FRIDAY, JULY 29

Where have the Thrift Store Cowboys been all my life? In Lubbock, Texas,
and environs, playing their beautiful rootsy, even surf-y sound. They have a killer
instrumental called “Man We Ran Them Camels,” and are also the first of three
groups (and only one is classical) that feature violin in this week’s column.
Genghis Cohen, 740 N. Fairfax Ave., West Hollywood; Fri., July 29, 9:30 p.m.;
$8. (323) 653-0640.

SATURDAY, JULY 30

Take your pick: Blessed be thy frame, or praise the Ford. It’s time for the annual
Blessing of the Cars. A real priest will add protection to your vehicle
— but that still doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use your turn signal. Please, for
the love of God, use your freakin’ turn signal!!!!! Amen. And remember, speed
kills. There will be art cars, bands and a competition for custom-made hot rods.
Hansen Dam Park, Dronfield Ave. off Osbourne St.; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; $5 admission,
$20 cars/trucks, $10 motorcycles. (323) 663-1265.
Have you ever sat up happy when you hear one of your beloved songs on the radio, only to have that happiness turn to ugly rage when some other, totally lame song suddenly slams into it and has the nerve to merge and squirm under it? Get that crappy song off my good song! Okay, so maybe we don’t entirely approve of this business of cutting up and splicing together songs in the name of the mash-up, but Paul V, who brings mash-ups to the masses on Indie 103.1, has convinced us that he’s doing the world a favor “subverting shitty pop music.” Mr. V turned us on to “Ray of Gob” (Madonna’s “Ray of Light” vs. Sex Pistols’ “Pretty Vacant”) and “ABBA & the Bunnymen” (“Voulez-Vous” vs. “The Killing Moon”). He’s bringing San Francisco’s first mash-up bootleg party Bootie to L.A. Okay, here’s a challenge for you mash-up artists: Make Coldplay sound unboring. The Echo, 1822 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park; Sat., July 30, 9 p.m.; $8, $5 before 10 p.m. (213) 413-8200.
SUNDAY, JULY 31

There’s a new comedy show in town — so new it’s yet to be named. It kicks
off with one of those alty dream-team lineups missing only Janeane Garofalo: Paul
F. Tompkins, Blaine Capatch, Mary Lynn Rajskub and Jen Kirkman. Tom Hicks and
Mindy Marzec are the producers, and Hicks claims they’re the only “performer-free”
comedy producers in town. Hicks runs successful nights at the Knitting Factory
and St. Nick’s, but admits, “Every show I’ve done costs me one friend, so I can
only do, like one or two more.” Room 5 (above Amalfi), 143 N. La Brea Ave.;
Sun., July 31, 7:30 p.m.; $5. (323) 938-2504.

Bird
of Paradise
See Sunday




So maybe the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Las Palmas isn’t exactly Bora
Bora. American Cinematheque’s idea of a Tiki Luau Night includes a screening
of the rarely seen 1951 Bird of Paradise (think South Seas
exotica meets film noir, with Louis Jordan no less), plus special guests, including
drink-mixing expert and author Beach Bum Berry, 97-year-old ukulele master Bill
Tapia, hula dancers and tiki carvers, plus a performance by King Kukulele and
the Friki Tikis. Dinner is also available (beware of poi). Egyptian Theater,
6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Sun., July 31, 5 p.m.; $9, dinner $12 (resv.
required). (323) 466-FILM.

MONDAY, AUGUST 1

It’s Monday, it’s hot. Is a free concert or club experience too much to ask for?
Here are two options:
The 2005 Henry J. Bruman Summer Music Festival winds down with a performance by La Camerata, featuring violinist Philip Vaiman, guitarist Kenton Youngstrom and vocalist Marissa Steingold, performing music by Bach, Fauré, Debussy and de Falla. UCLA, Anderson School, Korn Convocation Hall, Westwood; Mon., Aug. 1, 1 p.m.; free. (310) 206-5078.And don’t forget Spaceland is always free on Mondays. Starlite Desperation begin their August residency. This is a band that moved from Salinas to Detroit. At last they’ve settled here in L.A., and they’ve definitely brought some of the way-now Motor City sound with them. Spaceland, 1717 Silver Lake Blvd.; every Mon.; free. (323) 661-4380.TUESDAY, AUGUST 2

Architect Josh Schweitzer’s Smooth Box images of whimsically sexy body
parts could just fire up your libido on this otherwise ordinary Tuesday. Hurry
over, the exhibit ends next week. Glu, 7424 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood;
thru Aug. 8. (323) 857-0510.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3

Normally we wouldn’t send our worst enemy to the South Bay during the weekday
rush hours (yes, hours), but when the payoff is a quality comedy show that
benefits unloved doggies — yes, it’s the Rover Rescue Benefit with comics
Evan Davis and Maryellen Hooper — the schlep is more than worth
it.Comedy & Magic Club, 1018 Hermosa Ave., Hermosa Beach; Wed., Aug.
3, 8 p.m.; $25, plus two-drink minimum. (310) 798-8811.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4

Once upon a beautiful day, an album cover flew down from the heavens picturing
a lovely lass standing atop a mountain peak amid blue sky and clouds. It was 1969,
and the band declared its ’60s love with a name that was audacious for its sweetness:
It’s a Beautiful Day. Led by David and Linda LaFlamme, the band’s big hit
was a psychedelic/Jeffersonian Airplanean/electric-violined burner called “White
Bird.” The lyrics promise, “White bird will fly/he will fly-eye-eye-eye.” The
white bird flies again, with the seagulls, thanks to the beautiful city of Santa
Monica and its Twilight Concert Series. Please, no talking while the “White
Bird” flies. With Super Diamond, Hot August Night. Santa Monica Pier, Colorado
& Ocean aves.; Thurs., Aug. 4, 7:30 p.m.; free. (310) 458-8900 or www.santamonicapier.org.

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