The Five Must-See Shows in OC This Week

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Monday, November 4

Burger Records Night
The Constellation Room
One of the quirkier attributes to Colleen Green's live performances is that she pulls a Roy Orbison by wearing dark shades while she sings and plays beachy grunge songs. Equally quirky and playful in its own way, Green's music recalls an easygoing pop punk essence similar to your favorite teen comedy soundtrack from the late '80s to mid '90s. Part of the Burger Records caravan of stars, Green's sound fits right in with the rest of their electric garage and lo-fi acts, offering what she calls “stoner pop” into the mix. Catch her and fellow Burger Records acts White Night, White Fang, Love Cop, and resident DJ Thee Selector for the Continental Room's Burger Records Night. (Aimee Murillo)

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GZA
The Observatory
We remember back when hip-hop had substance–multi-faceted symbolism via gritty-but-smart wordplay over a soulful beat without trying too hard, without Robocoppin' hos or stealing lines from Anchorman for lyrics. Good thing GZA is still around and still shocking the hip-hop world with his cerebral rhymes. As one of the founding members of Wu-Tang Clan, the man known as “The Genius,” is rolling into OC yet again for a special $5 show (!) tonight. Any Wu-Tang fan in OC outta be clearing their schedules to come see this. (Erin DeWitt)

Tuesday, November 5

Janelle Monae
House of Blues Anaheim
Ms. Janelle Monae goes the extra mile on her albums. More than just a string of pop tracks, her first concept album Metropolis: The Chase Suite would prove how she and fellow Wondaland Arts Society members push for experimentation in music and storytelling. Blending hip-hop, soul, R&B and classical music together, the pompadoured beauty reinvigorates the theater geek in everyone as she pours the narrative of her other-worldly alter ego–a lovesick robot–into her songs. Her two follow up albums, The Arch Android and Electric Lady, further connect the sci-fi melodrama to the mainstream, with collaborators like Prince, Solange, Big Boi and Miguel. But take away the avant-garde production design and you can see Monae's a tough performer. Working up a cold sweat as she sings and dances on stage, you'd swear James Brown's ghost possessed her tiny five foot frame–and she'll simply blow you away. (Aimee Murillo)

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Wednesday, November 6

Crocodiles
Detroit Bar
For two guys making music together since their late-teens, it would be understandable if Charles Rowell and Brandon Welchez took some time off for themselves–but that's not how they work. Between their latest record, Crimes of Passion (their second on Frenchkiss Records), and an international tour, it's been a busy year for the San Diego outfit. Initially a duo, Welchez and Rowell now spearhead a quartet, their indie noise pop sound expanding with the addition of their new bandmates. And though they now split their time between New York and London, the twosome hasn't left behind the sound that's been at their core. Crocodiles are in the middle of a month-long tour, with this show being the closest to their hometown, so don't be surprised if they have something special in store. (Daniel Kohn)

Friday, November 8

Cold War Kids
The Observatory

No matter how long they've been on tour or how far away they've been, nostalgia and affection still abound when CWK's boots hit home soil. Even the drive over the bridge from San Pedro into Long Beach triggers the not-so-long-ago memories of lingering around Fingerprints, sweaty Solo cup house parties and an undeniable sense of excitement around them that stretched from OC to LA, pushing them to go bigger. Now that they have, all the traveling and the endless work of being a well-oiled machine will certainly pay off twice as much whenever they look into the faces of the a hometown crowd at the Observatory to close out the final date of their recent U.S. tour. (Nate Jackson)

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