THURSDAY, DEC. 20

Watt is like that cool older brother/uncle/friend that was actually part of the scene that you wish you could go back to and be part of yourself. He is like a historian about anything he’s been part of—from music to living in his beloved San Pedro—and he has the ability to talk or write for large spans of time on subjects apparently right off the top of his head. His musicianship—always distinctive and often amazing—has inspired hundreds of people to pick up the bass, while the Minutemen remain one of the most influential West Coast bands of all time. Since the death of his still-to-this-day best friend D. Boon, Watt has played with countless heavyweights, including the Stooges, J. Mascis and Sonic Youth, and has also created a solid catalog of solo work. In short, the guy is a character—an unbelievable living legend from the D.I.Y. era that you can’t even believe is that old already. To ring in this, his fiftieth birthday, Watt will perform with Banyan, which features drum-god Stephen Perkins, guitar-god Nels Cline and Willie Waldman, so let the good times roll. (ATR)

MIKE WATT’S 50TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION WITH BANYAN, ALFAJERK AND HORRORS OF TOLEDO AT DiPIAZZA’S, 5205 E. PACIFIC COAST HWY., LONG BEACH. 8 PM / CONTACT VENUE FOR COVER / 21+. WWW.DIPIAZZAS.COM.