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All but about 65 of you missed perhaps the best concert I have ever witnessed in Baton Rouge (or maybe anywhere) last Thursday. The Bang on a Can All-Stars ripped through five hours of meditative, thrilling, bizarre and mind-altering music at the LSU Union, expanding the envelope of what accessible means. Take for instance the set with jazz legend Don Byron: He started with a nonchalant clarinet solo that was nothing short of angelic, while his ensemble piece, "Show Him Some Lub," featured the All-Stars intoning details about themselves over a ramshackle funk that seemed to be trying to tear itself apart from the inside. The same goes for the set with spellbinding vocalist and violinist Iva Bittová. She pranced with almost nursery-rhyme charm before descending into a demonic caterwaul or a birdcall, or both. It was gorgeous music that was at once adventurous yet immediate in its emotional impact.

It should be said that the performances from the LSU School of Music faculty that filled out the bill held their own with such auspicious company. For instance, Bret William Dietz's duo for percussion and saxophone (played with brute force and rapier wit by LSU's Griffin Campbell) "Seven Ghosts above the Landscape" was encyclopedic in scope, varying from frenzied powerhouse sections to spare meditative motifs without losing the thread throughout the piece. I know not everyone is up for having their third eye opened by a concert, but I know at least 40 people in town who are, and they were not there. We have to support art with our presence or it simply will not come around anymore. You know how cities with a great "scene" of whatever kind maintain that scene? By people going out to shows, that's how.

Some great interesting touring bands -- namely Beach House, Lowry, Clay McClinton, Cadence Weapon -- as well as an interesting new local act, Cohen & the Ghost are all playing this week, so here's your chance to redeem yourself (I can tell you were worried) and help cool things happen around here.

Wednesday, March 5

Beach House & the Papercuts at Spanish Moon

Mike Foster project at Chelsea's

Thursday, March 6

American Aquarium at Chelsea's

The MiGGs, The Secret State, Borderline and Cuckoo at North Gate Tavern

The Ryan Moock Band at The Caterie

Andy Pizzo Project at Roux House

Atomic Pilot at Boudreaux & Thibodeaux's

Friday, March 7

Elisha Eagle, Field Day, The Casuals and Cohen & the Ghost at Spanish Moon

John Ellis & Double Wide with Brian Coogan and Simon Lott at Chelsea's

Hi-Five and Paper Plains at North Gate Tavern

Flamethrowers at The Caterie

Danny Collet at Boudreaux & Thibodeaux's

The Elements at Phil Brady's

Soul Haven at Roux House

Big Red at Teddy's Juke Joint

Saturday, March 8

The Deadly Syndrome at Spanish Moon

Pine Leaf Boys at Chelsea's

The Ropes, Powerline and Ever Be at North Gate Tavern

Dreamt the End, Ethelyne, Oh! Juliet, and Horseshoes & Handgrenades at The Caterie

Jaryd Lane at Boudreaux & Thibodeaux's

Clay McClinton at Phil Brady's

John Lisi at Teddy's Juke Joint

Sunday, March 9

Singer-Songwriter Spotlight at Brew-Ha-Ha

Monday, March 10

We Vs. The Shark at Spanish Moon

Dead Confederate and Summerbirds in the Cellar at Chelsea's

Tuesday, March 11

Born Ruffians and Cadence Weapon at Spanish Moon

The Lonely H, Lowry and The Death of Jason Brody at North Gate Tavern

Fred Weaver, Pretty & Nice and A. Armada at Chelsea's