Duncan Sheik
March comes in a little wilder than a lamb this week with a busy calendar of entertainment, including: a lecture by Daniel Dennett; a production of The Pirates of Penzance; a Queen-focused Gomeroke contest; and live music from Luna Mortis with Lords of the Trident, That 1 Guy, Anais Mitchell, An Horse, Von Bondies, and Duncan Sheik.
Monday 3.2
ORTHODOX LENT BEGINS
Noteworthy: Dusty Springfield dies, 1999.
Birthdays: Singer/songwriter Lou Reed, 1942; U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, 1953.
Wisconsin Union Theater, 7:30 pm
The Tufts University prof speaks about evolutionary biology and atheism in this last outing, till next season, of the union's Distinguished Lecture Series. (Spoiler alert: He's a fan of both.)
Luna Mortis, Lords of the Trident
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
What's a Monday night without a little metal? Lords of the Trident's style will make your hair stand on end in a tribute to Spinal Tap; then Luna Mortis' precise-and-aggressive version will beat your senses to a pulp. Also playing: Antiprism.
Tuesday 3.3
Noteworthy: L.A. cops beat Rodney King, 1991.
Birthdays: Radio host Ira Glass, 1959; rapper/actor Tone-Loc, 1966.
Annex, 8 pm
You've seen one Magic Pipe player, you've seen them all, right? Actually, That 1 Guy is the only Magic Pipe player, and the entertaining one-man-band's signature instrument is his own invention, an agglomeration of steel pipes and bass strings. He also plays saw. With Heatbox.
Wednesday 3.4
Noteworthy: John Lennon suggests Beatles "are more popular than Jesus," 1966.
Birthdays: South African vocalist/human rights activist Miriam Makeba, 1932; Lemonheads front man Evan Dando, 1967.
Brink Lounge, 7 pm
The Vermont-born singer and songwriter, a discovery of Ani DiFranco, performs dreamy folk-pop -- her sound is like that of a twangy Joanna Newsom. Her new country e.p. is a split release with Rachel Ries.
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
Even though their debut full-length won't hit stores for another few weeks, the Aussie indie duo has generated a sizable buzz -- and fan base -- thanks to a solid EP, Not Really Scared, and a tour with another ever-popular indie duo, Tegan and Sara. Pezzettino opens.
Annex, 9 pm
Detroit's Von Bondies are probably best remembered for a 2003 bar fight with White Stripes singer Jack White rather than their take on garage rock, but they're trying to change that. They're on the road with a new release, Love, Hate and Then There's You. With Selfish Gene.
Thursday 3.5
Noteworthy: Churchill delivers "Iron Curtain" speech, 1946.
Birthdays: Singer/songwriter Eddy Grant, 1948; magician Penn Jillette, 1955.
High Noon Saloon, 6 pm
If you've always wanted to nurture your inner Freddie Mercury, now's your chance. Compete with other impersonators of the famously flamboyant Queen singer -- the Gomers provide the accompaniment -- and win a chance to join Queen tribute act Gary Mullen and the Works on the stage next month at Overture.
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 7:30 pm
Pour the pirate sherry and enjoy New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players' production of the familiar classic, which features "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General" and that song that sounds like "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here."
Wisconsin Union Theater, 8 pm
Though the singer-songwriter got his big break with the 1996 single "Barely Breathing," his crowning achievement is the blockbuster musical Spring Awakening, which swept the Tony Awards after its debut in 2006.