John Doe
Friday, September 7, 8 p.m., $20
Malibu Inn 22969 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, 310.456.6060
A singer, songwriter, musician and actor, John Doe is best known as a founding member of legendary LA band X. Time may have tempered the feisty punk energy of his early work, but has not hindered his songwriting one bit. His latest album, A Year in the Wilderness, released by Yep Roc Records, is one of this summer’s critical sensations. An acoustic version of the standout track “The Golden State,” which is featured on Doe’s MySpace page, is perhaps your best gauge for his live style, and it is a fine sound indeed.
Peanut Butter Wolf
Thursday, September 13, 9 p.m., $7-10
Zanzibar 1301 5th Street, 310.451.2221
Afro Funke’, the African music-based Thursday night party at Zanzibar, is known for bringing top-notch performers to Santa Monica. This time around, the club presents a DJ set from Peanut Butter Wolf, whose 1994 collection Peanut Butter Breaks is an essential release for anyone interested in the beats that comprise hip-hop. His label Stones Throw, launched in 1996, has grown as influential as his DJ work and is home to critically acclaimed artists like Madlib and J Dilla. This club night will also feature a listening party for Ticklah vs. Axelrod, a collaboration of Ticklah, a dub producer known for his recent work with Mark Ronson, and producer/composer Victor Axelrod.
