Philly trio G. Love & Special Sauce bring their laid-back funky grooves to the Visulite Theatre tonight. The group, who's still probably best known for their self-titled debut released back in "94, has been to town a few times -- CityFest Live, the amphitheater and Grady Cole Center come to mind -- but the confines and intimacy of the Visulite should provide G. and cohorts Jimi Jazz and Houseman their best setting yet for a Queen City appearance. As for the music? It's hard to peg -- G. (aka Garrett Dutton) was obviously weaned on a diet of classic blues and folk music (he even sports the Dylan harmonica set-up), but he's also down with reggae, soul and hip hop. Whatever you decide to call it, it's good stuff and the show is one not to miss. Doors open at 8pm and the music starts around 9pm. Tickets cost $24 for members and $26 for guests. For more info, call the Visulite, located at 1615 Elizabeth Ave., at 704-358-9200.
What else can be said about the Charlotte Sting except that they are definitely on fire this season? With 16 wins under their belt, our team is number two in the entire eastern conference. Come out and see the team in action tonight as they take on the Indiana Fever at7pm, and this Sunday when they play the New York Liberty at 6pm. Tickets range in price from $8 to $53. Call 1-277-WNBA-TIX for more information. Come on out and join the excitement at the Hive. (Simpson)
AUGUST 21 - THURSDAY
Pauly Shore is on tour, performing two shows at The Comedy Zone tonight at 8pm and 10:15pm. The wea-sel is on the road to promote his newest flop --I mean film, You'll Never Wiez in This Town Again. For me, it doesn't get any better than Encino Man -- Pauly's brand of comedy is an acquired taste: you either love him or you love to hate him. I fall in the former, but either way, tickets cost $25 per person. Call 704-348-HAHA for reservations. Visit www.comedyzone.net for details. (Herman)
AUGUST 22 - FRIDAY
In its fifth year, the Brightstar Music Festival goes into overtime, offering a second weekend of thrilling chamber music at Spirit Square. Spoleto Festival favorites Chee-Yun and Andres Diaz join the festivities, teaming together with pianist Jeremy Denk in Felix Mendelssohn's invigorating Piano Trio #2. Toss in a Mozart Clarinet Quintet, featuring Mark Nuccio on the licorice and viola hotshot Paul Coletti, and you'll leave wanting more. Come and get it Saturday night with Brahms, Stravinsky, and Charles Martin Loeffler's Rhapsodies for Oboe, Viola, and Piano on the menu. Call 704-372-1000. (Tannenbaum)
AUGUST 23 - SATURDAY
If you can hum the opening intro to the ultimate air guitar tune "Louie Louie," you probably have at least a passing interest in the six-string monster. If you are a diehard lover of the guitar and its endless musical possibilities, then the Carolina Guitar Show may put the twang in your weekend. Indulge your senses and take a guitar for a road test or get into the buy-sell-swap dealings of tons of guitars, amps, effects, pedals, instructional videos, books and anything else related to the guitar. New and used, hard-to-find and vintage guitars will cover the walls and tables at the annual event. Just browse or pick up replacement strings or find the perfect guitar you've dreamed of. The show will take place at the Oasis Shrine Auditorium, off WT Harris Blvd, on Saturday, August 23 (9am-6pm), and Sunday, August 24 (9am-5pm). Tickets are $8 at the door (a buck off if you bring in a stringed instrument). Children 12 and under get in free with a paid adult. For more details, visit www.bee3vintage.com or call 828-298-2197. (Shukla)
AUGUST 24 - SUNDAY
The good folks at Fu's Tattoo (along with Rodney Raines from Ace Tattoo) are presenting a tattoo art show tonight, entitled Don't Know What You Got "Til It's Gone: Life Without The Thing You Need The Most. Some 30 regional "career" tattoo artists will be contributing original works inspired by the theme listed above, and Fu's will display the results for two weeks. The show will take place from 7pm until 11pm, and many of the artists will be on hand. Refreshments will be available. For more information, call Fu's at 704-376-4556. (Davis)
By now most of you have at least heard of MTV's hit reality show The Osbournes. If you are one of the millions who have tuned in, then you know that in the world of hard rock, Ozzy Osbourne still reigns as the "prince of fuckin' darkness" and on the homefront, well, he's just a teddy bear of a dad who'd do anything for his wife and kids...and maybe even one or two of their pets. Anyway, in keeping with all that is dark and ungodly, Ozzy and wife Sharon have recruited another monster of a lineup for their annual summer outing known as OzzFest. And today, on a Sunday no less, Ozzy and Co. -- Marilyn Manson, Korn, Disturbed, Chevelle, Cradle of Filth, Voivod, Nothingface, Twisted Method and several more hardcore metal acts with names that probably make their own mothers wince -- take over Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre for an entire day of metal madness. Our schedule says the mayhem begins at 9am but we're certain it'll continue well into the hours of darkness, too. Tickets cost $39.50, $65.50 and, for the fearless who dare to enter "the pit" area, $100.50. Call the venue's hotline at 704-549-5555, for more details. (Farris)
