If you don’t have plans tonight, we’ve got a killer option for you – literally. Songs from the off-kilter, gun-toting, genre-hopping movie soundtracks of director Quentin Tarantino are being brought to life at Newtown’s The Vanguard.

Like the soundtracks themselves, the event will be a rollercoaster ride through musical genres and songs from films including Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill and Death Proof. The stellar line-up of 15 musos cherry picks from some of Sydney’s hottest contemporary rock, blues and cabaret outfits: Mikelangelo (Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentleman), Johnny Wishbone (The Snowdroppers), Azzy T (Zombie Ghost Train) and Kirra Puru (Kirra Puru and The Bruise).

The Vanguard also happens to be in the midst of a serious indie makeover. Not long ago, the live music venue was starting to feel like a retirement home for old-school tribute bands, but new blood is giving the room its mojo back.

“Basically, we are introducing smaller obscure stuff,” says manager Russall S. Beattie. “There is a lot of mainstream entertainment in Sydney, then there is the underground – we are trying to be a bridge in between.”

If there is a contemporary figure that straddles the indie/mainstream divide, it’s Tarantino, a director with a legendary love of music. He’s had a deft ability to create soundtracks that develop a similar cultish following to their films, tapping into everything from soul to funk, surf guitar, rockabilly and more.

Highlights include the Puru’s take on “Woo Hoo”, made famous by all-female Japanese garage rock trio, the 5.6.7.8’s, in Kill Bill: Vol. 1; and Mikelangelo’s retake of Urge Overkill‘s “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” from Pulp Fiction.

You can kind of imagine Tarantino would approve of event’s sentiment: his films contain musical and cinematic references to the creative stylings of other filmmakers and musicians, and many songs are covers of covers. “People always say he steals his ideas and he does, but he fully acknowledges it,” says Beattie, “and whether you love him or hate him, you can’t deny that Tarantino is a force to be reckoned with.”

Where: The Vanguard, 42 King St, Newtown
When: Thu 19 May | 6:30pm
Price: $20
Bookings: thevanguard.com.au or (02) 9550 3666