Christine N. Ziemba on April 12th, 2018

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[Weekending is Buzz Bands LA’s new weekly column of things to see and do. For more, visit Pop Radar LA.]

A dozen things to see and hear this weekend, from custom motorcycles to film noir to strange tales from Texas to important current affairs. Oh, and the opening of a new David Hockney exhibition.

FRIDAY, APRIL 13

NOIR CITY: HOLLYWOOD (Film fest)

“Noir City: Hollywood – The 20th Annual Los Angeles Festival of Film Noir” kicks off this weekend at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, running through April 22. Hosts Eddie Muller and Alan K. Rode of the Film Noir Foundation dig deep into the archives and screen 35mm classics and lesser-known titles. The festival opens on Friday with a double feature of “The Blue Dahlia” and “I Love Trouble” beginning at 7:30 p.m. with a 20th anniversary reception between films featuring film noir themed cocktails crafted by 320 Main, a black & white dessert bar, vintage sodas, burlesque, mingling with vintage coppers and photos with their vintage cop car — all set to the sinister jazz of the Dean Mora Trio. Tickets: $15.

CUSTOM REVOLUTION (Motorcycles)

The Petersen Automotive Museum opens its newest motorcycle exhibit, “Custom Revolution,” on Friday night with a reception, preview and panel discussion with Petersen board member Richard Varner, guest curator Paul d’Orleans and automotive journalist Charles Fleming. The exhibition is dedicated entirely to a new generation of customized bikes, featuring 25 avant-garde and influential bikes from indie builders around the world. Reception begins at 6:15 p.m. Tickets: $45. “Custom Revolution” opens to the public on Saturday.

Garfunkel & Oates

CUCK: A COMEDY SHOW (Laughs)

“CUCK: A Comedy Show” is at UCBT Sunset on Friday at 9 pm. Hosted by Chris Gordon (Just For Laughs Montreal), a lineup of stand-ups perform original material then proceed to riff/dissect/criticize the jokes of another comic in the lineup. CUCK features a stellar performers including Reggie Watts (band leader for TLLS w/ James Corden), Adam Conover (TruTV’s Adam Ruins Everything), Garfunkel & Oates (Netflix Special and Another Period), Jason Saenz (Comedy Central), Grant Gordon (The Boost Mobile Guy) and Eddie Della Siepe (Barely Friending Podcast). Tickets: $12.

MONSTERPALOOZA (Convention)

“Monsterpalooza” takes over the Pasadena Convention Center from Friday through Sunday. If you’re into SFX for film, TV and themed entertainment, then this expo is for you. There are more than 250 exhibitors/vendors, presentations, makeup demos, a monster museum and celebrity guests (Pam Grier, Danny Trejo, Tobin Bell, Alex Winter, Daphne Zuniga and others) throughout the weekend. Tickets: $30-$35 each day. Children under 10 get in free with a paying adult.

SATURDAY, APRIL 14

GIANT ROBOT: ROB SATO (Art)

This weekend Giant Robot celebrates the work of Rob Sato, showcasing his original, hand-painted watercolor comic panels from a graphic novel titled, “442.“ The book’s title refers to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the segregated and highest decorated unit of Japanese American soldier-heroes who fought for the United States during World War II. The opening reception is being held on Saturday at Giant Robot 2 (GR2) from 6:30-10 p.m. The works remain on view through May 2. Free.

FARMHOUSE/WHOREHOUSE (Lecture + performance)

The Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA presents the West Coast premiere of “Farmhouse/Whorehouse,” an artist lecture by Suzanne Bocanegra, starring Lili Taylor, on Saturday night at 8 p.m. at the Theatre at Ace Hotel. “Farmhouse/Whorehouse” is an artist talk that marries personal narrative and cultural history, through the lens of the lives of Bocanegra’s grandparents, whose farm sat across the road from the Chicken Ranch aka “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” The talk includes text, costumes, video projections and a new song by Shara Nova with lyrics by Bocanegra’s grandmother. Tickets: $44.50-$59.50 (discounted for UCLA students and staff/faculty).

MARCH FOR SCIENCE (Protest)

The second annual “March for Science” rally and expo takes place this Saturday in Pershing Square Park in DTLA. Hosted by the LA Alliance for Science, the rally runs from 10-11 a.m. and features speeches on topics including climate change, gun violence, the need for diversity in science and more. Unlike last year, there’s no march to City Hall. Instead, there’s programming from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with sessions, demos, panels and music. Science Expo booths are open all day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free.

DAVIA KING: REBORN​ (Art)

Artist Davia King woke up in the hospital on March 9 with a lacerated liver, broken vertebrae and two fractured ribs. She didn’t know how she got there. She had been hit by a drunk driver. Her new work in the exhibition, “Reborn,” is an “evolution in embracing uncertainty,” where faith and belief take over where fear and anxiety once were. View King’s work at Ewkuks Gallery on Saturday at 8 p.m. Free.

SUNDAY, APRIL 15

EVERYDAY IS LIKE SUNDAY (Food + music)

Lethal Amounts presents “Everyday Is Like Sunday: Moz Vegan Brunch” at El Cid on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The brunch features DJs Alex Transistor and Rose Knows spinning faves from the Smiths and Morrissey while guests enjoy an all vegan menu and special cocktail list inspired by the music of Moz. Tickets: $10 and includes a vegan soyrizo tofu taco buffet (while supplies last). Partial proceeds benefit Mercy For Animals.

JOHNATHAN RICE: AN EVENING OF DYSTOPIAN HAIKU (Reading)

Singer-songwriter and frequent Jenny Lewis collaborator Johnathan Rice takes to the stage at the Quiet Life in Highland Park on Saturday night, from 8 to 10 p.m. But don’t expect him to play music. Instead, he’s reading from his new book of poetry, “Farewell My Dudes: 69 Dystopian Haikus.” The event includes treats from Triple Beam Pizza, Highland Park Wine and Lagunitas Brewing Company as well as the premiere of the Haiku Tee. Free.

DAVID HOCKNEY: 82 PORTRAITS AND 1 STILL-LIFE (Art)

LACMA presents the U.S. premiere of “David Hockney: 82 Portraits and 1 Still-life,” which opens at the museum on Sunday. In the exhibit, Hockney offers a vibrant and intimate view of people with whom he has developed relationships over the past 50 years. The majority were painted in Hockney’s Los Angeles studio over a period of two or three days, which the artist has described as “a 20-hour exposure.” None of Hockney’s portraits are commissioned; for this series he invited family, members of his staff, and close friends to sit for him—including several curators, art dealers, and collectors with local and international renown: John Baldessari, Douglas Baxter, Edith Devaney, Larry Gagosian, Frank Gehry, Peter Goulds, Barry Humphries, David Juda, Rita Pynoos, Joan Quinn, Norman Rosenthal, Jacob Rothschild and Benedikt Taschen as well as LACMA’s Stephanie Barron and Dagny Corcoran. This exhibition originated at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, and has traveled to Melbourne, Venice, and Bilbao. LACMA will host the only U.S. presentation. Tickets range from $16-$25. Free for museum members and children/teens under 18. 

TED LIEU: THE TRUMP-RUSSIA INVESTIGATION (Talk)

The Hammer Museum presents the program “Ted Lieu: The Trump-Russia Investigation” on Sunday at 2 p.m. Congressman Lieu and former U.S. Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Harry Litman discuss Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 elections. The talk is moderated by journalist, documentary filmmaker and KPFK 90.7 FM radio host Ian Masters. Free.

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