Our Critics' Picks

THURSDAY1/31

Music

ASYLUM STREET SPANKERS There’ll never be a time when the serious nonsense dished up by this eight-person vaudeville troupe from Austin, Texas, won’t be needed. The hard-touring group debuted What? And Give Up Show Biz?, a musical revue, in New York City in January. The New YorkTimes called the show a cross between Marx Bros. and John Belushi. The Spankers are also expanding into the ever-growing field of children’s music with the recent release Mommy Says No! When the kids grow up, the parents ween them onto the band’s more adult material, starting with the classic roll call anthem, “Beer.” 7 p.m. at 3rd & Lindsley —WERNER TRIESCHMANN

Dance Music

FUNKY GOOD TIME A wise man once said “I got a thing, you got a thing—everybody’s got a thing.” Well, if classic funk over classy cocktails is your thing, then this is your jam. The last Thursday of every month, Bound’ry hosts a round-robin soul explosion with your favorite DJs’ favorite DJs (Coolout, D-Funk, Geezus, Bowls and Radski) playing short sets of crate-digging classics. Consider this a warm-up for the Sharon Jones show on Saturday—get loose, get limber and get down. 9 p.m. at Bound’ry —SEAN L. MALONEY

Hebrews & Hillbillies

SHALOM Y’ALL In honor of its exhibit Bagels & Barbecue: The Jewish Experience in Tennessee (through Feb. 3), the Tennessee State Museum hosts a screening of Brian Bain’s award-winning documentary, in which the filmmaker explores his roots as a third-generation Southern Jew. Stay for bagels and lox, kosher cakes and popcorn. The event is free with limited seating; to RSVP, call 741-9255. 6-8:30 p.m. at Tennessee State Museum —JIMRIDLEY

Theater

THE GOAT OR, WHO IS SYLVIA? By staging the Nashville premiere of Edward Albee’s controversial 2002 Tony Award winner, Tennessee Rep continues with its plan to present quality small-cast fare with high-art possibilities—and thus meet the precipitous fiscal demands of professional Equity theater. Director Rene Copeland’s ensemble features well-respected players—Matthew Carlton, Ruth Cordell, Henry Haggard—and together they confront Albee’s tale of a married, middle-aged architect whose life crumbles when he falls in love...with a goat. During a talk at Vanderbilt in late 2007, Albee, master of absurd realism, decried contemporary theater—it’s not as daring as it once was. Yet there’s plenty of room today for this stimulating rumination on bestiality and civilized society. Theatergoers under the age of 18 will not be admitted. Jan. 31-Feb. 16 in TPAC’s JohnsonTheater —MARTIN BRADY

Theater

UNDERWEAR! THE MUSICAL This musical, sponsored by MTSU’s theater department, is touted as witty and irreverent, poignant and hilarious—and if it’s even one or two of those, the kids might be on to something. The story is set in the not-so-distant future: Piper Smallton (raised in a ’50s-style commune) leaves her poodle-skirted past to pursue a career in the fashion industry. The naive young lady encounters a brave new world where food comes in pill form, no one under 35 uses a last name and models are forbidden to read. Our heroine sets out to teach everyone their ABCs, while foiling the evil plans of her conniving boss, Patricia Pezon, who hopes to take over the world with mind-controlling underwear called the Erectric 3000. The score is rather Rent-ish, with a solid dash of pop empowerment, a little Weill and some ’50s rock thrown in for seasoning. For information, visit underwearthemusical.com. Jan. 31 & Feb. 1-2 in MTSU’s Tucker Theatre —MARTIN BRADY

Comedy

BRIAN POSEHNThere aren’t that many out there in the indie landscape willing to shout it loud and shout it proud: “ I LOVE METAL!” The Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle is one, and comedian Brian Posehn is certainly another. This blond, balding, bespectacled, self-proclaimed nerd—and member of the Comedians of Comedy crew—has recently made us giggle as one half of the dysfunctional gay stoner duo on The SarahSilverman Program. Just don’t make him try Tab. Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at Zanies —LEE STABERT

FRIDAY2/1

Tour of Duty

KRISTY KRUGER Singer-songwriter Kristy Kruger’s brother was killed in Iraq, after only one day stationed in Baghdad. Since then, she has embarked on her own tour of duty, attempting to perform a concert in his honor in each of the 50 states, and Tennessee is the 18th. Proceeds from the dates benefit Fisher House, which cares for wounded veterans. For information on Kruger’s project, visit kristykruger.com. 8 p.m. at Christopher’s Pizza —LEE STABERT

Music

THE SELMANAIRES Atlanta quartet The Selmanaires’ new album The Air Salesmen is filled with the kind of geeky, ultra-nerd reference points that make record-store clerks giddy. It inspires eye-rolling diatribes of collector-babble, the kind rife with flowery phrases such as “psychedelic afro-motor punk” and “Eno-influenced disco dub.” Oddly enough, it also has the sing-along choruses and hip-shaking rhythms that make normal, rational people actually give a shit—think The Dirtbombs’ King’s Led Hat. And Music City is in for a double dose this weekend: The Selmanaires perform at The Basement’s anniversary party on Friday night, followed by an afternoon in-store on Saturday. 8 p.m. at The Basement; 4 p.m.Saturday at Grimey’s. For more on The Basement’s anniversary show, see the story on p. 58. —SEAN L. MALONEY