The Stranger

(FUNDRAISER) In the same way I'd rather buy a Real Change newspaper than hand a crumpled bill to some jerko in front of Jack in the Box, a fundraiser should give something BACK to you. Tonight's benefit—for The Rambler, a new film by supertalented local punks and filmmakers Calvin Lee Reeder and Brady Hall—is sure to put the "fun" back in "fundraiser." For a mere $5 donation, you get a screening of THREE amazing new short films (Piledriver, Little Farm, Kite Flyers) and live music by THREE new bands—mishy-mashups featuring members of the Intelligence, the Pulses, and Holy Ghost Revival—all hosted by Jerkbeast. (Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave, 441-5823. 10:30 pm, $5.) by Kelly O

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(MUSICAL CINEMA EXTRAVAGANZA) It's a most promising pairing: Busby Berkeley, the cinema-choreography genius of the 1930s, and Chris Jeffries, Seattle's beloved theatrical composer and first-ever Stranger Genius Award winner for theater. For Kaleidoscope Eyes: Songs for Busby Berkeley, Jeffries has written a series of new songs that he'll perform live to 16 of Berkeley's greatest film sequences, packed with dazzling dames, breathtaking visual spectacle, and, if we're lucky, at least one roller-skating baby. (Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, brownpapertickets.com. Thurs–Sun, 8 pm, $15/$12. Through July 30. ) by David Schmader

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(WORLD MUSIC) The beauty of Maria de Barros is matched by the beauty of her voice, which is called the soul of Cape Verde. The beauty of Maria de Barros is also matched by the beauty of the language she sings in, Portuguese, and the music she makes, which is a smooth fusion of Iberian, Caribbean, black African, and South American rhythms. Do something different for once and go and see live music from an island whose name rarely (if ever) enters your consciousness. (Town Hall Seattle, 1119 Eighth Ave, 575-3472 or 325-2993. 8 pm, $20.) by Charles Mudede

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(COMEDY) In the United Kingdom, during the Thatcher years, when "alternative comedy" first gained ascendancy, there was a popular joke: "Hi, I'm an alternative comedian. Every other joke I tell is funny." These three boys have affiliations with Stella, The State, and SNL, but, more importantly, they beat the alternative-comedy average—two out of every three jokes they tell are funny. (Chop Suey, 1325 E Madison St, 324-8000. 9 pm, $10 adv, 21+.) by Brendan Kiley

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(MUSIC) Imagine Dry-era PJ Harvey infused with the effusive confidence of Catherine Keener and you've got a pretty decent idea of what makes Moaners frontwoman Melissa Swingle so compelling. The former Trailer Bride is a Southern-bred siren who sings deliciously dark tales of deviance and redemption, and occasionally throws in a little saw playing for good measure. (Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave NW, 789-3599. 9 pm, $10, 21+.) by Hannah Levin

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(THEATER) I haven't seen the production, but I've read the world-premiere script by local playwright Elizabeth Heffron, and it's subtler, lighter, and funnier than the title indicates. The play features a 22-year-old Army bride, an Esperanto club, and Thomas Aquinas, the Catholic saint and theologian, whose theory of "delayed ensoulment," once accepted as church doctrine, means a fetus isn't human until the second trimester. Whatever your right-to-life politics are, Mitzi's Abortion will complicate them. (Note: The Sunday, July 23, evening performance is pay what you can.) (ACT Theatre,700 Union Ave, 292-7676. 7:30 pm, $10–$54. Through Aug 20.) by Brendan Kiley

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