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72 Hours: Local Natives, Death among the weekend’s top gigs

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A weekly Pop & Hiss look at some of the weekend’s top shows, which is a little rock-heavy this week. If you prefer something a bit more dancey, we also have you covered.



Friday

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Sic Alps @ the Smell. San Francisco’s Sic Alps can sound a little chintzy. Haphazard and washed out, the Sic Alps key into the long-standing garage rock tradition of blown-out instrumentation and washed-out vocals. Song titles such as ‘Wasted at Church’ don’t leave much to the imagination, but while the Sic Alps can be rough around the edges, these Bay Area boys are harmless. This is rudimentary rock ‘n’ roll at its most downbeat, where the instrumental hiss obscures, but rarely roars. It’s loudness with a frown. The Smell, 247 S. Main St. Admission is $5. -- Todd Martens

Saturday

Local Natives @ Walt Disney Concert Hall. It wasn’t that long ago that this local band was playing free shows up and down the Silver Lake scene; now it’s made the leap with a concert at one of the city’s premiere stages. And, frankly, it’s well-deserved, based on the skills displayed on the album ‘Gorilla Manor,’ a mix of tribal percussion, fluttering guitar runs and harmony-laden melodies rich enough for the Shins or a more coherent Animal Collective. And yet, up to this point, the band’s seemed more beloved outside its home city. This show might bid goodbye to all that. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. The show is sold out, and tickets on the secondary market are topping $100. -- Chris Barton

Death @ the Echoplex. This all-African American trio from Detroit was a favorite among crate-diggers and collectors for its ahead-of-its-time punk sound, which was the next logical step from the Stooges and MC5. Now thanks to an acclaimed reissue on Drag City Records in 2009, Death is enjoying a long-overdue victory lap (minus original member David Hackney, who died in 2000). The Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., L.A. Tickets are $12. -- CB

Sunday

The Frustrators @ the Troubadour. It’s suddenly becoming a rather good time for pop-punk fans. Screeching Weasel has a sharp new single focused on the drudge of the daily grind, and now the Frustrators are back with some of their first new music in nearly decade. The EP ‘Griller’ is just four songs, but they all possess a speedy melodicism and a slight girl obsession. It’s no surprise the Frustrators nail the formula, as Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt is the group’s rhythmic anchor. The Troubadour, 9081 Santa Monica Blvd. Tickets are $12. -- TM

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More weekend tips could be found here!

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