Do It. Saturdays Off the 405 at the Getty.

It's crazy thinking that even though the museums in L.A. are amazing enough as they are, they still offer great, fun and often-free entertainment on top of the usual exhibitions. And as the Natural History Museum ends its getting-better-each-year First Fridays 2010 season, everyone just has to look westward to keep their weekends rocking.

That's because this Saturday, the Getty hosts the latest installment in its own cool-concert offering: Saturdays Off the 405. A surprising choice of artist for a museum setting, Les Savy Fav, kicked off the series last month (if anyone attended, please comment, I'm curious), but this month's pick is sure to please museum goers of all types; who can resist the charms of Mayer Hawthorne and the County, after all? If you've been paying attention, I picked the Detroit transplant as a must-see at Coachella, and boy, they did not disappoint. With style and swagger, Hawthorne got the hot crowd grooving, and you couldn't help but grin your way through his cover of ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky." So what could be more perfect as you gaze your way out onto the California horizon from the Getty gardens?

And beyond that, there'll be a DJ, "Spotlight After Dark" tours of the museum, and food and drink (Getty-tinis?!).

Saturdays Off the 405 begins at 6pm on Saturday, is free (the usual $15 parking is also free after 5pm), and is located at the Getty at 1200 Getty Dr. in Brentwood. The series continues for the rest of the summer, check the website for more details.

-- Chau Tu

Do It. See these Coachella bands.

I don't need to tell you, but Coachella starts tomorrow. And I'm sure that you've been mulling over those set times list for hours now, planning your trek. It's impossible to see everything you wish you could, and if you're going to this, you probably don't need yet another recommendation, but I'm going to give some to you anyway.

I've kept it simple for you, though, keeping it to one pick a day, with other 'throwaway' suggestions at the end (I've stayed away from the main stages though; you should have those handled). Coincidentally, the main picks are all on the Gobi stage, and they mostly lean away from the usual rock, but variety is all what festivals are about, right?

Friday
Gil Scott-Heron, Gobi stage at 6:55pm
You may not know his name, but all your favorite musicians do. Proof? He's the guy behind "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." Seriously. People scoffed at the amount of legends at last year's Coachella, but this is the one not to be dismissed.
Also: Sleigh Bells, Yeasayer, Little Dragon, Fever Ray

Saturday
Flying Lotus, Gobi stage at 10:45pm
Atmospheric beats that'll wind you down after that druggy madness taking place on the main stages. L.A. native who makes songs like movies, and hey, he's the nephew of jazz great Alice Coltrane (and John Coltrane). He also recently opened up for Thom Yorke's new band, Atoms for Peace.
Also: John Waters, Girls, Beach House, Dirty Projectors, Devo

Sunday
Local Natives, Gobi stage at 2:10pm/Mayer Hawthorne and the County, Gobi stage at 3:20pm
Okay, this was a tie, but they follow one another and will both be awesome. Also both already mentioned by me before, but Local Natives have got amazing drumbeats and beautiful, arching harmonies to go for days (even Ed from Grizzly Bear's a fan!) and Mayer Hawthorne will swoon you off your sweaty feet.
Also: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Matt & Kim (for all out partying) or Florence & the Machine (for aesthetic value)

-- Chau Tu

Check It. Mayer Hawthorne's "I Left My Heart in San Francisco."

One of my favorite musical discoveries of last year was Mayer Hawthorne, a soft-voiced crooner bringing a retro sound to modern soul. His debut album, A Strange Arrangement, was full of fun and sweet doo-wop tunes, garnering him fans from tastemakers like Mark Ronson and the overzealous like John Mayer. What I've really come to love about Mayer Hawthorne, though, is how diverse he is.

For one, he and his back-up band, the County, are currently on tour with another hipster fave of 2009, electronic pop band Passion Pit. The tour ends next week in San Francisco (although he'll also hit Coachella on the 18th), and to commemorate the event, MH has recorded a cover of Tony Bennett's "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." It's an appropriate tribute, and completely fits his style, but even made more awesome by the accompanying skaterific video:

Soul and skateboarding--who knew? ...Mayer Hawthorne. The song is being released via a heart-shaped USB drive (aww) with a specially designed T-shirt, which you can purchase here.

And on another note, MH also recently remixed the latest Snoop classic, "Gangsta Luv." And yes, it totally works. Consider me swooned.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Mayer Hawthorne