Los Angeles ? A sort of chemistry-set experiment between music and literature resulted in a rare fusion of the band They Might Be Giants with the work of smart-set scribe Dave Eggers.

The band performed alongside a reading by Eggers, editor of McSweeney’s literary magazine and author of the droll memoir “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius,” at the University of California, Los Angeles.

They Might Be Giants

The writer and musicians previously collaborated on a 2001 edition of the magazine that included a music CD to accompany the stories, poems and pictures.

Sarah Vowell, a contributor to the public radio show “This American Life,” and novelist Zadie Smith, author of “White Teeth,” also performed readings during the three-hour show.

They Might Be Giants, led by keyboardist and accordion player John Linnell and guitarist John Flansburgh, played backup to the readings, then showcased their own songs inspired by each author’s work.

A documentary about the band, “Gigantic: A Tale of Two Johns,” is set to open May 30 in Washington and June 20 in Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago.