With the chaos of the dreadful midterm season dying down, it’s safe to take a breather and once again indulge in a little bit of “me time.” The beauty of attending school near Los Angeles is that there is never a shortage of things to do. Rather than reading about what music I’ve been listening to lately, why not get out and go see some great artists performing in your own backyard?
J. Cole & Wale
Looking for something to do tonight? The lyrically gifted J. Cole is set to perform with the talented Wale at the Nokia Theatre at the always popping L.A. Live in downtown at 8 p.m. The rappers have made a name for themselves with conscientious flows that deal with wide-ranging issues. Tickets start at $52.
Passion Pit
The synthetic pop band is known for their fun and energetic sound coupled with upbeat lyricism that’s sure to get any concertgoer dancing in no time. The band plays on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at The Greek Theatre, a historic venue designed to look like a Greek temple. Get yourself to the Greek with tickets starting at $48.
The Neighborhood
The band has been owning the air waves and will be ringing in the sweater weather season at The Observatory in Santa Ana. What the smaller venue lacks in size it makes up for with an intimate experience allowing concertgoers to get up close to performers without having to pitch a tent and wait in line for hours before the show. The Neighborhood performs on Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $22.
Charli XCX
The English singer-songwriter has been producing her own dance-pop music for a few years now, recently breaking onto the U.S. airwaves with a featured spot on Icona Pop’s “I Love It.” The artist brings a whole lot of attitude to the pop genre and, with beats highly influenced by the EDM scene, is sure to set off an awesome dance party. Charli XCX will be performing at the ballroom-inspired El Rey Theatre on Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $22.
SoMo
Also performing at the El Rey Theatre on Nov. 7 at 9 p.m. is the soulful crooner SoMo. Rising to fame through covers and original medleys that have received millions of hits on YouTube, the R&B singer is gearing up for the launch of his debut album with a nationwide tour. Sold out shows are a testament to the notion that dreams can come true, and it’s not too late to check out the singer yourself with tickets starting at $17.
Robin Thicke & Jason Derulo
The Hollywood Palladium will team up Robin Thicke with Jason Derulo to provide a powerhouse show with two of the bigger names in the industry. The venue, known to attract big artists, is strictly a general admission fair, creating a large, standing-room only crowd that concertgoers can sing along with. Be wary, however: foam fingers may be banned. The artists perform on Saturday at 8 p.m., with tickets starting at $63.50.
Hoodie Allen
Can’t get enough pop-rap via Macklemore? Check out Hoodie Allen at the House of Blues Sunset Strip in West Hollywood on Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. Allen has been producing a similar style of suburban party rap that Macklemore has launched into the mainstream but is able to remain true to his own unique style. Unfiltered in his love for embracing the college lifestyle, Hoodie Allen is a fun artist that hits close to home. Tickets start at $33.
Twenty One Pilots
Sick of Los Angeles and want to check out a different scene? The musical duo Twenty One Pilots will bring their eclectic sound to the spacious Majestic Ventura Theater in downtown Ventura on Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. The band blends multiple styles and genres in their music ranging from pop to alternative to rap, ensuring a creative set list played out among the beach-side nightlife of the city to the north. Tickets start at $20.
For more information and to purchase tickets for these shows and many more, check out http://eventful.com/losangeles/events.
As published in the Oct. 24, 2013 issue of the Pepperdine Graphic.
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Follow Chirag Patel on Twitter: @cbpatel86
