Talk about a show explosion! Tonight Madonna will be entertaining the masses at Dodger Stadium. NY-based rock band Coheed and Cambria (LAist Review) will begin a series of shows at the Avalon in which they play each of their four albums in their entirety—tonight they'll be revisiting 2002's The Second Stage Turbine Blade. Local blues-rock band Rumspringa (LAist Review) will be playing at the Viper Room for the Day of the Living Party. And just about every music blogger and their mother will be in attendance at 3 of Clubs tonight, where SF natives Birds & Batteries and the Blacks will be performing. But the real tough choice of the night is between the Happy Hollows' (LAist Review, #2) EP Release Event at the Echo and TV on the Radio (LAist Review) at the Wiltern. The former certainly affords a bevy of superb lesser-known acts, like LBC's the Soft Hands and our personal favorite, Austin-by-way-of-Dallas the Strange Boys (LAist Review, #2). However, we can't deny the latter's latest effort, 2008's Dear Science. So head on over to the Wiltern to catch the buzzworthy Brooklyn-based indie rock quintet. ...

Annual music marathons like SXSW in Austin and CMJ in New York have long served as industry-only gatherings. But now, like never before, they have become regarded as a necessity for those enthusiasts on the cusp of music. They've evolved into a breeding ground for next year's latest and greatest—a musical pageantry of epic proportions....

Tonight will be relatively low-key with regards to the music scene. We've got Laura Marling's second night of a two-date stint at the Hotel Cafe. Brian of the Movies will be playing with his band Very at Echo Curio, opening for Thailand. And Abe Vigoda and Moonrats will be playing for free at USC's Ground Zero. You can't beat that lineup. But we suggest you pay the Echo a visit to sample the relatively eclectic indie rock bill. LA-based Voxhaul Broadcast, who pretty much serve as the West Coast's answer to the Walkmen, will be opening for the roisterous and bluesy Rumspringa. ...