Al Madrigal at Comedy Club
Here is this week's critics' choice calendar. Discover the Dinosaurs
Alliant Energy Center's Exhibition Hall, noon-9 pm. Also Saturday (10 am-8 pm) & Sunday (10 am-7 pm), Nov. 16 & 17
This traveling exhibit brings dozens of touchable dinosaur replicas to Madison, including specimens that move and roar. Other highlights include a maze, a scavenger hunt and rides on a friendly T. Rex.
To the Further Side of Myth, Fantasy & Here
Paoli House Gallery, Paoli, through Dec. 29. Reception: 5-9 pm
Husband-and-wife artists Warrington Colescott and Frances Myers explore the divide between fantasy and reality in this group show featuring works by Ed Binkley, Douglas Bosley, Christian A. Grooms, Ron Ruble and Larry Welo.
Monona Terrace, 5:30 pm
This fundraiser for the Urban League of Greater Madison features nearly five hours of performances by the Art Brothas, DJ Chill, magician Lochlan Masters and other talents from near and far.
Union South, 6 pm. Also Thursday, Nov. 14
The public is invited to help UW Press celebrate its very own week. In "Writing Memoir," panelists Jesse Lee Kercheval (My Life as a Silent Movie), Will Fellows (Farm Boys: Lives of Gay Men from the Upper Midwest) and UW Press executive director Raphael Kadushin (editor of Wonderlands: Good Gay Travel Writing) discuss several varieties of memoirs. Thursday's events include a panel discussion on "Publishing in the Humanities" (4 pm, University Club) and "The Tamburitza Tradition" by folklore scholar Richard March (7 pm, Mills Music Library, UW Memorial Library).
Overture Center's Promenade Hall, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday (7 & 9 pm) & Sunday (2:30 pm), Nov. 16 & 17
The troupe pays homage to a modern dance pioneer in a program titled "Martha Graham: Reverence." Guest stars include former principal dancers from Graham's company. (See Dance.)
Overture Hall, 7:30 pm. Also Saturday (8 pm) & Sunday (2:30 pm), Nov. 16 & 17
Violinist Augustin Hadelich joins the MSO for Lalo's showpiece Symphonie Espagnole. The program also includes Rachmaninoff's Second Symphony, which brims with yearning, mystery and arresting melodies.
Comedy Club on State, 8 & 10:30 pm. Also Thursday (8:30 pm) & Saturday (8 & 10:30 pm), Nov. 14 & 16
Though he's best known as a hilarious correspondent on The Daily Show, Madrigal is also an award-winning standup comedian with a penchant for lightning-fast storytelling. With Patrick Keane.
Majestic Theatre, 8:30 pm
Led by two sons of bluegrass legend Del McCoury, this act performs traditional and modern takes on the genre with mandolins, banjos, fiddles and more. With Horseshoes & Hand Grenades.
UW Union South Sett, 9:30 pm
This 19-year-old rapper is often compared to a young Drake, but with influences like classic house music, Death Cab for Cutie, and the Killers, he defies easy categorization. With Higher Education.
Mickey's Tavern, 10 pm
With elements of garage rock, noir soundtracks and psychedelic rock, all tied together by emotive vocals, this Portland, Ore., group recently landed on the Best New Bands of 2013 list by their hometown alt weekly, Willamette Week.
Saturday 11.16
Middleton Performing Arts Center, 9 am-4 pm
Admire classical music from the East and the West at this event honoring two trailblazing 18th-century composers: Germany's J.S. Bach and India's Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi. Presenters include Madison Bach Musicians' Trevor Stephenson, the Yahara String Quartet and celebrated Indian musician Chitravina N. Ravikiran.
Winter Art Fair Off the Square
Monona Terrace, 9 am-5 pm. Also Sunday, Nov. 17, 10 am-4 pm
Get the giving and getting and eating and drinking season off to a good start at this showcase for Wisconsin artists. You'll find pottery, paintings, photography and more by 144 exhibitors, as well as kids' activities and music galore.
Brink Lounge, 7:30 pm
This music-filled party celebrates the simultaneous release of three albums by the local jazz pianist's four-piece: the bop-oriented Guided Tour, the blues-inflected You're Dippin' and the modern modal Popular Culture. You'll get one of the three with admission.
Barrymore Theatre, 8 pm
Featuring frontman Doug Martsch's face-melting solos, this is the guitar-god show of the week. With a new drummer and bassist, the group should be as energetic as ever, especially if they cover an M.I.A. song. With Slam Dunk and the Warm Hair.
Kiki's House of Righteous Music, 8 pm
Johnson's the lead singer of both Centro-matic and South San Gabriel, and in his spare time he makes art centered on his other passion: baseball. See if he hits a home run at this house show. With Paul Otteson.
Inferno, 9 pm
Steampunk aficionados flaunt their retro-futuristic duds and hobbies (dirigible ride, anyone?) at this variety show featuring carnival games, music by Bad September, belly dancing by Rana Regina, fire dancing by Mizz Lillzz and other unforgettable spectacles.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
This Chicago-based project tours the country as a Talking Heads tribute. In addition to delivering solid vocals on "Psycho Killer," frontman Charles Otto dons a giant suit to honor David Byrne's moves in the concert film Stop Making Sense. With Venice Gas House Trolley.
UW Memorial Union Rathskeller, 9:30 pm
Fans of Cloud Cult and Pavement will enjoy this band's indie-rock cacophony. Fun fact: The group's name comes from one of Lou Reed's remarks about the record-mixing process. With Stagnant Pools.
Sunday 11.17
Russ Phillips' Windy City Swingers with Jeannie Lambert
Coliseum Bar, 1 pm
Trombonist Phillips is the son of one of Louis Armstrong's All Stars. Here he performs with his wife, a vocalist.
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 2 & 4:30 pm
It's axiomatic that kids love dinosaurs; therefore, parents who want to make their kids happy should take them to this musical staging of the adventures of the Pteranodon family, based on the hit PBS show. And really, has the Jim Henson Company ever let you down?
High Noon Saloon, 7 pm
New York City guitarist and Madison native Dan Kaufman fell in love with recordings of ancient Jewish music made in Roman synagogues before the Nazi occupation. He and his band put an art-rock spin on some of these spiritual melodies, resulting in the excellent new album Bella Ciao. With Spires That in the Sunset Rise and Page Campbell.
Monday 11.18
NOTEWORTHY: Congress issues final report on Iran-Contra Affair, 1987.
Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, 5:30 pm
The Obama administration's chief economic adviser will give a talk titled "Fiscal Policy: Achievements, Opportunities and Challenges." Considering the recent donnybrook over the budget, expect a lot of questions from the audience.
Majestic Theatre, 8 pm
Soul, R&B and post-punk converge in this Chicago group's songs, which feature voluptuous vocals, jagged rhythms and lyrics that get the crowd chanting and dancing. (See Tour Stop.) With Escort and DJ Phil Money.
Tuesday 11.19
NOTEWORTHY: Milli Vanilli stripped of Grammy Award for faking vocals, 1990.
Wednesday 11.20
NOTEWORTHY: Microsoft Windows 1.0 debuts, 1985.
Stoughton Opera House, 3 & 7 pm
In the tradition of the Grand Ole Opry, this traveling show has bluegrass, gospel and Americana music, plus comedy to boot. Cohost Debbie Horton is the only woman to have played lead guitar for Johnny Cash.
UW Memorial Union's Great Hall, 7 pm
Explore fashion from many angles at this glamorous event. It includes a runway show, a pop-up salon, a bazaar, fancy cocktails and music by local rock band Sexy Ester, whose singer, Lyndsay Evans, often sports a catwalk-ready mohawk.
Orpheum Theater, 7:30 pm
More than 20 years strong, this band have a hard-rock sound that somehow channels both Led Zeppelin and the Deftones. Their well-received 10th album, Earth Rocker, will be the focus of the show. With the Sword and American Sharks.
CollegeHumor Live featuring Jake Hurwitz & Amir Blumenfeld
Majestic Theatre, 7:30 pm
The creators and stars of the longest-running series on the award-winning website will cause a hiccup epidemic with standup and sketch comedy. With Streeter Seidell.
Frequency, 8 pm
Pop acts Tennis and Savoir Adore, indie rockers On an On and folk rockers Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats are playing shows together in nine cities, including Madison, Nashville and New York. They'll join likable local acts Building on Buildings and Brandon Beebe at this performance.
Thursday 11.21
NOTEWORTHY: Plymouth Colony settlers sign Mayflower Compact, 1620.
Madison Labor Temple, 6 pm
At a free presentation, the troubadour and academic will share slides and folk songs about Mexican laborers' experiences on both sides of the U.S. border. (See Music.)
Wisconsin Historical Museum, 6:30 pm
The author discusses The Quiet Season: Remembering Country Winters, about growing up on a farm in central Wisconsin during the Great Depression and World War II.
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 7 pm
The cabaret crooner has performed in some of the world's most esteemed venues, including Carnegie Hall. His Cole Porter program includes classic tunes such as "I've Got You Under My Skin" and a catered dinner from Fresco.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
The electronic house performer adores horror and sci-fi. The fourth volume of his Monsters of Drumstep EP series debuted this year on Halloween. With Crizzly and Kid Cut Up.
Edited by Movemberists
