Kevin Bronson on July 24th, 2009

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[Why, it’s Thurston Moore’s birthday Saturday. That’s reason to celebrate, right?]

Today: It figures to be a touching night at the Echoplex, where artists and admirers gather to honor the late Sky Saxon of the Seeds. The Sky Saxon Tribute will feature, among others, Billy Corgan [pictured] of the Smashing Pumpkins and Mark Tulin of the Electric Prines (playing as Spirits in the Sky), Nels Cline, Mike Randle of Baby Lemonade, Djin Aquarian and original members of the Seeds performing with guest vocalists. … There are some heavy hitters playing elsewhere too – Van Dyke Parks and Inara George hold forth at McCabe’s, while De La Soul – with Kenan Bell as support – brings the party to the Key Club. … And Mike Watt rocks downtown’s Redwood Bar. … Mercury Prize nominee La Roux visits from the U.K. to play a sold-out Troubadour, with IO Echo supporting. …”  The Black Watch plays Club Underground at the Echo. … And Vaudeville celebrates the release of its new album at Pehrspace. … Also: Glitch Mob at the Roxy; the second night of Semi Precious Weapons’ stint at the Viper Room. … Girl Talk at Pomona’s Fox Theater; and Iglu & Hartly at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa.

Saturday: Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks play the Echoplex, with Red Cortez opening. The start of this show has been pushed back from 6 to 8 p.m. … The “Saturdays Off the 405” series brings Cut Chemist to the Getty. … AM celebrates his album release (and his birthday) at the Hotel Cafe, where William Fitzsimmons and Pierre de Reeder also perform. … Also: Jewel at the Hollywood Bowl; the Handsome Family at Spaceland; Trapt at the Troubadour; and the Night Lights benefit for 826LA featuring Voxhaul Broadcast, Princeton and others.

Sunday: Great night at the Hollywood Bowl, with a lineup of Grace Jones, Of Montreal and Dengue Fever. … Also: The Broken Remotes at the Viper Room; the Handsome Family at McCabe’s; Asher Roth at the House of Blues;”  George Thorogood & the Destroyers (with Jonny Lang supporting) at the Greek; and David Serby at Grand Ole Echo at the Echo.

Also: The 12th annual International Pop Overthrow festival kicks off a two-week stand in and around L.A., with more than 140 bands scheduled to play. The power-pop-centric festival originated in L.A. as a showcase for like-minded bands and fans, but now it’s more of a traveling road show, with promoter David Bash taking his brand to many cities around the U.S., and even Liverpool, England. Here’s the full schedule. I’ve seen many of the bands, and heard the music of many others, and my opening weekend favorites are Blackout 101, Megasapien, Michael Ubaldini, Sparklejets UK, Walter Clevenger & the Dairy Kings and Phamous Phaces. (The rather archaic, link-less schedule makes it hard to do too much investigating without Googling yourself mad, so …)

Photo by Timothy Norris