) play; and at the sold-out Troubadour, where Little Joy and Warpaint perform. … There are album-release shows for the Fuxedos (at Spaceland) and for Ivan Ives (at the Airliner). … And your dancetastic show of the night will be the Juan MacLean and the Field at the Avalon. … Also: Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real at the Hotel Cafe; Run Devil Run at the Viper Room; Tim Easton (early) and City Museum (late) at the Mint; Les Blanks at the Unknown Theatre; the Monolators and Spider Problem at Mr. T’s; and Slang Chickens at Pehrspace.

Saturday: Not my thing, but Peaches plays the first of two sold-out night at the Music Box @ Fonda. … In the other bigger rooms, it’s Gavin Rossdale at the El Rey Theatre, and Eagles of Death Metal at the Glass House. … Holy F*ck brings the craziness to the Troubadour, and it’ll be a different kind of lunacy at Spaceland, where the all-star band Halloween Jack (Gilby Clarke and co-conspirators) kicks off a Saturday night June residency . … Nice buzzy shows on the local scene: Abe Vigoda and Fool’s Gold play 3 Clubs, and the Shore and Mini Mansions hit Bordello. .. Also: the Lassie Foundation and Blackboard Jungle at the Viper Room; Band of Skulls at the Hotel Cafe; Donovan Leitsch at Largo; Chelsea Girls at the Roxy; Megasapien at the Scene Bar; Clues at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa; and Signal Hill at Pehrspace.

Sunday: Deep Sea Diver heads up a benefit show at Spaceland. … Also: Rossdale is at the House of Blues Anaheinm; Billy Boy on Poison plays the Whisky; the Monthlies at the Viper Room; and Alicia Witt at the Hotel Cafe.

LA Acoustic Music Festival: The Santa Monica Pier is the setting for this inaugural two-day event, which boasts a lineup featuring, among others, Richard Thompson [pictured], David Lindley, Nanci Griffith, Bruce Cockburn and the Kingston Trio. Part of the California Acoustic Music Project, this gathering, offering music from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, comes at a time the annual Claremont Folk Festival on a one-year hiatus. The lineup, packed with heavyweights, and schedule are here. Adult general admission is $100 for both days; $65 for a single day.