Skipping Sunset Junction? Other weekend options abound...

For those of you who are hoping to avoid the crowds (or the $20 cover) on Sunset Boulevard this weekend, there are several other interesting live music options around town.

Weezer guitarist Brian Bell debuts his new side band, The Relationship, at Molly Malone's on Fairfax Avenue on Saturday night for a measly $7.

Ima Robot (pictured, above) is at the Greek tonight with Cafe Tacuba.

Saturday night, Snoop Dogg proteges Western Union are performing at Mood in Hollywood.  Promoters hint that Snoop himself may "likely jump on and perform with them."  More info on this gig after the jump....

...while we can't say for sure Snoop will be there (we checked with his management and they said it is his last night in town before leaving on a European tour), we put the chances at better than 50/50 for a Snoop cameo later in the evening at Mood to help Western Union get the party started off right.

Jon Brion is at the "new" Largo, per usual.

Mandy Moore is at the Hotel Cafe Saturday evening.

Donna Summer is at the Hollywood Bowl both tonight and Saturday.

Veruca Salt is at the Viper Room tonight.

Sondre Lerche is at the Troubadour on Saturday and Sunday night.

The Tyde and Mia Doi Todd play the Echoplex Saturday.

Buenos Aires-based (but Brazil-born) house DJ Mary Zander headlines the Avalon's semiannual "Made in Brazil" party on Saturday night.

Interscope's dance diva Lady Gaga is at Ritual on Saturday (Akon will also be hosting the event, but not performing -- officially, anyway).

Silverlake's Spaceland will be crowded with post-Junction rockers Saturday...a Bay Area double is on tap with Elephone and Loquat.

Faster Pussycat and L.A. Guns bring it at the Key Club Sunday.

And, of course, Radiohead will rule the bowl Sunday night in the most anticipated show of the summer for many.

Finally, Kanye West and Common perform as part of a Nike-sponsored event (Nike + Human Race) on Sunday night downtown inside Los Angeles' Memorial Coliseum at Exposition Park. The show is not open to the public and is a private event, but may be crashable if you are savvy (hint: look sweaty and be wearing running shoes, preferably Nike sneakers). Still, officially you must be pre-registered to see the show (between 500 to 1,000 lucky, but tired, runners will see the concert after a 10K jaunt through the streets of L.A.).  Registration is now closed.

UPDATE: The Kanye West/Common show is next Sunday, August 31st.  The event will be hosted by Randy Jackson.

-- Charlie Amter

Photo of Ima Robot by Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times