Friday, December 1

MUSIC
Michael Massey
Café Montmartre, 7pm
Michael Massey has been a vital member of the Madison’s music scene since the late ’70s as a member of Chaser, Boys In White, and more recently as a solo artist and key participant in the Mad Cabaret troupe. A pair of 2005 albums demonstrate his diverse nature: Be Careful How You Say Pianist is a laid-back set of solo piano instrumentals, and Attack Of The Delicious is a lush, highly produced pop-rock album with strings, synths, guitar, and Massey’s weathered, slippery voice. Even more sides should be on display here as Massey celebrates the release of an instrumental Christmas album, The Present, featuring original arrangements of traditional holiday carols.

Greeley Estates + Drop Dead, Gorgeous, Alesana
The Loft, $8/$10*
With oppressively whiny emo-screamo hybrids invading MTV, a little space had to open up eventually for bands that match that description yet aren’t too stultifying. Greeley Estates is restrained and tasteful compared to many of its peers. Maybe the screamo part of its sound is done with just enough weirdness and conviction, or maybe the production on the recent Far From The Lies manages not to be totally ham-fisted. If you’re already rolling your eyes at this kind of stuff, it’s best to stay away, but if you don’t, it won’t be entirely what you expect (maybe 80 percent, but that’s what passes for originality in that niche). If Greeley Estates fit in the bearable middle of this musical vein, the lumbering metal of openers Drop Dead, Gorgeous fills the bill out with extra heaviness, and Alesana will indulge fans intent on doing some serious moping. Opening: Oregon Falls, Pasiflora.

Acquire The Fire: Alliant Energy Center, 7pm*
Heartbreaker: Badger Bowl, 9pm
:Brad Pregeant’s New Orleans Revival: Bourbon Street Grille, 10pm
The Currach: Brocach, 5:30pm
Disco and Retro ’80s Night + DJs Corey Lee: Cardinal Bar, 8pm
Madison Hardcore Fest: Club 770, Union South, 9:30pm*
Salsa Night + DJ Chamo: Club Frida, 11pm
Tim Whalen Trio: Concourse Hotel Bar, 8:30pm
Mighty Electric: Dry Bean Saloon, 9:30pm
The Mike McIntyre Band: Essen Haus, 8:30pm
Bluegrass Jam + Trails End String Band: Harmony Bar, 9:45pm
Rock Star Gomeroke: High Noon Saloon, 5pm
The Kissers + German Art Students: High Noon Saloon, 10pm
Reverend Raven And The Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys: Hody Bar & Grill, 9pm
Spoil: Inferno, 9pm
Last Call With Richard: The Ivory Room Piano Bar, 1am
Mucho Mambo: Bachata, Merengue, Reggaeton + DJs Latin Fresh, Ken: Jolly Bob’s, 10pm
The Crashers: JT Whitneys, 9pm
DJ Surprise: Kimia Lounge, 10:30pm
The Motorz + The Penthouse Sweets: King Club, 9pm
Axiom + Cutting Room Floor: Klinic Bar, 9pm
Sounds Of The Rat Pack + Joe Scalissi: Maduro, 9pm
Perpetual Groove: Memorial Union, Rathskeller, 9:30pm*
Ruben: Mexicali Rose, 6pm
Charlie Cheney + Hot Heels Records: Mother Fool’s Coffeehouse, 8pm
The Blue Heels: Mr. Roberts, 9pm
DJ Jeremy T & Drew G: Nattspil, 10pm
Friday Night DJ Ballroom + Tom Choudoir: Olde Towne Ballroom, 7pm
Madison Symphony—Christmas Spectacular: Overture Hall, 7:30pm*
Richard Shaten: Quivey’s Grove Stable Tap, 8pm
Caravan Gypsy Swing: Restaurant Magnus, 9pm

COMEDY
Lisa Lampanelli: Barrymore Theatre, 8pm
Jamie Lissow + Prescott Tolk: Comedy Club, 8 & 10:30pm

FILM
Cinematheque: Damnation
Vilas Hall, 7:30pm, free*
Those a little wary of spending eight hours immersed in grey, spiritually drained rural Hungary in Béla Tarr’s Sátántángo, or even four hours in Tarr’s Werckmeister Harmonies, should consider Damnation a relatively brisk two-hour introduction to the highly distinct—and culturally significant—vision of Tarr and novelist László Krasznahorkai, his three-time collaborator. All the Tarr trademarks appear: the long, slow tracking shots, the hangdog hero, and the ink-black, decrepit locations. But Damnation is less overtly obscure than the two films that followed, and its story of a jilted lover and his melancholy pub crawl, while slow as chilled molasses, is easy to understand and hypnotically beautiful, even at its bleakest. At the least, neophytes will be able to experience firsthand the style that directors around the world have been ripping off for the last decade or so.

MISC.
Opening Reception: Healthy—Craig Grabhorn: drunknBUTTERFLY, 7pm*
Gallery Talk—Melanie Herzog: Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 6:30pm
International Conversation and Coffee Hour: Memorial Union, 12pm*
Opening Reception: Winnebago Studios Artists Art Show and Sale: Winnebago Studios, 5pm*

THEATER
University Theater: The Arabian Nights: Vilas Hall, Hemsley Stage, 7:30pm*
CTM Theatre: A Christmas Carol: Overture Center, Capitol Theater, 7:30pm*
Madison Repertory Theatre: Bad Dates: Overture Center, Playhouse, 7:30pm