Kevin Bronson on June 15th, 2012

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Hundreds of fans will see mind-blowing shows in Los Angeles tonight. Thousands of others will see Nickelback. Ba-dum. … But seriously, folks, this is the busiest and best night for live music in recent memory. Pick a highlight:

Friday fun:

‣ The Jesus and Mary Chain play the KROQ-sponsored “Friday Night Roq at the Races” and Hollywood Park. Sounds like a winner.
‣ Japandroids storm the Echoplex behind their acclaimed new album “Celebration Rock.”
‣ U.K. trio the Cribs hit the El Rey Theatre in support of their new album “In the Belly of the Brazen Bull.” The Lovely Bad Things and Devin support.
‣ Motion City Soundtrack and the Henry Clay People – each with new albums – team up to rock the Troubadour. Motion City’s “Go” is just out on Epitaph Records; the Henry Clays’ “Twenty Five for the Rest of Our Lives” comes out June 26 on TBD Records.
‣ Australian rockers the Temper Trap check in to the Palladium behind their second, self-titled record, just out on Glassnote.
‣ Soul man Mayer Hawthorne is at the Wiltern in support of his new album “How Do You Do.”
‣ Experimental-minded electro-poppers Future People headline the Mint, with Double Duchess and Burning Hotels supporting.
‣ Oceanside quintet the Drowning Men, whose album “All of the Unknown” comes out in July on Flogging Molly’s Borstal Beat Records,  headline the Satellite, with River City Extension and Last American Buffalo opening.
‣ Yacht plays the Glass House in Pomona.
‣ And Brooklyn-based Here We Go Magic plays the Echo behind its new Nigel Godrich-produced album “A Different Ship.” That’s the band’s video for “How Do I KNow,” above.

Also:

Raheem Cohen, Wake Up Lucid, Rainbow Jackson at El Cid
Sea of Bees at the Sanctuary in Santa Monica
Golden State, Dustbowl Revival, Song Preservation Society and more at the Hotel Cafe
Nicki Bluhm and the Gamblers at the Bootleg Bar
Unwritten Law, Attaloss, Super Black Mark at the Viper Room
The Terrapin at Casey’s
Irontom at O’Brien’s
Spaceships at the Smell
Nickelback, Bush, Seether, My Darkest Days at the Staples Center
Metalachi at the Whisky
The Cartunes, PK, Riot in Rhythm and more at the Roxy
Ab Soul at the Key Club
Summer Metal Onslaught 1 at the House of Blues
Curd at Brixton South Bay
Holloys at the Del Monte Speakeasy
Stephen Brower at Trip in Santa Monica
Kin, Stuart Smith at McCabe’s Guitar Shop
Bella Novela, Sara Radle & the Mockingbirds and Geronimo Getty at Alex’s Bar
Smut Peddlers, HFL at the Observatory
Thrice, Animals As Leaders at the House of Blues Anaheim
The Dealers at the House of Blues Anaheim
Donavon Frankenreiter, Kevin Miso at the Coach House