Written by Patrick McNamara

There are many good shows this week in the greater Los Angeles, Southern California, U.S.A, North America, World. We’ve narrowed down the goodness to just 5. How did we do it? We put photos of allll the bands playing this week on a dartboard and fired off five pretty flawless throws. The results of our pinpoint accuracy are below.

#1. Gothic Tropic - hm157 - Wednesday - September 10th - 2014 A.D.

Gothic Tropic are one of the more underrated bands in the game, son. If you don’t know their fuzzy hazy pure pop goodness, don’t worry. It’s never too late to get into something sublime. See them play hm157. If you don’t know where that is, it’s cool. You’ll figure it out. I believe in you.

#2. Swans - The Rox - Wed/Thurs - September 10/11th - 2014 A.D.

Legendary post-avant-experimental-art-garde (you like that?) band Swans are a band everybody should see at least once and you have two chances this week. Let’s say approximately 97.5% of those who see this Swans will hate them (stats culled from butt). However, the 2.5% that don’t hate this band, well, they have found a band for LIFE, man. Swans strong since 1982.

#3. Girlpool - Perhspace - Friday - September 12th - 2014 A.D.

Girlpool are blowing up! At least according to this dynamic local music blob. The drummerless duo play singer/songwriter punk full of catchy pain. We’re all just trying to deal. Just trying to make it, man.

#4. Owen Pallett - El Rey Theatre - Saturday - September 13th - 2014 A.D.

Owen Pallett is a lovely musician. His violin and loops and vocals go to heights that only the boldest eagles and angels dare fly. Also playing this show is Avi Buffalo (please pay no attention to that 4-year-old band profile) and Foxes in Fiction (that one you can pay attention too). I should probably post an Owen song because he’s the headliner. But I’m going for this Foxes in Fiction song instead. Because I’ve been hitting it HARD over the last couple weeks. (and also because I'm #punk #rock like that)

#5. Porter Robinson - Shrine Expo Hall - Saturday - September 13th - 2014 A.D.

This euphoric 8-bit-ish dance pop master is going to conquer the world. Bet. Listen to Porter Robinson's new album in full below. You’ll be hooked from the first few notes. That’s a guarantee.* He also plays Sunday at Fox Theater Pomona. But I couldn't fit that all on one line. The more you know....the more you grow.

(*guarantee not a guarantee - you might not like dance pop - it’s cool - we all have our things)