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Here’s the short list of what’s happening in LA tonight. A vampire rock opera opens at King King; the World’s Greatest Tribute Bands AXS TV show honors the music of The Police; Film Independent presents screenings of NYT op-ed videos; there’s a hip-hop J.A.M. session; The Spare Room’s book club convenes and the Dustbowl Revival headline It’s a School Night. Read on for all the details.
VAMPIRE ROCK OPERA*
Wake Not the Dead is a “vampire rock opera” that opens tonight at King Kingfor three performances only this week (also shows on Wednesday and Thursday). We hear that the music’s in the same vein as Black Sabbath, Bauhaus, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Ozzy Osbourne & David Bowie, which are all performed with a live band onstage. The show also incorporates the work of aerialists, trapeze artists, pole dancers and more. Tickets: $20 (up to $225).
TRIBUTE BAND
Mark Cuban’s AXS TV presents the World's Greatest Tribute Bands live from the Roxy. Hosted by Katie Daryl, the live show tonight features The Police Experience, who of course, play tribute to the music of Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers. Doors are at 7pm, the show—which is televised—is at 8pm sharp…and all tickets are first-come, first-served. Free.
MUSIC
The Florida-based band Roadkill Ghost Choir plays the Bootleg Theater tonight at 8 pm. They’re RIYL early Wilco and My Morning Jacket and are currently touring to support their EP Quiet Light EP. They open for a great lineup of music that includes The Black Apples, indie-folk revivalists Miner (best known for their song “Hey Love”) and The Shivers. Free. The show is 21+.
J.A.M. SESSION
The Ford Amphitheatre hosts a free J.A.M. Session tonight at 7 pm on Hip Hop dancing taught by Antics. Each member specializes in different styles, including popping, krumping, breaking and classic hip hop. DJ BGirl provides the fresh tunes and funky beats throughout the evening. Free, but reservations recommended.
FILM
Film Independent and The New York Times Film Club hosts a free screening at LACMA with the program Spotlight on The New York Times’ Op-Docs tonight at 7:30 pm. Select videos will be screened from the NYT Op-Docs series that accepts and commissions video pieces from directors “with a specific and involving point of view, each of which is subjected the Times‘ rigorous fact-checking process.” The evening includes a conversation with filmmakers Heidi Ewing, Jessica Yu, Roger Ross Williams and Casey Neistat and Op-Docs producer/curator Jason Spingarn-Koff.
MUSIC
It’s a School Night welcomes live music and DJ sets from both up-and-coming and seasoned artists every Monday night at Bardot in Hollywood. On tap tonight are live performances by Dustbowl Revival, Leonard Friend, Guggenheim Grotto and Kid Karate and DJ sets by Spazzkid and Mark Kill. Free with RSVP for those 21+; $10 for 18+ with RSVP. Doors at 8 pm.
BOOK CLUB
Did you know that The Spare Room at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotelhas a book club? They’re meeting up tonight at 8 pm to discuss The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer. Enjoy cocktails while discussing the book’s finer / lesser points. 8 pm.
ONLINE PERFORMANCE
MOCA is doing some great stuff online on MOCAtv (its YouTube channel). Launching today is the MOCAtv-commissioned video Live Nude Dancing by photographer Daniel Trese, choreographed by Ryan Heffington and inspired by the paintings of Nolan Hendrickson. The film is based on a scene from Heffington’s dance show-art installation-performance piece KTCHN that premiered in May at the Mack Sennett Studios.
*Pencil pick of the day
Want more events? Follow me on Twitter (@christineziemba). Or follow Lauren Lloyd—who takes care of Pencil on Wednesdays (@LadyyyLloyd).
