It's Homecoming at the University of Wisconsin, but this weekend offers plenty to accompany the tailgating. The calendar includes: Madison Open Art Studios; a Nicola Lopez opening at the Chazen; performances of Ballroom With a Twist, The Smart Women Project, and Stellaluna; a gale of live music from Five Finger Death Punch, the Madison Bach Musicians, Keller Williams, Hot Buttered Rum, Solid Gold with Sugar & Gold, St. Vincent, Birds of Avalon, Ari Herstand, the Festival Choir of Madison, Gossip, Monte Montgomery, Ghetto Division, His & Her Vanities, and the Poster Children; and, finally, the wild menagerie of Jungle Jack Hanna.
Friday 10.16
NOTEWORTHY: Million Man March on Washington, D.C., 1995.
Nicola Lopez: Urban Transformations
Chazen Museum of Art, through Jan. 3
Lopez makes drawings, prints and installations that are fascinating cityscapes -- the architectural elements twist and undulate to a degree verging on abstraction. Hear about the work from Lopez herself when she gives a talk tonight at 5:30.
State Street, 6 pm
Express your hatred of the University of Iowa and your love of the color red at this procession, followed by a pep rally and fireworks at the UW Memorial Union.
Orpheum Theatre, 7 pm
This Los Angeles combo keeps the metal flag flying with crunchy guitars and the growling/soaring vocals of singer Ivan Moody. Their new album is called War Is the Answer, which should get toupees spinning in downtown Madison. With Shadows Fall, Otep.
Overture Hall, 8 pm
Dancing With the Stars choreographer Louis van Amstel takes the footwork on the road with figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, who won gold in Albertville, you'll recall.
TAPIT/New Works, 8 pm. Also Saturday, Oct. 17, 8 pm
Kathie Rasmussen Women's Theatre, a new group named for the local playwright who died in 2007, presents a collection of nine short plays by women writers.
First Congregational United Church of Christ, 8 pm
This accomplished local ensemble performs the "Summer" and "Winter" movements of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons," plus music of J.S. Bach and Josquin. The program is repeated at Trinity Lutheran Church Sunday, Oct. 18, at 3 pm.
Barrymore Theatre, 8 pm
As an ambidextrous solo performer, singer-guitarist Williams offers a smorgasbord of prog, jazz fusion and rootsy material that drives the jam-band crowd batty.
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
The San Francisco-area "newgrass" five-piece stop in Madison often. Given our constantly renewing population of jam-band and progressive-bluegrass enthusiasts, that makes sense. With Elf Lettuce.
UW Memorial Union Rathskeller, 9:30 pm
The synth-rocking Minneapolis-via-Madison band Solid Gold made big waves this year when NME featured one of their singles, and by the time they reached the High Noon for the Forward Music Festival, fans could practically surf atop the hype. San Fran electro-funk sensation Sugar & Gold plays some tripped-out disco to start things off (see Tour Stop).
High Noon Saloon, 9:30 pm
A shining star from the Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens touring band, multi-instrumentalist and singer Annie Clark (a.k.a. St. Vincent) has found a bright path as a solo artist recently, turning heads with 2007's Marry Me and knocking socks off with this year's Actor. Sonmi open.
Frequency, 10 pm
DJ Real Jaguar is having a birthday, and he's even got a magician -- Madison's own James Grainger, who not only performs grand illusions but composes his own music -- to entertain. The icing on the cake is Raleigh, N.C.'s Birds of Avalon, who explore existential themes of the digital age via analog recording techniques and plenty of psychedelic, prog-style soundscapes. With Trin Tran, Peaking Lights and Spires That in the Sunset Rise.
Saturday 10.17
NOTEWORTHY: Argentine coup brings Col. Juan Perón to power, 1945.
Oct. 17-18, 11 am-5 pm
If Gallery Night wasn't enough, check out this annual event, in which artists from Mount Horeb to Waunakee and points in between open their studios to you, the art-hungry public. Ogle their work in its natural habitat.
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 11 am
Based on the children's book, Stellaluna tells the story of a fruit bat raised in a bird family. She yearns to hang upside down. We've all been that fruit bat.
Orpheum Theater, 7 pm
The loop-loving Minneapolis music man returns to his hometown with a full band that's likely to include acoustic guitars, keyboards, trumpets, a tambourine or two and at least a little beatboxing. Mike Droho and Patrick Sweeney open.
First Unitarian Society Auditorium, 7:30 pm
The choir blends its voices in a program called "Shakin' the Blues Away," featuring happy sounds from composers classical (Mozart) and contemporary (Irving Berlin).
Majestic Theatre, 9 pm
In a death-defying feat, the band lost the "the" from their name, then moved to a major label this year with the release of Music for Men, all without losing fans or the intoxicating funk-soul-punk they're so good at serving up. With Men.
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
All the guitar magazines have recognized Montgomery multiple times for his unique approach to acoustic guitar. Blues, rock, deft pop material -- he does it all. With Backyard Tire Fire.
UW Memorial Union Rathskeller, 9:30 pm
Who says Baltimore house has to stay in Baltimore? Ghetto Division makes it in Chicago and, this week, amidst the beer and pretzels of the Memorial Union.
Frequency, 10 pm
Dirty, garagey pop, pieces of punk and a steadfast devotion to the weird and wonderful experiments of the Kinks, Captain Beefheart, Deerhoof and many others converge as the band-about-town releases a new CD, The Mighty Lunge (see Music and MadTracks). Stick around for fellow Science of Sound-ers Sleeping in the Aviary and Milwaukee's The Candeliers, both of which are guaranteed to put on a killer show.
Crystal Corner Bar, 10 pm
The indie-rock quartet has been rocking the bejeezus out of Champaign, Ill., and plenty of other Midwestern cities for 22 years with its sharp shards of New Wave and post-punk. With Droids Attack and Helliphant.
Sunday 10.18
NEW MOON
NOTEWORTHY: U.S. takes possession of Alaska, 1867.
BIRTHDAYS: Awesome tennis star Martina Navratilova, 1956; jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, 1961.
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 1 & 4 pm
You've seen Hanna on late-night TV introducing Letterman to goats and pole cats. He's always entertaining, and here's your chance to see the menagerie in person (see preview).
