Music

Previews by Ann Powers (A.P.)., Richard Cromelin (R.C.), Casey Dolan (C.D.), Randy Lewis (R.L.) and Don Heckman (D.H.).

Los Lobos East L.A.’s finest return for a fund-raiser to help rebuild the historic auditorium of their alma mater, Garfield High School, which was gutted by an arson fire in May. The band’s music has always celebrated community, both musical and social, and this show is a robustly tangible expression of that commitment. (R.L.) Gibson Amphitheatre, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. Today, 5:45 p.m. $39.75-$254.75. (818) 622-4440.

Duncan Sheik On the surface he seemed like a garden-variety sensitive singer-songwriter, but Duncan Sheik never quite fit into the whole pop thing. He’s made a bigger mark in theater lately, scoring the innovative Broadway smash “Spring Awakening,” which won a ton of Tony awards. In light of his recent career turn, his older pop stuff reveals itself as smarter and subtler than casual listeners might have noticed. (A.P.) El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Today, 8 p.m. $22. (323) 936-4790.

Black Francis You might know him as Frank Black, or that guy from the Pixies; for his latest album, “Bluefinger,” the man born Charles Thompson reclaims his post-punk moniker and parties like it’s 1991. Raw, loud and extremely fun, “Bluefinger” was inspired by the life and death of Dutch proto-Pixie Herman Brood. It’s not clear whether Black Francis really needed to make a whole album to reveal the fact that he stole the riff from Brood’s “Saturday Night” for the Pixies’ “Cactus,” but what the heck, he’s rocking now. (A.P.) Safari Sam’s, 5214 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. Mon.-Tue. $20. (323) 666-7267.

The Amstel Saxophone Quartet The sax quartet has always been one of the most indefinable instrumental ensembles – like the saxophone itself, neither classical nor jazz, neither folk, pop nor world, while at the same time fully receptive to each. The Amstel Quartet is a collective of young Dutch players particularly adroit at exploring every imaginable saxophonic pathway via idiosyncratic renderings reaching from Bach to Bernstein, from Abou-Khalil to Xenakis. (D.H.) Jazz Bakery, 3233 Helms Ave., Culver City. Mon., 8 and 9:30 p.m. $25. (310) 271-9039.

PJ Harvey The white witch of Dorset – that’s how Polly Jean Harvey presents herself on her new album, “White Chalk.” A spare, piano-based period drama, it’s a return to the gothic preoccupations of her great early work. Older and sadder, Harvey doesn’t rage here, at least not in any way that transforms her. Instead, using her tiniest, highest voice, she explores the theme of female entrapment as it’s played out in Victorian novels, ghost stories, Jane Campion films and Louise Bourgeois sculptures. She’s working in an established mode, but being Polly Jean, she makes it all hers. (A.P.) Orpheum Theatre, 842 S. Broadway, L.A. Mon., 8 p.m. $47-$53. (877) 677-4386.

Jill Scott Remember when Jill Scott was a sort of spoken-word artist? Thank goodness she’s outgrown that. Her latest single, “Hate on Me,” shows the singer going full throttle in a righteous rant worthy of Patti LaBelle – an influence many soul princesses claim, but few actually earn. Scott’s busy acting these days, in Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married” and Anthony Minghella’s next film. Let’s hope she doesn’t get too distracted: Lovers of pure chops need this voice. (A.P.) House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. Tue.-Thu., 8 p.m. $45. (323) 848-5100.

Patrick Wolf The flamboyant young Londoner’s distinctive mix includes electronics, orchestral folk and Gothy vocals, and the Bowie comparisons are rolling in as he ranges into more eclectic territory on his third album, “The Magic Position.” (R.C.) El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Tue., 8 p.m. $19. (323) 936-4790.

Black Lips The Atlanta duo has forged a following on its anvil of garage-punk psychedelia and extreme live performances, and on its latest album, “Good Bad Not Evil” (the title is from a lyric in the Shangri-Las’ “Give Him a Great Big Kiss”), the group expands beyond its Seeds and Velvet Underground inspirations with some country and Kinks-like touches. (R.C.) Glass House, 200 W. 2nd St., Pomona. Wed., 7 p.m. $10. (909) 865-3389. Also at the Troubadour, 9081 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. Fri., 8 p.m. $15. (310) 276-6168, and at Echoplex (below the Echo), 1152 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park. Sat., 9 p.m. $15. (213) 413-8200.

James Spaulding & the Cookers All-Star Band Alto saxophonist/flutist Spaulding has the title right. This is a band of mostly veteran players who do, indeed, know how to cook. Spaulding is a veteran of the ’60s and his quintet – with Billy Harper, tenor saxophone; David Weiss, trumpet; Cecil McBee, bass; and Billy Hart, drums – is thoroughly adept in the era’s viscerally swinging, hard-bop style. Expect plenty of energetic, improvisational action. (D.H.) Jazz Bakery, 3233 Helms Ave., Culver City. Wed.-next Sun., 8 and 9:30 p.m. $25. (310) 271-9039.

Cursive The Omaha indie band meets the concept-album challenge on its latest, “Happy Hollow,” setting to surging, clamoring rock the saga of racial and religious conflicts in a fictional small town. (R.C.) Glass House, 200 W. 2nd St., Pomona. Thu., 7 p.m. $15. (909) 865-3389.

Me’shell Ndegéocello It’s impossible to sum up Ndegéocello’s talent in a blurb, but since we’re promoting a live show here, let me say one thing: She is a killer bassist. Maybe the best you’ll ever see outside a jazz club, and she could hold her own there too. This new-age soul warrior has outdone herself with her Decca debut, “The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams,” breaking every pop genre rule in sight. Live, though, she’s all about sweat and funky sweetness. (A.P.) The Galaxy, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana. Thu., 8 p.m. $20. (714) 957-0600. Also at Echoplex (below the Echo), 1152 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park. Fri., 7 p.m. $23. (213) 413-8200.

The Eagles / Dixie Chicks L.A. gets a sparkling new mid-size concert theater, and to break it in officials have drafted the quintessential Southern California country-rock outfit, the Eagles, and for good measure they’ve tossed in the L.A.-transplanted Dixie Chicks for a double dose of rockin’ country full of spit and polish. (R.L.) Nokia Theater, L.A. LIVE, 777 Chick Hearn Court, Los Angeles. Sat.-next Sun., 8:15 p.m. $85-$265. (213) 763-6020.

Junior Brown Watch him strap on the big guit-steel, his idiosyncratic hybrid of a Telecaster and a lap steel guitar, and sing and play like a trucker up all night with a head full of Buck Owens and Jimi Hendrix. Backed by his wife, Tanya Rae, on rhythm guitar, Brown will deliver an audacious demonstration of just how to get a bar or club whooping and hollering for more. (C.D.) Key Club, 9039 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. Fri., 7:30 p.m. $25. (310) 274-5800. Also at the Galaxy, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana. Sat., 8 p.m. $23.50. (310) 274-5800.

Joshua Tree Roots Music Festival The annual event keeps upgrading, and this year’s two-day event is studded with such notable highlights as the Avett Brothers, the black string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Uncle Earl, singer-songwriter Dan Bern, ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro and a teaming of country band Merle Jagger with singer Tim Easton. (R.C.) Joshua Tree Lake Campground, 2601 Sunfair Road, Joshua Tree. Sat.-next Sun. $30-$40. (877) 327-6265.

The Go! Team Team leader Ian Parton and his cohorts’ new album “Proof of Youth” is proof that the effervescent English outfit’s debut, “Thunder, Lightning, Strike,” was no fluke. The sextet’s happy scrapheap of funk, early hip-hop and innocent pop remains guileless and somehow urgent, and with the charisma of MC Ninja and the force of two drummers, its live show promises even more. (R.C.) Glass House, 200 W. 2nd St., Pomona. Sat., 7 p.m. $15. (909) 865-3389. Echoplex (below the Echo), 1152 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park. Next Sun., 9 p.m. $16. (213) 413-8200.

Silversun Pickups A homecoming of sorts for the L.A. band, whose tireless touring after the release of its “Carnavas” album helped make “Lazy Eye” a rock-radio hit and has lifted the intense, jangle-rock quartet from tiny Silver Lake bars to the main stage of Coachella. (R.C.) The Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Sat., 8:30 p.m. $25. (213) 380-5005.

West Indian Girl WIG’s music lies somewhere between the stoned California coastal mountain ambience of Neil Young’s more outré ‘70s excursions and the sonic imagination and attention to detail of Neil Finn’s solo work. The vocals of Robert James, Mariqueen Maandig and Amy White have a wistfulness that is hard to forget. (C.D.) Spaceland, 1717 Silver Lake Blvd., Silver Lake. Sat., 9 p.m. $10. (323) 661-4380.