PopMelodic punk is the signature sound of...

Pop

Melodic punk is the signature sound of Orange County, and you can’t ask for a better sampling of it than the bill being offered Friday at the Foothill Club.

One Hit Wonder and Joyride are established leaders of the local grass-roots punk-pop scene, each with catchy material that’s funny, intelligent, poignant and blazingly played. Jigsaw is the latest band fronted by Mike Conley, a veteran who has made strong records over the past 15 years with MIA and Naked Soul. And Rubber, the opener, is a new band that is getting favorable word of mouth from more established scenesters. If you like the Offspring and Social Distortion and want to know what else is out there, here’s your chance.

* What: One Hit Wonder, Joyride, Jigsaw and Rubber.

* When: Friday, 9 p.m.

* Where: The Foothill Club, 1922 Cherry Ave., Signal Hill.

* Whereabouts: Exit the San Diego (405) Freeway at Cherry Avenue and head left, toward the beach. It’s about 1 1/2 miles to 19th Street; club is on the left.

* Wherewithal: $7.

* Where to call: (310) 984-8349.

Theater

“Assassins” knocked ‘em dead. The Cypress College production of the Stephen Sondheim/John Weidman musical, which focuses on people who committed or attempted political murder in America over two centuries, beat out more than 170 entrants to reach the Southwestern U.S. regional semifinal competition of the Kennedy Center/American College Theater Festival. Competitors included USC and many schools from the UC and Cal State systems. The semifinal round takes place in Flagstaff, Ariz. “Bon voyage” benefit performances in Cypress on Friday and Saturday will help defray travel and lodging costs for cast, crew and orchestra.

* What: “Assassins.”

* When: Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.

* Where: Cypress College, Campus Theater, 9200 Valley View St., Cypress.

* Whereabouts: Exit the San Diego (405) Freeway at Valley View Street and go north. Turn right onto Lakeshore Drive to park.

* Wherewithal: $10.

* Where to call: (714) 821-6320.

Art

Several years ago, Russian emigre artists Komar & Melamid proposed an intriguing idea: Why not solicit an international crew of artists to salvage the toppled socialist monuments in Russia and transform them into a fresh view of history?

The resulting sketches, photographs, collages and written proposals--serious and silly, practical and impossible--are presented in “Monumental Propaganda.” Alongside contributions from numerous Europeans and Russians unknown on these shores are pieces by Carl Andre, Joseph Kosuth, Mark Tansey, Art Spiegelman and other U.S. artists.

* What: “Monumental Propaganda.”

* When: Through Feb 25. Gallery hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

* Where: Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton.

* Whereabouts: Exit the Orange (57) Freeway at Chapman Avenue and go west. Chapman merges into Malvern; the center is several blocks farther, on the right.

* Wherewithal: $2; $1 students and seniors, free for children 12 and under.

* Where to call: (714) 990-7730.

Festival

Enter the Year of the Rat, and a new place to celebrate the new year.

Saturday and Sunday, the 14th annual Tet Festival sponsored by the Union of Vietnamese Students of Southern California takes place for the first time at Rancho Santiago College in Santa Ana. Highlights of the festival, which marks the lunar new year and the beginning of spring, include lion and dragon dances, a firecracker show, li xi (lucky red envelopes), sports activities, an arts and crafts exhibition, health and science fairs, and more than 120 game and food booths. All proceeds will benefit the college’s Asian Studies program and local scholarships for students of all cultures.

* What: Tet Festival.

* When: Saturday and Sunday,, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

* Where: Rancho Santiago College, 1530 W. 17th St., Santa Ana.

* Whereabouts: Exit the Santa Ana (5) Freeway at 17th Street and head west.

* Wherewithal: $3. Anyone in traditional costume and children under four feet, free.

* Where to call: (714) 564-6455.