Early Warning

Friday, July 20 – The XX at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
BUY tickets to The XX playing an outdoor show at the always amazing Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Forget the Hollywood Palladium. First time I saw them, it was outside in Barcelona in a light drizzle. Couldn’t have been more perfect. Tix go on sale Friday, July 20, at 12 PM PDT. The show is actually on October 13, 2012.

Film

All week – nearly everywhere – The Dark Knight Rises
Forget all those not-actually-IMAX theaters. Even with actual IMAX footage in the film, the ONLY way to see a movie like this is in the Cinerama Dome at the Arclight Hollywood. The picture on this massive screen and sound – oh the sound – is head and shoulders above anything else I’ve experienced.

Friday, July 20 at 7:00 PM – Collaborator at the Egyptian Theater
Martin Donavan. Writing, directing and starring. There’s really not much else to say. This is a limited engagement run with additional screenings at 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM on July 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, and 26. Sunday, July 22 only has a 4:00 PM screening.

Music

Monday, July 23 – The XX at The Fonda Theater
If you’re lucky, you already have tickets and this post about The XX concert is useless to you. The Fonda Theater is a small enough venue that this would be an amazing show… IF you can find someone giving up their ticket. This show sold out almost instantly, so good luck.

Thursday, July 26 – Spoek Mathambo at The Echoplex
I liked what I was able to catch at Primavera Sound earlier this year and his video for “Control” is haunting and amazing. Yes, it samples Joy Division.