THURSDAY JUNE 19

Peter Madril
(MUSIC) During SIFF's multimedia Bollywood party, I enjoyed an incredible, yet poorly attended, Peter Madril set. Not saying that Madril's I â„¢ Shiva sessions are always poorly attended--indeed they are often packed. But sometimes, for reasons unknown, the people of this city decide to stay at home instead of going out to I â„¢ Shiva and being pleasured by some of the most beautiful electronica in the world. (Baltic Room, 1207 Pine St, 625-4444, 9 pm, 21+, $5. ) CHARLES MUDEDE

FRIDAY JUNE 20

Sunset Anniversary
(PARTY WEEKEND) After three years of serving up the bands, the karaoke, the drinks, and the Monday-night movies, the Sunset Tavern is throwing an anniversary party to celebrate all weekend. Tonight is the formal element, with a dress-up ball and music courtesy of the Nightcaps. Tomorrow is the country-fied barn dance with two shows, starting at 3 pm and going late (featuring Austin's the Weary Boys, Blue Spark, and more), and Sunday features the campy Ballard Wrestling Federation in action with a live soundtrack between rounds from Transmita Olvido and NOM. Birthday parties should always be this involved. (Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave NW, 784-4880. ) JENNIFER MAERZ

Blur
(MUSIC) Phil Daniels is one of my idols--in case you don't recognize his name, he played Jimmy in Quadrophenia. Though I was already a manic fan of Blur's early albums, when Parklife came out and the title track featured a monologue by Daniels ("I get up when I want, except on Wednesdays when I get rudely awakened by the dustman. I put my trousers on, have a cup of tea, and I think about leavin' me house") it became (and remains) my favorite Blur album. Though the band's latest, Think Tank, takes some dedicated listening and a bit of slashing through the weeds, it surely has its Parklife moments. (Showbox, 1426 First Ave, 628-3151, 9 pm, $29.50 adv, all ages. ) KATHLEEN WILSON


SATURDAY JUNE 21

School's Out Showcase
(MUSIC) Here's a chance for you to catch a heap of bands you've never heard of that you really should be paying attention to. DEK, Schoolyard Heroes, Smoosh, and Mechanical Dolls--their average age is probably 10 years younger than you ('cause you're old), but the rock factor is pretty impressive. In simple terms, DEK are snotty punk, Schoolyard Heroes are thrashing rock, Smoosh are adorable pop, and the Mechanical Dolls are sorta punk, sorta '70s-ish something (comparisons to the Runaways have been made). So if you're tired of the same old scene (emphasis on old) and want to hear something new, you now know where to go. You're welcome. (Fremont Street Fair, Evanston Ave & 34th St Stage, 1:30 pm, free. ) MEGAN SELING


SUNDAY JUNE 22

'Capturing the Friedmans'
(FILM) To watch the Friedman family fall apart after the father and youngest brother are accused of molesting kids in the family basement is like watching a Greek tragedy unfold, five people inexorably pulled down by their flaws, by personality, fate, and human failing--the angry elder brother, the bitter mother, the passive, tired father. This doesn't mean that Capturing the Friedmans is simple; you'll spend hours afterward arguing what really happened, and who behaved, in the end, the worst. Those arguments might surprise you. (See Movie Times, page 93. ) EMILY HALL


MONDAY JUNE 23

'The Exorcist'
(STAGED READING) Tonight brings the opening night of the second installment of Brown Derby's Satan's Bitch series, bringing high-octane staged readings of "Hollywood's most demonic screenplays" to the glamorous Re-bar. This time, the Derby turns to the scary-Catholic classic The Exorcist, adapted and directed by Ian Bell, and starring local talent-hogs Nick Garrison and Sarah Rudinoff, plus members of Bald Faced Lie. Get there early to get a good seat, and to get drunk. (Bald Faced Lie at Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 233-9873, 21+ with ID. $10 at the door. Mon-Wed June 23-25 at 8 pm. ) DAVID SCHMADER


TUESDAY JUNE 24

'The Light in the Piazza'
(THEATER) Transporting Elizabeth Spencer's meticulously witty novella to the musical stage would be a risky venture for anyone, but Intiman (with production help from Chicago's Goodman Theatre) has pulled it off beautifully, thanks to Adam Guettel's lovely score, an elegantly canny book by Craig Lucas, and some brilliant casting, particularly Victoria Clark, who should end her journey as Piazza's Margaret Johnson with a Tony in her hand. Intiman's premiere musical doesn't work on everyone (see page 27), but it knocked me out. I haven't had a theatrical experience this entrancingly heady since I don't know when. Go see it. (Intiman, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $35.50-$45. Tues-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through July 19. ) DAVID SCHMADER


WEDNESDAY JUNE 25

…And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
(MUSIC) What started out as crazed post-hardcore madness has evolved into a complicated mixture of symphonic elements and that same, well, crazed post-hardcore madness. Austin's long-monikered band AYWKUBTTOD was one of the highlights at this year's SXSW, bringing a string section on stage to accent the songs off their excellent recent LP and EP. Tonight they're back twice, first doing some sort of karaoke gig at Sonic Boom Records on 15th Avenue East and then taking the stage at the Showbox later that night (with an excellent set of openers, including Kinski, the Swords Project, and Mico de Noche). (Sonic Boom, 514 15th Ave E, 568-BOOM, time TBA, free; Showbox, 1426 First Ave, 628-3151, 8 pm, $13/$15, all ages.) JENNIFER MAERZ