The Monday Show Low Down (Or "You Want to Catch Me? Well, That's a Magic Art.")

One of the most jaw-dropping performances I’ve seen in LA lately occurred with little or no warning in the backyard of friend’s house last Thursday. My friend Shazi was holding a Pre-Labor Day Party when the seven-year-old boy who lives upstairs from her came out wearing binoculars around his neck to watch out for “ninjas in the trees” who knew were there to steal his things.

With really scant prompting on the part of the partygoers, he began singing a song about it for everyone there. And you can find that little outdoor concert right here on YouTube.

After seeing that, it’s hard to think straight, let alone make plans for going out this week, but here are some show highlights for the next seven days.

I know you’re still recovering from the long weekend, but hell, take an afternoon nap already. Because you need to go out later for the first of Sea Wolf’s Monday night residencies at Spaceland.

They’re one of the best live acts in town and they’re playing for free the next four Mondays in a row. This one of the reasons why we love Los Angeles...

Then Thursday is Central Second Night at The Echo with Death to Anders!, The Transmissions, The Happy Hollows, One Trick Pony, and Die Rockers Die!, all bands from the local Central Second Collective.

Friday night sees the odd, but strangely compelling Coco Rosie at The Avalon and the sold-out Cold War Kids show at The Troubadour.

The following acts have also recently announced shows in LA: Two Sheds, Devendra Banhart, Architecture in Helsinki, Monsters Are Waiting, Bodies Of Water, Kind Hearts And Coronets, The Bird & The Bee, Teddy's Cheer Club, Future Pigeon, Jet Fuel, Jesca Hoop, The Parson Redheads, Monsters Are Waiting, Bodies Of Water, Kind Hearts And Coronets, Teddy's Cheer Club, Future Pigeon, Jet Fuel, Jesca Hoop, The Parson Redheads, Six Organs of Admittance, Sun Ra Arkestra, Money Mark, Future Pigeon, Mia Doi Todd, The Fiery Furnaces, Comets on Fire, Eux Autres, Carina Round, Beaten Awake, Great Northern, The Veto, The Watson Twins, Favourite Sons, Tigers Can Bite You, Manuok, Patrick Park, Dead Ponies, The Sharp Ease, Bert Jansch, Jackie Beat, Be Your Own Pet, Boris, Heartless Bastards, Foreign Born, Ray LaMontagne, Ratatat, The Pity Party, Maxxfemm, Forward Russia, Vashti Bunyan, Anavan, Bi Polar Bear, A Tribe Called Quest, Jason Lytle (Grandaddy), White Whale, Laura Veirs, Golden Smog, Mae, The New Amsterdamns, Hello Astronaut Goodbye Television, Very Be Careful, Grand Elegance, The Holy Curtain, and Jesus Makes The Shotgun Sound. (See the right-hand column for details.)