Los Angeles is one of the finest music cities in the world, which is both a gift and a curse: There’s always a ton of great music being played somewhere, but there’s so much of it that it can be difficult to sort through it all and find the best stuff. If that’s a problem you’ve faced, you’re in the right place: Keep reading to find a list of the concerts in the Los Angeles area that are worth your time for the week of September 17.
Monday, September 17
Charlie Puth @ Grammy Museum at LA Live [Sold Out]
Puth is one of the world’s biggest pop stars, but he’s also more than that: His new album, Voicenotes, has earned him a critical respect that not a lot of people saw coming.
Tuesday, September 18
Foster The People @ The Observatory [Sold Out]
The “Pumped Up Kicks” band is currently touring behind Sacred Hearts Club, their 2017 album that saw the group experimenting with some new sounds.
Lauryn Hill and Dave Chappelle @ Hollywood Bowl [Tickets]
A pair of cultural legends from the 2000s are taking over the Hollywood Bowl, and that sounds fine to me.
The Neighbourhood (with Porches) @ Greek Theatre [Tickets]
The alternative indie pop group released their self-titled third album this year, and they’re joined by Porches, whose own new record, The House, is some truly bold indie pop.
Wednesday, September 19
Foster The People @ The Observatory [Tickets]
Miguel (with DVSN) @ Greek Theatre [Tickets]
Miguel’s 2017 album War & Leisure was an R&B triumph, and pairing his psychedelic sound with the alternative R&B of Dvsn means a good night is on its way.
Thursday, September 20
Arcade Fire @ Greek Theatre [Tickets]
Arcade Fire has been one of the world’s best live bands for a while now, a title that they still hold today.
Jonathan Wilson @ Fonda Theatre [Tickets]
Wilson has worked with the likes of Father John Misty, but he’s a delightful performer in his own right as well.
The National (with Phoebe Bridgers) @ Hollywood Palladium [Tickets]
Matt Berninger and company are morose indie rock heroes, while Bridgers is starting to take over the world with her own emotional tunes.
Ryley Walker @ Moroccan Lounge [Tickets]
Walker has band jam origins, which makes for a good live show, especially considering he’s combined them with a more focused direction on his latest album, Deafman Glance.
Friday, September 21
Blood Orange @ Greek Theatre [Tickets]
Dev Hynes makes some of the most emotional and experimental R&B, and his new album fits nicely into the oeuvre he’s established for himself over the past few years.
Doja Cat @ Echoplex [Tickets]
Miguel (with DVSN) @ Santa Barbara Bowl [Tickets]
The National (with Phoebe Bridgers) @ Hollywood Palladium [Tickets]
Saturday, September 22
Beyonce and Jay-Z @ Rose Bowl [Tickets]
It’s Beyonce and Jay-Z, hip-hop’s biggest power couple, sharing the stage. It’s a big deal.
The National (with Phoebe Bridgers) @ Santa Barbara Bowl [Tickets]
Superorganism @ Fonda Theatre [Tickets]
“Everybody Wants To Be Famous” is one of the year’s most interesting indie pop hits, and it comes from one of the most interesting and eclectic groups of 2018.
Sunday, September 23
Beyonce and Jay-Z @ Rose Bowl [Tickets]
Chvrches @ Greek Theatre [Tickets]
Chvrches continue purveying fine indie synth pop on their new album Love Is Dead, and they also remain a moving force live on stage.
Grizzly Bear @ Hollywood Bowl [Tickets]
Indie rock elites of the 2000s, Grizzly Bear has still got it, as proven by their 2017 album, Painted Ruins.
