Written by Patrick McNamara

Let's talk about the good shows happening in LA this week.

(I promise it wasn't intentional to have all 5 featured shows take place at either The Echo or Echoplex. That's just the way it worked out. I just call the goodness as I see it.)

#1. Tanlines - Echoplex + Amoeba - Mon/Tues - May 18/19 - 2015 A.D.

Brooklyn's Tanlines (click that if you like reading five-year-old band profiles) have been slinging the chill pop goodness for a bit and are set to release their first new album in three years on True Panther Sounds. Here a new song from it below, and for the love of everything solid, go see them play at Echoplex on Monday or see them for FREE the next day at Amoeba. Your call.

#2. Wild Nothing - Echoplex - Thursday - May 21 - 2015 A.D.

Speaking of Brooklyn and solid and chill and FREE and five-year-old band profiles, Wild Nothing (click that - you'll see) come to town to play a FREE show (I really need to get this caps lock button serviced) at Echoplex on Thursday. It's a Converse Rubber Tracks Live thing. I hope you RSVP'd.

#3. Speedy Ortiz - The Echo - Thursday - May 21 - 2015 A.D.

Northampton's Speedy Ortiz (click that if you like reading two-and-a-half-year-old band profiles) just released an excellent album called "Foil Deer." Watch them play excellent new songs from it at The Echo on Thursday. The sublime Alex G and the similarly solid Slutever also play.

Speedy Ortiz also plays The Observatory on Friday. I'm not telling you which one to go to. I'm just telling you to go.

#4. Gothic Tropic - The Echo - Friday - May 22 - 2015 A.D.

L.A.'s best kept rock/pop/psych/grunge/funk punk secret, Gothic Tropic, play The Echo. And even though I can't describe 'em I know I like 'em. So be like me and trust your #heart that going to this show is the right move on Friday. Get there early for Brooklyn's Life Size Maps.

#5. Hop Along - The Echo - Saturday - May 23 - 2015 A.D.

Philly's Hop Along are blowing up big. This is what happens when you write really good songs. Let it be a cautionary tale. Make good music and you WILL be successful. See them at, you guessed it, The Echo on Saturday.

Other notable shows = Lana Del Rey at Hollywood Bowl + iLoveMakonnen at The Observatory + Wolf Alice at The Roxy + The Tallest Man on Earth at Wiltern + Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds at Orpheum + Roses at Bootleg + Laura Jane Grace at Hollywood Forever Cemetery + Rustie at The Observatory + Ceremony at The Echo