Tonight in L.A.: Ben Folds Five, Shiny Toy Guns, Muse, Ken Stringfellow, Gilby Clarke, Kyle Gass Band, the Blasters, Social Distortion, Owls

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Saturday at the Park, and elsewhere:

Ben Folds Five – you remember how they rattled the Fraggles last fall, right? – visit the Wiltern behind their comeback album “The Sound of the Life of the Mind.”
‣ It looks as if the weather has cleared off in time for a special day at Santa Anita Park – there will be a live performance from Shiny Toy Guns, as well as a passel of food trucks and craft beers.
‣ It’s one more night of Muse, with Band of Skulls, at Staples Center.
Ken Stringfellow, who’s been a part of the Posies, R.E.M. and the reincarnation of Big Star, headlines the Satellite behind his latest solo ablum “Danzig in the Moonlight.” The Maldives and the Nervous Wreckords open.
‣ And the Kyle Gass Band, the Tenacious D dude’s new-ish project fronted by Mike Bray, holds down the party at the Bootleg Theater, along with Casey Abrams and Molly Bryant & John Spiker.

Also:

The Blasters, Dave Alvin, the Knitters and X at the Observatory
Gilby Clarke, Archer, HARRP and Born On Impact at the Viper Room
Social Distortion at the House of Blues
Sad Robot, Web & Reckless and the Vitals at El Cid
The Herbert Bail Orchesgtra at the Echo Country Outpost
Midge Ure, Annabella Lwin and Right the Stars at the El Rey Theatre
Leessang and Jung In at Club Nokia
Margarita La Diosa De La Cumbia at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk
Stanley Clarke Band at the Catalina Bar & Grill
Shahkar Bineshpajooh at the Nokia Theatre LA Live
Miles Clifton at the Echo
Owls, Bikos, Danger Friends USA, Protect Me, Young Empress and Snacktime at the Smell
Circle Up and Rani De Leon at the Virgil
Meow Twins, Heller Keller, Business Cats and the Aquadolls at pehrspace
Liz Wood, Totsy, Alto, the Ascetic Junkies and Ghost Town Jenny at the Hotel Cafe
Billy Cobham, Jerry Goodman, Dean Brown, Gary Huband and Ric Fierabracci at the Mint
The Teddy Campbell Band, Ethan Farmer, Allison Iraheta & Halo Circus, Jubu & Legally Blynd, Shoshana Bean and JP Delaire at the Troubadour
Seedless, Uprooted, Papafish, Beyond I Sight and Zephyris at the Roxy Theatre
Thirsty Heroes, Roulette Dares and I Like Turtles at the Central SAPC
Too Short, Greedy Ent, Suspect ED, Mickey Bardot, Melody and Emaysee at Brixton South Bay
Jungle Fire at the Del Monte Speakeasy
Al Stewart at McCabe’s Guitar Shop
Susan James at the Besant Lodge
Wayward Sons, the Cranks and the MP Triple J Band at Saint Rocke
Sound Asylm at the Detroit Bar
Stryper at the House of Blues Anaheim
Berlin and the Reflexx at the Coach House
Paul Kelly at the Federal Bar
Agent Orange and the Coltranes at the Vault
LA Guns at the Tiki Bar
Galeet Dardashti at the Fowler Museum
Patrick Merrill at Genghis Cohen
Poncho Sanchez at Vitello’s Jazz & Supper Club
Smokey Robinson at the Cerritos Center
Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers at Pappy & Harriets Pioneertown Palace
Poncho Sanchez at Vitello’s Jazz & Supper Club
Casper Von DJ at the Federal Bar
Party Favor and Ace Future at the Yost Theater

Photo by Autumn De Wilde