Thursday's best bets: musician Bob Mould, Push at Beauty Bar

MUSIC - Bob Mould
For anyone who pegged Bob Mould a hardcore and loud-and-fast-rules adherent, his post–Hüsker Dü and Sugar career has been nothing but surprising. There have been arty solo albums, electronic excursions, a bear idol status and DJ sets. Now Mould adds “author” to the list with the release of his autobiography, See a Little Light: The Trail of Rage and Melody. Tonight is being billed as “An Evening of Reading and Music,” which means passages from the book accompanied by a performance of a chronologically appropriate soundtrack. Mercury Theater, 8pm, $25, all ages.

ART & DESIGN - "The World As Text: A Summer Reading Room"
Guest curators including Temporary Services and Buzz Spector select more than 75 contemporary artists' books, zines, exhibition catalogs and alternative publications for this "reading room," which opens tonight. A related exhibition highlights bookish artists such as Edie Fake, Joseph Grigely and Heidi Norton. Center for Book and Paper Arts (Columbia College, 1104 S Wabash Ave, 312-369-6631, bookandpaper.org). 5–8pm. FREE.

DANCE - Dance Improvisation Fest: Duet with Piece of String
See NYC dance maker Bebe Miller perform a solo seeding her company's current work-in-progress, History, inspired by a decade of work. Rebecca Bryant, Carly Czach, Suzy Grant, Don Nichols and Donnell Williams will also perform, along with the quintet comprising Synapse Arts' fierce Factor Ricochet ensemble: Rachel Damon, Adriana Durant, Marc Macaranas, Michael Rioux and Ni'Ja Whitson. Links Hall (3435 N Sheffield Ave, 773-281-0824, linkshall.org). 8pm; $20, students $12.

FILM - Film Socialisme
Jean-Luc Godard doesn’t make many movies any more, and this is your last chance to catch what some have speculated may be his last feature, a confounding three-part essay on civilization and society. Beware: Godard has put the subtitles in what he calls “Navajo English,” a pidgin dialect (at best) that translates only select words. Music Box (3733 N Southport Ave). $9.25. $9.25, first show $8.25, Mondays $5.

MUSIC - Rudresh Mahanthappa's Indo-Pak Coalition
Many artists have used jazz to take on issues of cultural identity, but few have done it as thoroughly as Indian-American altoist Rudresh Mahanthappa. His Indo-Pak Coalition's 2008 album, Apti, showcases the leader's biting tone, lavalike improvisational flow and penchant for proggy grooves. Working with him at this four-night run are guitarist Rez Abbasi and percussionist Dan Weiss. Jazz Showcase; 8pm, 10pm; $20–$25.

NIGHTLIFE - Push
A weekly Tuesday at LOKaL, the Push crew brings its left-field slant on hip-hop and electronic music to this musical salon on the monthly. This month, onetime Chicagoan and all-time purveyor of jittery beats that sway from glitch-hop to ghetto-tech to global bass music, DJ C joins the Push party to drop heaters from his new Mashit Records LP, Umami. Fellow beat purveyors Lokua, Vapor Eyes and Cutz on Cuts' Shazam Bangles also spin. Beauty Bar. 10pm, FREE.