The Stranger

(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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(TALK) As a second grader, my friend Tom had two crushes. One on Eileen McCarthy, his playmate, and another on John Dean, President Nixon's legal counsel who exposed the Watergate cover-up. Tom met his longtime crush earlier this year when Dean spoke at Town Hall about the Bush administration's eavesdropping program, and reports that the button-down conservative is still crushworthy. See for yourself as Dean returns to discuss his latest presidential takedown, Conservatives Without Conscience. (Town Hall Seattle, 1119 Eighth Ave, 624-6600. 7:30 pm, $5.) by Josh Feit

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(LEGAL GAMBLING/VARIETY SHOW) After a good couple of years honing its shtick and delighting crowds at the Rendezvous, Big Wheel Bingo—the po-mo game show/variety hour masterminded by Kaleb Hagan-Kerr, who doubles as host Bing Wheeler—finds a new home among the Frenchy psychedelica of Can Can Kitchen and Cabaret. It's a night of glitzy game-show theatrics; special guest stars; good old-fashioned bingo; and thanks to the new locale, surprisingly yummy food and drink. (Can Can, 94 Pike Street, 652-0832. 9:30 pm, bingo is free, 21+.) by David Schmader

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