John Zorn, Arto Lindsay & Anton Fier New York percussionist Anton Fier founded legendary band/collective the Golden Palominos in 1981. The original lineup of Fier, Arto Lindsay, John Zorn, Bill Laswell, and Fred Frith set the creative tone for all that would follow, and all of these musicians went on to ambitious and important careers, mostly in improvisation. Over the decade and a half that the Palominos existed, Fier had many other collaborators, including such people as John Lydon (Sex Pistols) and Jack Bruce (Cream) to Michael Stipe (REM) and Bob Mould (Husker Du). This week, Zorn (alto sax), Lindsay, and Fier (drums/electronics) hit the stage Thursday at Tonic (107 Norfolk Street, 212-358-7501).

Blood on the Wall Led by siblings Courtney and Brad Shanks, Blood on the Wall is a Brooklyn-based trio that plays heavy indie rock slathered in a Bardo Pond-like drug haze. This is more apparent at their live shows than on “Awsomer” (Social Registry), which they released earlier this year. Tours with Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof mean that we’ll be hearing more about these folks in months to come. Thursday at Knit ting Factory (74 Leonard Street, 212-219-3132).

Sunn0))) Started as an Earth-tribute act and named after the Sunn amplifiers used by those drone-metal pioneers, Sunn0))) is the project of Greg Anderson and Stephen O’Malley. The band has been extremely prolific in the last two years, collaborating frequently and churning out albums that experiment with new drone-styles beyond the traditional guitar and bass sludgery. Sunday at Northsix (66 N. 6th Street, Brooklyn, 718-599-5103).

Also, Pharoahe Monch tomorrow at B.B. King’s (237 W. 42nd Street, 212-997-4144); Billy Martin (of Medeski, Martin, and Wood) Thursday at Issue Project Room (400 Carroll Street, Brooklyn, 718-330-0313); Gwen Stefani Thursday at Madison Square Garden (4 Penn Plaza, 212-244-7045); Kanye West Friday at Madison Square Garden (4 Penn Plaza, 212-244-7045); and Ludacris Friday at Bowery Ballroom (6 Delancey Street, 212-533-2111).