Written by Patrick McNamara

Wow, there are a lot of decent shows this week. What is this, summer in Los Angeles or something? Below are five of the standouts. Are there more good shows than what's represented here? I'll never tell. JK. Yes, there are. Check this list.

Also, please check The Rockness Guide to Free Summer Shows because 1). free shows rule and b). Claire and I worked really hard on that shit.

Welcome to Costco. I lUV. U.

#1 Veruca Salt. - Amoeba (free) - Monday - July 13 - 2015 A.D.

Speaking of free shows (which I totally just was in that intro above you didn't read), Chicago crunchy grunge-y pop heroes, Veruca Salt (made in the '90s), play a FREE show at Amoeba on Monday. OW!

#2 Built to Spill - Troubadour - Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday - July 13/14/15 - 2015 A.D.

One of the best bands still playing the game, Built to Spill, play three shows at Troubadour this week (and Saturday at The Observatory). Here is my favorite Built to Spill song and go-to jam when I'm drunk at a bar that actually has a good jukebox.

#3 Shellac - The Echo - Tuesday - July 14 - 2015 A.D.

Speaking of Chicago bands born in the '90s (see: Salt, Veruca), legendary noise rockers Shellac play The Echo on Tuesday (and Wednesday at The Regent, actually). Below is my favorite Shellac song that you can stream (even though it's meant to be listened to on vinyl). I hope you like it too. If so, let's totally hang out. Also, did you ever notice that Shellac frontman Steve Albini and master playwright David Mamet have never been photographed in the same room at the same time? I'm just saying.

#4 Real Estate - Santa Monica Pier (free) - Thursday - July 16 - 2015 A.D.

New Jersey's easy breezy chill pop heroes, Real Estate, play a FREE show at Santa Monica Pier on Thursday. Bonus: they have a ferris wheel there. I don't know who's behind the wheel. Sometimes I feel like I don't know the deal. When I tell you how I feel. Believe me when I say it's real. Oh whoa whoa whoa oh oh. Oh whoa whoa whoa oh oh. It's real.

#5 Tamaryn - Skirball Center - Friday - July 17 - 2015 A.D.

The always enchanting Tamaryn takes you “Into the Night" and will woo you under the stars with her magically sweet sounds at Skirball Center on Friday. Visuals provided by The Joshua Light Show. Let's bake!

Other notable shows = BAIO (of Vampire Weekend) at Bardot + Reggie Watts at El Cid + Tanlines at The Observatory + Memory Tapes at The Roxy + Cayucas at The Observatory + The Helio Sequence at The Roxy + Fartbarf at Alex's Bar + Light Asylum at The Echo + L7 at The Fonda + Willie Nelson at The Greek + Eternal Summers at The Wayfarer + Dick Diver at Thee Alley + Viva! Pomona at The Glass House

EMBRACE THE UPCOMING MUSIC GOODNESS. FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.