Live Music Los Angeles

In LA, music is borderless, to the delight of fans and the consternation of music critics who love tidy, reviewer-friendly categories. [L.A's own Cambodian-Psychedelic-Surf punksters Dengue Fever come to mind].

Los Angeles concerts feature plenty of blues, roots rock and heavy metal bands too, but they may be sharing the stage with an acid-mariachi trio or an Indonesian gamelan ensemble. Our advice: open your ears, wide, go out and listen, then listen some more.

Red Line

Hollywood Palladium

Everyone from Frank Sinatra (he opened the place in 1940) to Jay-Z (he re-opened it after a long renovation) has played the streamline moderne Palladium, which continues to present A-list talent.

The Smell

Downtown art gallery, performance space, record label and do-it-yourself night club. All ages, alcohol-free, vegan snack bar.

Hotel Cafe

Brick-walled, moody, (we'd call it smoky if you could smoke indoors in LA) singer-songwriter haven with great acoustics.

The Music Box @ Fonda Theater
Medium size venue featuring medium size rock bands. Before they were too big to play here, Green Day, Queens of the Stone Age, Black Eyed Peas, Interpol all played here.

More Live Music Los Angeles...

Purple Line

The Wiltern

This sleek turquoise-towered Art Deco landmark puts on concerts by top line alternative bands and electronica artists in Metro-friendly Koreatown.