Picks of the Week

The path of the Gin Blossoms wasn’t exactly strewn with fairy dust and rose petals. They formed in the late ‘80s, navigated some label trouble, hit the charts with some well-crafted pop songs in the early ‘90s, reeled from the suicide of their depressive founder in 1993 (he had left the band a couple of years prior), picked themselves back up and churned out a few more hits, broke up, formed other bands, then reunited - hesitantly at first, and now full bore. For as silky and melodic as their sound is, these guys have been through a couple of serious band ringers. You have to respect the resiliency - and whatever Pershing Square throws at them Aug. 20, they’ll handle with aplomb. Sugarwall opens Pershing Square’s final free Wednesday night concert of the summer at 8 p.m. 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org.

Summer is the season of sun, baseball and, depending on your copy machine and fetching-Starbucks-for-the-office acumen, internships. But not all interns go unappreciated. On Aug. 18 at 7:30 p.m., the Downtown-based media arts center Visual Communications’ summer interns - there is a trio of them - present a one-off summer film screening they’ve curated called OMG!!! 0mg of MSG! The interns (Pam Patipanavat, Melissa Chow and Will Khem) have chosen 11 shorts from VC’s annual film festival that reflect life experiences and perspectives from a uniquely Asian Pacific American point of view - a Filipino DJ, a student taking a Mandarin class at Los Angeles Community College and a comedian who trades in South Asian stereotypes among them. David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso St., vconline.org.

The eighth annual Senior Talent Show is on at Angelus Plaza Aug. 22 from 2-4 p.m., and as a veteran spectator of several, I will tell you that there are few two-hour segments that are more fun. Contestants, who do not have to be residents of the affordable housing community (but do have to be over the age of 55) showcase skills such as standup comedy, singing, magic, tap dancing and sax playing. And despite the venue, it’s not an easy room. Angelus’ lively audience members will chat (or sleep) through performances if they’re bored, or proffer lively standing ovations if they’re pleased. And since everyone is competing for $1,500 in prizes, the competition is fierce. I’ve seen synchronized dance routines so good, and comedy so bad, I’ve nearly been moved to tears. Open to the public and free. 255 S. Hill St., (213) 623-4352, ext. 317.

Speaking of bands that broke in the early ‘90s, the Dave Matthews Band comes to Staples Center Aug. 19-20. In that imaginary pantheon of jam bands - where the likes of the Grateful Dead, Phish and Widespread Panic expand their consciousness and trade tie-dye - DMB is firmly ensconced. The band has remained relevant for so long it’s loved equally by college kids today and by the grown-ups who were in college back when frozen yogurt was popular the first time around. Shows start early (7 p.m.), both because the soul funk outfit The Dynamites open and because Dave and his boys are known for generously long shows. 1111 Figueroa St., (213) 480-3232 or staplescenter.com.

Things are going green on Sunday, Aug. 17, when the Downtown Film Festival hosts a day of free events celebrating urban environmentalism. From noon-10 p.m. on Grand Avenue (between Second and Fourth streets) and Cal Plaza, there will be an organic food court, the piano-driven Gabe Dixon Band, a one-off farmers market, cooking demonstrations and panel discussions about urban parks (moderated by Downtown News reporter Anna Scott), the slow food movement, electric cars and green collar jobs (moderated by Councilwoman Jan Perry). In MOCA’s auditorium, a range of green documentaries will screen between noon and 4 p.m. Booths will display things like green crafts, native plants from the Theodore Payne Foundation and a bicycle rodeo and repair. Once the sun goes down, the movie activity moves outside, with an 8:30 screening of the documentary Sundance recently smiled upon, Flow (For Love of Water) (shown here). Journalist Irena Salina and former KPFK manager Steven Starr teamed up in this exploration of the world’s water woes. Cal Plaza, 300-350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 221-7685 or dffla.com.