The Stranger

Today brings two worthy opportunities to commemorate the man who would be King of Pop. The Kenny Ortega–directed film This Is It documents rehearsals for Jackson's would-be comeback shows and sloppily accomplishes the impossible: rehumanizing Michael Jackson, presented here as a tireless, meticulous, generous, and witty working artist. And at the Seattle Laser Dome, Laser Michael Jackson blasts the man's greatest hits over a high-quality sound system with entertaining lights. (For This Is It showtimes, see Movie Times: thestranger.com/film. Seattle Laser Dome, Seattle Center, 443-2850. 8 pm, $8.50.) by David Schmader

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Tonight Devo recreate their 1978 debut LP, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!—a concept album with (robotic) legs. Its 10 originals laid out the Akron, Ohio, band's theories of de-evolution with mordant wit and discordant, spastic electronic rock that still sends jolts of excitement through skeptics and weirdos of all ages. Their absurdly stilted, jaggedly funky cover of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" is the cherry on this still-fresh cake. Plus, yellow boilersuits and flowerpot hats. (Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave, 877-784-4849. 7:30 pm, $38–$75, all ages.) by Dave Segal

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I know. I am aware. Worst title ever. Are you a movie about a circus? Or are you a vampire movie? Or are you a movie about a vampire who was too busy daubing shoe polish onto his widow's peak to goddamn show up, so he sent his assistant? Du freak? But whatever. Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant is medium awesome, if you like ridiculous magical shit for teens (WHICH I DO). Two dudes stumble upon an underworld of weird sideshow creatures and warring vampire clans. "Can I turn into a bat now?" "No. That's bullshit." (See Movie Times: thestranger.com/film.) by Lindy West

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Each song on the new Mountain Goats album, The Life of the World to Come, is named after a Bible verse. "Genesis 3:23" ("So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden..."), for instance, is a song about singer-songwriter John Darnielle visiting his old place in Portland and how you can't go home again. As ever, Darnielle's spare acoustic songs tell compelling, detail-rich stories of human misery and persevering hope. Opening is Final Fantasy, the oddball conceptual chamber-pop project of prolific orchestral arranger Owen Pallett. (Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave, www.ticketmaster.com. 8 pm, $20, all ages.) by Eric Grandy

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Finally, somebody's figured out how to make literature competitive and, therefore, sexy: Literary Death Match is a nationwide literary shoot-out that brings the blood sport to books. Re-bar hosts a boozy hand-to-hand battle between three authors (in this case Aaron Dietz, playwright Kelleen Conway Blanchard, brand-spanking-new Stranger Genius Stacey Levine, and Chumbawamba lead singer Danbert Nobacon). Three judges (All About Lulu author Jonathan Evison, former Arrested Development writer Maria Semple, and some douchebag named Paul Constant) will crush the losers' writerly dreams and elevate the winner to eternal glory. (Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 233-9873. 8 pm, $8 adv/ $10 DOS, 21+.) by Paul Constant

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