Comedy: “Blue Collar” comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White will bring his cigar-smoking, scotch-drinking standup routine to the Auditorium Theatre (885 E. Main St.) at 7:30 p.m. tonight. Tickets are $39.50-$59.50. For more information, call 222-5000 or visit rbtl.org.
Music: Perhaps it’s the pageantry, the performance, the gypsy pride and passion. Caravan of Thieves, an all-acoustic troupe that combines guitars, violin, string bass, and an array of whatever percussion instruments the members can grasp, bang, or thump around with on stage, wears its street performance history on its well-dressed, top-hatted, and period-attire vested sleeves. Throw in a little bit of Queen, a ghost or two, and a carnival, and you have the general idea. Just watch out, because these thieves are looking to steal your musical heart and mind before the night is over. Jocelyn Mesiti opens. Caravan of Thieves performs Thursday, February 21, 9 p.m. at Lovin’ Cup, 300 Park Point Drive. $10. 292-9940, lovincup.com.
Theater: “Romance,” a comedic courtroom play by David Mamet, kicks off tonight at 7:30 p.m. at MuCCC (142 Atlantic Ave.). The show goes on through March 1, and tickets are $10-$20. For more information, call 527-0884 or visit limelightprod.org.
Music: I guess Before the Foundation’s Christian message wasn’t apparent until it added a vocalist. Hailing from just down the street in Lakeville, New York, BTF started out as a genre-busting, progressive metal outfit with a sick and thick wall of heavy guitar. It sounds relentlessly menacing and mean with equal appeal to secular metal fans as well, since the Cookie Monster-with-laryngitis-and-a-migraine vocals render the lyrics virtually inaudible. Nevertheless, it still rocks mightily.Before the Foundation plays Thursday, February 21, 6:30 p.m. at Water Street Music Hall, 204 N. Water St. $5-$10. waterstreetmusic.com.
Kids: Take the kiddos to the Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave.) today for Art and Story Stroll, which takes place 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Ages 2-5 with caregivers can enjoy an hour-long story reading and art viewing experience. Admission is $5 per adult, and free to kids. Register by calling 276-8971.
Music: Looking for some honky-tonk in town tonight? Look no further than Abilene (153 Liberty Pole Way, abilenebarandlounge.com) for the return of Whitey Morgan and The 78’s. Music starts at 9 p.m., cover runs $8-$12.
Lecture: Take in a lecture on Susan B. Anthony and “The Polite World” by Ms. Manners, Judith Martin, today at the Hawkins-Carlson Room in Rush Rhees Library (University of Rochester, River Campus). The event takes place at 5 p.m. and is free to attend. For more information, visit rochester.edu/college/humanities.
Music: Tala Vera’s (155 State St., tala-vera.com) Singer-Songwriter Spotlight series returns tonight, with Beet Juice, Aimee Bobruk, John Bornheimer, and Diannah McKenzie. Music starts at 8 p.m., tickets run $5-$7.
