To our Socal reader demographic: I think it’s a safe bet to assume that most of us take for granted the sheer magnitude of noteworthy gigs happening on any given night in and around LA that - face it - we know we’d thoroughly enjoy.

It’s those little white lies we tell ourselves or are otherwise told by friends: “would’ve if I had known,” “didn’t want to deal with parking”, “thought it was the next weekend”, “they’ll tour again in a few months” etc…

…but now you really don’t have an excuse. Here are seven of the best gigs we’ve got marked on our calendars for the rest of April. —Jackson Todd

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Groop at Zebulon - Los Angeles, April 11th

Jam bands are still cool, right?

Trick question. They never went out of style. Sounds like: Hawkwind covering the Allman Brothers. Featuring members of Frankie and the Witch Fingers and Hooveriii.

Sick Thoughts and Vaguess at The Sardine - San Pedro, April 13th

A double-header with two bands we’ve been obsessed with for a while now: Vaguess, the brainchild of indie-punk mastermind Vinny Earley, and Sick Thoughts, a leather-clad gang of punks from NOLA who embody the term “speed rock” in more ways than one.

Murder City Devils, The Observatory - Santa Ana, April 15th

Remember when Rock and Roll was dangerous?

Fred Armisen at Permanent Records Roadhouse - Los Angeles, April 20th

Fred plays covers from The Clash, Devo, The Damned, Stranglers, maybe an Ian Rubbish tune or two. I’ll be there, somewhere along the front row, shouting for Fred to kindly “put a bird on it.”

Flat Worms at Zebulon - Los Angeles, April 22nd

We love this band, and we’re pretty sure you will too. Razor-sharp riffage reminiscent of early Buzzcocks, Wipers, Sonic Rendezvous band etc…

Oh Sees and the Stüges at The Viper Room - Los Angeles, April 23rd

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Oh Sees are the best live band in the world right now. Just remember to bring earplugs. Gabe from Grave Flowers Bongo Band is set to open the show with a Stooges cover band that is - quite honestly -probably closer to the real thing than the gang of hired guns Iggy currently has on tour with him…

Iggy Pop at Orpheum - Los Angeles, April 24th

…but, if you’re a stickler for “the real thing”, go to this instead. Featuring Justin Bieber’s former guitarist on guitar (I wish I was kidding). I saw Iggy a few years ago with a different band and they didn’t play one Stooges song, but I hear they’ve been opening with “I Wanna Be Your Dog” lately. Just don’t expect any self-laceration.