Friday, Dec. 9th

Mariachi Veritas. The Harvard mariachi ensemble performs traditional Mexican music to celebrate the winter season. Fong Auditorium. 7 p.m. $6. (CNC)

Kroks and Callbacks. The Krokidiloes and Callbacks join together to present “Underneath the Mistletoe.” Sanders Theatre. 8 p.m. $10 general admission, $6 students. (CNC)

Ying Quartet. Part of the Houghton Chamber Library Music Series, this event will feature the Blodgett Artists in Residence performing a program of Beethoven, Michael Torke, and Dvorák. Edison and Newman Room, Houghton Library. 8 p.m. $20 general admission, $10 students. (CNC)

Sand Machine. Boston folk-rock band Sand Machine plays selections from their EP “Running of the Tree Frogs Week.” A cross between late Beatles, The Band, and Neil Young, Sand Machine will play alongside fellow Bostonians The Gulf, Freighttrain, and Medina Sod. The Middle East Downstairs. 8 p.m. $10. (JSA)

Railroad Earth with Honkytonk Homeslice. This staple of the American roots music scene presents a blend of vocals and acoustic instrumentals to create its unique sound. Paradise Rock Club. 8 p.m. Tickets available through Next Ticketing. $15. (JDMC)

The Figgs with Teenage Prayers and The Contact Highs. Together since their founding in 1987, The Figgs have been around longer than most bands—and many Harvard students. Openers are The Contact Highs at 9:30 p.m. and Teenage Prayers at 9:30. T.T. The Bear’s Place. 11:30 p.m. Tickets available through Ticketmaster. $10. (MFK)

Saturday, Dec. 10th

Christmas on the Common. The Radcliffe Choral Society presents their annual Christmas concert. First Church Congregational. 8 p.m. $16 general admission, $8 students. (CNC)

“Such Sweet Thunder.” The Harvard Jazz Band performs the music of Duke Ellington with guest artist Don Byron. Lowell Lecture Hall. 8 p.m. $10 general admission, $7 students. (CNC)

Comedy For A Cause Stand-Up Comedy Night. The Harvard Concert Commission brings you a night of stand-up comedy to benefit the victims of the South Asian earthquake. Comics scheduled to perform include Lisa Lampanelli, Kevin Brennan, Mitch Fatel, Modi, Judah Friedlander, Todd Barry, and Azhar Usman. Sanders Theatre. 8 p.m. $25 general admission, $10 students. (CNC)

X with Juliana Hatfield. Started in 1977, this punk band is one of the most important influences on the alternative rock scene. Avalon. 7 p.m. Tickets available through Ticketmaster. $20. (JDMC)

Cage. German-born, Middletown, NY-raised rapper Cage will promote his new Def Jux release “Hell’s Winter” at the Middle East Downstairs. The MC, who spent time in a mental institution prior to his rap career, will be assisted by a slew of rappers, including Camu Tao, Slaine, Awkward Landing, Colony Underground, Al-Jabra, and Soular Winds. The Middle East Downstairs. 8 p.m. $15. (JSA)

Xmas Rock & Roll Odyssey III. The name doesn’t lie: with performances slated to start at 8 p.m. and run well past midnight, this truly is an evening of epic proportions. Musicians will include DJPJ spinning rockabilly and country at 8, Screamin Scotty at 8:30, The Cobra-Matics at 9:20, King Memphis at 10:10, Johnny Carlevale & The Broken Rhythm Boys at 11, Thru the Keyhole Burlesque at 11:05, Sean Mencher Combo at 11:50, and Raging Teens at 12:40 a.m. T.T. The Bear’s Place. $12. (MFK)

Mr. Brownstone with Heather. The self-titled “World’s Drunkest GnR Tribute” brings “unmitigated debauchery” to their performance. Paradise Rock Club. 8 p.m. Tickets available through Next Ticketing. $12 in advance, $14 day of show. (JDMC)

Sunday, Dec. 11th

Pretty Girls Make Graves, The Double, and Tangiers. Indie rock group Pretty Girls Make Graves earned critical acclaim for the anthemic indie rock of their last release, 2003’s “The New Romance.” They’ll be joined by bands The Double and Tangiers. The Middle East Downstairs. 8 p.m. $10. (JSA)

Grizzly Bear with Tom Thumb & the Latter Day Saints and Tiger Saw. According to Spin Magazine, “The Grizz offer tender and creepy folk mantras that function as a Paxil substitute or antidote, depending on your disposition.” Openers are Tiger Saw at 9:15 p.m. and Tom Thumb & the Latter Day Saints at 10:15 p.m. T.T. The Bear’s Place. 11:15 p.m. $7. (MFK)

Monday, Dec. 12th

Living Things with The Konks and Black Clouds. Critics and fans alike praise Living Things for their unapologetic attitude and vintage rock music. Black Clouds will open at 9 p.m., followed by The Konks at 9:50. T.T. The Bear’s Place. 10:45 p.m. Tickets available through Ticketmaster. $8 in advance, $10 day of show. (MFK)

Tuesday, Dec. 13th

Blood on the Wall with Psychic Ills and Headband. “Awesomer”—Blood on the Wall’s 2005 album of ’90s nostalgia—is admirable for its title if nothing else. Come on, who names an album not only awesome, but awesomer? They’ll be accompanied by similarly awesome bands Headband at 9:15 p.m. and Psychic Ills at 10:15. T.T. The Bear’s Place. 11:15 p.m. Tickets available through Ticketmaster, $8. (MFK)

Wed., Dec. 14th

Wheatus, Midstates, Say When, and The Appreciation Post. Wheatus promotes their new album “Too Soon Monsoon” with Midstates, Say When, and The Appreciation Post. The Middle East Downstairs. 8 p.m. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. (JSA)

Living Colour with Danielia Cotton. After a 10-year hiatus, the band reassembled to produce “CollideOscope,” which features the emotional song “Flying,” about a couple that meets on Sept. 11, 2001 in the World Trade Center. Paradise Rock Club. 7 p.m. Tickets available through Next Ticketing. $20. (JDMC)



The Earlies with Brendan Little and Lincoln Conspiracy. The Earlies’ first-ever North American tour makes a stop in Cambridge with Boston natives Lincoln Conspiracy at 9:15 p.m. and fellow Bostonian Brendan Little at 10:15. T.T. The Bear’s Place. 11:15 p.m. Tickets available through Ticketmaster. $10. (MFK)

Thursday, Dec.15th

The Luxury, The Break Mission, Tremulant, and Thick as Thieves. Until recently known as Redletter, The Break Mission recently signed to RoHo Records NYC and have just released their eponymous debut album. Also playing that night are The Luxury, Tremulant, and Thick as Thieves. The Middle East Downstairs. 8 p.m. $10. (JSA)

We Are Wolves, Controller Controller, On Fire, and Drab. Self-described as “a gang of three, four including rock,” We Are Wolves’ midnight performance caps a show that also includes Drab at 9 p.m, On Fire at 10, and Controller Controller at 11. T.T. The Bear’s Place. Tickets available through Ticketmaster. $7. (MFK)

Performances

Ruddigore, or The Witch’s Curse. Through Dec. 10. The Harvard-Radcliffe Gilbert and Sullivan Players put on a classic Gilbert and Sullivan parody of Victorian melodrama. Agassiz Theatre. 8 p.m. Tickets available through the Harvard Box Office, (617) 496-2222. $12/10 general admission, $8/6 students. (AMF)

Kuumba Christmas Concert. Through Dec. 10. The 100-member choir dedicated to black creativity and spirituality performs its annual Christmas Concert. Memorial Church. 7 p.m. Free. (CNC)

“Peter J. Gomes” and the Wolf. Through Dec. 10. The Bach Society Orchestra performance includes “Peter and the Wolf” with The Reverend Professor Peter J. Gomes and “Sonatina” by Derrick Wang ’06. Paine Hall. 8 p.m. $10 general admission, $6 students. (CNC)

Inaugural Dance Center Concert. Through Dec. 10. Contemporary Dance Ensemble performs Jose Limon’s “Suite from a Choreographic Offering,” to inaugurate the new Harvard Dance Center. Harvard Dance Center. 8 p.m. $10 general admission, $8 students. (CNC)

Desdemona: A Play About A Handkerchief. Through Dec. 10. Paula Vogel’s “Desdemona” rewrites Shakespeare’s “Othello.” Adams House Pool Theatre. 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. $8 general admission, $5 students. (CNC)

Hello, Dali! Through Dec. 17. The Currier House Drama Society presents an original work by Currier residents Kiernan P. Schmitt ’06-’07 and Austin “Mac” Soto ’07. Currier House Fishbowl. 7:30 p.m. $8 general admission, $6 students. (CNC)

No Sex Please, We’re British. Through Dec. 17. Watch as the Leverett House Arts Society stages the longest-running British stage comedy of all time. Leverett Old Library. 8 p.m. $20 general admission, $7 students. (CNC)

Exhibits

The Century of Bach and Mozart: Perspectives on Historiography, Composition, Theory and Performance. Through Dec. 23. This joint exhibition features original sheet music from the pillars of classical music, as well as an original watercolor painting by Mozart of…an ear. Houghton and Loeb Music Libraries. Free. (KAK)

Paul Robeson as Othello. Through Jan. 13, 2006. As the first African-American actor to take the role of Othello in over a century, Paul Robeson won a 20-minute standing ovation and made his 1943 Broadway show “the most important Shakespearean production of the century,” according to Frank Wilson, the curator of this exhibit, which features photographs and documents surrounding Robeson’s Othello. Pusey Library. Free. (LEB)

Silver and Shawls. Through Jan. 29, 2006. This exhibit highlights shawls and silver tableware produced in India during the late colonial period, focusing on the evolution of the former toward European styles and the latter toward more traditional Indian designs. A series of gallery talks and lectures throughout the semester will accompany the show. Arthur M. Sackler Museum. Free. (KAK)

Stratification: An Installation of Works Since 1960. Through Feb. 26, 2006. Curatorial intern M. Celka Straughn organized this exhibit of German and Swiss painters and sculptors highlighting seven key pieces from the museum’s collection. Several undergraduates were also involved in the project and will be giving gallery talks. The Busch-Reisinger Museum. Free. (DJH & LRC)

—Happening was compiled by J. Samuel Abbott, Lois E. Beckett, Lindsay R. Canant, Casey N. Cep, Jennifer D. M. Chang, Alexandra M. Fallows, Daniel J. Hemel, Marianne F. Kaletzky, and Kimberly A. Kicenuik.