July 17, 2008
By Ron Garmon
Thursday 17
FROM THE DUSTBIN OF HISTORY TO YOU
Political economist Raymond Lotta, author of such epater les bourgeoisie tomes as Maoist Economics and the Revolutionary Road to Communism, enumerates the (as yet theoretical) virtues of world Maoist revolution at Libros Revolución bookstore tonight. The learned comrade discourses seismically on “Shifting Tectonic Plates in the World Imperialist System” before a mass meeting of a dozen or so local firebrands, perhaps as many as three of them not undercover cops. Get on board with the latest in mid-20th century revolutionary praxis for free at 312 W. 8th St., downtown L.A., librosrevolucion.blog.com. (This just in: Conrad Latta will not be attending)
Friday 18
I SAW LON CHANEY JUNIOR WALKIN' WITH THE QUEEN. *UH!*
Monster of pulpwad femininity Maria Montez stars in the high-1940s weirdness that is Robert Siodmak’s Cobra Woman (1944) tonight at the Silent Movie Theater. This bit of studio dada has picked up many admirers down through the years, including underground-movie jokester George Kuchar, who presents this fat slice of Universal limburger as part of his “Summer Camp” series on Fridays at the Silent. Also on the bill is Weird Woman, another well-remembered Uni B, this one directed by the consistently wall-eyed Reginald LeBorg. Lon Chaney Jr. as a university prof is the least of many charming implausibilities. $10. 10 pm, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A., silentmovietheatre.com.
Saturday 19
LA NUIT AMERICANE
The GLOW festival is billed mysteriously as taking place during “the hours between dusk to dawn with compelling, enchanting, and effervescent sights and sounds situated in spaces and times that expand possibilities for where, how and when the public experiences contemporary art.” Well, yee-haw! This all-night art party (inspired by La Nuit Blanche in Paris) takes place at the pier and adjacent beach in Santa Monica, with what’s rumored to be the latest and wildest in oversized, interactive art plus live performances and DJs until dawn. This may well be the closest thing to Burning Man ever staged in a climate sufficiently dissimilar to Hell to fetch the general public. Free. Opening ceremony, 7 p.m.-7 a.m. Santa Monica Pier. smgov.net/smarts/glow.
Sunday 20
TAKE IT OUT & PLAY WITH IT DEPT.
Curated (and isn’t every last Goddamned thing curated by somebody these over-mediated days?) by Reno 9/11’s Thomas Lennon at the fabulous Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater tonight is a screening of the 1983 Steve Martin/Carl Reiner atrocity The Man with Two Brains. Part of the venue’s “Comedy Death-Ray Movie Series” inviting the nyuk-famished masses to see the films as inspired this new breed of soon-to-be obscure funnyfolk. I’m holding out for the night someone with taste runs The Love God? (1969) with Don Knotts. $5. 9:30 p.m. 5919 Franklin Ave., Hollywood, ucbtheatre.com.
Monday 21
SWEETNESS & BLIGHT
You’re sure to see everybody and their beard at the mighty Silverlake Lounge as the Fold unfolds an extendo-evening of bright and melodic indie-pop from the candy-cane likes of Princeton, Army/Navy, Whitman and You, Me & Iowa. These sturdy American names are like so many cereal boxes – gaudy packaging wrapped around comforting cardboard rectangles chock full of fine sugary generic goodness. This will be the third show into Princeton’s Monday night residency, A/N is too twee for words, Whitman has a fine satirical sense, and Y, M & IA’s debut is drawing well-earned raves. Free. 2906 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake. foldsilverlake.com.
Tuesday 22
SARDONIC COWBOY
The Washington Post gives James McMurtry heavy props and mentions his Just Us Kids as a possible Album of the Year, while other reviewers credit the Texas songwriter with commendable cynicism and anger. He’s worked with the heavyweight-honk likes of John Prine, Joe Ely, and J.C. Mellencamp, while stylishly overcoming the handicap of being son to novelist Larry McMurtry. He appears with his band the Heartless Bastards tonight at the world-famous Troubadour, with Dedlights in the undercard slot. $20. 8 p.m. 9081 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo, troubadour.com.
Wednesday 23
YOU DA MONSTER
Unemployment in the Golden State stood at a sick 6.8 percent in June, and this month’s statistics aren’t likely to look much better to the two or three remaining economic optimists out there. The public-spirited folks over at monster.com inviting those concerns left still hiring to the third of four Monster Job Fairs being thrown today at the Holiday Inn at LAX. Here, expect “face-to-face” encounters between these happy employers and “the most motivated and highly talented candidates available.” Admittedly, this sounds less like public-spirited good works than a one-reel version of They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? Booths available starting at $1,500. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 9901 La Cienega Blvd., L.A., nationalcareerfairs.com.
Published: 07/16/2008
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