Kevin Bronson on February 19th, 2010

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[Once around the weekend while wishing a very happy 70th birthday today to Smokey Robinson:]

Tonight: Fitz & the Tantrums have been busy working on their full-length debut, but last week the soul-slinging sextet played a superbly sweaty set at Club Underground at the Echo. They reprise that tonight, with O.C. dance-rockers Pop Noir adding some swagger to the evening. … Downstairs at the Echoplex, a big local bill is headed up by Radars to the Sky, supported by Rademacher, One Trick Pony and the Hectors (Mississippi Man has canceled). … Broken Bells, the new collaboration between Danger Mouse and James Mercer, makes its live debut at the Bootleg Theater, and it’s sold out. … Of Verona, the new embodiment for the music of rocker Mandi Perkins [pictured], plays the El Rey Theatre, with the Daylights supporting. … Also: P.O.S. at the Troubadour; the Blasters, with John Doe, at Brixton South Bay in Redondo Beach; Randy Newman at UCLA’s Royce Hall; the Damned at the House of Blues; Ancestors and Black Math Horseman at Spaceland; KRS-One at the Roxy; Year Long Disaster, Earthless and Tweak Bird at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa; Vanaprasta at Bardot; Square on Square, Truth & Salvage Co. and Jonah Matranga at the Hotel Cafe; Mad Story at the Viper Room; Jon Brion’s now-monthly residency at Largo; and the Damselles’ residency at Casey’s downtown.

Saturday: U.K. orchestral-rock quintet Fanfarlo, who won a lot of hearts (and deservingly so) with last fall’s release “Reservoir,” kicks off a big U.S. tour with a headlining show at the El Rey Theatre. … Power-pop provocateur and sometimes-Raconteur Brendan Benson plays the Troubadour. … The emo/hardcore kids will be out in force for the annual Take Action Tour, which this year benefits a charity called Driving for Donors (whose mission is to raise awareness for the National Bone Marrow Registry). Take Action hits the House of Blues Anaheim with a lineup featuring We the Kings, Mayday Parade and A Rocket to the Moon, among others. … Austin buzz band Harlem headlines Spaceland. … An excellent punk-rock lineup at the Roxy features the Briggs and Left Alone. … There’s quite a little party at 3 Clubs, where Wavves, Best Coast and the Franks perform. … And Modern Time Machines and Space Waves play the Club Violane shoegazer night downtown (686 N. Spring). … Also:  Andrew Bird at USC’s Bovard Auditorium; the Entrance Band at the Bootleg Theater; Wet & Reckless at the Redwood Bar; Meiko at the Hotel Café; Seasons at Pehrspace; the Dan Band at Club Nokia; and the Blasters/John Doe pairing moving to the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.

Sunday: Canadian power-pop stalwarts Sloan hit L.A. for a show at Hollywood’s King King, with the World Record opening. … The Take Action Tour moves to the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip. … Baron Von Luxxury plays Spaceland (His Orchestra has had to cancel its appearance). … Mirah headlines the Bootleg Theater. … West of the 405, the Rhone Occupation holds forth at the Dakota Lounge in Santa Monica. … And Lemon Sun and the Secret 6 rock Alex’s Bar in Long Beach.

Fanfarlo photo by Daniel Perlaky