May is upon us, Angelinos! As the weather starts to heat up, so do summer concerts in Los Angeles. There’s nothing grey about the concert forecast this May as some of the best Los Angeles concerts this May will feature performances by The Horrors, tUnE-yArDs, Atmosphere , Jacco Gardner, Tom Jones, A Perfect Circle, Ms. Lauryn Hill, a couple psych festivals, and so many more great shows. Check out below the 30 best Los Angeles concerts you need to attend this May. Let us know which concerts you plan on attending!
1. Mono — May 1 — The Glass House Touring since 1999, Japan’s Mono deliver a gorgeous blend of vicious, yet majestic experimental rock and shoegaze. Their incredible live show will transport you to another realm.
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2. The Horrors — May 1 — First Unitarian Church Celebrating the release of their new album, Luminous, out May 6th on XL Recordings — the Horrors are ready to bring their electro waves of shoegaze and goth rock to your ears.
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3. Los Lobos, Ozomatli, Mariachi El Bronx — May 3 — Greek Theatre Opening up the summer season at the Greek Theatre, celebrate Cinco De Mayo with this lively group of bands. Get ready to drink, dance and be merry as all three acts put on a high energy set you can’t help but move and groove.
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4. tUnE-yArDs — May 5 — Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Tune-Yards is set to release a perky new album titled, Nikki Nack. The album is out May 6th on 4AD, and to celebrate the album release, Merrill Garbus is bringing her wild psychedelic soul-folk tunes back to our yard.
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5. Dead Sara — May 6 — The Echo If you have yet to witness a Dead Sara show, you’re missing out. Emily Armstrong is one badass frontwoman who never ceases to rock your bones with her fierce vocals.
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6. Jenny Lewis — May 6 — The Roxy As a highly respected and sought out artist (Rilo Kiley, Jenny and Johnny, Postal Service), we can never get enough of the always lovable and cute indie songstress, Jenny Lewis.
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7. Atmosphere — May 8 — The Roxy Atmosphere is touring in support of his eighth studio album, Southsiders, due out May 6th via Rhymesayers Entertainment. With master flows and beats, do not miss this famed indie/underground hip hop artist.
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8. La Sera — May 8 — The Echo Dropping a fierce new punk-inspired album (Hour of the Dawn) on May 13th via Hardly Art, La Sera’s new record promises a faster, louder and more aggressive sound in the likes of The Pretenders, Minor Threat, X, The Smiths, The Cars and more.
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9. Jacco Gardner — May 8 — Church On York Dreamy and full of textured layers, twenty-five year old Dutch multi-instrumentalist Jacco Gardner’s music is a gorgeous blast to the past. His live show will move you and make for a most memorable performance.
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10. Big Freedia — May 9 — Echoplex Rescheduling her April Echoplex date, it doesn’t matter how many times Big Freedia plays L.A., the bounce music extraordinaire and her patrol of big booties never gets old. If you want some excitement in your life, attend this show.
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11. Morrissey with Tom Jones — May 10 — L.A. Sport Arena Even if Morrissey were to cancel this tour date (something he is known for pulling), it wouldn’t even matter … Tom Jones is on the bil! Ladies and gents, bring a fresh pair of undies to be thrown on the stage!
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12. A Place To Bury Strangers — May 10 — Constellation Room Last May, A Place To Bury Strangers destroyed their headlining set at Psycho De Mayo, now you have the chance to see the New York–based noise rock band bring their atmospheric wall of psychedelic rock to an intimate venue.
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13. Brian Jonestown Massacre — May 10 — Wiltern Led by primary singer/songwriter Anton Newcombe, the band has a sound rooted in 60s psychedelic rock but that has flowed and evolved into all kinds of musical shapes and colors over the years. Don’t miss out on this colorful performance.
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14. Puscifer, A Perfect Circle, Failure — May 10 & 11 — Greek Theatre Now this is a celebration that Maynard Keenan fans will not want to miss. In celebration of Maynard’s 50 years of life, he is putting on quite the “Cinquanta” performance. If you’re going to this triple threat of show, you’re more than lucky!
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15. 3rd Annual L.A. Psych Fest — May 10 — Bootleg HiFi Three rooms of consciousness expanding music and art featuring: Rose Windows, Kikagaku Moyo (Japan), Jeffertitti’s Nile, Insects vs. Robots, The Spyrals, Gamelan X, and a lot more bands.
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16. Psycho De Mayo — May 11 — The Observatory Apparently there are two music festivals this month called Psycho De Mayo, but this is the ONLY one you NEED to attend: Pentagram, The Shrine, Kadavar, Saint Vitus, Dead Meadow, and more.
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17. Iggy Azalea — May 14 — The Observatory This Australian-bred tall platinum blonde knows how to deliver them fierce flows. Iggy is a sight you must see live (and not just because of her bodacious booty) because the girl can rap primo-style with so much infectious swagger.
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18. Torches For a Burn, Iceage, Sexdrome — May 16 & 17 — Church On York For those that like their music a bit more on the darker side and totally not of the mainstream, do not miss out on this unique Danish music festival full of punk, psychosexual black metal and more gothy goods.
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19. Connan Mockasin — May 16 — Echoplex If you missed out on his sold-out Echo show this past January, don’t make the same mistake again. This New Zealand cosmonaut rolls out the most lustrous psychedelic soul jams straight from another galaxy.
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20. Billy Joel — May 17, 22 & 27 — Hollywood Bowl Not too much to argue about this show. It’s the one-and-only “Piano Man” and he is rockin’ your soul at the Hollywood Bowl. Get ready to be drunk, merry and sing-along to countless Billy Joel gems.
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21. Charles Bradley — May 17 — Fonda Theatre You have never seen a more passionate live soul show until you’ve seen Charles Bradley perform live. With his classic soulful voice and emotive performances, this man delivers one helluva show.
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22. Ms. Lauryn Hill — May 17 — Club Nokia Whether you love her or hate her, you can’t deny this gorgeous woman’s talents. A classic 90s soul ‘n’ hip hop favorite amongst many, Ms. Lauryn Hill has the ability to make you bop your head while bringing you to tears with some of her heartfelt songs (“Zion”).
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23. Lykke Li — May 19 — The Theatre at Ace Our favorite Swedish dream pop darling, must have gotten her heart broken again because she is ready to release a new album titled I Never Learn, and so far all the ballads sound beautifully sullen.
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24. Gesaffelstein — May 22 & 23 — Fonda Theatre Always suited up and looking very dapper, French techno artist and DJ, Gesaffelstein will warp your mind with his hypnotic beats and soul-freeing sounds. If you love to dance, this is the show for you.
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25. Against Me! — May 24 & 25 — The Roxy As part of their extended North American tour, Against Me! will hit the Roxy twice (not once) in support of the release of their critically acclaimed Transgender Dysphoria Blues. It’s also the group’s first album since singer Tom Gabel came out as a woman (Laura Jane Grace).
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26. First Aid Kit — May 28 — El Rey Theatre The lovely sisters of First Aid Kit are taking off on a tour of the US and Canada to display those gorgeous pipes loud and proud for all to hear. As always, Swedish folk duo will grant you the most enchanting performance.
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27. Thee Oh Sees — May 28 & May 29 — Church On York Hands down, one of the best live shows coming from the punk/garage pop genres. Thee Oh Sees have a new album out titled Drop and it’s fuckin’ great. Get weird with it.
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28. Banks — May 29 — El Rey Theatre A self-taught pianist with an incredible sultry voice, Banks’ four-track London EP is a compelling and sexy collection of lovelorn songs that are perfected by some intense electronic sounds and textures. Stunning live!
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29. M.I.A. — May 29 — Shrine Expo Hall The fiery rapper/singer has extended her Matangi tour and will return to the West Coast for another bombastic L.A. performance. Get ready to sweat on the dance floor, because her new album is straight on fire.
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30. Pink Mountaintops — May 30 — The Echo Composed of members of Cat Power, Dead Meadow, Wolf Mother and Stephen McBean on guitar/vocals, L.A.’s Pink Mountaintops’ upcoming album release, Get Back is going to blow your mind live.
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What shows are you excited for in May? Let us know in a comment below.
