THURS/1.28
[SONNY BOY BLUES]
DUWAYNE BURNSIDE
Being the singer-guitarist son of famed Mississippi hill-country bluesman R.L. Burnside comes with baggage. After all, the late house-shaker was the inspiration for a burgeoning underground "Deep Blues" scene that draws on his dirty, droning sound. But Duwayne Burnside sweeps expectations aside with his own distinctive six-string style, blending the trilling ring of B.B. King's vibrato, down-home funk, blues-rock wailing and, yes, his daddy's hypno-boogie. Duwayne has stayed closed to home since his 2001-2004 stint in the North Mississippi All Stars and the release of his last studio album Under Pressure in 2005, so his visit to Nashville — not exactly a hot stop for traveling blues bands — is a rare venture. He's paired with local quintet The Delta Saints, who aspire to a mix of the Magnolia State's blues with Southern-fried boogie and rock. 9 p.m. at Exit/In — TED DROZDOWSKI
[WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE WE DIDN'T HAVE ROBOTS TO MAKE OUR DUB]
DJ STUNNA
While more than half this city's hoodie and hi-top population might disagree with us, we're just gonna come out and say it: Drum 'n' bass is still waaaay cooler than its half-speed, half-wit cousin dubstep. Sure, the genres happen to be on opposite sides of the same robo-reggae coin, but if we were forced to choose, we would definitely pick the sound with more pep in its step. Call us old-fashioned, but we're not entirely into being lethargic on the dance floor. Chicago's DJ Stunna makes exactly the kind of funky, jazzy drum 'n' bass we need to get our aging tickers pumping full of blood — you know, so we have enough energy to tell those damn dubstep kids to get off our lawn. Chi-town's freshest is joined by Music City's own Squake, Legion and Chromatiq. 9 p.m. at Mai — SEAN L. MALONEY
[Dionysian Mysteries]
Bacchanalian Society Wine Tasting
Brown-bagging takes on a whole new meaning at this wine tasting benefiting the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Each team of up to three tasters will bring three bottles of an organic red wine. Two bottles will be opened and wrapped to conceal the labels, while one bottle will be added to the prize booty. A boozy bunch will sip and mingle in TPAC's main lobby, casting votes for their favorite and least favorite wines. If your varietal gets the most nods, you'll take home the unopened stash. Registration begins at 7:30. Tickets must be purchased in advance. $15 per person. Bacchsociety.com — CARRINGTON FOX
[ANOTHER GREEN WORLD]
TOM GREEN
Overexposure is a bitch. Just ask Tom Green. It seems like only yesterday the fearless funnyman had a ubiquitous presence terrorizing his own parents on MTV, getting millions of dollars thrown at him to direct a feature film, shamelessly airing the removal of one of his testicles on national television and shacking up with Drew Barrymore. Of course, a star that shined so brightly was destined to burn out by decade's end. Rising to household-name status created a problem for Green, whose shtick was predicated on pranking hapless victims, and Green-fatigue inevitably took its toll. While it seemed that even Tom Green got tired of Tom Green, it's important to remember how he made the world safe for a range of comedic pranksters — from the Jackass crew to Sacha Baron Cohen — and his much-maligned 2001 box-office disaster Freddy Got Fingered is a misunderstood masterwork of Tony Clifton proportions. The film swept the 2001 Golden Raspberry awards and critics crucified Green — claiming he wasn't funny when perpetrating his shenanigans on fictional characters — oblivious to the fact that, this time, they were the butt of the joke. A jump back into stand-up comedy — which he started at 15 — sees Green's career comes full-circle. Jan. 28-31 at Zanies & mdash; ADAM GOLD
[MINDFUL THINGS]
PROOF: A FINE LINE BETWEEN GENIUS AND MADNESS
David Auburn's Proof opens at Tennessee Repertory Theatre on Feb. 6, the company's second mounting of the play within seven years. Proof is a Pulitzer and Tony award-winning work, so its champions are many. It all has to do with Auburn's deft approach to the sensitive subject of family madness, which he makes accessible chiefly through credible characters, thoughtful dialogue and a richly sympathetic point of view. But before the play hits the boards at TPAC's Johnson Theater, theatergoers interested in a more in-depth view of the theme might be intrigued by this discussion program featuring the playwright, Dr. Stephan Heckers (chairman of psychiatry and professor of radiology at Vanderbilt) and Dr. Bob Vero (CEO of behavioral health provider Centerstone of Tennessee). Moderating the panel will be Kate Daniels, associate director of Vandy's MFA Writing Program. Scenes from the upcoming production will be presented, along with commentary from director René D. Copeland. The event is free, but reservations are required (244-4878). 6-8 p.m., Jan. 28 at Vanderbilt's Wilson Hall Auditorium (Room 103), Vanderbilt University MARTIN BRADY
[AMPED-UP ECLECTICS]
GOV'T MULE
For old-school, bloody-knuckled guitar-slinging, it's hard to beat Warren Haynes. He's a jam-rock MVP thanks to his membership in The Allman Brothers, the Dead and his main gig fronting retro-nuevo expansionists Gov't Mule. Haynes is leading the Mule to town behind By a Thread, a new album that loudly celebrates the group's 15 years by romping through every style they've explored: Leadbelly-informed blues, blustery Texas blasting, classic rock, reggae, Memphis soul and psychedelic mayhem — all linked by Haynes' smoky vocals and relentlessly brawny six-string tone. Although the album's 11 tunes are all original, in concert Gov't Mule is as likely to dish out scalding versions of Santana, Sly Stone, Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix chestnuts as new entries — like the Cream-inspired "Inside Outside Woman Blues #3," for instance. 7:30 p.m. at the Ryman — TED DROZDOWSKI
FRI/1.29
[OLD SCHOOL]
HEROES: MORTALS AND MYTHS IN ANCIENT GREECE
Including art and objects dating back as far as the sixth century B.C., this latest exhibit at the Frist Center examines our contemporary understanding of what it means to be a hero through the lens of the culture that literally invented the notion. Composed of nearly 100 separate objects from the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Heroes: Mortals and Myths in Ancient Greece presents tales of the Western world's original heroes in architectural sculpture, pottery, miniature stones and coins. Examining the mythic stories of well-known heroes, their religious worship and the personal examples these legends offered, this show should provide a great opportunity to get a feel for a time when "myth" didn't mean "lie" and "hero" meant more than "media star." Through April 25 at the Frist — JOE NOLAN
[WE GOT IT FOR CHEAP]
THE CLIPSE
For those unfamiliar, this Virginia Beach duo not only make hot-as-hell hip-hop records like the classic Hell Hath No Fury and their latest Til the Casket Drops, but they also run their own apparel line, Play Cloths. Unlike a lot of musician-run clothing lines, however, Play Cloths make clothes you would actually wear: dapper plaids, crisp graphic tees and a super-fresh varsity jacket that you could buy us if you wanted to make us the happiest little hip-hop nerds you ever met. Not surprisingly, the only local spot they're stopping on the promotional tour for The Casket Drops is at the city's premier street-wear boutique, Phatkaps in Antioch. This is another customer appreciation event — and damn, that shows a lot of appreciation, don't it? — so be sure to follow Phatkaps on Twitter to catch all the details. 6 p.m. at Phatkaps Boutique, 835 Bell Rd. — SEAN L. MALONEY
[PICKUP STICKS]
THE LIFE AND WORK OF ERNEST A. PICKUP
Ernest A. Pickup (1887-1970) numbered among Nashville's first commercial artists early last century, but it was during the professionally lean years of The Great Depression that he developed the woodcut style that won him national recognition. A selection of his prints is on display through Feb. 27 at the LeQuire Gallery, in conjunction with the recent release of a book about Pickup's life and work by his daughter Beverly St. John. His exquisitely detailed miniatures depict historically interesting scenes of Nashville and environs, from architectural landmarks like the Parthenon and Scarritt Tower to pastoral images of Brentwood — that's pre-subdivision, y'all. Pickup's work was exhibited throughout the U.S. and Europe during his lifetime, attracting particular notice at New York and Chicago shows in the late 1930s, and today it remains a fascinating part of Nashville's cultural history. Through Feb. 27 at LeQuire Gallery — RUSSELL JOHNSTON
[GONE COUNTRY]
MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
Bill Bauer hails from the state of New York. A songwriter with a background in the indie scene and live theater, he is the sole creator — book, music and lyrics — of this original musical that aims to capture the modern-day plight of the farm family and rural folks in general. His characters go to war, deal with encroaching "progress" and suffer personal travail while standing up for their cherished way of life, including even dealing with the reality of the crystal meth labs that spring up in their midst. Bauer's score features 23 songs, ranging from country ballads to rock to techno to show tunes, in what the author calls "a daring piece." The direction and choreography are by Barry and Dari Anne Amato, and the local cast of 17 is led by experienced singers Sunny Fitz and Dan Sadler. Bauer's show is guaranteed at least a two-week run, though the author is looking toward a much longer gig. A website, middleofnowheremusical.com, offers song samples, an overview of the story and links to tickets. Opens today at Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubadour Theater, 2416 Music Valley Dr. — MARTIN BRADY
[INTERNATIONAL LENS]
FOR LOVE OF LIBERTY: THE STORY OF AMERICA'S BLACK PATRIOTS
This preview offers a 40-minute peek at what may well be an alternate history of America: a four-hour documentary tracing black American servicemen and freedom fighters all the way from Crispus Attucks, the escaped slave who has gone down in history as the first man to spill his blood for the American Revolution, to the modern-day War on Terror. Featuring the participation of an all-star cast — a partial list includes Morgan Freeman, Bill Cosby, Susan Sarandon, John Travolta, Ossie Davis, Robert Duvall, Kris Kristofferson, Delroy Lindo, Sam Elliott, Danny Glover, Isaac Hayes, Alan Rickman and executive producer Lou Gossett Jr. — and executive produced by Vanderbilt grad Richard Hull (who will attend), the two-part doc will air locally at 8 p.m. Feb. 11 and 18 on NPT-Channel 8. For this preview event, director Frank Martin will host and conduct a Q&A afterward, free and open to the public. 7 p.m. at Vanderbilt's Sarratt Cinema — JIM RIDLEY
[HALO BE THY NAME]
HALO STEREO
According to my research via the Nashville Scene search engine, you are reading what is believed to be not only the first Critic's Pick, but also first purposeful mention of Halo Stereo in our fine publication. This isn't to say they do or don't deserve more press from us than they've gotten, but rather to point out how even the hardest working bands — bands that get radio airplay, props from Fuse, win contests by Budweiser and hover about our radar for upwards of eight years by constantly subverting our collective notion of cool — sometimes go unnoticed locally. But who's to say you, the reader, wouldn't dig on Halo Stereo's self-described "alternative/progressive modern rock," which throws an electro beat or two between meaty slabs of bro-fi riffage, manly monster choruses and a dash of Brit-pop harmonies? It's a fine fit for 102.9 The Buzz's New Music Showcase with Day of Fire and Paper Cut Massacre. 9 p.m. at Exit/In — SETH GRAVES
[SOUND OFF]
UPGRADE! SOUND ART EVENT
Upgrade! is an international network of loosely connected nodes, linking creative new-media communities around the globe. Tennessee is one of only a few American states represented in a who's-who that includes far-flung ports of call such as Zagreb, Paris, Sao Paolo and Second Life. Not only does this sound art event represent a global happening, it's also a collaboration between TSU's Space for New Media and Austin Peay State University's digital art gallery at terminalapsu.org. The event is presented by APSU and TSU educator/artists Jodi Hays, Kell Black and Barry Jones. 1-4 p.m. at the TSU galleries in Elliott Hall — JOE NOLAN
SAT/1.30
[YOU BET YOUR ASS THAT'S COUNTRY]
DALE WATSON
Nashville isn't what it used to be. Sure, there are the cowboy hats and boots, but the people wearing them are airbrushed pop avatars with little real relation to the blue-collar traditions country used to represent. They're traditions to which Dale Watson remains dedicated. Watson's music harkens back to the Bakersfield country of Buck Owens and the worldly, haunted twang of Johnny Cash — a sound he delivers with a deep, dark baritone nearly as big as that of the Man in Black. He's sung convincingly of our mortality and our passage through life, as proclaimed by his album titled From the Cradle to the Grave. He's also frequently revisited the trucker country of the '70s on two discs called The Truckers Sessions, as well as elsewhere in his catalog, surveying the landscape from a "Truckstop in La Grange" to the surf-inflected "...Loose Nut Behind the Wheel." But he's probably best known for his succinct honky-tonk Nashville-bashing provocation "Country My Ass." 6 p.m. at Douglas Corner Cafe — CHRIS PARKER
[GO HERE AND THINK OF HOME]
SHOULD WE HAVE STAYED HOME AND THOUGHT OF HERE?
A few years ago at a downtown art opening, my little girl saw a life-size painting of a bookcase by Kelly Williams and reached up without thinking to touch the books' spines: It says something about both the artist's intent and her unshakable good nature that she took the mortifying moment as a compliment. Williams' engrossing representational work isn't so much photorealistic as keenly attuned to the nuances of angles, light and the arrangement of objects within a space — for instance, the way the blare of sunlight through a sheer curtain can make the tapered spindles in a chair's back look like dotted lines. The Nashville artist, a Harpeth Hall grad returning to the school for a residency, is joined in this show by friend and fellow Vassar alumna Brassil, a Brooklyn resident who's drawn acclaim for her gouache-and-colored-pencil studies of women whose graphically detailed faces stand in striking counterpoint to their swiftly sketched, fleshy bodies. Both artists will attend the afternoon reception, which is free and open to the public. Reception 3-5 p.m. Jan. 30. Through Feb. 19 at Harpeth Hall's Marnie Sheridan Gallery, 3801 Hobbs Road — JIM RIDLEY
[IT'S YOUR FANG, DO WAX YOU WANNA DO]
WAX FANG
Alongside contemporaries like My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses, a band like Wax Fang might sometimes get lost in the shuffle of ambitious Southeastern indie-rockers. They're hard-touring and capable of producing an epic amount of sound considering their three-man lineup, but they haven't quite reached the level of recognition they truly deserve. The fact of the matter is, however, if you're looking for the sort of band that might conventionally be referred to as a "power trio," you'd be hard-pressed to find more apt candidates. The sounds of Scott Carney's grand, looped guitars, Jake Heustis' lithe bass work and the unrelenting battery Kevin Ratterman regularly issues upon his drum kit could easily fill a venue twice the size of Exit/In, and you can see it all for just seven smackers. Also bear witness to Scene contributor and occasional DJ Sean Maloney putting his money where his mouth is with between-set jams that had damn well better rule — they probably will. How I Became the Bomb and The Non-Commissioned Officers also play. 9 p.m. at Exit/In — D. PATRICK RODGERS
[STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU]
GETTING USED TO LIVING IN THE IN-BETWEEN
For her latest exhibit at the Renaissance Center, local artist and TSU curator Jodi Hays will be showing new gouache-on-paper work and small wall sculptures, taking a step back from the new media projects she's been programming at the university. Titled Getting Used to Living in the in-Between, Hays' exhibit examines markers of transition, and the sculptures in this show — which resemble piles of rubble and stone — may have been inspired by the extended construction of TSU's newly opened Space for New Media. Hays' latest works on paper make use of familiar flag imagery, but with a liberated sense of space that marks a step forward for Hays' art itself. The Renaissance Center is also showing work by Gregg Schlanger and Denise Stewart-Sanabria. Through March 6 at the Renaissance Center, Dickson — JOE NOLAN
[IN THE YEAR 2000]
Y2K
So it's pretty much an established fact that last year's Coach vs. Kase dance parties at 12th & Porter were the place to be every Saturday night, but it's also an established fact that Justin Kase has been stolen from our city by the No. 1 pop artist in all the land, Ke$ha. So where does that leave you, the boogie-down beat freaks of Music City? Safe in the hands of Jeremy "Coach" Todd. Duh. Why would you even ask? While he might not have the creepy-hipster mustache of his globe-trotting compadre, he's got all the skills, all the style and then some — not to mention he was in local dance pop troupe 3,2,1 ... Famous, who seem so quaintly mid-'00s when you go back and listen to them now. All nostalgic journeys aside, though, Todd's got the big-boomin' beats to keep the party going all through 2010 and beyond. 10 p.m. at 12th & Porter — SEAN L. MALONEY
[LIVING IN AMERICA]
THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
The line between fine artist and master craftsperson can be a very fine one. Belmont University isn't helping matters by mixing up all manner of arts and crafts from a number of collections of university alumni for its latest show. Including work from the Colonial period to the end of the 19th century, this exhibit will feature furniture, silver, glass, textiles, paintings and prints. Guest-curated by Belmont Mansion's executive director Mark Brown, the meat and potatoes of this show can be found in the way that it demonstrates two centuries of a nation attempting to define itself while simultaneously copying the arts and crafts of the European countries that its citizens once called home. Speaking of meat and potatoes, we can't wait to see the Tiffany fried-chicken server! Through May 14 at Belmont's Leu Art Gallery — JOE NOLAN
SUN/1.31
[FANTASTIC PLASTIC MACHINE]
RUSTY BRIGHT: HOLGA IMAGES OF NASHVILLE
We've grown accustomed to seeing our world — much of the time, at least — reproduced as a digitized lifestream of hastily shot, instantly uploaded and briefly considered photos. We hit "Like" and move on, or simply keep scrolling. Rusty Bright's photographs of Nashville, taken on an inexpensive Holga plastic camera and developed in an old-fashioned darkroom, approach the city-as-subject at a less frenzied pace. The time it takes to shoot and hand-produce each print, if not exactly tangible, at the very least informs these photographs, and demonstrates that the immediacy of an image doesn't always stem from immediacy of process. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 2-5 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 31 at Green Hills Branch Library — STEVE HARUCH
[afternoon de-light]
MEGAN LIGHT CD RELEASE
The press materials for Megan Light's new five-song EP Black & White suggest comparisons to Sarah McLachlan and Norah Jones, and both touchstones are viable, particularly the latter's breathy, understated vocals. But on the opening track, "Waste It All Way," Light's singing recalls the angelic, otherworldly sound of Joanna Newsom, though she's less affected and elfin than the harp-wielding phenom. Light writes dreamy indie-pop songs in which guitar and piano equally share the spotlight, and Black & White features crisp, focused arrangements that never clutter the proceedings. With its dark, brooding tone and minor-key piano chords, the compelling "Asleep in Our Dreaming" is a standout track, wandering close to Fiona Apple territory (though not specifically to Apple's similarly titled "Sleep to Dream"). Light will be joined at her release party by singer-songwriter Chip Greene and balls-out rock marauders StackMagic, whose guitarist, Nathan Spears, also plays in Light's band. 6:30 p.m. at The Rutledge — JACK SILVERMAN
MON/2.1
[BURGER TIME]
NEIL HAMBURGER
As the only Drag City Records artist to have played Madison Square Garden, Neil Hamburger is a unique figure on the landscape of rock 'n' roll comedians. Unlike contemporaries such as David Cross or Patton Oswalt, whose routines usually entail long soliloquies, Hamburger — a persona created and portrayed by post-punk luminary Gregg Turkington — takes a more traditionalist approach. A master of the anti-joke, Hamburger — with an ill-fitting tux, pomade-laden comb-over and glass of scotch in hand — doles out zingers haranguing everyone from Terri Schiavo to Nickelback, like a Rat Pack reject from another dimension (or more simply, Don Rickles for hipsters). His timing is terrible, his delivery strident and his references dated. Unlike the Blue Collar Comedy crew, though, in Hamburger's case that's exactly the point. What's truly impressive about Hamburger is that, between jokes mocking Julia Roberts' vagina or The Red Hot Chili Peppers' on-again-off-again relationship with heroin, he manages to infuse a healthy amount of social commentary into the confines of the one-liner, taking on subjects such as the American diet, the Iraq War and the country's obsession with celebutards. 9 p.m. at The End — ADAM GOLD
[STICKS AND STONES]
WINDS OF PLAGUE
Last year's The Great Stone War by Winds of Plague sports one of metal's great cheesy album covers — the kind that makes you doubt or fear the band's sincerity. Depicting a knight and demon facing off with gleaming swords in cartoonish Lord of the Rings flair, the album pretty much sounds exactly what it looks like. The subject matter is easy enough to guess: a concept album about one final apocalyptic battle the epicness of which is too great to be fought with anything other than stones. The power-metal keyboards that sit on top of the mix are a given, but the deeply guttural death metal underneath is a less obvious counterpart. The result would be the equivalent to Metalocalypse's Dethklok soundtracking a Final Fantasy video game, which is amusing even if not particularly good. 7 p.m. at the Muse — MATT SULLIVAN
TUES/2.2
[INTERNATIONAL LENS]
THREE MONKEYS
Of Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Three Monkeys, the Guardian's Peter Bradshaw wrote, "The rigor and intensity ... is invigorating" and that "every frame is dense with intelligence." If that sounds a little intense, it is: The film, a 2008 Cannes official selection, is both taut noirish thriller and dark family drama, with a plot that centers on a toxic lie. When Servet (Ercan Kesal), a politician, accidentally kills a pedestrian late one night, his longtime chauffeur, Eyup (Yavuz Bingol) is the only one who can take the fall for him. In exchange for confessing to the act (and helping Ervet preserve his reputation), Eyup will earn a tempting lump sum. Then he gets back from jail, only to find trouble at home and his wife having an affair with — guess who. Beautifully ominous images complement the tense story. 7 p.m. at Sarratt Cinema — EMILY BARTLETT HINES
[EXTRAS! EXTRAS!]
GWYNETH PALTROW'S COUNTRY DEBUT FEAT. TIM MCGRAW AND LEIGHTON MEESTER
Even in a comeback capital like Nashville, who would think that world-renowned country superstar Kelly Cantor would grace Municipal Auditorium on a Tuesday night to play to thousands of adoring fans for free? After all, everyone knows it's been years since the troubled singer has shown up in public, much less in the spotlight. What's that? Haven't heard of Kelly Cantor? That's because she's pure fiction. Cantor is a fallen country star played by willowy mega-celeb Gwyneth Paltrow in the new movie Love Don't Let Me Down, currently filming in Nashville. This free concert doubles as the filming of a pivotal scene, where Cantor stages a comeback show guided by her husband-manager (played by country charmer Tim McGraw in a non-singing role), and producers are looking for up to 2,500 folks to fill Municipal Auditorium for the scene. McGraw will welcome the crowd but is not billed to perform: His touring openers The Lost Trailers will play acoustic sets, with Paltrow performing original, Nashville-penned songs and co-stars Leighton Meester and Garrett Hedlund as the openers. Consider this a chance not just to be an extra on the silver screen, or to help a charitable organization (bring new or slightly worn shoes to donate to onsite charity Soles4Souls), but to also witness a music industry rarity for singers — a free pass to lip-synch to pre-recorded tracks. The show is free and open to fans ages 18 and up. 4 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium; RSVP to freefilmconcert@gmail.com — TRACY MOORE
[HEAVY-HANDED]
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH
Check it, bro. We've all been pretty bummed since Slayer and Megadeth cancelled their show last month. First there was the Buzzfest debacle, then my favorite celebrity died, the Titans bit it this season, and all I wanted to do was get my rage on in a sweet circle pit. Well, pick your braided-goateed-chins up off the floor, my friends. I have good news. The metal gods heard our woes all the way down in Hell and sent a fist-shaped blot of lightning from below straight to our genitals by the name of Five Finger Death Punch. Unlike those aforementioned dinosaurs, these guys are in their prime and won't throw out their backs during a hair windmill or while laying down some seriously brutal riffs in the key of drop D (minor, of course). Also, in sharp comparison, 5FDP know how to wail on some sweet melodies between breakdowns, so if you've got a girlfriend, bring her. That shit will totally get you laid. When was the last time Slayer got anybody laid, eh? 9 p.m. at Cannery Ballroom — SETH GRAVES
[WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE TATOOED SHARK?]
LOST SEASON PREMIERE
Pardon our French, but fucking Hey-Zeus-H-Cristobal-Colon we have been waiting way, way too long for the final season of Lost. For those of us stuck in the same old boring, linear time stream, it's been an unbearable 10 months of pouring over Lostpedia.org, re-watching seasons one through five, re-watching them again in slow motion just in case we missed something and dreaming of the day when we could buy our own donkey-wheel and travel back and forth in time and put an end to the horrible anticipation that has consumed our lives. It's been way, way too long since we've gotten our fix of Jack, Sawyer, Kate and crew, and damn it, we're not taking off our Driveshaft T-shirt until they're back on the air. Of course this is the last season of the show, so we've only got a few months until we return to our sad little lives. But we're going to enjoy this nerdgasm while it lasts. 8 p.m. on WKRN-Channel 2 — SEAN L. MALONEY
WED/2.3
[SAY WHAT?]
THE SILENT LEAGUE
Hailed prematurely as the next great indie hope back when their debut hit in 2004, The Silent League opened for a handful of high-profile acts like Interpol, Bloc Party and Sufjan Stevens. Riding on the coattails of frontman Justin Russo's status as an integral part of Mercury Rev's mid-career peak, The Silent League were ripe for a backlash. Since then, the chamber-pop quintet has barely scraped together enough attention to get by, what with overblown rumors of a split and their follow-up three years later culling a minimum of critical love. But their latest, ... But You've Always Been the Caretaker, has the Brooklyn outfit poised for re-emergence. With covers by underground electro-pop artists like Memory Tapes, Neon Indian and Helado Negro to help build buzz, the Silent League may very well break the glass ceiling that's held them back for so long. 9 p.m. at The Basement — DUSTIN ALLEN
[ZOOBILY-ZOOBILY-ZOO!!!]
ZOOGMA
Well, it's time for our weekly installment of "hippies with electronic doohickeys." At first, when this whole jamtronica thing started gaining steam, we thought it was just a Nashville thing, 'cuz, you know, this town is full of weirdos. But we got confirmation — from a friend of a friend who happens to be a booking agent — that this is what the kids are into all over. If you want to tour and you want people to show up, your best chance is to start a band that sounds like a cross between Weather Report and Stereo MCs: the kids fucking love it. We can't explain it, but they do. Oxford, Miss., quintet Zoogma take the genre to its most spaced-out conclusion, washing the crowd in psychedelic sounds with enough boom-bap beats to keep them from coming across as offensively noodly. Zoogma are joined by Murfreesboro dub freaks Beat Repeat and Bowling Green's Canago. 9 p.m. at Exit/In — SEAN L. MALONEY
[INTERNATIONAL LENS]
A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES
Feng Xiaogang is one of China's most successful directors—his hit Cellphone earned 50 million yen and caused a stir in 2003 by drawing attention to the adulterous uses of technology. 2004's Thieves, similarly, isn't your typical arthouse foreign film; instead, it's a slick, suspenseful popcorn movie, focusing on grifters who encounter naïve peasant Lu Gen (Bingbing Li) aboard a train. Lu is heading back to his rural village with his earnings from a big-city construction job, and he unwisely advertises the fact: "I worked hard for this 60k! Fair and square! Who'd steal it?" Meanwhile, Bo (Andy Lau) and Li (Rene Liu) are a married pair who once specialized in scams, but are leaving the business to pursue a "normal life." While Li befriends the hapless young man, the train also hosts a less benevolent group of thieves. Xiaogang's setup is classic caper fare; elements U.S. audiences might expect include a fight that's shot like a choreographed dance scene. The film is free and open to the public as part of Vanderbilt's International Lens series. 7 p.m. at Vanderbilt's Sarratt Cinema — EMILY BARTLETT HINES
