TODAYPOP MUSICSee Eels electrifythe stageFans of Mark...

TODAY

POP MUSIC

See Eels electrify

the stage

Fans of Mark Oliver Everett, Los Angeles’ poet laureate of uplifting, downbeat pop, know that he and his band Eels aren’t going to stay in one spot too long. Now that the “Eels With Strings” era has been documented on a DVD, he comes back with the “No Strings Attached” tour, returning to the rock-band format and to the rock club where he’s played warmup shows for every tour over the last 10 years.

Eels, the Roxy, 9009 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 8 p.m. today and Friday. $25. (310) 278-9457.

* Also 8 p.m. Sunday at the Galaxy Theatre, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana. $20. (714) 957-0600.

WORDS

Author tells how she lost ‘Paradise’

In 1977, Yale students Terri Jentz and Shayna Weiss camped in Oregon during an ambitious cross-country biking marathon. What could’ve been another exhausted night in their tent turned savage -- a man in a pickup truck intentionally ran them over and then attacked them repeatedly with an ax. The women escaped but suffered severe injuries, a shattered friendship and the burden of their memories. Jentz, an L.A. screenwriter, revisits the small town where she was nearly murdered and details her encounters in her gripping memoir, “A Strange Piece of Paradise.” She discovers townspeople haunted by the violence and eventually has a face-to-face meeting with the culprit, a local cowboy who was never prosecuted for the attack. The author discusses her work in an appearance at Vroman’s Bookstore.

Terri Jentz, Vroman’s, 695 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena. 7 tonight. (626) 449-5320.

FRIDAY

POP MUSIC

DJ Vadim as his One Self

Russian-born, London-based artist DJ Vadim has become one of the stars of the esteemed Ninja Tune roster with his four albums of envelope-pushing experimentation. But now he’s gone and formed an actual group, teaming with MCs Blu Run 13 and Yarah Bravo. Called One Self, the trio will showcase music from “Children of Possibility,” an album that radiates a Caribbean sensibility and a Jamaican dub attack.

One Self, the Echo, 1822 Sunset Blvd., L.A. 9 p.m. Friday. $12. (213) 413-8200.

MOVIES

When death visits early

Michael Cuesta demonstrated a flair for directing adolescents in his disturbing 2001 feature debut, “L.I.E.” In his follow-up, “12 and Holding,” the filmmaker guides a trio of slightly younger actors. Jacob (Conor Donovan), Malee (Zoe Weizenbaum) and Leonard (Jesse Camacho) handle the aftermath of the death of Jacob’s twin brother, Rudy, and its effect on their last preteen year in drastically different ways. In both films, navigating the rocky path of what should still be childhood is no easy trek.

“12 and Holding,” R for some violence and sexual content involving minors, and for language, opens Friday in selected theaters.

THEATER

Stoppard’s ‘Thing’

Many critics regard “The Real Thing” as

one of Tom Stoppard’s most successful instances of infusing his typically complex storytelling with deep feeling. The 1982 drama has a playwright as its protagonist, and infidelity as its propellant.

“The Real Thing,” South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Opens 8 p.m. Friday. $28 to $58. (714) 708-5555. www.scr.org.

* Runs 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Ends June 25.

SATURDAY

MUSEUMS

Night vision at MOCA

Starting this weekend, the Museum of Contemporary Art will stay open until midnight Saturday nights during the run of its highly anticipated exhibition “Robert Rauschenberg: Combines.” For the next 15 weeks, Night Vision: MOCA After Dark offers late-night summer programming, including a cash bar, performances, art-making, screenings, spoken word, DJ sets and gallery tours.

Night Vision: MOCA After Dark, Museum of Contemporary Art, 250 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Starts Saturday. $5 to $8; 11 and younger, free. (213) 621-1734.

* Hours: 6 p.m. to midnight Saturdays. Ends Sept. 2.

EVENTS

Soundtrack of Love

Looking for a little love to launch the summer? Go Ventures, the dance music promoters that put the massive in Monster Massive and get everybody Together as One on New Year’s Eve, brings the traveling Love Festival back to L.A. this weekend. Featuring two stages, the bill is topped by longtime L.A. favorite Richard “Humpty” Vission, laying down house beats, and NYC’s Johnny Vicious, who lives up to his surname with his own brand of hard trance.

The Love Festival, Sports Arena, 3939 S. Figueroa, L.A. 8 p.m. Saturday. $40 to $80. (323) 960-5155. www.thelovefestival.com.

OPERA

‘Grendel’ -- maybe

“Grendel,” Los Angeles Opera’s long-awaited fifth world premiere, is scheduled to open this weekend -- although problems with the production have cast doubts on whether the premiere will go off as planned, opera officials said. Composed by Academy Award-winner Elliot Goldenthal and directed by Tony Award-winner Julie Taymor, “Grendel” is based on John Gardner’s 1971 novel of the same name. The story is inspired by the Beowulf legend but retells it as a dark comedy from the monster’s point of view. Eric Owens will sing the role of the monster. Denyce Graves will sing the Dragon. Desmond Richardson will appear in the dancing-only role of Beowulf. Angelin Preljocag is the choreographer. George Tsypin designed the set. Conducting duties will be shared over the seven-performance run by Steven Sloane and Lionel Friend.

“Grendel,” Los Angeles Opera, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. $30 to $205. (213) 972-8001. www.laopera.com.

* Also 7:30 p.m. June 1, 8, 14 and 17; 2 p.m. June 3 and 11.

EVENTS

It’s fairly Bohemian

Topanga Canyon is as much a state of mind as a physical location. The rustic mountain community and psychic landscape of old hippies, young hippies, artists, poets, painters, musicians and just plain folks will open its collective bosom to lowlanders this weekend at the Topanga Days Country Fair. Three stages will feature an eclectic lineup of nonstop music and other entertainment. Singer Maria Muldaur, bluegrass band Hot Buttered Rum, former Doors drummer John Densmore’s group Tribaljazz, Cecilia Noel, the Weepies, Bordertown and Teresa James will be among the acts performing over the three-day event. More than 80 craft vendors, games, belly dancing and a wide variety of food will also be featured.

Topanga Days Country Fair, Topanga Community House, 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. $7 to $15; 5 and younger, free. (310) 455-1980. www.topangadays.com.

* Also 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday.

ART

In all ways, it’s a heady experience

Phrenology was discounted sometime in the 19th century, but that didn’t stop artist Meg Cranston in her quest to explore “The Wonder and the Horror of the Human Head.” The group show is devoted to how we visualize the human head beginning from prehistory to the present. Cranston, who organized the group show, features a variety of material including such works as drawings of disembodied heads and photographs of churchgoers in Sunday hats by John Baldessari, Giolliosa Fuller, Manuel Ocampo, Julian Hoeber and other contemporary artists.

“The Wonder and the Horror of the Human Head” 4-F Gallery, 977 Chung King Road, L.A. Opens Saturday. (213) 617-4948.

* Hours: noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Ends June 24.