John Hodgman with Aimee Mann

Thursday, October 24, 2019
8pm


John Hodgman
in conversation with Aimee Mann

discussing his book,
Medallion Status:
True Stories from Secret Rooms

Aratani Theatre
Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
244 S. San Pedro Street
Downtown Los Angeles, CA 90012

PURCHASE TICKETS
$50.00
 Reserved Section  (includes book)*
$40.00 General Admission Section  (includes book)*
$20.00 General Admission Section (on sale Sept 24, 10am)

John Hodgman is a writer, comedian, and actor. He is the author of The Areas of My Expertise, More Information Than You Require, That Is All, and Vacationland. He is the host of the popular Judge John Hodgman podcast and also contributes a weekly column under the same name for The New York Times Magazine.

“I love everything about this hilarious book except the font size. . . . Can a fella get a 16-point Helvetica up in this thing?”—Jon Stewart

After spending most of his twenties pursuing a career as a literary agent, John Hodgman decided to try his own hand at writing. Following an appearance to promote one of his books on The Daily Show, he was invited to return as a contributor. This led to an unexpected and, frankly, implausible career in front of the camera that has lasted to this very day, or at least until 2016.

In these pages, Hodgman explores the strangeness of his career, speaking plainly of fame, especially at the weird, marginal level he enjoyed it. Through these stories you will learn many things that only John Hodgman knows, such as how to prepare for a nude scene with an oboe, or what it feels like to go to a Hollywood party and realize that you are not nearly as famous as the Property Brothers, or, for that matter, those two famous corgis from Instagram. And there are stories about how, when your television gig is canceled, you can console yourself with the fact that all of that travel that made your young son so sad at least left you with a prize: platinum medallion status with your airline.

Both unflinchingly funny and deeply heartfelt, Medallion Status is a thoughtful examination of status, fame, and identity–and about the way we all deal with those moments when we realize we aren’t platinum status anymore and will have to get comfortable in that middle seat again.

Aimee Mann’s solo career has spanned several decades with several Grammy nominations, two Grammy award and the release of nine critically acclaimed solo albums, including the profoundly popular soundtrack for the film Magnolia, which garnered an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination for Best Song in 2000.  Time magazine has said, “Mann has the same skill that great tunesmiths like McCartney and Neil Young have: the knack for writing simple, beautiful, instantly engaging songs, ” while NPR voted her one of the “TOP 10 Best Living Songwriters” along with Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen. Her latest release is called “Mental Illness” which won her a Grammy for Best Folk Album. 

Earlier in her musical life, Mann fronted the band “Til Tuesday”, releasing three albums. She has also made numerous memorable cameo appearances in films such as The Big Lebowski and TV shows like Portlandia and The Daily Show. Visit her website.

 

Kim Gordon

Thursday, March 5, 2015
8:00pm

Kim Gordon
in conversation with Aimee Mann

discussing her memoir 
Girl in a Band

The Aero Theatre
1328 Montana Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90404

SORRY, EVENT IS SOLD OUT. 

$43 Includes Gordon’s memoir + Reserved Seats 
$20 General Admission 
$30 Reserved Seats 

Kim Gordon is a musician, vocalist, visual artist, record producer, video director, fashion designer, and actress. Gordon, who started out as a visual artist, rose to prominence as the bassist, guitarist, and vocalist of alternative rock band Sonic Youth, which she formed with Thurston Moore in 1981. In 1990, Gordon and Spike Jonze co-directed The Breeders video “Cannonball.” In 1993 she launched her own fashion line, X-Girl, and continues to work in fashion from time to time. She has appeared in several films, including Gus Van Sant’s Last Days, as well as episodes of Gossip Girl and Girls. In 2012, after the breakup of Sonic Youth, Gordon formed Body/Head with friend Bill Nace. In June 2015, the 303 Gallery in New York will feature a show of her work. 

In her memoir, Girl in a Band, Kim Gordon tells her story — of life as an artist, of music, marriage, motherhood, independence, and as one of the first women of rock and roll.  She opens up as never before, telling the story of her family, growing up in California in the ’60s and ’70s, her life in visual art, her move to New York City, the men in her life, her marriage, her relationship with her daughter, her music, and her band.

Gordon takes us back to the lost New York of the 1980s and ’90s that gave rise to Sonic Youth, and the Alternative revolution in popular music. The band helped build a vocabulary of music—paving the way for Nirvana, Hole, Smashing Pumpkins and many other acts. But at its core, Girl in a Band examines the route from girl to woman in uncharted territory, music, art career, what partnership means—and what happens when that identity dissolves.

Evocative and edgy, filled with the sights and sounds of a changing world and a transformative life, Girl in a Band is the fascinating chronicle of a remarkable journey and an extraordinary artist.

Aimee Mann is a singer/songwriter known for her early hits with ‘Til Tuesday and her later solo work.  She dropped out of the Berklee School of Music to join a punk band, setting off her musical career at an early age. Soon she would co-found ‘Til Tuesday, a new-wave band that found success with its first album, Voices Carry. The title track would become an MTV favorite, propelling Mann and the band into the spotlight. It wasn’t long before Mann struck out on her own, though, leaving the band behind for a solo career. Critical success but commercial weakness marked her early efforts, but Mann found rejuvenation in her soundtrack work for the film Magnolia. She took home an Oscar and a Grammy for “Save Me,” and her output began to ramp up, including such albums as The Forgotten Arm and Charmer.

 

 

 

 

LA Weekly picks both Norman Lear (March 2) and Kim Gordon (March 5) events as “14 fun things to do in LA this week.”

We are thrilled both our events next week made the LA Weekly “14 fun things to do in L.A. this week.”  Visit our website for tickets and more information on these events.  Here’s what the LA Weekly had to say about both events.

Norman LearMonday  3/2

The lovable bigot, the women’s libber, the blue-collar African-American family — the 1970s belonged to Norman Lear, thanks to All in the Family, Maude, The Jeffersons and Good Times. In his new book,Even This I Get to Experience, Lear writes about growing up in the Great Depression and fighting in World War II before he became one of the biggest sitcom producers in TV history. He helped create more than 100 shows, nine of which aired simultaneously. As part of Live Talks Los Angeles, Lear discusses his memoir with another comedic heavyweight, Emmy-winning actress Jane Lynch (Glee). (More on Lear’s impact on diversity in Hollywood on page 11.) Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica; Mon., March 2, 8 p.m.; $25-$50. livetalksla.org. —Siran Babayan

 

Thursday 3/5Kim Gordon

Singer, artist and designer Kim Gordon talks about her new book, Girl in a Band, which chronicles the history of her band, Sonic Youth, and the evolution of alternative music. Gordon traces her roots back to her childhood in L.A. with a father who taught for UCLA, plus her move to New York, the city’s no-wave scene and stints in early bands. Gordon also opens up about motherhood, ex-husband Thurston Moore and other alt-music royalty, namely — and to no one’s surprise — Courtney Love. Part of Live Talks Los Angeles, the event is moderated by singer Aimee Mann. Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica; Thu., March 5, 8 p.m.; $20-$43 (top price includes Gordon’s book). livetalksla.org. —Siran Babayan