Happy Memorial Day, everyone! It’s the unofficial start to summer and if you’re in town this weekend, there’s no shortage of events. For serious. We found everything from an evening of Tokyo-inspired dance, music and film; a concert by The Silver Lake Chorus; and a screening of John Cassavetes' fully restored directorial debut. Read on for the details and so many more picks for tonight.
GETTY FRIDAY FLIGHTS*
The Getty Center kicks off longer Friday hours tonight (so you might as well stop by when the 405 is really pissing you off). In addition, the Getty launches the freeFriday Flightsseries fro 6-9 pm that includes music, film, dance and food. The first session tonight is inspired by the current exhibition Japan's Modern Divide: The Photography of Hiroshi Hamaya and Kansuke Yamamoto. The “virtual trip to Tokyo” features sets of J-pop and indie rock by DJ Greg Hignight and dance moves by hip-hop artist Jason Chong. There will also be Japanese-inspired cocktails, and screening of the cult classic film, Godzilla (1954) in the museum lecture hall at 7 pm. Free. Parking: $10 after 5 pm.
OKLAHOMA RELIEF
We just learned that there’s a fundraiser tonight for Oklahoma tornado victims (coordinated by the University of Tulsa alumni out here) at South in Santa Monica, with the bar/restaurant donating 15 percent of the night from 7 pm until 2 am to the cause. There will be raffle prizes, too. Suggested donation: $10 at the door.
RESTORED FILM
The UCLA Student Chapter of the Association of Moving Image Archivists presents a screening of the fully restored 35mm film Shadows at the New Beverly tonight at 7:30 pm. The film marks John Cassavetes’ directorial debut and stars Ben Carruthers, Lelia Goldoni, Hugh Hurd and Anthony Ray and features music by Charles Mingus. It’s followed at approximately 9:20 by the illustrated lecture, Shadows Up Close, by Ross Lipman, from the UCLA Film & Television, who discusses the restoration of the film and the Cassavetes-Mingus collaboration. Also appearing is actor Seymour Cassel, who participates in a Q&A. He served as an associate producer on Shadows. Tickets: $8+ service fee.
CHORAL MUSIC
LA’s favorite choral-pop group, The Silver Lake Chorus, plays the Bootleg Theater tonightat 9 pm. For the past few years, they’ve been performing choral arrangements of indie music and have caught the attention of, well, indie musicians. Their upoming album was produced by Ben Lee and features new tracks written for the group by Sia, Aimee Mann, The Bird and the Bee, Tegan and Sara, The New Pornographers, Justin Vernon (Bon Iver). The Spring Standards opens with a set at 9:15 pm. Tickets: $10-$12.
MUSIC
Tonight, The Viper Room presents Hotel Diablo with Future Villains, Dirty Pairadice, Bartholomew and Sirsy. We’re especially liking what we’re hearing from the duo Sirsly, who are touring in support of their fifth album Coming into Frame. Think of them as a mix of the White Stripes and the Dresden Dolls with lead singer Melanie Krahmer taking up the duties of drummer, bass player and flautist. It should be fascinating to watch live. Doors at 7:30 pm. Sirsy takes to the stage at 8 pm. Headliners Hotel Diablo close out the night with a set that begins at midnight. $12.
COMEDY
NerdMelt has scheduled two great comedy events tonight. Up first at 7 pm is The Mo Show with Mo Welch tonight at 7 pm. The show is an hour-long chat show that features stand up comedy and videos all hosted by Mo Welch, with sidekick by Jet Eveleth. The show features featuring Beth Stelling (Conan) and Ron Funches (NBC's Undateable, Conan) and with music by Alex Burke. Tickets: $8/$10 at the door. At 9 pm is HELLOGIGGLES: After Dark. The positive online community/website for women, co-founded by Zooey Deschanel, brings an edgier, darker quirkiness to the stage for an evening where anything can happen. Tonight’s show features Hip Hop Penguin, Kyle Mooney, April Shankman, Kate Berlante, Johnny Pemberton and other special guests. Tickets: 8/$10 at the door.
POP-UP
The Casa Indio pop-up art/music/culture spaceopens tonight at 5727 W. Adams Blvd., with an emphasis on showcasing work of Mexican artists and musicians. The “art and music event across borders” features performances from award-winning bands and DJs; interactive art workshops; art shows and film screenings and an Indio beer-stocked bar. The programming changes each day. The pop-up will run through June 8 before moving onto Austin, Chicago and SF. Free admission.
Other events of note this weekend:
- Hanksy’s show How the West was Pun at Gallery1988 opens tonight (May 24).
- Drawing on the Moon is an arts and music festival camp out that takes place in the Malibu Canyons through the weekend. Passes available for 2-4 days beginning today.
- Pretty in Pink screens outdoors for free in Pershing Square (5th and Olive) at 8 pm tonight.
- John Reilly and Friends featuring Becky Stark and Tom Brosseau perform western swing, folk and old school country outdoors tonight to celebrate Theatricum Botanicum’s 40th Anniversary.
- The trippy Electric Run (5k) begins at the Home Depot Center tonight at 8:20 pm.
*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).
