Grammy Museum taps Eleni Mandell, Billy Bob Thornton for April events

Downtown's 4-month-old Grammy Museum is doing its part to get guests hip to Eleni Mandell's recent album, "Artificial Fire." The local chanteuse will bring her jazz-stoked pop songs to the institution April 14, engaging in a Q&A with museum chief curator Ken Viste before the performance. Tickets are $15 and come bundled, Prince-style, with a CD (2007's live effort "Voxhall and WUK").  

Mandell, long a local favorite, will perform in the museum's pristine 200-seat theater, which recently has played host to the likes of Tom Morello, Nas and Annie Lennox, among others. "Artificial Fire" sees Mandell exploring the pop songbook with a deft, vintage flair. "I got tired of the weepy, dark songs," she recently told The Times.

Next week, don't-call-him-an-actor Billy Bob Thornton and his roots-rockin' bar band the Boxmasters will visit the museum, The group will perform songs from its recently released "Modbilly," as well as share stories behind the songs. A $10 donation is suggested. The act will field questions from the audience. It is unknown at this time whether Thornton will distribute a list of acceptable topics.

-- Todd Martens

Eleni Mandell, April 14 at the Grammy Museum, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. Tickets are $15, and can be purchased via Ticketmaster or by calling (213) 480-3232. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters, April 23 at the Grammy Museum. A donation of $10 is suggested. Call (213) 765-6830 to reserve a seat. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Photo: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times