MUSIC: It's the battle of the surf-rock Santas tonight. First, Santa Cruz band Machete Fight take the stage. (Golldarn hippies!) Then, Santa Barbara's BandPax takes the stage. (Damn yuppies!) The divine DJ Vin Sol spins after the show from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. (21+)

9 p.m. // 330 Ritch (At Bryant) // $5 before 11:30 p.m., $10 after 11:30 p.m.

POETRY: Other Words San Francisco International Poetry Festival starts tonight. Tonight's readings: i Li (Sweden), Ingvild Burkey (Norway), Michel Abdollahi (Germany), Genny Lim (Poetry Center), and Fabiano Alborghetti (Switzerland/Italy) at

7:30 p.m. // Unitarian Center (1187 Franklin Street)

FILM: While it's no longer screening in any mainstream theaters, Mission Mission's Allan Hough's favorite film, WALL-E, screens tonight in the Upper Haight.

7:15 p., 9:25 // Red Vic (1727 Haight Street) // $8.50

Image: twink from Machete Fight