Los Angeles's music scene is a many-headed hydra, a daunting and dizzying beast. But on any given night, finding something to satisfy any musical fancy is easy, because this city is at the center of the entertainment industry. Every day, countless national and international acts are drawn here. From acoustic rock to jazz-fusion, from Judas Priest cover bands to Latin funk, from the up-and-coming to the already gone, L.A.'s got it all.
But there's a rub. The big events are easy to find, but by the time you get to town, odds are the good tickets will be gone. The best advice is to plan ahead. On the Internet both Ticketmaster and concert business trade publication Pollstar (www.pollstar.com) have Web sites that include tour itineraries of acts that are on--or will be going on--the road. Just start your search in advance. For a listing of smaller shows closer to the date of your arrival, remember that both the L.A. Weekly and the Los Angeles Times "Calendar" section have Web sites. We also recommend logging onto www.localmusic2.com, which provides 2 weeks worth of schedules organized by neighborhood and/or style. Sometimes tickets may come available at the box office before shows, or when all else fails try "negotiating" with some of the locals in front of the venue.
Large Concerts -- Mostly gone are the days of the behemoth stadium shows, excepting, of course, the occasional U2 or Rolling Stones tour. Still, major national and international acts tend to be attracted to some of the city's larger venues.
The crown of Downtown and home to the Lakers and Clippers is the STAPLES Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St. (tel. 877/673-6799). This combination sports/event stadium is now a primary concert venue with recent acts including Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and the Eagles.
Amphitheaters are the staple of national rock and pop concert tours. Los Angeles's two main warriors are the outdoor Greek Theatre in Griffith Park, 2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles (tel. 323/665-1927; www.nederlander.com/greek.html), and the indoor Universal Amphitheatre, Universal City Drive, Universal City (tel. 818/777-3931), each seating about 6,000. Both are among the most accommodating and comfortable facilities for big-name acts. Nearly as beautiful as the Hollywood Bowl, the Greek books a full season of national acts, from Carlos Santana and the Brian Setzer Orchestra to John Tesh and Barry Manilow. Be advised that getting out afterward can be a problem, as cars are stacked in packed lots, often making exiting a slow process.
Universal Amphitheatre has one advantage over the Greek: it has a roof, so it can book year-round. It's not as aesthetically pleasing, but it is quite comfortable and none of its seats are too far from the stage. For some events, the "Party in the Pit" offers a general admission section next to the stage. In addition to pop stars from Celine Dion to Jane's Addiction, the Universal has also booked such theater events as The Who's Tommy. While the neon jungle of Universal's CityWalk doesn't appeal to everyone, it does offer plenty of pregig dining options.
Orange County's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (formerly Irvine Meadows), 8800 Irvine Center Dr., Laguna Hills (tel. 949/855-8096), which holds 15,000 (including a general-admission lawn way in the back), hosts KROQ's often-spectacular summertime "Weenie Roast" and KIIS's "Summer Jam" each year, as well as a plethora of touring rock acts, including recent shows from Marilyn Manson and Garbage. If you're going from L.A. on a weekday, get an early start, since Irvine is located at one of the most heavily traveled freeway junctions in the country.
Another popular venue is the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, 2695 E. Katella Ave. (1 mile east of I-5), Anaheim (tel. 714/704-2400; www.arrowheadpond.com), a combination sports/event stadium that's gaining momentum as a primary concert venue. Recent highlights at the shiny new site include heavy hitters like Ricky Martin, Bruce Springsteen, and local fave No Doubt. It's about an hour from Los Angeles via the always-crowded I-5 freeway, but convenient to Disneyland-goers (about 8 min. away).
Small Clubs -- With more small clubs than you can swing a Stratocaster at, Los Angeles is the place for live music. Check the L.A. Weekly (www.laweekly.com) to see who's in town during your visit. Unless otherwise noted, listed clubs admit only patrons 21 and over.
All That Free Jazz -- Art, jazz, beer, and free -- baby, that's for me. Which is why I always mark my calendar for the free jazz concerts hosted Thursday and Friday evenings at L.A.'s two major art museums. Here's the scoop: The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles (tel. 323/857-6000; www.lacma.org), hosts free concerts in its open central courtyard every Friday night from 5:30 to 8:30pm, April through December. It's a great way to listen to good music with a glass of wine on a warm Los Angeles evening. June through September, the Museum of Contemporary Art, 250 S. Grand Ave., Downtown (tel. 213/626-6222; www.moca-la.org), and its sister annex Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, 152 N. Central Ave., Downtown in Little Tokyo (tel. 213/626-6222); www.moca-la.org), take turns offering free jazz concerts from 5 to 8pm every Thursday. Both the MOCA and the Geffen Contemporary pair a new wine and microbrew beer to match the flavor of each week's performer.
Dance Clubs--The momentous popularity of Latin dance and swing has resulted in the opening of new clubs dedicated to both, taking some of the pressure off the old standbys. DJ club culture is also on the rise locally, featuring noteworthy shows at some enjoyable clubs; such dance clubs, however, can come and go as quickly as you can say "jungle rave." Mere whispers of a happening thing elsewhere can practically relegate a club to a been-there-done-that status. Check the L.A. Weekly for updates on specific club information.
Supper & a Show at the Cinegrill--If you enjoy the Hollywood scene, supper club experience, and Gershwin classics, have we got a treat for you. Michael Feinstein, one of the top interpreters of the popular American song, recently opened his west coast club within the historic Roosevelt Hotel, right in the thick of Hollywood. Appropriately dim, curvaceously cozy, and equipped with state-of-the-art audio and visual systems, the tier-leveled supper club serves excellent Asian-fusion cuisine along with top talent performing Monday through Saturday. For show times and reservations call tel. 323/769-7269 or log onto www.hollywoodroosevelt.com. 7000 Hollywood Blvd between Highland and La Brea avenues.
