Miss Mary’s Art Space Benefit
Valentine’s, Saturday

The come-on in the press release—“Start the new year with a brutal punch in the face!”—may or may not be tempting to you, but the fact that this hardcore holiday blowout is a benefit for the recently displaced Miss Mary’s Art Space should help you make up your mind. Funds will help keep the well-loved and wandering arts “space” afloat and aid in its quest for permanent digs. On Saturday, Once and for All, J.B.A., XfilesX, Holding the Knife, Bad Business and Written in Stone all join forces in the name of art—and brutal face punching. (Jan. 4, 6 PM, $6, 432-6572)

BIBLE STUDY

Photo by John Whipple

Bible Study, Panache
The Larkin Lounge, Saturday

It’s a CD-release extravaganza for Bible Study this Saturday. The trio’s new album No Dice, Chicago! will be hot off the presses for your home listening enjoyment. Count on hearing a few of the disc’s choice tunes, along with older material and their dependably eclectic covers (“Hall of the Mountain King” has been joined by a go at Bowie’s “Space Oddity” in recent shows.) We’re particularly hoping they play “Hammer and Sickle,” a threatening love ballad with the following couplet: “The crocodile tears its prey to pieces as it drowns/But I’ll do much worse to you if I catch you fooling around.” Whew. The last time they played the Larkin, it was acoustic; electricity will be employed this time. Panache are also on the program. (Jan. 4, 8 PM, $5, 463-5225)

Elvis Birthday Party
Savannah’s, Friday
The Ale House, Sunday

It’s the special time of the year when we get out our Elvis nostalgia and wear it on our sleeves (unless, of course, you’re a year-round Elvis fanatic bringing your love of Elvis wherever you may roam), while celebrating the birthday (Jan. 8) of the man who helped bring rock & roll to the masses. There are a few such fêtes planned; the two highlighted here taking place at the downtown Albany hub Savannah’s (Friday) and at Troy’s Ale House (Sunday). Each bash features stalwart rock & roll outfits Johnny Rabb and the Jailhouse Rockers and the Lustre Kings providing the tunage—as only they know how—and Sunday’s gig at the Ale House also will include the father-and-son team of John and Graham Tichy, known around these parts as having some sort of special powers (that we’re pleased to say they use for good). So, celebrate the King in style, won’t you? (Savannah’s: Jan. 3, 10 PM, $5; Ale House: Jan. 5, 7 PM, $5)

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