LA’s live calendar is always overflowing, but this monthly feature isn’t about throwing everything at the wall—it’s about curation. From the hushed indie folk of José González to the shape-shifting synth-pop of Ladytron, the punk chaos of Fishbone, and the razor-edged hip-hop of Snow Tha Product, we’re spotlighting the shows of artists we’ve been diggin’ and/or have featured. As always, Grimy Goods leans toward indie, alternative, and under-the-radar bookings—think Dry Cleaning or Glixen—but we’ll always make room for arena-scale moments from artists we’ve championed since day one, like Lorde and Florence + the Machine.
1. Jose Gonzalez, Abby Sage at The Bellwether 5/5
José González brings his hushed, intricate brand of indie folk and acoustic minimalism, where every fingerpicked note feels like it’s echoing off a canyon wall. Abby Sage opens with dreamy alt-pop melancholy—come for the quiet catharsis, stay for the emotional gut punch. Get Tickets
2. Sports at The Roxy 5/6
Sports deliver jangly indie rock with a slacker-pop sheen, like your favorite college band that somehow got way tighter without losing the charm. Expect breezy hooks, a little funk in the rhythm section, and enough groove to make even the bar staff nod along. Get Tickets
3. lovetempo at Gold-Diggers 5/6
lovetempo leans into glossy indie pop and nu-disco grooves that feel tailor-made for dim lights and good timing. It’s smooth, nostalgic, and just dancey enough to blur the line between set and party. Get Tickets
4. Grace Ives at Teragram Ballroom 5/7
Grace Ives makes off-kilter synth-pop that feels like it was beamed in from a VHS future, equal parts lo-fi, quirky, and emotionally sincere. It’s bedroom pop with a wink—strange, sticky, and sneakily profound. Get Tickets
5. Fishbone at Teragram Ballroom 5/8
Fishbone remain one of the wildest genre collisions in music—ska, punk, funk, soul, and pure chaos all crammed into one explosive live show. If you’ve never seen them, prepare for controlled mayhem; if you have, you already know you’re not missing this. Get Tickets
6. Snow Tha Product at The Novo 5/8
Snow Tha Product spits razor-sharp bars over hip-hop and Latin trap beats, switching flows like it’s a competitive sport. It’s high-energy, fiercely independent rap with zero filler and plenty of fire. Get Tickets
7. DJ Premier x The Alchemist at The Novo 5/9
Hip-hop heads, this is not a drill: DJ Premier and The Alchemist are taking over The Novo for a rare, all-killer set packed with deep cuts, raw loops, and straight-up crate-digger energy. Pull up to Los Angeles for a no-frills night of boom-bap mastery where two legends go track for track and remind everyone what real production sounds like. Get Tickets
8. Glixen at Teragram Ballroom 5/9
Glixen lean into shoegaze and alt-rock haze, layering shimmering guitars over vocals that drift like smoke. It’s the kind of set where you either close your eyes or stare at your shoes—both correct choices. Get Tickets
9. Rakim, The Soul Rebels at Blue Note Los Angeles 5/10–12
Rakim, a foundational voice in hip-hop, pairs with The Soul Rebels’ brassy, New Orleans-infused funk for a cross-genre summit meeting. Call it history lesson meets block party—either way, it grooves hard. Get Tickets
10. Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip at Zebulon 5/10
Alexis Taylor steps out from Hot Chip to explore softer, more intimate electronic pop and indie soul textures. It’s less dancefloor, more late-night headphone magic—with just enough rhythm to keep your foot involved. Get Tickets
11. Raye at The Greek Theatre 5/12–13
Raye blends pop, R&B, and jazz with a voice that can pivot from smoky to soaring in a heartbeat. Consider this your chance to see a future headliner in full bloom, backed by songs that refuse to stay in one lane. Her sisters Absolutely and Amma will open. The shows, of course, are sold out, but you can try StubHub and Vivid Seats. They offer 100% buyer guarantee, meaning that if they can’t come through with your tickets, they will refund your money.
12. Hayley Williams at The Wiltern 5/12-15
It’s always been the Hayley Williams show. The Paramore pop-punk queen has evolved and will perform three nights at the Wiltern in Los Angeles on May 12, 13, and 15. Water From Your Eyes open! The shows, of course, are sold out, but you can try StubHub and Vivid Seats. They offer 100% buyer guarantee, meaning that if they can’t come through with your tickets, they will refund your money.
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13. The Prodigy, Nitepunk at The Novo 5/13–14
The Prodigy still hit like a rave-era freight train, fusing electronic, breakbeat, and punk aggression into a relentless sonic assault. Nitepunk sets the tone with glitchy, high-BPM chaos—hydration recommended. Get Tickets
14. Sleaford Mods at Fonda Theatre 5/14
Sleaford Mods strip post-punk down to its bare essentials: biting spoken-word vocals, minimalist beats, and maximum attitude. It’s confrontational, funny, and oddly danceable—like getting yelled at in the best possible way. Get Tickets
15. Lorde at Kia Forum 5/14–15
Lorde’s art-pop and indie pop universe is as introspective as it is anthemic, balancing diary-level honesty with arena-sized sound. Expect a crowd that knows every word and a show that turns feelings into spectacle. The shows, of course, are sold out, but you can try StubHub and Vivid Seats. They offer 100% buyer guarantee, meaning that if they can’t come through with your tickets, they will refund your money.
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16. H.R. of Bad Brains at Whisky a Go-Go 5/14
H.R., the legendary voice of Bad Brains, channels hardcore punk, reggae, and spiritual intensity into a set that feels both historic and unpredictable. Blink, and you might miss a moment—or a genre shift. Get Tickets
17. Water From Your Eyes at Zebulon 5/14
Water From Your Eyes craft experimental indie pop that zigzags between glitchy electronics and guitar-driven abstraction. It’s weird in the way that makes you lean in closer, not back away. Get Tickets
18. Kit Major at The Woodbridge 5/15
Kit Major delivers indie pop with a polished yet playful edge, balancing catchy hooks with introspective lyrics. Think heart-on-sleeve songwriting dressed up for a night out. Get Tickets
19. Jordana at Lodge Room 5/15
Jordana’s bedroom pop and indie rock hybrid feels effortless—sunny melodies with just a hint of emotional static underneath (with some tongue-in-cheek). It’s the sonic equivalent of a perfect golden-hour drive. Get Tickets
20. Santigold at The Bellwether 5/15
Santigold is an indie pop icon. She mixes new wave, reggae, electronic, and alt-pop into a genre-defying sound that still feels unmistakably hers. The result is bold, stylish, and impossible to pin down—in other words, exactly the point. Get Tickets
21. Father John Misty at Fox Theater Pomona 5/17
Father John Misty blends indie folk, baroque pop, and sharp-witted lyricism into songs that are as funny as they are devastating. Expect lush arrangements, existential musings, and at least one moment of “did he really just say that?” Get Tickets
22. Echo & The Bunnymen at The Greek Theatre 5/17
Echo & The Bunnymen bring their brooding post-punk and neo-psychedelia to the stage, still sounding as moody and majestic as ever. It’s a nostalgia trip that doesn’t feel stuck in the past. Get Tickets
23. Hemlocke Springs at El Rey Theatre 5/19
Hemlocke Springs makes eccentric indie pop that bounces between playful and emotionally raw without warning. It’s charmingly unpredictable—like scrolling your feelings in real time. Get Tickets
24. Florence + the Machine at Kia Forum 5/19–20
Florence + the Machine deliver soaring indie rock and baroque pop that turns arenas into cathartic choirs. She is pure magic. Mannequin Pussy opens with blistering punk energy—consider it the emotional warm-up before the big release. Get Tickets
25. Melody’s Echo Chamber at The Belasco 5/19
Melody’s Echo Chamber floats through psychedelic pop and dreamlike indie textures, all hazy guitars and hypnotic grooves. It’s less a concert, more a gentle sonic drift into another dimension. Get Tickets
26. Samara Cyn at Hollywood Forever 5/20
Samara Cyn blends alternative R&B, hip-hop, and indie influences into a sound that’s both intimate and quietly commanding. It’s the kind of set that sneaks up on you—and stays with you. The show is sold out, but you can try StubHub and Vivid Seats. They offer 100% buyer guarantee, meaning that if they can’t come through with your tickets, they will refund your money.
27. Elias Rønnenfelt at Teragram Ballroom 5/21
Elias Rønnenfelt (of Iceage) leans into brooding post-punk and art-rock with a poetic edge, delivering songs that feel equal parts literary and unfiltered. It’s intense, moody, and just the right kind of hypnotic for a room like the Teragram. Evanora: Unlimited, John FM open. Get Tickets
28. Dry Cleaning at The Belasco 5/21
Dry Cleaning turn post-punk into high art, pairing deadpan spoken-word vocals with wiry, hypnotic instrumentation that creeps under your skin. It’s dry, sharp, and strangely addictive—like eavesdropping on the coolest conversation in the room. Get Tickets
29. Carrellee at Permanent Records Roadhouse 5/22 g
Carrellee leans into indie rock and dreamy alt-pop textures, delivering songs that feel both intimate and quietly expansive. The vibe is low-key but emotionally dialed in—perfect for a room that rewards close listening. Get Tickets
30. Broncho at Teragram Ballroom 5/22
Broncho specialize in fuzzy indie rock and warped pop hooks that feel slightly off-kilter in the best way. It’s catchy, weird, and effortlessly cool—like they’re in on a joke you’re lucky to overhear. Get Tickets
31. The Casualties, Swingin’ Utters at The Regent Theater 5/22
This lineup is a full-throttle punk showcase, from The Casualties’ street punk fury to Swingin’ Utters’ melodic grit and beyond. Expect zero subtlety, maximum volume, and a crowd that didn’t come to stand still. Get Tickets
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32. Strawberry Fuzz, Death Valley Girls at Lodge Room 5/23
Call it a garage-psych summit: Strawberry Fuzz’s scrappy energy meets Death Valley Girls’ cosmic chaos and Flat Worms’ driving post-punk pulse. It’s loud, loose, and just the right amount of unhinged. Get Tickets
33. Dove Ellis, mary in the junkyard at Hollywood Forever 5/27–28
Dove Ellis and mary in the junkyard bring a mix of indie folk, experimental pop, and raw, left-of-center songwriting to an already atmospheric setting. File under: haunting in a good way. The shows are sold out but you can try StubHub and Vivid Seats. They offer 100% buyer guarantee, meaning that if they can’t come through with your tickets, they will refund your money.
34. Nymphlord at Zebulon 5/27
LA-based singer-songwriter and producer Nymphlord dives headfirst into theatrical rock and indie, delivering a set that is worth your attention. This is that independent up-and-coming artist you can’t miss. Get Tickets
25. The Last Dinner Party, Automatic at Orpheum Theatre 5/29
The Last Dinner Party channel baroque pop and art-rock drama into something lavish and larger-than-life, while Automatic counter with sleek, motorik post-punk precision. It’s elegance versus cool detachment, and somehow everyone wins. Get Tickets
36. Ladytron at The Novo 5/29
Ladytron’s blend of synth-pop, electroclash, and darkwave still feels icy, stylish, and slightly dystopian. The beats pulse, the synths shimmer, and suddenly it’s 2am in a neon-lit dream. Get Tickets
SEE OUR BEST SHOWS OF THE WEEK FOR MORE
ARTISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
BEST NEW MUSIC
See What’s Poppin’ at Some of Our Favorite Venues in LA
Whether you want underground grit or tour-level spectacle, pick your genre, choose your room, and make it a live-music week. Grimy Goods gots you. We’ve been covering the Los Angeles music scene and beyond since 2008.
Hollywood Bowl – she’s a glamorous outdoor amphitheater (and haunted), historic icon, owned by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. The Summer Season is presented by the LA Phil; however, the county leases this legendary venue during the off-season to Live Nation and others.
Gold-Diggers (very cool independent small club venue)
Zebulon (super cool small club independent venue)
Lodge Room (independet small club venue)
The Forum (aka the Fabulous Forum, currently, the Kia Forum, she’s a historic arena, and an L.A. icon)
Permanent Records Roadhouse (cool independet small club venue)
Fonda Theatre (historic medium sized venue owned by Goldenvoice/AEG)
El Cid Sunset (historic and haunted independent venue)
Moroccan Lounge (independet small club venue)
The Troubadour (independet small club venue)
Teragram Ballroom (independet medium sized venue)
The Smell (independent small club venue)
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United Theatre On Broadway (historic venue)
The Townhouse Venice / Del Monte Speakeasy (historic and haunted independet small club venue)
The Echo (small club venue owned by Live Nation)
Blue Note LA (small club jazz vibes owned by Blue Note Entertainment Group)
Hollywood Forever (historic cemetery! Independently owned)
The Roxy (independent, legendary venue on the Sunset Strip, however, Goldenvoice is the exclusive promoter & operator)
The Paramount (historic independent small club venue)
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