We sort through a lot of events and happenings around LA so you don’t have to. There’s a mind-blowing number of events tonight, including short film and video screenings at MOCA and the Downtown Independent; the Dances with Films Festival opens; a multimedia performance by rapper/artist Yung Jake; spoken word events with Literary Death Match and Billy’s Fish Fry, among others. Read on for all the details.
CINEMA SELECTS
Dailymotion presents the film program Cinema Selects LA at 7 pm at the Downtown Independent Theater. The free screening of more than 20 films includes some of the web’s best films, docs, comedy sketches and other surprises, mostly showcasing works from Dailymotion’s motionmaker program. The screenings will be followed by a Q&A with the directors and an open-bar after party. Admission is free for anyone who RSVPs through Facebook.
MUSIC
The makers of Dylan Fest and Petty Fest present Stones Fest LA, a night that benefits Sweet Relief and The Sweet Relief Musicians Fundwhile celebrating the music of The Rolling Stones. The Cabin Down Below Band hosts a number of musicians and celebs for an evening dedicated to a good cause. Scheduled to appear are: Butch Walker, Cyle Barnes of The Weeks, Juliette Lewis, Jason Sudeikis, Will Forte, Michelle Branch, Ethan Miller, Danny Masterson & Adam Busch, Matt Sorum & Ace Harper, Ewan Currie of The Sheepdogs, Ruby Amanfu, Members of Eagles Of Death Metal, Jamie Arentzen of American Hi-Fi, Michael Peña, Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara, Josh Lattanzi of The Candles, Soko, Dakota Johnson & Ruby Stewart, The Uptown Horns and other surprise guests. Doors at 8 pm, show at 9 pm. Tickets: $25.
FILM FESTIVAL
The Dances with Films Film Festival opens tonight with a screening of HBO Documentary Films’ Miss You Can Do It. The film focuses on Abbey Curran, Miss Iowa USA 2008, the first woman with a disability to compete at the Miss USA Pageant, and eight other girls and young women with special needs, who participate in the Miss You Can Do It Pageant, which was created in 2004 by Curran. 8 pm. The festival also has a great lineup of panel discussions and a Cocktails & Conversations series. Individual screening tickets: $13. Passes $160-$195. The festival runs through June 9.
LIT DEATH MATCH
Literary Death Match (LDM) takes over Busby's Easttonight for an evening that mixes lit and comedy. The show features four writers reading from their own work (seven minutes or less), judged by three all-star judges. Only two writers will move onto the LDM finale. Judges tonight are Rachel Kushner, Ali Wong and Kurt Braunohler, with writers/readers Moth winner Margot Leitman, screenwriter/novelist Travis Sentell, TV writer Kathy Ebel, and author Dan Crane. The evening is hosted by LDM creator Adrian Todd Zuniga. Doors at 8 pm; show at 9:15 pm. Tickets: $10 at the door. The event is 21+.
PERFORMANCE*
Family Bookstore presents a performance by multimedia artist and rapper Yung Jake tonight at 7:30 pm. He’s best known for creating Internet-based works like E.m-bed.de/d—an interactive HTML5 music video that’s a brilliant take on viral pop culture. His other works include the app Augmented Real and music videos. A limited-edition print will be available tonight at the performance. Check out the video below (slightly NSFW).
MUSIC
The United Ghosts residency at the Silverlake Lounge ends tonight with a show at 8 pm. Joining them on the bill are Nightmail and the headphone friendly Seven Saturdays. The event is 21+. Free.
SPOKEN WORD
La Luz de la Jesus’ monthly Fish Fryhas a literary bent tonight with a series of readings by some really great local writers, including Jerry Stahl, Jonathan Shaw, Bob Forrest, Dan Fante, Rich Ferguson, Iris Berry, Tom Sizemore, Lou Beach, Amy Fields, Cheri Lovedog, Chris Davis and Michael Rozon & Friends. Free. Hosted by Blaine Capatch.
COOKING DEMO
La Tienda at LA Plaza presents Platicas y Pruebas with chef and historian Maite Gomez-Rejón tonight at 7 pm. The presentation and tasting is inspired by Encarnacion Pinedo's groundbreaking 1898 cookbook El Cocinero Español (The Spanish Kitchen), the first cookbook written by a Hispanic in the United States. The ticketed event ($10+ service fee) supports programs at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes that help present and preserve Mexican American culture.
FILM
Tonight at 8 pm, MOCAtv presents a screening of Aboveground Animation. The collection of new videos are from emerging artists from around the world, with six new animations commissioned by MOCAtv. Works tonight by Casey Jane Ellison (program curator), Lauren Gregory, Katie Torn, Erin Dunn, Kathleen Daniel, Barry Doupe, Jacolby Satterwhite and Ben Jones. A panel discussion moderated by MOCAtv Creative Director Emma Reeves will follow.
COMEDY
Davis & Sons—a comedy crew of Matthew Patrick Davis, Joe Chandler and Zach Paez—present two of their half-hour musicalsback-to-back. Up first is Jurassic Park, featuring the songs "Clever Girl" and "Vision's Based on Movement." It’s followed by The Shining, featuring the hit, "I'm Gonna Bash Your F*cking Brains In." 8 pm at the Comedy Central Stage at the Hudson. Free, but reservations required. To RSVP, please call: 323.960.5519.
> Other happenings include the Cinema at the Edge festival, which runs through Sunday. The Fowler Out Loud series at the Fowler Museum at UCLA wraps its student performance series with performances by The Ten Thousand and The West Coast; and Sunset Sessions is a new LA Tech happy hour on a rooftop in Venice. Free beer, wine, DJ and speakers.
*Pencil pick of the day
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