In rock and roll, self-indulgence tends to rear its ugly head in one of two ways. At its worst, it manifests in 30 minute solos, onstage temper tantrums, and multi-million dollar studio bills. On the flipside, it can go the way of Eels mastermind Mark Oliver Everett. Everett, who goes by E, frequently obscures himself onstage and releases trilogies of concept records, exhibits the kind of artistic temperament that makes your fans fiercely loyal, your music painfully honest and gives you the kahoonas to employ a drummer named Puddin. Both veins of crazy find commonality in that they each make major label music execs burst into tears. MACHELL DUMA LAVASSAR
Sat., Oct. 9, 8 p.m., 2010
