Buzz on August 6th, 2010

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LA-LA palooza! Don’t feel bad that you’re not in Chicago this weekend. There is a bevvy of music to choose from right here in SoCal to whet your rock-n-roll appetite:

Friday

‣ Local darlings Silversun Pickups headline the Greek and we can all crow about how we knew them when they were picking up stuff at SilverSun Liquors. Buzzband faves the Henry Clay People open, along with the curious addition of Against Me! Exclamation point indeed.

‣ Across town, We Are Scientists offer an alternative to those who prefer their indie rock indoors, at the Troubadour. Former Chairlift member Aaron Pfenning opens with his new act, Rewards.

‣ Why should kids have all the fun? The Local Scene Night at the L.A. Zoo lineup seems much more skewed to the Buzz Bands set, with bands like Voxhaul Broadcast, Waking Sleep, Useless Keys and Happy Hollows on the bill.

Saturday

‣ If you really want to get that sunburn, festival vibe, head to Huntington Beach Pier for the U.S. Open of Surfing. The festivities include a free show from Weezer and Hot Hot Heat [pictured above]. No shoegazing allowed, this will be a hang ten dance party.

‣ If you’re still not quite sure what to make of Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, then gather your ghostbusters and head down to the Detroit Bar for a full examination.

‣ Another day in the O.C. sun complete with free indie rock? Yes, at the Lab in Costa Mesa there are free matinee sets from Black Apples, Useless Keys, Voxhaul Broadcast and Light FM.

‣ The Donnas keep it fun and sexy at the Troubadour. With Gorevette and The Nukes. Don’t over think it. Just go rock out.

Sunday

‣ Blondie, possibly the biggest punk band from the ’70s era Bowery to clean up and go massively mainstream (and still have everybody love them), roll through the Orange County Fair. Debbie Harry will prove why she’s still the coolest woman ever, even while in the close proximity of chocolate covered bacon.

‣ Young The Giant continue their residency at The Troubadour with Grouplove and The Union Line

Also Friday: Street Drum Corps and Cobra Starship at the Huntington Beach Pier (US Open of Surfing); Ludacris of Wiltern; the Donnas and the Answering Machine at Detroit Bar; Gin Blossoms at the Canyon Club; Kari Kimmel at the Hotel Cafe; N.A.S.A. at Avalon.

Also Saturday: HARD Summer with Crystal Castles, Flying Lotus, and Soulwax; Ringo Starr at the Greek Theater; the Janks at Pershing Square; Restavrant at Spaceland; The Long Beach Funk Festival; Mia Doi Todd at the Los Angeles Folk Festival; Sweet and Tender Hooligans at the O.C .Fair.

Also Sunday: Corosion of Conformity at Echoplex; Mickey Avalon at the Galaxy Theater; Pharcyde at the Key Club; International Pop Overthrow at Spaceland with Devlin Murphy and Marvelous Toy; the Quarter After at the Bootleg; Mary Chapin Carpenter at the Grove Anaheim.

– By Ali MacLean