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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25

AT THE CLUBS

Sunderland four-piece the Futureheads are both an intriguing and powerful mass of contradictions. Like all the best bands, they look and feel like a gang, even though they can rarely agree on anything. They are also a band who can cite Devo, Queen, Fugazi, and Kate Bush as influences, but who have carved out their own instantly identifiable sonic niche. See them tonight at the Paradise Rock Club (969 Comm Ave, Boston) on their second swing through Boston, with the Shout Out Louds and High Speed Scene. Doors are at 8, and tickets can be had (while they last) for $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Check www.thedise.com for more info.

INDIE FOLK. "I hated this record for six months," writes Terrascopic freak-folkie Greg Weeks, in cyberspace, of his new Blood Is Trouble (on Jersey’s Ba Da Bing!). "Now I really like it. It’ll sink like a stone (like the others), but what larks, pip!" Probably, but last year, Weeks’s band Espers got great press from an underground in thrall to Banhart mania, and that means there’s added interest now in his solo records, of which Blood is a good one, all Donovan-gooey and acid-tripped to the gills. He’s bringing a five-piece instrument-swapping band to P.A.’s Lounge along with Devendra-approved hippie-choral dude Viking Moses. That’s at 345 Somerville Avenue in Union Square; call (617) 776-1775.

R&B. "The Supremes starring Mary Wilson." That’s how it’s billed, and say what you will, Mary was there at the Creation, so she knows how those song go. We assume her helpmates are also capable — though probably not quite so capable as Diana Ross, whose attempt at a Mary-less Supremes reunion a couple years ago ended in bad blood and worse at the box office. Wilson takes her turn with the catalogue tonight and tomorrow at Scullers, in the DoubleTree Guest Suites Hotel, 400 Soldiers Field Road at the Mass Pike; call (617) 562-4111.

BLUES. Shemekia Copeland was born to the blues. The daughter of Texas guitar slinger Johnny Copeland, she was singing with her father’s band in her early teens. Now in her early 20s, she’s a star in her own right — just a step below Etta James and Koko Taylor in the music’s ranks, with a slew of awards and Grammy nominations to her credit. Lately she’s been playing festivals and halls, but tonight, the powerful singer wraps up a rare two-night, four-show stand with her band at the Regattabar, in the Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett Street in Harvard Square; call (617) 395-7757.

OTHER LIVE SHOWS:

For the following shows, see the Club Directory for phone numbers and addresses.

ABBEY LOUNGE, Somerville. Asa Brebner.

THE ASGARD, Cambridge. Tom Groleau & Stu Lee.

AVALON, Boston. At 7 p.m., Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Carbon Leaf.

THE BEACHCOMBER, Quincy. Draw the Line.

BLACKBURN TAVERN, Gloucester. Hootchies.

BRAVO at THE MFA Boston. Damon Carter.

CANTAB LOUNGE, Cambridge. Upstairs: Little Joe Cook & the Thrillers. Downstairs: "Original Rock, Roots & R&B."

CLUB 58, Quincy. "Get Some Fridays," hip-hop with the Freakas.

CLUB PASSIM, Cambridge. At 8 p.m., Tom Russell, Andrew Hardin.

COMMON GROUND, Allston. "Mash-ups & Alternative Dance" with DJ Guy.

DICK’S LAST RESORT, Boston. Big Back Yard.

DRUID PUB, Cambridge. At 6 p.m., "Traditional Irish Seisiun" with Peter Molloy & Friends.

ENCORE, Boston. "Cabaret Open Mic" with Jan Peters, Colleen Powers, Michael Ricca, Brian Patton.

THE GOOD LIFE DOWNTOWN, Boston. Weepin’ Willie.

GRAND CANAL, Boston. Brick Park.

GREEN DRAGON, Boston. Incadence.

GREEN STREET GRILL, Cambridge. Kilombo Mambo.

GUIDO OSHEA’S, Brockton. "Mirage Night Club," Haitian, Caribbean and Cape Verdean music.

HARPERS FERRY, Allston. Mr. Brownstone, Heather.

HENNESSY’S, Boston. Freeze Pop.

THE AVENUE, Allston. At 9 p.m., DJ Steve Auston.

IRISH VILLAGE, Brighton. "Funky Friday" with Elyte, Cnyce, Mas.

JASMINE & KENDALL LOUNGE, Cambridge. At 6 p.m., Marianne Solivan Jazz Quartet. At 10 p.m., Carol O’Shaughnessy.

JOHNNY D’S, Somerville. James McMurtry.

KENNEDY’S, Boston. At 5 p.m., Matt Fulton. At 9 p.m., Springhill Rounders.

KINGS, Boston. At 10:30 p.m., Ray Greene.

LES ZYGOMATES, Boston. Ronnie Ron Trio.

LIZARD LOUNGE, Cambridge. At 8 p.m., Aaron Shadwell, Engine. At 9:30 p.m., Bowman, Amusia.

LUPO’S AT THE STRAND, Providence, RI. Lloyd Banks.

MATT MURPHY’S, Brookline. Zion Blood.

MIDDLE EAST, Cambridge. Upstairs: "Emergenza Festival" with Canucks, Jungle Boys, Seduced by Madness, Saving Alcatraz, Common Thrill, Leatherland, Conspiracy, Paranoid Army. Downstairs: Garage Dogs, Space Pussy, Snaggs, TV Eye, Collisions.

MIDWAY CAFE, Jamaica Plain. Spurs.

MR. DOOLEY’S TAVERN, Boston. At 5 p.m., Eamonn Sheehan. At 9 p.m., Patsy & Tony.

O’BRIEN’S, Allston. Suspect Device, Far from Finished, 5 Shot Limit, Welch Boys.

OCEANA RESTAURANT, Boston. Mike DiBari Trio.

OVERDRAUGHT PUB, Cambridge. Gobshites, Grubsteak, Sasquatch & the Sickabillies.

PADDY O’S, Boston. Syndicate.

THE PALACE, Saugus. "Rio" Brazil’s Carnaval; "Uptown" DJs spin faves from the ’70s and ’80s; "Oxygen" rap, hip-hop, top 40, and progressive dance; "Male Encounter" all-male dance review. "Rockpile."

PARADISE LOUNGE, Boston. At 9 p.m., Kate Terrio, Amy Fairchild, Carla Ryder.

PARADISE ROCK CLUB, Boston. At 8 p.m., Futureheads, Shout Out Louds, High Speed Scene.

P.A.’S LOUNGE, Somerville. Greg Weeks, Viking Moses, Fern Knight.

PLOUGH & STARS, Cambridge. At 6 p.m., "Irish Seisiun." At 9 p.m., Los Diablos.

REGATTABAR, Cambridge. Shemekia Copeland.

RYLES, Cambridge. Ken Clark.

SCULLERS, Boston. Supremes with Mary Wilson.

SISSY K’S, Boston. At 5 p.m., Matt Browne. At 9 p.m., Stu Sinclair & Kevin Kirrane.

SIT ‘N BULL PUB, Maynard. Dell Smart, Exit In.

SPONTANEOUS CELEBRATIONS, Jamaica Plain. "Next Level" with DJ Nomadik, Kwesi Johnson, Kiki Breevlife, Ladies of Boston Reggae.

TOAD, Cambridge. Sam Bisbee.

TOP OF THE HUB, Boston. Chris Taylor Quartet.

T.T. THE BEAR’S PLACE, Cambridge. Jake Brennan & the Confidence Men, Unbusted, Dirty Truckers, International Pen Pal.

WALLY’S CAFE, Boston. At 9:30 p.m., Jason Palmer/Warren Wolf Jazz Collective.

WESTERN FRONT, Cambridge. Ned’s Crew.

WONDER BAR, Allston. Johnny Horner/Joe McMahon Quartet.

ZEITGEIST GALLERY, Cambridge. At 7 p.m., Andy Pratt.

ZUZU, Cambridge. "Latin Night" with Gian Carlo Buscaglia.

DJ SHOWS:

AN TAIN, Boston. At 5 p.m., DJ Sean O. At 10 p.m., DJ David Natola.

AN TUA NUA, Boston. "Superlovers," early hits to the latest sounds with DJ Vinny.

ARIA, Boston. "Foundation Friday" with DJ Klutch.

ATLAS DANCE, Boston. "Top 40 Dancing."

AVALON, Boston. At 10 p.m., "Avaland" with special guest DJs.

AXIS, Boston. At 10 p.m., "Flavor Friday" with DJ Master Millions.

BLARNEY STONE PUB, Dorchester. Commercial dance and R&B.

BLUE CAT CAFE, Boston. DJ Pete Winfrey.

BOSTON ROCKS, Boston. Top 40 Dance & hip-hop with DJ Bruno.

BUCK MULLIGAN’S, West Roxbury. R&B, rock, and dance with DJ Keith.

BUZZ BOSTON/EUROPA, Boston. "Club Twist for Women."

CLUB CAFE, Boston. "Non Stop Video Show" with VJ Tom Yazbek.

DEVLIN’S LOUNGE AND BAR, Brighton. "Uptempo House" with DJ Paul Dailey.

EMBASSY, Boston. At 10 p.m., "Hip-hop, Reggae, and Dance."

ENORMOUS ROOM, Cambridge. "all st*rs have eyes" with Amy Lee Grill and DJ David Day.

THE E ROOM AT THE GOLDEN TEMPLE, Brookline. Vocal house, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s with DJ Bob Gallagher.

THE EXCHANGE, Boston. House and hip-hop with DJs Tiziano & Luca.

GREAT SCOTT, Allston. At 9:30 p.m., "The Pill" Britpop, indie, with DJs Ken & Terence, 1986.

G-SPOT, Boston. "Deep, sexy house" with DJs Mike Traylor & Paul Incus.

GYPSY BAR, (617-482-7799), 116 Boylston St., Boston. DJ Gabe.

HONG KONG, Cambridge. Top 40 Hip-Hop, Rock & Club Classics with M.C. Renn.

ID, Boston. "Bashment" Reggae beats with DJ King Ilabash.

THE INTERNATIONAL, Boston. "The Basement" house music with DJ Bradford James.

LIQUOR STORE, (617-357-6800), 25 Boylston Pl., Boston. . "Fashion Fridays" with DJ Roland Lopez.

JUKEBOX, Boston. Top 40 and retro dance night.

THE KELLS, Allston. "Ladies Night" with DJs Doc and Kieran.

MAN RAY, Cambridge. "4," trendy fetish industrial with DJ Chris Ewen and trance with DJ Brad Gwynn.

McGANN’S, Boston. At 10 p.m., Hip-hop, R&B, Reggae, & House with DJ Sparky.

THE MODERN, Boston. At 10 p.m., Latin house with DJ JC.

ORLEANS, Somerville. DJ Tom.

THE PALACE, Saugus. "Rio" Brazil’s Carnaval; "Uptown" DJs spin faves from the ’70s and ’80s; "Oxygen" rap, hip-hop, top 40, and progressive dance; "Male Encounter" all-male dance review. "Rockpile."

PHOENIX LANDING, Cambridge. "Jukebox Heroes" with Phat Mike.

THE PLACE, Boston. At 10 p.m., VJ Laptop.

THE POINT, Boston. "Fluid," house and techno, with DJ troupe Recordheadz.

Q, Boston. "Hip-hop & Top 40" with DJ Massai.

THE RACK, Boston. At 9 p.m., DJ Brian Roche.

REDLINE, Cambridge. At 9 p.m., DJs Rodney Marable & Craig Kapilow.

ROGGIE’S, Brighton. Upstairs: Ali. Lounge: "Dance Your Ass Off" with DJ Hoff.

THE ROXY, Boston. At 10:30 p.m., "The Cat Club" with DJ Adilson plus special guest DJs.

SCRUFFY MURPHY’S, Dorchester. "Party Time" with DJ Jen.

SISSY K’S, Boston. Upstairs: Hi-NRG and pop house, with DJ Tom McKenna.

SPONTANEOUS CELEBRATIONS, Jamaica Plain. "Next Level" with DJ Nomadik, Kwesi Johnson, Kiki Breevlife, Ladies of Boston Reggae.

SUGAR SHACK, Boston. "Boston’s A-List" Hip hop, old school, and top 40 with DJ B-Spin.

SWEETWATER CAFE, Boston. Old and new dance hits with DJs KC and Gallo.

OPAL LOUNGE, Boston. "Future/Retro."

TOAST, Somerville. "Mash Ave" with Lenlow & DJ BC.

TRATTORIA IL PANINO, Boston. ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s with DJ Zino; progressive, top-40, club, and international with DJ Peter D.

21st AMENDMENT, Boston. DJ Sean Daly.

VENU, Boston. "Roomba," Latin sounds with DJ Roger M, and house with DJ Arsit.

VERTIGO, Boston. "Dream Lounge," international, Latin and house with DJ Marcocci, and vocal and high energy house with DJ Soulheris.

WEST STREET GRILLE, Boston. Top 40 funk and dance with DJs Gabe and Lazee Boy.

COMEDY

BEANTOWN COMEDY VAULT, (781-729-2565), at Remington’s, 124 Boylston St., Boston. "Boston Attitude" with Courtney Cronin.

COMEDY CONNECTION, , (617-248-9700), Upstairs at Faneuil Hall, Boston. At 8 and 10:15 p.m., Jake Johannsen.

COMEDY STUDIO, (617-864-5311), 1236 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Chris Coxen, Sean Caulfield, Mike Whitman, Tissa Hami, Eric Riley, Mary Beth Cowan, Brian Longwell, Walsh Bros.

IMPROV ASYLUM, (617-263-6887), 216 Hanover St., Boston. At 9 and 11 p.m., "Lies, Half Truths and the American Way."

IMPROVBOSTON THEATRE, (617-576-1253), 1253 Cambridge St., Cambridge. At 8 and 10 p.m., "Beanpot Tourney."

KOWLOON, (781-233-0077), Rte. 1 North, Saugus. At 8 and 10 p.m., Jim Lauletta, Ira Proctor, Greg Howell.

NICK’S COMEDY STOP, (617-482-0930), 100 Warrenton St., Boston. At 8:45 p.m., Chance Langton, Al Klemick, Larry Norton.

CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERTS

Just one premiere after another at the BSO: this week, it’s the American debut of the Fourth Symphony of Karl Amadeus Hartmann, whose name may suggest Mozart but whose music continues in the tradition of Mahler and Bruckner. After intermission, however, we get real Mozart, in the form of his Gran Partita for 12 Winds and Double Bass, the work whose first Adagio drives Salieri to despair in Amadeus. Ingo Metzmacher will be the guest conductor for performances tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m., at Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston. Tickets are $27 to $105; call (617) 266-1200.

The BSO in Jordan Hall? Has that ever happened before? No, wait, it’s the "other" BSO, the Brockton Symphony Orchestra, with music director Jonathan Cohler, come to town to show what it can do. Lack of ambition will not be a problem: the program comprises the world premiere of former Red Sneaker Thomas Oboe Lee’s Concerto for Orchestra, the third movement of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, with 10-year-old Momo Wong, Doppler’s Hungarian Fantasy, Saint-Saëns’s Second Piano Concerto, with Amira Acre, and, oh yes, Stravinsky’s still-formidable Sacre du printemps. It all starts at 8 p.m., Jordan Hall is at 30 Gainsborough Street in Boston, and tickets are $15 to $35, $13 to $31 for seniors, $10 to 28 for students; call (617) 585-1260.

The recently formed early-music chorus Exsultemus visits the Burgundian court at Dijon during the Renaissance for a concert whose centerpiece is a Mass setting by court composer Pierre de la Rue. That’s at 8 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church of Boston, 299 Berkeley Street, and tickets are $10 to $20; call (857) 998-0219.

The great operatic baritone Sherrill Milnes — the heartthrob of many a matinee lady who saw him play the evil but sexy Scarpia in Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera — presents two events at MIT today, both free and open to the public. At noon, he talks about his brilliant career; then at 7 p.m., he conducts a master class with MIT students. That’s in Killian Hall, 160 Memorial Drive in Cambridge; call (617) 253-2826.

OPERA. Looking for inexpensive opera performed by talented up-and-comers? The Boston University Opera Institute generally has your ticket. This weekend, Benjamin Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia is on tap. Performances are tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Boston University Theatre, 264 Huntington Avenue in Boston. Tickets are $10 to $15; call (617) 933-8600.

BOSTON LYRIC OPERA CONDUCTED BY STEPHEN LORD performs the children’s opera The Little Prince tonight at 7 p.m., tomorrow at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sun. at 2 p.m. at the Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St., Boston. Tickets $40-$75; (800) 447-7400.

OTHER CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERTS:

CALDER STRING QUARTET performs works by Haydn, Debussy, and Bartók at 8 p.m. at MIT, Kresge Auditorium, 48 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Free; (617) 253-9800.

HARRY CHERRIN performs saxophone works by Howard Frazin, Shih-Hui Chen, John McDonald, and Michael McLaughlin at 8 p.m. at Tufts University, Alumnae Hall, Aidekman Arts Center, 40 Talbot St., Medford. Free; (617) 627-4042.

STUART FORSTER gives an organ recital at 12:15 p.m. at Old South Church, 645 Boylston St., Boston. Donations accepted; (617) 536-0944 ext. 376.

DALE HENDERSON AND STEPHEN YENGER perform works for cello and piano by Beethoven at 7 p.m. at the Community Music Center of Boston, 34 Warren Ave., Boston. Donations accepted; (617) 482-7494.

MARSH CHAPEL CHORUS performs works by Heinrich Schütz at 8 p.m. at Marsh Chapel, 735 Comm. Ave., Boston. Suggested donation $10; (617) 353-3560.

NEW ENGLAND LIGHT OPERA presents "Night and Day: A Cole Porter Celebration" at 8 p.m. at the First and Second Church, 66 Marlborough St., Boston. Tickets $20, $18 for seniors, $5 for kids 18 and under; (978) 887-2045.

POPULAR MUSIC CONCERTS

ROOTS. In sort of a When We Were Kings moment for the alt-country crowd, founding Jayhawks Mark Olson and Gary Louris have buried the hatchet and made nice for a tour that brings both — minus the Jayhawks rhythm section — to the Somerville Theatre. Olson split after 1995’s Tomorrow the Green Grass to play with his wife, Victoria Williams, but he was reported to be incensed when Louris carried on the ’hawks without him. They didn’t talk for six years, but a 2001 soundtrack gig dragged them back together, and they appear to be testing the waters for a full-fledged reunion. The Somerville is at 55 Davis Square; it’s a 7:30 p.m. show and tickets are $22.50. Call (617) 931-2000.

INDIE FOLK. In the pantheon of bedroom lap-top indie pop, New Haven punk turned singer-songwriter Hrishikesh Hirway, who records as the One A.M. Radio, is more Pinback than Postal Service: his A Name Writ in Water (Level Plane) sounded like the work of an up-and-coming indie-folkie who just happened to know a little ProTools. But there’s some serious beat science on his new EP, One the Shore of the Wide World, which includes remixes by Anticon’s Alias, Ninja Tune’s Daedalus, and Plug Research’s John Tejada. Due back this way in April to open for Animal Collective, Hirway is headlining at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard Street in Brookline, at midnight (that is, first thing Saturday morning). Tickets are $7; call (617) 734-2501.

OTHER POP MUSIC CONCERTS:

HARRY FIX performs at 6 p.m. at the Mary Baker Eddy Library, 200 Mass. Ave., Boston. Free; (617) 450-7000.

STEVE LANTNER QUARTET performs at 8 p.m. at the Aritsts-at-Large Gallery, First Congregational Church, 6 Webster St., Hyde Park. Suggested donation $8-$10; (617) 276-3223.

DANCE/PARTICIPATORY

BALKAN DANCE is at 7:30 p.m. at Scalzi School of Dance, 101 Bigelow Ave., Watertown. Tickets $8; (617) 840-2362.

ENGLISH FOLK DANCE is at 7:30 p.m. at Harvard-Epworth Church, 1555 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Tickets $6, $3 for kids; (781) 641-2782.

HAVANA CLUB SALSA is at 8:30 p.m. at the Greek Club, 288 Green St., Cambridge. Tickets $12; (617) 312-5550.

INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE is at 8 p.m. at Park Avenue Congregational Church, 50 Paul Revere Rd., Arlington. Tickets $7, $4 for students; (781) 662-7475.

EVENTS

DISNEY ON ICE presents Finding Nemo today at 1 and 7 p.m., tomorrow at 11 a.m., 3, and 7 p.m., and Sun. at 1 and 5 p.m. at the FleetCenter, Causeway St. at North Station, Boston. Tickets $15-$70; (617) 931-2000.

NEW ENGLAND HOME SHOW with celebrity appearances, state-of-the-art kitchen displays, living garden sculptures, and more is today from 1 to 9 p.m., tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Ave., Braintree. Tickets $10, $3 for children 6-12; (781) 849-0990.

AT THE MOVIES

OPENING THIS WEEKEND: We start off this week with Diary of a Mad Black Woman, in which first-time director Darren Grant adapts the Tyler Perry play about a woman whose husband wants to divorce her on their 20th wedding anniversary in order to marry her best friend. Kimberly Elise and Steve Harris star. And if her cheating spouse isn’t enough to put her in a bad mood, wait till she sees the bottom-of-the-barrel movies that share this weekend. In Man of the House, Tommy Lee Jones plays a Texas Ranger protecting a group of cheerleaders. Stephen Herek (Life or Something Like It) directs. And Wes Craven may or may not regain his credentials as an A-list B-movie director with Cursed, the shaggy-dog story of three LA youths bitten by a werewolf who must hunt the creature down to save their souls. Christina Ricci stars. Neither of these two films was screened for us, so you’re on your own.

For more movies and showtimes, see our Movie Theater directory.

READINGS & LECTURES

"GREENSOBOR MASSACRE 1979: BLACK LIBERATION THROUGH SOCIALIST REVOLUTION" is a discussion with the Spartacus Youth Club at 5 p.m. at the First Parish Church, 3 Church St., Cambridge. Free; (617) 666-9453.

THEATER

If your rockabilly heart is still pining for 1950s post-war innocence, head out to catch Red Herring at the Lyric Stage Company (140 Clarendon Street, Boston). Set in 1952, this noir comedy revolves around three love stories, a murder, and, of course, the ever-present specter of nuclear annihilation. Written by Michael Hollinger and directed by Courtney A. O’Connor, this twisting tale of marital woe and bliss received the Barrymore Award for Outstanding New Play in 2000. Curtain is at 8, and tickets start at $19. For more dates, times, and tickets, log on to www.lyricstage.com

Playwright Tony Kushner is often the most intriguing act in town, and so it is with Homebody/Kabul, which continues its Boston run tonight courtesy of Boston Theatre Works. The eerily prescient epic, written before September 11, begins in London, where the Afghani-obsessed housewife of the title chats about fezzes and travel brochures, then advances to the ancient streets of Kabul, into which she seems to have disappeared. Elliot Norton Award winner Nancy E. Carroll stars in Jason Southerland’s production, which is in the BCA Plaza Theatre at the Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont Street in the South End, through March 19. Tickets are $27 to $30, $24 to $27 for seniors, $20 for students; call (617) 933-8600.

Duking it out in the Theater District tonight are multi-Tony-winning recidivists Cats and The Producers. The Andrew Lloyd Webber spectacular based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats (and an unpublished poem about feline misfit Grizabella), the longest-running show in Broadway history, brings its kitty glitter and at least its ninth life to the Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont Street, through Sunday. Tickets are $25 to $75; call (800) 447-7400. A block away, it’s "Springtime for Hitler" as Mel Brooks’s 2001 Broadway hit (based on his 1968 film) about an unscrupulous duo who try to make a killing by overcapitalizing an intended Broadway flop featuring Nazis in sequins, revisits the Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston Street, through March 6. Tickets are $30.50 to $97.50; call (617) 931-ARTS.