Twice a month, Neon Tommy's music editor rounds up the upcoming live music performances in the Los Angeles area. Here's what's in town for the second half of October:

October 17

Big Boi's Block Party @ the Hollywood Palladium

Urban culture juggernaut Guerilla Union and Live Nation are teaming up to bring some of the hottest names in hip-hop together in concert… and we're not using hyperbole here. Lupe Fiasco, Big Sean, Earl Sweatshirt, Hit Boy and Tayf3rd are all hitting up the Palladium this Wednesday, and are sure to bring their differing types of swagger to the stage. Get tickets here.

Kendrick Lamar @ Club Nokia

And in another part of town, another hip-hop relative newcomer making waves is performing that same night. Kendrick Lamar is continuing his BET Matters tour by rapping and crooning it up in LA Live's Club Nokia. Get tickets here.

October 18

Bassnectar @ the Hollywood Palladium

One of the granddaddies of EDM performers is set to get the Palladium bumpin' and groovin' all night long. Bassnectar hits up the Hollywood ballroom in what's sure to be a Thursday night electro spectacle in the best way possible. With Gramatik and Gladkill. Get tickets here.

October 19

Maroon 5 @ the Orpheum Theatre

Band frontman Adam Levine may be everywhere from "The Voice" to "American Horror Story: Asylum" now, but this is his original gig—and for good reason. The "Moves Like Jagger" band could probably do a bigger venue than the Orpheum, but then, intimacy isn't something to run away from either. Get tickets here.

October 20

Crystal Castles @ the Hollywood Palladium

Full disclosure: Crystal Castles is one of this editor's favorite acts all around, and IS her favorite live act. Alice Glass and Ethan Kath know how to lay it down live, and with HEALTH and Kontravoid on board, Saturday night's show should be nothing less than a complete shitshow--in the best way possible. Get tickets here.

October 23

Shiny Toy Guns @ the Echoplex

Shiny Toy Guns have played at USC before, but now they take their spunky electro to the gritty, sweaty Echoplex. With contemporary classics like "Le Disko" in their repertoire, there should be plenty of dancing in the disco ball-adorned venue. With MNDR. Get tickets here.

October 24

Joss Stone @ the Wiltern

Joss Stone's hippy dippy aesthetic might not seem like a perfect match for the Art Deco-austere Wiltern, but her sound is. The British songstress's latest album dropped in late July, but her Soul Sessions Tour only now arrives in LA. Get tickets here.

October 25

Two Door Cinema Club @ the Hollywood Palladium

The Irish band's kicky pop style has brought them pretty far from the "Something Good Can Work" days, but are they ready for a real headlining set? Given the quality and dance readiness of new tunes "Sleep Alone" and "Sun," the answer is a definitive "Hell yes." With Friends and St. Lucia. Get tickets here.

Matt and Kim @ the Wiltern

This indie pop duo may best be known for shedding their clothes in Times Square, but their kicky, homemade-sounding jams should sound electric in the Wiltern. Here's to hoping they keep the clothes on though (unless you're into that). Get tickets here.

October 26

Flying Lotus @ Club Nokia

LA native FlyLo recently opened for Animal Collective at the Hollywood Bowl, but now he's bringing it back to a club setting. And given the quality of the new tunes off of just-released album "Until The Quiet Comes," this is a show not to be missed. Get tickets here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuQGfk9Gmgo

October 27

Benny Benassi @ Exchange LA

BB doesn't need an introduction, does he? The Italian DJ/producer/electro god has got the pedigree to play the Staples Center, but he's keeping things 21+ at Exchange LA, in a promotion with Insomniac. Get tickets here. 

October 30

Miike Snow @ the Hollywood Palladium

The band was recently in LA this summer for HARD Summer, but hey, no harm in twosies, especially of their particular brand of bouncy electro. This Swedish trio won't be hanging up their equipment anytime soon, but that doesn't mean it's not worth a trip up to Hollywood to see these boys in show. With Niki & the Dove. Get tickets here.

Reach Music Editor Lilian Min here. Follow her on Twitter here.