August 2022 events calendar for Los Angeles

Play “Q” for the day at this assembly of some of the most famous gadget-adorned vehicles to appear in 007 films. The Petersen has put together a collection of 30 cars, motorcycles, boats, submarines, helicopters and scale filming models of aircraft from six decades of James Bond movies. Highlights include the 1977 Lotus Esprit S1 Submarine from The Spy Who Loved Me, a 1999 BMW Z8 from The World Is Not Enough and the 2019 Aston Martin DB10 from Spectre.

Conceptually challenging yet red carpet-approved, the late Alexander McQueen’s designs were technically exquisite. Here, LACMA looks to the myriad inspirations behind the dressmaking with a display of McQueen garments alongside inspirational artwork from the museum’s own collection.

Feeling like you’ve outgrown Coachella and sleepaway camp vibes? Then how about something closer to home with the Strokes, LCD Soundsystem and a reunited Le Tigre? This Ain’t No Picnic takes its name from one of promoter Goldenvoice’s first festivals, held in Irvine in 1999, but for a more recent comparison, the lineup has very strong FYF vibes. Like that now-defunct fest, you’ll find a genre-spanning mix of on-the-horizon acts and familiar names, including Beach House, Phoebe Bridgers, Earl Sweatshirt, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Four Tet and Floating Points, some longtime local faves like the Descendents and Sparks, and ASMR trailblazers the Ying Yang Twins. The fest is set for the pleasant grounds of Brookside at the Rose Bowl on August 27 and 28, a not-quite-as-pleasant period in Pasadena’s often blistering summertime. Presale starts Thursday, December 9 at 10am, with any remaining tickets available later that day at 2pm. Courtesy Goldenvoice

The California African American Museum unpacks the romanticism behind Buffalo Soldiers, regiments of Black soldiers who served on the Western frontier in the late 19th century. Through artifacts, audio interviews, photographs, uniforms and newspapers, the museum will explore how both their personal and in-uniform lives shaped California during a time of government-sanctioned racial segregation—and confronts their role in war and violence against indigenous populations.

The Brandon Flowers–led, synth-happy Vegas quartet re-emerge with a long-awaited (by some) new album, Pressure Machine. Will it be the second coming of “Mr. Brightside”? Probably not. But the band regularly delivers a full-bodied live performance and will surely toss in a few Hot Fuss classics.

After an intimate show in Agoura Hills and then an arena-sized one at the Forum, Dave Grohl and co. are playing for an even bigger crowd with a pair of dates at the Banc of California Stadium. Expect a pretty fantastic show; we caught the band at Vax Live, where they tackled about a half-dozen fan-favorite songs, and found them to be an energetic highlight.