Music

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

Kate Nash The latest singer-songwriter sensation to revive the image of the swinging English bird, Kate Nash is of a different feather than most: sensible, straightforward, more like an art punk than a club kid. You’ve heard her smart romantic putdown, “Foundations,” on KCRW; this show comes as her album “Made of Bricks” – platinum in Britain – hits U.S. stores. (A.P.) Troubadour, 9081 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. Mon., 7 p.m. $15. (310) 276-6168.

Radar Brothers The Los Angeles quartet has operated for a decade now, and although they’ve remained, yes, under the radar, their atmospheric folk-rock has been among the city’s best. (R.C.) The Echo, 1822 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park. Mon., 8 p.m. Free. (213) 413-8200.

Dan Deacon There’s something a little Devo-like in the electronic musician’s intense, makeshift audio-visual attack and satiric overtone, and his music varies from Chemical Brothers breakbeats to prog-rock cadenzas. The Baltimore-based artist’s show includes a screening of “Ultimate Reality,” the Schwarzenegger-obsessed DVD he created with visual artist Jimmy Joe Roche, supplemented by two live drummers. (R.C.) El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Tue., 8 p.m. $12. (323) 936-4790.

Med Flory with Jazz Wave and Supersax Alto saxophonist Med Flory may be best known for his creation of the Charlie Parker tribute group Supersax. But his eclectic résumé also includes stints as an actor on shows such as “77 Sunset Strip,” “Magnum P.I.” and “Hunter,” as well as the leadership of his own big band, Jazz Wave. Two of those career directions – Supersax and Jazz Wave – make a rare appearance this week, showcasing Flory’s ebullient, Parker-inspired saxophone work. (D.H.) Vibrato, 2930 Beverly Glen Circle, Bel-Air. Tue., 8 and 9:30 p.m. $25. (310) 474-9400.

Nilsson Tribute Harry Nilsson was a master craftsman who liked to embed shards of glass in his perfect constructions. Alternately silly (“put the lime in the coconut”) and heartbreakingly poignant (“talk about your troubles”) he left behind one of the most glimmering songbags in post-Beatles pop. The Fold presents a tribute to the master with Ferraby Lionheart, John Gold, Amnion, Willoughby, Tara Busch, Frankel and others. (A.P.) Bordello, 901 E. 1st St., L.A. Tue., 9 p.m. $10. (213) 687-3766.

Cyrus Chestnut Trio Jazz interpretations of songs associated with Elvis Presley may seem as likely a blend as oil and water. But pianist Chestnut’s latest album, “Cyrus Plays Elvis,” reaching into the blues and gospel traces of the Presley style, finds the inner heart of such seemingly unlikely items as “Heartbreak Hotel,” “It’s Now or Never” and “Hound Dog.” (D.H.) Jazz Bakery, 3233 Helms Ave., Culver City. Wed.-Sat., 8 and 9:30 p.m. $25-$30. (310) 271-9039.

Taylor Swift This 18-year-old is coming off a dream-come-true year in which her debut album went multiplatinum and snagged her a Grammy nomination for best new artist. After introducing herself to country fans through opening slots for several established stars, she’s out doing full sets as a headliner. (R.L.) Wilshire Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. Thu., 8 p.m. $36.50-$46.50. (323) 655-4900.

Cornelius: Man-Machine Digital City The L.A. Philharmonic’s “Concrete Frequency” festival concludes its exploration of the dynamic between the city and music with an emissary from a defining urban frontier, Tokyo. Cornelius, a wry conceptualist with an ear for pop hooks, wraps it up with en electronic concert titled “Man-Machine in the Digital City.” (R.C.) Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Thu., 9 p.m. $28-$37. (323) 850-2000.

John Doe “A Year in the Wilderness,” the latest solo effort from this L.A. punk-roots music stalwart, is earning Doe some of the most enthusiastic reviews of an already estimable career at the emotional fringes of pop music. (R.L.) Harold M. Williams Auditorium at the Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, L.A. Fri., 7:30 p.m. (310) 440-7300.

Chromeo This Montreal-based duo plays smooth and silly electro jams that conjure champagne nights in the bubble bath – but with enough self-awareness to tarten things up. On the group’s MySpace page, a picture of Sigmund Freud sits next to the link for its recent single, “Tenderoni.” Peanut Butter Wolf does his DJ thing to warm up the crowd. (A.P.) El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Fri., 8 p.m. $15. (323) 936-4790.

Dave Alvin From humble little Downey, Calif., the veteran singer, songwriter and guitarist aims high with his latest album, “West of the West,” which is devoted to songs written by California-born or -reared songwriters and largely speaks to what it means to live and love in this land of grand dreams and broken promises. (R.L.) McCabe’s, 3101 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m. $20. (310) 828-4497.

Nyles Lannon Lannon was a former member of the local shoegazer band Film School, now a do-it-yourselfer playing a variety of instruments. Last year’s “Pressure,” a bedroom-produced release that was overlooked by many, revealed a singer-songwriter with a melodic twist worthy of Neil Finn, a flayed minimalism that may remind some of early Pavement, and the near-whispered confessional yelps of Elliott Smith – all with dreamy, stacked harmonies and strange, electronic wallpaper. (C.D.) Knitting Factory, 7021 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Fri., 8:30 p.m. $10. (323) 463-0204.

Bob Brozman Brozman plays about every form of guitar-based instrument known to man, such as the Reso-Phonic (on which he is a master) and a baritone guitar, and the range of styles he plays – including blues and Pacific (played with natives from Papua New Guinea) – is a lesson in the pan-cultural properties of music. (C.D.) Folk Music Center, 220 Yale Ave., Claremont. Sat., 7 p.m. $15. (909) 624-2928.

David Hildalgo/Louie Perez The two Los Lobos founding members will delve into the band’s storied catalog and discuss and elaborate on some of their favorites in an acoustic program called “Stories in Song,” which also expects to include intimate performances of material the band never released. (R.L.) Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. Sat., 8 p.m. $33-$38. (949) 854-4646.

Pat Green After an emergency appendectomy, this barnstorming, barefoot Texas singer-songwriter is back on the road with high-octane live shows that can evoke the camaraderie and energy of that New Jersey fellow and his pals from E Street. (R.L.) House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. Sat., 8 p.m. $25. (323) 848-5100. House of Blues Anaheim, 1530 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim. Next Sun., 7 p.m. $22.50. (714) 778-2583.