Thursday
Admit it, there’s something strangely exciting about mixing rock ‘n’ roll with cross-dressing. “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” blends the two perfectly. The film version of John Cameron Mitchell’s off-Broadway musical tells the comedic tale of a rock star, born a man, but who performs as a woman after a botched sex-change operation. Get your ’70s juices flowing and see “Hedwig” tonight in Campbell Hall at 7:30 and 9:30. Hip hop aficionados will appreciate what the Living Room has to offer tonight: Aceyalone has played a major role in the promotion of literate hip hop on the West Coast – impressive in an era where hardcore gangsta rap is top dog. See him at the Living Room; all ages welcome.
Friday
Pull yourself out of the nihilist haze that engulfs Isla Vista, muster some community spirit and come support the Dos Pueblos Jazz Choir (under the direction of Ike Jenkins). The award-winning choir is putting on a benefit concert, which will include individual acts performed by students and will feature special guests. It will be held at the Goleta Valley Junior High School tonight from 7 to 10. Admission is $15 general and $5 for students. Tickets are available at the door. The Santa Barbara Child Abuse Listening and Mediation (CALM) center is running an antique show and sale today and through the weekend. Proceeds will benefit CALM.
Saturday
It’s an eclectic mix of music to start the long weekend. Hear traditional jazz standards from the ’20s and ’30s with Ulysses Jasz playing at 7:30 tonight at the James Joyce. The Santa Barbara Music Club continues its series of Saturday Matinee Concerts at the Santa Barbara Public Library with a free vocal and chamber music performance at 3 p.m. Classical/Slide/Mandolin musician Dennis Howard will perform tonight at Muddy Waters, 508 East Haley St. The Santa Barbara Symphony presents Jerome Lowenthal (piano) at the Arlington Theatre today at 3.
Sunday
Ever wanted to know exactly how much saliva a human, sheep or cow produces on a daily basis? Ever wanted to find out slimy, crusty, stinky, mushy, scaly, oozy tidbits about the natural world to gross out your friends? Ever been told you’re kind of freaky? You too can learn fun facts about disgusting things by visiting the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History today at 3 and listening to “Grossology: The Science of Really Gross Things.” Tonight the Greyhounds provide funk-soul-groove sounds to excite your gray matter. See them perform at SOhO, 1221 State St upstairs.
Tuesday
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art Collector’s Council will present the 6th Annual Fine Prints and Drawings Fair today from 3 to 7 at the Ridley-Tree Education Center, McCormick House. Ten nationally known art dealers provide a unique opportunity for collectors to view and acquire original works by artists from the 16th through the 20th centuries. Yearning for the Wild West? The Santa Barbara Historical Society presents “Will James: Cowboy and Author.” This special collection will run through till the end of January at 135 East De la Guerra St.
Wednesday
See an Afghanistan few of us are privy to. “Jung (War): In the Land of the Mujaheddin” is a narrative documentary that shows the Afghan people caught in the midst of civil war and the human toll of 20 years of unrest. This film won the Nestor Almendros Prize at the 2001 Human Rights Watch InternationalFilm Festival. See it in Campbell Hall tonight at 7:30. At the Velvet Jones tonight, the self-proclaimed nerd-rock band, Nerf Herder, will dish up crooning post-grunge punk-pop sounds with a healthy dose of general mockery. Support these local lads at their 8 p.m. State Street show.