Happening Monday

BOOKS

Are Lies Ruining America? In the wake of high-profile perjury and obstruction-of-justice cases such as those of Martha Stewart, Barry Bonds and Bernard Madoff, journalist James B. Stewart, author of “Tangled Webs: How False Statements Are Undermining America,” will investigate how American ethics have broken down and what can be done about it. Henry Weinstein, a founding faculty member of the UC Irvine School of Law, will moderate. MOCA, 250 S. Grand Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free, reservations recommended.

Sean Wilentz The professor of history at Princeton University gives a lecture titled “Let There Be No Compromise: Lincoln, Slavery, and Democracy in the Secession Crisis.” When Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860 the future of slavery became uncertain, even in the South, where it was sanctioned. Wilentz believes that Lincoln knew this, as did the Southern secessionists, which is why they tried so hard to create their own government. He’ll talk about that as well as the idea that Lincoln was fighting to end slavery as much as he was to keep the Union intact. The Huntington Library, Friends’ Hall, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. 7:30 p.m. Free. (626) 405-2100; https://www.huntington.org.

MUSIC

She Wants Revenge Break out the black eyeliner, it’s time for dark-wave debauchery with the San Fernando-bred duo. The dour post-punk pair, which has been compared to Joy Division and Interpol and has toured extensively with Depeche Mode, proves that gothrock can grow in environments far sunnier than its native soil England. The Roxy Theatre, 9009 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 8 p.m. $20. (310) 278-9457. theroxyonsunset.com.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band With Louisiana again facing torrential floods, it’s always good to be reminded of how essential New Orleans is to the nation’s cultural life. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band has for three decades offered exuberant takes on the city’s traditional music spiced with funk lines and jazz ambitiousness. The Mint, 6010 W. Pico Blvd., L.A. 9 p.m. $22. themintla.com.