Kevin Bronson on June 26th, 2009

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[Anybody else have a Michael Jackson hangover? Here’s an excellent obituary.]

Today: The Vans Warped Tour [2008’s crowd, above] kicks off in Pomona. The past two years I live-blogged it and succeeded each time in finding something I liked. I’m passing on it this year, but it’s a pretty good bargain at under $35 a ticket, and if I were heading to the Fairplex today I’d probably split my time between the solid veterans like Bad Religion, T.S.O.L. and the Adolescents, as well as check out some newbies. As long as they weren’t 3OH!3 or BrokenCYDE. … Speaking of festivals, there’s the Electric Daisy Carnival kicking off at the Coliseum, with Paul Oakenfold, Thievery Corporation and a host of others. … Considering recent events, things could get poignant at the Hollywood Bowl, where the legendary Aretha Franklin performs. … And I’m eager to hear the new music from Port O’Brien, who are playing the Echo with Papercuts and Sean Bones. … Also: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at Club Nokia; Two Sheds at Spaceland; Ida Maria at the Detroit Bar; Michelle Shocked at McCabe’s; Carbon Leaf at the Roxy; Ceci Bastida at the Bootleg Theater; Until June at the Hotel Cafe; Nice Guy Eddie at Crane’s Hollywood Tavern; Anavan at the Smell; and Fol Chen and Nite Jewel at the PDG Warehouse downtown (2485 Hunter St.).

Saturday: A really busy Saturday night, but my favorite show easily is Telekinesis (with the Boat People and One Trick Pony at the Echoplex). Telekinesis’ unfailingly catchy debut album has been one of my go-to discs in recent tough times – very smart power pop, and the band delivered the goods when I saw them at South by Southwest. … Plenty of other notable choices: Rodriguez at the El Rey Theatre and Explosions in the Sky at the Palladium topping the list. … The Zombies play the Wiltern. … Day 2 of the Electric Daisy Carnival at the Coliseum features Paul Van Dyk, Groove Armada, David Guetta, Infected Mushroom and the Crystal Method, among others. … Also: Halloween Jack and Rocket at Spaceland; Dramarama at the House of Blues; VNV Nation, with War Tapes supporting, at Club Nokia; the Californian at the Bootleg Theater; and Visa at the Troubadour.

Sunday: Two bands with good new albums team up at the Wiltern – French pop guys Phoenix and Brooklyn quintet Amazing Baby. … Cursive storms back into town behind their March release, “Mama, I’m Swollen,” for a show at the El Rey Theatre. .. At the Hollywood Bowl, it’s Adele, Etta James and Janelle Monae. … Big animal-rescue benefit at the Echoplex featuring Gliss, Army Navy, Rainbow Arabia, Death to Anders and a host of others. … And there’s the Kidrockers matinee at the Echo, featuring” Local Natives and Saint Motel. … Also:” ” St. Christopher at the Echo (late); Simon Stokes at the Grand Ole Echo (early); the Warped Tour moves to Pomona for Day 2; and Captain Ahab hits the Smell.