The Fate of the World Is Safe in Crystal Castles

Thursday 12

“The fate of the world is safe in Crystal Castles,” so says “Alice Practice,” the accidental mic-check track that went viral and made Ethan Kath and Alice Glass of Canadian electro duo Crystal Castles belles of the electronic-rock ball. The two took this year’s tour through the U.K., where they headlined the Shockwaves NME Awards Tour and collected a John Peel Award for innovation, and this year’s Ultra Music fest in Miami, where they headlined the largest electronic music symposium in the world. These accomplished Castles court Fluxx Live tonight with Glass’s Virginia Woolf visions and frenetic stage show and Kath’s soul-sucking sonics. I’m all tingly.... Miss the door in the Gaslamp, haul it over to House of Blues, where the DuPrees of Tyler, Texas, five of ’em, who call the family band Eisley, tour in support of The Valley, their third full-length and, according to blogworld, their best indie-pop collection of heartachers and heartbreakers — lotta cardio in this one. Long Island boy-girl band the Narrative set it up.... Not yer thing, Lady Dottie and the Diamonds join the Euphoria Brass Band at El Dorado for a night of lively rock-n-soul and Nawlins-style swingers. Euphoria literally blew it up at Gator by the Bay last weekend.... Uptownin’, Bar Pink plugs in local art-punk act Ghetto Blaster with L.A. post-punk four-piece Cinderella Motel.

Friday 13

With the death of bassist Gerard Smith, TV on the Radio delayed its tour in support of this year’s very recommendable Nine Types of Light. Rock writers agree it’s the Brooklyn art-pop outfit’s most positive effort to date, trading apocalypto beats for heavy ebb and flow, and electronic squelch for an easier, pleasier shufflin’ that suits the croons of dynamic front guys Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone. TOTR will make up their raincheck date at 4th&B Friday night. All tix from the May 2 show will be honored and hear-tell there’s still some to be had. Wha?... Six “queer and allied” friends from Philly who call themselves Dangerous Ponies clop into Soda Bar with dance-hall pop tuned to sun-shiny radio hits of the ’60s and ’70s. They’re out to tout a spanking-new self-titled, self-released set that sounds hella fun: myspace.com/dangerousponies. The Burning of Rome up first.... International indie hits and Little Italy denizens Pinback will play the Belly Up in Solana Beach. On Record Store Day last month, the duo released singles “Sherman” and “Thee Srum Proggitt” off their forthcoming Temporary Residence full-length, Information Retrieved, due in 2012. Y’know, if we’re all still here. Their pal Kenseth Thibedeau’ll set it up.... L.A. alt-rock act Alien Ant Farm will swarm Brick by Brick. They’re the band that hit in the late ’90s with a debut they called Greatest Hits. Actually, their biggest hit to date is a cover of MJ staple “Smooth Criminal”.... Else: GG Allin’s backing band the Murder Junkies take down the Shakedown...Kathryn Calder of New Pornographers fame plays the Tin Can Ale House in support of her first solo go Are You My Mother?...funk’n jazz act Pocket’s at Bar Pink...Wendy Bailey sets up a CD-release thing at Eleven with Neon Cough in support (caught them at the recent Little Italy Art Walk — fine, fun stuff)...and I guess I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the big ticket in town tonight, Jimmy Eat Rimac.

Saturday 14

Homegrown hits the Soft Pack are shilling product, as they’ll be curating a “Vice and Vitamin Water Uncapped Live” date at Til-Two with Dunes, Ale Mania, and Devon Williams. Can’t speak for the water, but that’s a healthy pop-rock date, kids, that promises a “surprise guest.” The tour hit Costa Mesa’s Detroit Bar on Wednesday and Tijuana Panthers played, so, maybe.... Casbah stages Chicago alt-rock vets Urge Overkill. They’re the dudes who did “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” in Pulp Fiction. Great take; great scene. UO’s out in support of their first record in 16 years, Rock & Roll Submarine. Rock-roll press suggests it’s got some Crazy Horse stomp.... The Shakedown will host a punk-rock swap meet on Saturday. Dave Good got the goods from event organizer Barnesy for this week’s “Blurt” if you want to flip or click there for the lowdown. After the wares, Oxnard punk perennials Ill Repute will rock the room. Nardcore rules!... And up in the hills, the biggest little show on Earth, Extreme Midget Wrestling, bitty-body slams the Ramona Mainstage. De pain, de pain. I know it’s a stupid joke, but it’s not as stupid as the guy who got a tattoo of Tattoo.

Sunday 15

John and Exene will step out of the denim and leather of their primary gig as X and don the country duds of rockabilly sometimes-side band the Knitters. They’ll hit Solana Beach rock stop Belly Up with L.A. buzz band He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister, a duo that kicks up a good bit of dust with their folksy swing thing: myspace.com/hesmybrothershesmysister.... San Diego jazzman Joshua White will unveil some new compositions at Dizzy’s downtown. The pianist will be joined by his quartet, featuring J.P. Maramba on bass, drummer Jens Kuross, and the always hot Tripp Sprague on soprano sax.

Monday 16

The show I’m most looking forward to this week is Austin psych-rock staples Black Angels at Belly Up Monday night. I can’t say it any better than Will Crain did in this week’s “Of Note,” and I’m running out of room, so flip or click to that, wouldja?

Tuesday 17

Tin Can Ale House books L.A. electro-acoustic duo yOya Tuesday night...while songsmiths Stephen Kellogg and Tift Merritt split a bill down the hill at Little It supper club Anthology.... Soulful singer-songer Steph Johnson plays a “family night” at El Dorado. Suss out the vid of Steph playing “Feel Like Makin’ Love.” On her bed. In her jammies. Blindfolded. Family night, my eyeball.

Wednesday 18

The hump-night hits are these: SanFran band the Blank Tapes roll at Tin Can. You like that ’60s Frisco sound, don’t miss them.... If yer looking for something a little more down-home, that “curatorial” covers band Rio Peligroso serves up your recommended daily allowance of honky tonk hits and alt-country twists at Bar Pink. The Barnacles (“We stick to rock”) split the bill. Stop rolling your eyes, they actually do a very passable cover of VU’s “Rock & Roll.”

— Barnaby Monk