write songs for his bands; Oberst forms his bands to contain the songs he continually writes. For this concert, he’ll join The Felice Brothers, whose cryptic, moody jams sound like honky tonk songs you hear in half-remembered dreams. In the time it takes them to perform this concert, Oberst will totally probably write 700 songs. (AK) 8p, $30,
House of Blues at Mandalay Bay
Oct. 12
Foot fetish That quintessential silver screen duo of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers had all the right moves, turning dance into a wordless fantasia of infatuation and romantic intoxication and *melts into steaming love-puddle*. Inspired by their sweet moves, in “Dancing & Romancing,” the Las Vegas Philharmonic celebrates the spirit of 1930s Broadway and Hollywood, highlighting the music of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and George Gershwin. (AK) 7:30p, $25-$94, Reynolds Hall
in The Smith Center
Oct. 12
Call it gypsycore Before they became the darlings of transcontinentalist hipsters, Gogol Bordello got their start playing gypsy tunes at Russian weddings. It’s an apt beginning for a band whose raucous, exuberant spirit is preoccupied with new beginnings and raw possibilities. Not that this is the kind of band you want to cerebralize about — rather, a Gogol Bordello show puts other body parts to work: legs and feet, hips and torsos — all that’s needed for a night of frenzied gypsy-punk flamenco-moshing. (AK) 8p, $25,
The Boulevard Pool at The Cosmopolitan
Oct. 13
[initiate Grobanite love protocol] For all his mainstream appeal and blockbuster success, it might be easy to write off Josh Groban as another entry in the classipop warbler category — that is, if the critics themselves didn’t find so
much to like in his voice, variously described — self-deprecatingly by Groban himself — as a “tenor in training” or a “baritone with some high notes up my sleeve.” Critics admire his power and restraint; Grobanites, as they’re called, like the way their hearts slow-motion explode into pink butterfly candy confetti when he sings to them, “In my eyes you do no wrong / I’ve loved you for so long.” *heartflutter* (AK) 8p, $57.50-$107.50, MGM
For a post-Smith nosh, consider the Latin fusion cuisine of Mundo.
Grand Garden Arena
Oct. 21
They write music for ENTIRE PLANETS Kronos: It’s no coincidence the name sounds both mighty and mysterious. This is no staid little string quartet mincing around with “Ave Maria.” The Grammy-winning Kronos Quartet doesn’t so much play music as perform moving, evocative soundscapes in collaboration with many world-renowned composers — and by commission from some unlikely institutions, such as NASA, which commissioned Kronos’ 2002 “Sun Rings,” nothing less than a deeply rousing ode to humanity on planet Earth. On this night, they’ll premiere new work from Philip Glass, as well as work from Laurie Anderson, Bryce Dessner of The National and composer Clint Mansell. (AK) 7:30p,
$26-$125, Reynolds Hall in The Smith Center
Oct. 23
One jazzy ladies’ night Here’s a ladies night that doesn’t involve appletinis and guys in Ed Hardy shirts flogging your psyche with rancid pick-up lines: “Ladies of Jazz” showcases the contributions that women have made to the genre, featuring 2011 Grammy’s “Best New Artist” Esperanza Spalding, Grammy-winning drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, first place Thelonious Monk Vocal Competition winner Gretchen Parlato, composer and educator Gerri Allen and sax star Tia Fuller. Leading all this talent is Dee Dee Bridgewater, three-time Grammy winner and a vocal jazz powerhouse. (AK) 7:30p, $26-$99,
Make a night of it!
Smith Center The Smith Center’s fall season glitters with a surplus of Broadway divas. Full productions include the nun-tastic Sister Act and the showstopper-packed Evita. In concert, Betty Buckley will perform her “Vixens of Broadway” program featuring highlights from her multidecade career, while six-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald will give a concert of standards and showtunes accompanied by a jazz ensemble. Before such sophisticated performance, perhaps something slightly exotic, a little spicy? Lola’s (241 W. Charleston Blvd., 227-5652) in Holsum Lofts serves up Cajun classics such as broiled oysters and shrimp remoulade, with outdoor dining an option on temperate autumn evenings. Mundo (495 S. Grand Central Parkway, 270-4400) puts a little more uptown in its downtown setting and their menu of slicked-up Mexican dishes goes down smooth with a mojito or capirinha. After the show, discuss the high notes over a cocktail at Golden Nugget’s H2O at the Tank (129 Fremont St., 385-7111). You can recline on a chaise and look up at the stars while ignoring the sharks circling below — in appropriately diva-ish fashion. (LTR)
Reynolds Hall in The Smith Center
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