Thursday Happenings

Being Jean-Claude

-- JCVD is a metafictional exercise in which Jean-Claude van Damme plays himself, trapped in a bank heist hostage situation. Director Mabrouk El Mechri draws equally from Jean-Luc Godard and Spike Jonez (with a touch of Werner Herzog) as van Damme has to face the misdeeds, real and fictional, of his own tumultuous life. Opens today. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. [More information]

Indie Rock

-- Willfully anachronistic band the Decemberists might think that New York is part of New England, but some folks around here might forgive them in the name of indie rock. Orpheum Theatre, 1 Hamilton Pl., 7:30 p.m. $30.

Dancing Hipsters

-- In 2002, Benny Benassi proved that Electroclash didn't have to come from New York or Detroit. His tune "Satisfaction," which fused the cold menace of ADULT. with the tongue-in-cheek bounce of Italo disco, established his reputation as a hitmaker. Also renowned behind the wheels of steel, he'll be moving the dancefloor tonight in Boston. The Roxy, 279 Tremont St., 11 p.m. $15/$30.

-- Spank Rock DJ Chris Devlin and DJ Knife bring Baltimore club, disco, hip hop, and home cooked mash-ups to JP with their regular Shake Em Down party. Tonight, they've invited their friends the Philadelphyinz, a Brooklyn/Philly DJ and production duo. Drop by to congratulate them on their baseball team. Milky Way Lounge, 403 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, 9 p.m. Free.