The Best Los Angeles Nightlife: Jan. 6-12, 2025

Hot Load’s Monday night residency at Zebulon is a must for fans of loud, sweaty rock shows this January. With a sound that draws equally from hardcore and hard rock, the band will kick off a month-long string of gigs at the Frogtown venue on January 6 with support from The Dark, Pyyrhic and Fantasy Lane.

While there’s no cover, guests are asked to contribute $10 at the door to benefit the Downtown Women’s Center. The residency will continue on January 13, 20 and 27. Each show will feature different openers and benefit a different charity. Tickets at Dice.

Last year, Tino Drima teamed up with the one and only Michael McDonald for the smooth piano pop jam “Life on the Patio.” More recently, the LA-based band channeled soulful oldies on “Girl Who Can Fly.” Catch them at Zebulon on January 7 with Gretchen Klempa and Cesar Maria. Tickets at Dice.

Trap-soul star Rod Wave brings the tour for his latest album, Last Lap, to Intuit Dome on January 8. This concert is rescheduled from October 28 and tickets from the original date will be honored. Also scheduled to perform are Moneybagg Yo, Toosii, Lil Poppa, Dess Dior and Eelmatic. Tickets at Ticketmaster.

Roving, who released their debut full-length Spindrift last spring, are amongst the brightest newcomers in the current wave of modern shoegaze bands. The Santa Maria group will be playing alongside new school emo bands hotbrothers and Dogsled at the Fairfax District’s classic restaurant/music venue Genghis Cohen on January 8. Tickets at Dice.

Harpist and composer Mary Lattimore has collaborated with a wide range of artists, from former Cure member Lol Tolhurst to Slowdive singer Rachel Goswell to accordionist Walt McClements. For the first night of her month-long Thursday night residency at Zebulon, Lattimore will perform solo, with Nina Keith opening and DJ Andy Nelson on the decks. If you can’t catch her on January 9, Lattimore will also be playing on January 16, as part of a trio with Carrie Keith and Kayla Cohen; and as a duo with Jeff Parker on January 23. Tickets at Dice.

With David Bowie’s birthday falling on January 8, you can expect a handful of events around town celebrating the life of the late superstar. At Teragram Ballroom, Afro Bowie brings together a star-studded band for a “funky & progressive” birthday bash. Performers include Vernon Reid and Corey Glover of Living Color, Justin Warfield of She Wants Revenge and Norwood Fisher of Fishbone along with keyboardist Money Mark (known for his time with Beastie Boys), Azar Lawrence, Tony Austin, Todd Simon, Kentyah and singer Georgia Anne Muldrow. Tickets at Ticketmaster.

The night before Otis Kane releases his new album, Violet, you’ll have your chance to hear the soul singer debut it at Gold-Diggers. Not only will Kane perform live at this January 9 release party, but he’ll play songs from the new album, as well as some older material, in this set. Tickets at Dice.

Over the course of a few short years, Swapa has proved to be a prolific artist. The up-and-coming rapper has released four full-length albums since 2023, the most recent of which, Armageddon, dropped in October. Since then, he also released the single, “it is what it is.” Catch Swapa live at El Cid alongside Dexelz, Luclover and Giovanni on January 9. Tickets at Dice.

Minnesota-based indie duo Bad Bad Hats start the new year with a tour across the western United States in support of their terrific 2024 self-titled album. They’ll stop by The Echo on January 9. Opening the show is Party Nails, whose recent, synthwave-tinged single, “Trigger Warning,” is a precursor forthcoming album Pillow Talk. Tickets at Live Nation.

Steely Dan co-founder Donald Fagen turns 77 on January 10 and the Lodge Room is celebrating with a birthday party featuring a house band and special guests performing the classics, plus a pop-up shop from t-shirt brand Double Wonderful. This party has sold out for the past two years, so get your tickets ASAP.

British actor Ben Barnes made a name for himself on screens large and small for his roles in The Chronicles of Narnia, Westworld and The Punisher. On January 10, he’ll release his first full-length studio album, Where the Light Gets In. Catch him live at The Wiltern on the night of the album's release. Tickets at Live Nation.

Cody Fry, who earned a viral hit with his song, “I Hear a Symphony” and a GRAMMY nomination for his re-working of “Eleanor Rigby,” plays Walt Disney Concert Hall on Friday, January 10 in a special performance with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, conducted by Scott Dunn.

San Antonio’s cosmic cowboys Garrett T. Capps & NASA Country, who released the stellar album Everyone Is Everyone last year, bring their brand of psychedelic country to Zebulon on Friday, January 10. Opening the show is local classic country revivalists Emily Rose and the Rounders. Tickets at Dice.

Soundcloud sensation Glaive, who recently released his sophomore full-length album May It Never Falter, plays two nights at the Echoplex this weekend. The Friday night show is already sold out, so if you want to catch him on Saturday, January 11, act fast. Tickets at Live Nation.

Three 6 Mafia co-founder DJ Paul celebrates his birthday with a live set at Zebulon on Saturday, January 11. Opening the night is LA punk band Seudo Youth, whose new album, Nobody Gets Down Like…, is out on January 3. Tickets at Dice.

With their hodgepodge of musical and visual references, Mexican duo Valgur are making some of the most compelling synthpop today. Their U.S. tour hits The Echo for the first of two LA-area dates on Saturday, January 11. (They're playing Alex’s Bar in Long Beach on Sunday, January 12.) SoCal artists Yungatita, The Fazes and Ojos Rojos open the show. Tickets at Live Nation.

iHeartRadio’s ALTer EGO returns with a stacked lineup at Kia Forum on Saturday, January 11. Hosted by Alt 98.7’s “The Woody Show,” this year’s fest includes Incubus, The Lumineers, Cage the Elephant, Glass Animals, The Offspring, St. Vincent, Fontaines D.C. and The Head and the Heart, plus a special guest performance from Måneskin frontman Damiano David. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster, so get yours while you can.

Philly soul superstars The Stylistics, the group behind slow jams like “You Are Everything” and “Break Up to Make Up,” heads to The Wiltern on Saturday, January 11. Classic soul-rock outfit Sons of Champlain opens the show. Tickets at Live Nation.

Soul great Lee Fields and San Francisco psych rockers Monophonics continue their joint North American jaunt in 2025 with a Southwest stretch that will bring them to Los Angeles on Saturday, January 11. Catch the co-headlining bill at Hollywood’s Fonda Theatre. Tickets at AXS.

Belgian DJ Maxi Meraki dropped a banger last year with his remix of Rűfűs du Sol’s track “Music Is Better.” More recently, he put his stamp on WhoMadeWho’s cut “Saturday.” Catch him in the mix on Saturday, January 11 at Sound. Also on the bill is Greg Cerrone. Table reservations are available. Tickets at Dice.

Emo faves Emery return to Los Angeles on Sunday January 12, when they’ll play The Regent with Lacey Sturm and Bad Luck. As a bonus for Emery fans with kids, the band is also hosting a family-friendly matinee event with a full band, acoustic set and no mosh pit, time TBA. Tickets at Ticketmaster.