Kevin Bronson on December 17th, 2009

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[Here’s where it starts to get busy, folks …]

For my money, there is no better punk-rock outfit doing business the past few years than Florida’s Against Me!, who remain the only band to have slayed me at both Coachella and the Warped Tour. The quintet just finished a new album, “White Crosses,” with producer Butch Vig, and their gig at a venue as cozy at Spaceland (they’re at the Troubadour on Saturday) promises to be special. L.A.’s aptly named Roll the Tanks open. … Big shows for L.A. bands that will rank highly on my forthcoming best-of-2009 list: Fool’s Gold headlines the Echo, supported by the Entrance Band; Sea Wolf and Imaad Wasif top the bill at the Roxy. For local fans, that constitutes a difficult choice. … The Eagles’ Timothy B. Schmit plays the Troubadour. … At the Hotel Cafe, it’s the first of the venue’s three-night charity benefit, Ho-Ho-Tel 2009, and the lineup is loaded. To name-check a few: Joe Purdy, Sara Bareilles, Chris Pierce, Jay Nash, Shane Alexander and the Rescues. … In O.C., Sugarcult has a Toys for Tots benefit at the House of Blues Anaheim, and young rockers the New Limb are collecting toys for the Orangewood Children’s Foundation at their Thursday residency at the Gypsy Lounge; bring a toy and get there early to catch Parade of Lights and the Union Line. … Also: 8mm at the Viper Room; Oliver Future and City Museum at the Mint; Ex-Detectives at the Silverlake Lounge; and reggae dudes the Lions’ record-release party at Bar One in North Hollywood.