Troubadour on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood has run live music in Los Angeles since 1957; Elton John, Taylor and Waits all played early sets.
Tip: Two-room layout, balcony upstairs, floor downstairs. All-ages, doors at 20:00 most nights. Tickets through the venue site.
Address: 9081 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069, Los Angeles
The Hollywood Bowl in the Hollywood Hills is the 17,500-seat amphitheatre, summer home of the LA Philharmonic and touring concerts June through September.
Tip: Park-and-ride from Universal City Metro station; on-site parking is stacked and slow. Bring a picnic, the Bowl allows outside food.
The Greek Theatre in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, opened 1930, is the 5,900-seat outdoor amphitheatre hosting touring rock, pop and jazz through October.
Tip: Stacked-parking lot empties slowly; reserve a paid stack or take Lyft. The trees behind the upper terrace cut wind for late shows.
The Wiltern at Wilshire and Western in Koreatown, Los Angeles, is the 1931 Stiles O Clements Art Deco hall, now a 1,850-capacity Live Nation room.
Tip: Floor is general admission, mezzanine reserved; the rear of the orchestra has the cleanest sound. Doors at 19:00 most shows.
Lodge Room in a 1922 Masonic hall above Figueroa is the 500-capacity Highland Park music hall in LA booking indie and electronic touring acts.
Tip: Climb two flights from the Figueroa entrance. Free street parking past 20:00; the Metro A Line Highland Park stop is a five-minute walk.
The Echo on Sunset in Echo Park, with the larger Echoplex room below, has booked indie, electronic and hip-hop in Los Angeles since 2001 under Spaceland.
Tip: Doors at 19:30 most nights; the back patio bar opens an hour earlier. Both venues share the bill on big nights.
Hollywood Palladium on Sunset and Argyle in Los Angeles, opened 1940, is the 4,000-capacity Live Nation Streamline Moderne ballroom for touring rock and pop.
Tip: General admission floor fills early; the upper balcony is reserved seating with the cleanest sight lines. Doors at 19:00 typically.