The nephew of legendary film scorers/ conductors/arrangers Alfred and Lionel Newman, Randy Newman comes by his love affair with strings honestly. As an Oscar-winning composer, he helped bring the symphonic Hollywood score back into fashion with his oft-imitated work for Ragtime and The Natural. For his own records, on touchstones such as “Louisiana 1927” and “Sail Away,” he crafted wryly exquisite arrangements worthy of Hal Willner or even Kurt Weill. But there’s yet another reason why Newman makes such an inspired guest artist for the Nashville Symphony Orchestra this weekend. In the multilayered ironies of Newman’s most brilliant songs, the darkest strains of Americana find release in the sweetest of melodies. The freak, the fat boy, the seller of slaves; the bigot, the redneck, the wide-eyed kid viewing the mysterious Deep South through train windows and Coke-bottle lenses—all are instruments in Randy Newman’s grand symphony of disharmony. Those luscious soaring strings, the sound of common hope, bind us to them like blood. Newman performs with the NSO 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in TPAC’s Jackson Hall, 505 Deaderick St.; for ticket information, call 255-ARTS. He’ll also be the featured speaker at Blair School of Music’s Conversations Series at 2 p.m. Saturday in Blair’s Ingram Hall; the event is free, but seating is limited, so show up early.

—B.F.-W

This week’s picks by Todd Anderson, Martin Brady, Chris Davis, Steve Erickson, Bill Friskics-Warren, Heather Johnson, Jonathan Marx, Noel Murray, Jim Ridley, Jack Silverman, Angela Wibking and Ron Wynn.

Thursday, 21st

Calvin Johnson/Little Wings/The Cherry Blossoms Olympia, Wash.’s Calvin Johnson is perhaps best known for his work with Beat Happening, the flagship group on his long-running K Records. Though he’s done plenty in the decade since Beat Happening’s demise—most notably with the loose-limbed Dub Narcotic Sound System project—his new solo record, What Was Me, is very much in the spirit of Beat Happening. The tracks are stripped-down to the point of being naked, all the better for Johnson’s deep voice to convey a mix of youthful idealism and worldly wisdom. One notable difference is that his singing has a lot more control and command these days—the better to deliver the several a cappella tunes on the album. He’ll be joined at Red Rose Coffee House in Murfreesboro by label-mates Little Wings, who share Johnson’s warm, direct musical sensibility while forging their own distinct folk-pop sound. Local folk orchestra The Cherry Blossoms will lend yet more breadth and a freewheeling sense of celebratory fun to the bill; in their way, they’re as true to the K aesthetic as any band around these parts.

—J.M.

Experimental Audio Research feat. Sonic Boom/Emery Reel Pete Kember, a.k.a. Sonic Boom, first broke the sound barrier in the mid-’80s with the influential and hypnotic droning rock of Spacemen 3. When that band called it quits, Sonic Boom continued to release song-oriented records under the Spectrum moniker and channeled his more ambient recordings into E.A.R., or Experimental Audio Research. Whatever the band setting, it’s striking how Sonic Boom is able to lace candy melodies into drone structures, lending a sense of urgency and immediacy to what might otherwise be described as nod music. His music focuses disparate influences like Stockhausen and garage psych into an accessible gospel that has attracted collaborators ranging from My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields to The Silver Apples. Don’t miss the rare opportunity to see him perform at Slow Bar. Local band Emery Reel open the show with potent instrumental music in the tradition of Tortoise and The Mercury Program.

—C.D.

Suzy Bogguss She’s already proven herself a fine country vocalist, but now Bogguss is displaying her singing skills with pop and swing tunes from the pre-rock ’n’ roll era. She’ll be appearing at Cafe 123 with a strong group that includes guitarist Pat Bergeson, pianist Will Barrow, bassist Denny Bixby, drummer Fran Breen and both Chris Wilkinson and Paul Kramer on violin.

—R.W.

Faster Pussycat/Bang Tango Remember when the sleazy, junked-out metal of Guns N’ Roses seemed like a worthwhile alternative to power ballads and tuneless thrash? GNR’s coattails were long enough to net L.A. confreres Faster Pussycat a gold album and Top 40 hit (with a power ballad) in 1989, but soon grunge made them look pretty silly. Their last album was a collection of techno remixes, but I suspect their live show will mark a return to hair metal. They play the Outer Limit with Bang Tango, whose singer once participated in a Faster Pussycat side project.

—S.E.

JagStar Crazy Place is the name of the Knoxville quintet’s recent, ’Til Tuesday-ish CD, a brand of polished, aggressively commercial, faintly twangy latte-shop pop backed up by a strong live rep. If David E. Kelley does another show about single women lawyers, here’s the soundtrack. The group open for Angie Aparo at 12th & Porter.

Maura O’Connell She’ll be seen next month as a street singer in Martin Scorsese’s long-awaited Gangs of New York, but that’s hardly a substitute for seeing her live—especially in the nestling arms of the Station Inn. She performs with Sarah Siskind in a can’t-miss 9 p.m. show.

Friday, 22nd

Technicolor Cheeseburgers From Outer Space The Electric Lounge and Sharc Tank team up to present what should be one hell of an all-night party. One of the main attractions here is DJ Assault, the longtime member of Detroit’s techno underground who should appeal to dance music freaks and rap fans alike. He’s a rare performer, deftly able to merge driving electronic rhythms, a sense of gritty, edgy cool and downright nasty lyrics into an unrelenting sound worthy of his name. He’ll be joined by Freaky Flow & MC Flipside, Rick West, Sharc, Adam Wright, Daddy Bob and others. The get-down starts at 10 p.m. and goes till 6 a.m. at Club Excess & Orbit on Church Street. Tickets are cheaper if you reserve them ahead of time; contact thesharc@hotmail.com or electriclounge@hotmail.com.

—J.M.

The Bees & Joe Pisapia Bees frontman Daniel Tashian didn’t just turn the other cheek after a recent run-in with a homeless man outside a local bar; he’s upping his karmic bank account considerably by staging a benefit for the Nashville Rescue Mission in conjunction with Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. The Bees are headlining the show; they’ll be testing a new batch of crisp, mellow pop songs in addition to performing material from their yet-to-be-released CD. Opener Pisapia will play songs from his stunning Daydreams disc. Save a couple bucks off the cover charge and help the Rescue Mission by donating 10-pound cans of vegetables (or any size, for that matter), winter clothing or men’s and women’s toiletries.

—H.J.

Fall With Me Fall With Me play a pretty brutal nu-metal in which the vocals alternate between calm, spoken word and painful howl and are accompanied by machine-gunning drums and grinding guitars. They’ll be releasing Rise Phoenix Rise, their new album for locally owned Spat! Records, with a show at The End. Rounding out the bill are dharmakaya, Cab Over Pete and My Undying Love.

—T.A.

Gran Torino After a roughly three-year wait, this Knoxville soul-pop outfit follow up their happy-making 1999 album Two with a new record, The One and Only, which they’ll be celebrating with a CD release party at 12th & Porter. Gran Torino still swing on the new disc, and they show off their gift for smooth melodies in tight arrangements, but they’re also revealing a bent toward heavy, studio-manufactured funk undertones of the kind that make blued-eyed-soul acts like Jamiroquai so frustrating. Gran Torino haven’t let go of the lightness yet, and their overly busy production on The One and Only may be attributable to the long layoff; at the moment, though, a nightclub setting may be the best way to experience them.

—N.M.

Saturday, 23rd

Billie Joyce Joyce is a sultry, husky-voiced blues-rocker in the Bonnie Raitt mold, only swampier. She also has a decidedly philosophical and spiritual bent, at least judging by several of the originals on Love Tone, her new CD. The album also features a bunch of crack session players, several of whom are sure to be in Joyce’s band when she plays 9 p.m. at 3rd & Lindsley Bar & Grill.

—B.F-W.

Jefferson Street Bluesmen They’re quickly becoming a fixture on the local blues circuit, and any group whose members have backed as many national jazz and blues giants certainly deserve more attention. Their new disc should be available soon; in the meantime, you can catch the Jefferson Street Bluesmen at the latest installment of the local artists series at Jazz on White Bridge Rd. The music starts at 1 p.m.

—R.W.

ALIVE I—A Tribute to KISS The Web site promises that underneath the makeup you’ll find cats who honed their hard-rock chops performing with Eddie Money and Gary Lewis & The Playboys. In other words: You wanted a touring facsimile of the best—you got a touring facsimile of the best. The group spits fire at the Slow Bar.

Sunday, 24th

Glenn Tilbrook With Chris Difford as his gruff foil, Tilbrook and his boyish tenor made Squeeze one of Britain’s freshest and most lasting New Wave exports. He’s touring now in support of his solo CD The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook, and his last show here found him leading the entire audience into the Bluebird Cafe parking lot for a campfire rendition of “Pulling Mussels (From the Shell).” A generous and engaging live performer, Tilbrook plays a Radio Lightning live broadcast at 3rd & Lindsley with opener Debutante.

—J.R.

Dave Cloud’s Gospel Of Power Leader of the only G.O.P. you can trust, Cloud accomplishes with every show what some reputedly greater artists in any media will never achieve: He makes people feel good. Some people balk at the self-indulgence of his stream-of-consciousness monologues, his free-noise tone poems or his spontaneous comedy routines. But these are less the fruit of an out-of-control ego than evidence of a born entertainer who makes the soil where he stands a stage. Cloud performs with Gospel of Power at Springwater.

—C.D.

Dawn Oberg As frontwoman for the local group Honky-Tonk Happy Hour, Oberg dives headlong into the deep tradition of country music drinking songs. Witness the following tracks on her recently released CD: “A Pitcher’s Worth a Thousand Words,” “D-U-I-V-O-R-C-E” and the title tune, “You Drank My Backwash.” Sure, these songs are performed with tongue in cheek, but that doesn’t make them novelties. Oberg’s unvarnished voice and the late-night-at-Tootsie’s backing make it clear she’s paying highest tribute to Johnny Paycheck, Merle Haggard and other masters of the besotted lament. But her tastes and talents are much broader than that:When she plays Guido’s this week, she’ll be singing jazz. If her CD is any indication, whatever she sings, count on her to sing it honestly.

—J.M.

cicero buck Singer-songwriter Kris Wilkinson, whose band For Kate’s Sake were a mainstay on the local scene throughout the ’90s, relocated to the United Kingdom a couple years ago. She returns to town this week to perform with her new project, a collaboration with Joe Hughes, formerly of the British duo The Lover Speaks. Fans of lush, sophisticated pop won’t want to miss the pair when they share a bill with Doug Hoekstra at Blue Sky Court.

—J.M.

Monday, 25th

The Rolling Stones Keith Richards once noted that rock ’n’ roll wasn’t from the neck up, but from the waist down. Keeping that in mind, forget about their lines of neckties, their spotlight-grabbing appearances on Beverly Hills 90210 and their spotty, promoted-to-death later records, and reacquaint yourself with their incredible songbook of B-sides and non-hit album tracks spanning their nearly 40-year career. ’Cause that’s precisely what they’re playing on this tour; and that’s exactly what’s needed to personalize their arena excess to audiences watching them through binoculars or on huge closed-circuit TVs. If advance reviews are any indication, you’ll see “The World’s Greatest Rock ’n’ Roll Band” having the time of their lives and earning their reputation with the kids, instead of just having it passed down by the previous generation. They play the Gaylord Entertainment Center, where the priciest seats will cost a minimum-wage worker more than a week’s pay.

—C.D.

Tragedy Portland, Ore., punk band Tragedy have deep roots in Tennessee hardcore. Brothers Billy and Todd Burdette were members of the Memphis band His Hero Is Gone, while non-sibling member Billy Davis is a member of former local bands From Ashes Rise and Deathreat. Fans of Japanese acts like Gauze and Lipcream will love Tragedy—and likely already do. People unfamiliar with those bands, but who are fans of Bad Reputation-era Thin Lizzy will feel right at home. Tragedy play 7 p.m. at Indienet with Asschapel, Alpha Motherfuckers and Dead City.

—C.D.

Dr. Hector & The Groove Injectors This Florida-based blues unit mix driving Southern boogie with slashing slide guitar solos and soulful, wailing vocals. They return to Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar.

—R.W.

Wednesday, 27th

Billy Joe Shaver The indomitable Texas honky-tonker can make a saloon feel like church, and when he lays a belly full of fire into singing gospel, he does almost the opposite. Mixing smoldering Southern rock and closing-time country, his new album Freedom’s Child roars in the face of personal and national tragedy, summoning strength from the backing muscle of Will Kimbrough, Jamie Hartford, Dave Roe, Steve Conn, Jimmy Lester, Chris Carmichael and Keith Christopher. (He also just completed a role in the new Robert Duvall film Second Hand Lions, for which Duvall returned the favor in Shaver’s “Freedom’s Child” video.) Give thanks a day early that Billy Joe Shaver’s here and with us. And don’t miss his opener at 12th & Porter: Houston contender Hayes Carll, singing barroom laments from his Flowers and Liquor LP.

—J.R.

Kitt Lough It’s been a good year for fresh faces on the jazz scene, particularly vocalists. Lough is a fine straight jazz stylist, but she’s even more appealing and delightful as a torch singer, able to navigate the fine line between sentimentality, allure and innocence, while also conveying a song’s multiple meanings. There haven’t been many first-class torch vocalists working the jazz circuit since the ’50s, but Lough’s got a chance to rekindle interest in this neglected genre. She appears at F. Scott’s.

—R.W.

Truck Drivers Queen Featuring Dixie Wrecks From truck-stop doozy to lot-lizard floozy, hear a ho’s tale of woe from trash-talking tart Dixie Wrecks (actually a dress-wearing dude named Cowboy Keith) in a “trucking country opera” that blends risqué originals with Bakersfield classics. Best of all, s/he’s enlisted some gear-busting sorts of fellers for support, including bass player Dave Roe and BR549’s Shaw Wilson and Chris Scruggs. The show starts 8 p.m. at East Nashville’s hopping Lipstick Lounge; if the rig’s a-rockin’, please come a-knockin’.

—J.R.

Film

♦Corpus Callosum “♦Corpus Callosum is playing Nashville?!” gasped my New York buddy. Believe it. The screening of this playful feature-length experimental work by avant-garde legend Michael Snow is as much an artistic event as the current gallery exhibits devoted to John Singer Sargent, Andy Warhol and Andrew Wyeth. The difference is that you’ll stand a better chance of seeing Warhol or Wyeth again in Nashville. Snow, the Canadian jazz musician, conceptual artist and filmmaker, remains best known for his 1967 experimental film Wavelength, which consists of a single 45-minute zoom across a room. Admirers see the influence of its controlled motion everywhere, even in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. His new film is described as a playful career summation that uses digital trickery, sight gags, animation and distortion to converse between the 1950s and today. Anyone with more than a passing interest in experimental art—film, video, photography, music, electronics—should see it during its four-day run at the Belcourt, starting Sunday and sponsored by Nashville Premieres.

—J.R.

Far from Heaven Todd Haynes’ glorious multilayered melodrama recreates the lavish Technicolor palette and oppressive suburban milieu of Douglas Sirk’s peerless 1950s weepers, focusing on an emotionally starved housewife (Julianne Moore) whose cautious life is capsized by her husband’s infidelity and her own tentative romance with her black gardener (Dennis Haysbert). If you’re familiar with Sirk’s movies, especially the Jane Wyman-Rock Hudson classic All That Heaven Allows, you’ll be fascinated by the textual interplay and veiled irony of Haynes’ ’50s archetypes. If not, simply revel in the color, the sweep of Elmer Bernstein’s swoony score and Moore’s heartrending performance as a tragically decent heroine. Either way, bring a hay bale of Kleenex. The movie opens Friday at Green Hills, along with Roger Dodger.

—J.R.

Warm Water Under a Red Bridge A dejected businessman (Koji Yakusho, from Shall We Dance?) reawakens to life’s pleasures, thanks to a restorative young woman (Misa Shimizu) whose G-spot unleashes a literal gusher. This sex comedy constitutes another late-career surprise from 76-year-old Japanese master Shohei Imamura, in the seriocomic vein of his The Eel and Dr. Akagi. It screens through Thursday at Sarratt, sponsored by Nashville Premieres.

—J.R.

La Cienaga The cloud surrounding the forced closing of the Belcourt’s Waiting for Godot has a silver lining for moviegoers: To fill the sudden gap in its programming, the theater is showing Lucretia Martel’s acclaimed drama La Ciénaga, a study of sexual tension and unrest in a swampy, decaying Argentine mansion. It runs through Saturday afternoon; that night will be devoted to a 7:30 p.m. panel discussion about Waiting for Godot’s closing. For information, call 846-3150.

—J.R.

90 Miles The Latin American Cinema Series continues its monthly screenings at the Belcourt with Juan Carlos Zaldivar’s documentary, a personal examination of his relocated Cuban family’s lingering ties to their homeland. The film screens 7 p.m. Thursday, with a discussion and public forum to follow.

—J.R.

Friday After Next Craig (Ice Cube) and Day-Day (Mike Epps) prepare to put the pimp hand on the slimy Santa who stole their rent money and Christmas presents. Still rolling after three Fridays, the latest cube of ’Cube starts (when else?) Friday. Also opening at local theaters: The Emperor’s Club with Kevin Kline.

—J.R.

Die Another Day Agent 007 (Pierce Brosnan) leaves a trail of destruction from Iceland to North Korea in his battle against a globe-trotting traitor and his lethal henchman. Halle Berry plays his love interest Jinx, who is decidedly not one. Lee Tamahori (Once Were Warriors) directed the latest extension of the Bond franchise, now entering its fifth decade; the movie opens Friday everywhere that has theaters.

—J.R.

Wild at Heart Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern wander wide-eyed through the hellish psycho-noir universe of David Lynch’s 1990 scuzzfest. Watkins Film School screens it on video 7 p.m. Friday, free to the public.

—J.R.

DVD/Video

Ciao! Manhattan A child of privilege turned Warhol superstar and eventual glamorama casualty, Edie Sedgwick died in 1971 as this end-of-mod artifact was being completed. When released in 1972, it solidified the cult of Edie with its junkie-chic star power, thinly veiled jet-set gossip and campy party games. A 30th-anniversary DVD contains plentiful extras, including an essay and commentary by co-director David Weisman, interviews and never-before-seen footage of Edie from the film’s lengthy shoot. Look for it at www.plexifilm.com.

—J.R.

Theater

Charlotte’s Web The excellent Nashville Children’s Theatre presents Joseph Robinette’s adaptation of the E.B. White tale of a baby pig, a wise spider and their animal friends. Director René Copeland’s talented cast features Brandon Boyd, Rona Carter, Joe Keenan, Jenny Littleton and others. Performed at the NCT’s Hill Theatre, Nov. 24 through Dec. 15, with a reprise engagement Jan. 13-24. NCT will also celebrate its Fourth Annual Grand Day on Nov. 25, with this year’s fund-raising events offered in recognition of the company’s founder, the Junior League of Nashville. A performance of Charlotte’s Web precedes a reception and various children’s activities. For information, phone 254-9103.

—M.B.

A Stoop on Orchard Street Former L.A. television producer and advertising executive Jay Kholos is the author of this original musical based on immigrant life in New York’s Lower East Side around the turn of the 20th century. With veteran actor/comic Jack Carter on board in a starring role, Nashville resident Kholos debuts his show locally along the way to a hoped-for Broadway engagement. The three world-premiere performances are Nov. 23 and 24 in the Bernard Frank Pargh Theater at the Gordon Jewish Community Center. Besides Carter, there are some recognizable local names in the cast, including Lon Gary, Anne Tonelson and Kaine Riggan. Ticket information is available at www.nashvillejcc.org or 356-7170.

—M.B.

PMS—It’s a Man Thang For women, it’s an occasional problem, but this brand of PMS—power, money, sex—poses a lifelong challenge for men. Inspired by the self-help teachings of Bishop T.D. Jakes, Laterras R. Whitfield’s play reveals the behind-the-scenes lives of men dealing with the pain, deceit, fears, sorrows and uncontrollable lust they encounter on a daily basis. Accordingly, only God can offer the cure. Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter/producer Montell Jordan is the star, along with balladeer Kenny Lattimore, gospel artist Keith (“Wonderboy”) Johnson and actor Alankeith Caldwell. The production comes to Nashville as part of a limited regional run. Two shows, at 3 and 7:30 p.m., will be presented on Nov. 24 at TPAC’s Jackson Hall. Call Ticketmaster at 255-9600 for tickets.

—M.B.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular Christmastime in Nashville means some serious celebrating at Gaylord Opryland, where, among other things, the New York Radio City Music Hall Rockettes offer their singular style of hoofing as a part of the “Country Christmas” holiday extravaganza. The high-kicking ladies with great gams perform on the Grand Ole Opry House stage Nov. 21 through Dec. 29. For tickets, phone 458-1400.

—M.B.

A Dickens of a Christmas Carol Boiler Room Theatre’s G-rated spoof of the Dickens classic features a cast that includes Lane Wright, Marc Mazzone, Douglas Goodman, Sondra Morton-Chaffin and Elizabeth Eakin. Laura Green is the director, with original music by Jamey Green and costumes by Erin Parker. The show runs Nov. 22 through Dec. 21 at The Factory at Franklin. For tickets, visit www.BoilerRoomTheatre.com or call 794-7744.

—M.B.

A Tru Holiday David Alford’s superb one-man performance of Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory,” backed by guitarist Paul Carroll Binkley, will be seen only once in Nashville this season: as a gift for subscribers to the Mockingbird Public Theatre. Your only other chance to catch this seasonal favorite is 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Murfreesboro, at a benefit for the Woman’s Club, 221 E. College St. The $50 tickets include a champagne reception. For more information, call 893-5822.

—J.R.

The Boxcar Children Under the direction of Julie Alexander, Lakewood Theatre Company in Old Hickory presents the Tennessee premiere of this stage play based on Gertrude Chandler Warner’s beloved books concerning four adventurous orphans who take up residence in a train boxcar and proceed to solve mysteries. The production, based on a script adapted by Seattle’s Children’s Repertory Company, offers a family-friendly alternative to holiday-oriented programming. Performed weekends, Nov. 23 through Dec. 9; for tickets, phone 874-0934.

—M.B.

Auntie Grizelda’s Last Christmas Dinner/Christmas With the Stars Two new mystery dinner-theater scripts from writer-producer Glen Weiss offer holiday-inspired twists on more or less familiar setups. The first involves a wealthy eccentric widow who hosts Christmas Eve dinner for family and friends; the second is a takeoff on Sunset Boulevard, featuring “Norma Destined.” The shows run Nov. 22-Dec. 30 at Gaylord Opryland Hotel’s Magnolia Room. Call 391-2345 for ticket and scheduling information.

—M.B.

Art

Rule of Thirds The Beehive Design Collective, a group of Maine-based artists/activists currently on a national speaking tour, makes a stop at this gallery, located just off Belmont Boulevard at 1507 Bernard Ave. The collective creates non-copyrighted posters, banners and other graphics for free distribution as a means of educating people about political and social issues. Eloquent storytellers, members of the group plan to speak on U.S. foreign policy in Colombia, using their artwork as a springboard for discussion. The buzz gets started at 6 p.m. Nov. 23. For information, call 298-3515.

—A.W.

Frist Center for the Visual Arts The Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam possesses one of the most outstanding collections of old master drawings in the world. Its rich collection of works by 17th century Flemish masters in particular reflects an era when drawings fulfilled various functions in the creation and production of finished works of art, often becoming collectible works in and of themselves. More than 100 works from the museum are included in “Rubens, Jordaens, Van Dyck & Their Circle,” opening Nov. 26 at the Frist. Highlights are 29 drawings by Peter Paul Rubens, 19 pieces by Rubens’ most successful student Anthony Van Dyck, and 20 works by Jacob Jordaens, who trained in Van Dyck’s studio and succeeded Rubens and Van Dyck as the leading painter in Antwerp. Works from artists influenced by these masters, such as Jan Wildens, Pieter Bout and Adriaen van Stalbempt, round out the show.

—A.W.

Cumberland Gallery Size matters, as the annual “Small Packages” holiday show at this Green Hills gallery proves. With 300 works by 60 of the best contemporary artists around, the only thing small about the show is the size of each work—no bigger than 15 inches in any direction. You’ll find exquisite oil paintings, drawings, photographs, watercolors and sculpture, many priced far lower that you might expect for works by artists like Marilyn Murphy, Carol Anthony, Jack Spencer and John Baeder. Join some of the artists at the opening reception, 6-8 p.m. Nov. 23. See the story on p. 43.

—A.W.

Reading & Writing

Sandra Hale Schulman Schulman’s From Kokopellis to Electric Warriors: The Native American Culture of Music examines the evolution of Native American musics as they have incorporated the electrified elements of rock ’n’ roll; the book also takes a look at the influence musicians of Native American heritage—among them Wayne Newton, Robbie Robertson and Loretta Lynn—have had on mainstream popular music. But the most illuminating chapters deal with lesser-known artists: R. Carlos Nakai, Bill Miller, Tiger Tiger and Blackfire, to name a few. Miller, one of the most prominent figures on the contemporary Native American music scene, will be on hand to perform and display his artwork when TAG Art Gallery hosts a book release party for Schulman, 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, where attendees will also be able to sample frybread and other Native American foods.

—J.S.

Comedy

Something Funny 2: Electric Boogaloo NashvilleStandup.com, the city’s leading online resource for comedy, is the sponsor of this showcase of Nashville comics. Mike Luckett serves as host, with a talent lineup that features stand-ups Dave Young; Chad Riden; Jesse Perry, founder of the sketch-comedy site MangyDog.com; and Carla Rhodes, who has entertained crowds at home and abroad with her charming mixture of humor, music and “rock ’n’ roll ventriloquism.” The show gets started 9 p.m. Sat., Nov. 23, at Bongo After Hours Theatre. Admission is $5, $3 with a student ID. Visit www.NashvilleStandup.com or call 218-5583 for information.

—M.B.