Today

7 p.m., Vera Project, 766 Thomas St. — Acoustic Veracity, featuring Daniel O’Day, Like Claws!, Samantha Toby and Tennessee Rose. All ages. Free. $3 vegan dinner available.

7:30 p.m., Playhouse Theatre — Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare’s classic tragedy explores the dual nature of passion by asking the timeless and timely question: Can love end a relentless cycle of violence? Or is happiness, as the Beatles may have asserted centuries ago, nothing more than a warm sword? $10 students w/ID, $15 general. Final performance Sunday, Dec. 10.

7:30 p.m., Brechemin Auditorium, School of Music — Jazz Innovations, Part 2. A variety of small ensembles perform works by Miles Davis and Pat Metheny, as well as student-composed and student-arranged works and jazz standards. $5.

7:30 p.m., Meany Studio Theatre — Faculty Dance Concert. The Dance Program opens its annual performance season with a concert featuring work and performances by its nationally recognized faculty. $10 students/seniors, $16 UWAA members, $18 general. Additional performances Friday and Saturday evenings with a final performance Sunday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. See full preview on page 5.

8 p.m., Historic University Theater — Jet City Improv, winner of the 2006 NWSource “Best Improv/Sketch Comedy” and “Best Place If You’re Underage” polls, presents The Martini Brothers’ Holiday Showcase (formerly EveryXMasStoryEverTold). As the title suggests, Holiday Showcase offers a veritable smorgasborg of all things holy, holly and/or jolly. Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. $10. Runs through Dec. 23. Visit www.jetcityimprov.com for more details about this and other shows.

8 p.m., Easy Street Records, West Seattle — See and hear Greg Laswell, a singer-songwriter marketed on the strengths of his “soaring tenor and a flair for crafting sweeping melodies.” Free.

8 p.m., HUB Auditorium — Tapes ‘n Tapes, The Long Winters and Awesome. Most excellent, indeed. All ages.

8 p.m., Paramount — Primus. One man, one bass. OK, there are some other instruments thrown in for good measure, but Les Claypool is sure to steal the show. Better that than the $40 it’ll cost you to get in.

9 p.m., Crocodile Cafe — White Gold mines indie rock and 80s slag to forge some precious metal hooks while Pleasurecraft charts a course for electronic bliss. 21+. $6.

9 p.m., Comet Tavern — Keynote Speaker, Danieli, Siren and Knotpine Box. 21+.

Tomorrow, Dec. 1

Movies Opening Today:

F@*K: A Documentary — Having difficulty filling in the blanks and completing this movie’s title? Suffice it to say that porn star Ron Jeremy is one of the many celebrities that have come together to discuss one of the most unifying and simultaneously polarizing syllables ever. Other famous people who do the deed include Pat Boone, Drew Carey, Sam Donaldson, Janeane Garofolo, Ice-T, Bill Maher, Miss Manners, Michael Medved, Alanis Morissette, Kevin Smith, Billy Connolly and the late Hunter S. Thompson. Not Rated. Varsity. One week only.

10 Items or Less — Morgan Freeman playing an unemployed movie star?! Now that takes skill. The ubiquitous supporting actor finds himself stranded with no cell phone or transportation in an ethnic market on the outskirts of Los Angeles where he is doing research for a potential role as a supermarket manager. A real-life cashier (Paz Vega), offers him a ride home as well as an opportunity for self-reflection. R. Varsity.

The Architect — “Tonya Neeley (Viola Davis) is an activist trying to keep her family together while living in one of the city’s most crime-infested public housing projects. As part of her campaign to have the projects torn down and decent housing built in its place, Tonya decides that the one signature she needs on her petition is that of the projects’ original architect, Leo Waters (Anthony Lapaglia).” R. Metro. One week only.

The Nativity Story — The only thing bigger than Jesus these days are movie prequels, so it was only a matter of time before a prequel about Jesus was made. Fans of The Passion of the Christ and Jesus Christ Superstar will totally dig this story that started the whole forgiveness fad. Metro.

Turistas — The poster for Turistas features a forehead sporting the superfluous advice “Go Home.” Between such travail-ogues as Hostel, The Descent, Babel and now this tale of tormented adventure travelers in Brazil, it’s unlikely that anyone has made it past their front door in months. And movie theaters wonder why ticket sales are frighteningly low. R.

National Lampoon’s Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj — The only redeeming quality this movie might possibly possess is its promotion of equal opportunity slacking. That, and a whole heck of a lot of skin of all shapes, sizes and colors. R.

7 p.m., Fusion Cafe, 909 4th Ave. — The Vera Project presents The Village Green, Tall Birds, Fleet Foxes and D&K … which one can only assume stands for Dogs & Kittens or Ducks & Koi or some other combination of animals. (Hey, if you want edgy comedy, go to the nearest alley and start looking for Michael Richards.) All ages. $8 general. $7 w/ club card.

7 p.m., Easy Street Records, Queen Anne — Dick Dale, a.k.a. “King of the Surf Guitar,” performs with his 14-year-old guitar prodigy son Jimmy. Free.

7:30 p.m., Brechemin Auditorium, School of Music — Composer’s Workshop. Original works by student composers, including Joshua “Palimpset” Parmenter, Brandon “Audiostereogram” Pettit, Robert “Morphogenesis” Blatt, Donald “Etude for Guitar and Computer Realized Sound” Craig, Richard “Keyboard Shortcuts (6 Short Pieces for Piano)” Johnson and Jeremy “Constance, Eblouie, Elancee, et cetera” Jolley. $5.

8 p.m., Moore Theatre — Josh Blue, the most recent winner of Last Comic Standing and a talented Paralympic soccer player, will deliver his “spastic and engaging” stand-up comedy routine, which is inspired by his experiences with cerebral palsy. $18.25-28.25 (plus applicable fees).

8 p.m., Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley — A(n Improvised) Christmas Carol. Unexpected Productions gets in on the holiday action, twisting the Dickens out of Dickens to suit its audience’s fancies. Runs through Dec. 24. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 7 p.m. $12. Visit www.unexpectedproductions.org for more information on this and other shows.

8 p.m., Neumos — Xavier Rudd and Brett Dennen. All ages. $16 adv, $18 dos.

8 p.m., Showbox — Grupo Niche and Orquesta Neuva Era. 21+. $30. $50 VIP.

9 p.m., Comet Tavern — Boss Martians, Holy Ghost Revival, The Greatest Hits and The Troglodytes. 21+.

9 p.m., Crocodile Cafe — In the mood for “a swingin’ Vegas floor show, a funky wedding reception and/or your high school prom” revisited? Then the Dudley Manlove Quartet just might set your heart on fire. 21+. $10.

Midnight, Egyptian — This is Spinal Tap, a.k.a. The World’s Loudest Band and first faux-documentary from the crew who brought you Best In Show, A Mighty Wind and this year’s For Your Consideration. Additional showing Saturday at midnight. $9.25

Saturday, Dec. 2

2 p.m., Brechemin Auditorium, School of Music — East-West Piano Arts. Susan Chan performs the work of contemporary Asian women composers and music from the traditional Western repertoire. $10.

7 p.m., Fusion Cafe — The Vera Project presents Wallpaper, Tennis Pro, The Catch and The Snakebites. All ages. $8 general. $7 w/ club card.

7:30 p.m., Brechemin Auditorium, School of Music — Vocal Jazz, featuring the UW Women’s Vocal Jazz and Vocal Jazz 1 ensembles and selections from “An Affair to Remember,” “Too Little, Too Soon, Too Late,” “A Boy Was Born on Christmas” and many more. $5.

8 p.m., HUB Auditorium — Don’t let the plethora of strings and secretive name fool you. The Hidden Cameras don’t have anything to hide except extremely catchy hooks. Well, that, and perhaps more than a few lyrical references to bodily functions. All ages.

8 p.m., Crocodile Cafe — The Save A Penny Series continues with Peter Parker, Cancer Rising and The Blakes. I’d try to describe their music, but who really cares? It’s live and it’s FREE! 21+.

8 p.m., Neumos — Mudhoney serves up a heaping helping of classic alternative rock with a side of Hot Lunch and Jon Wahl & The Amadans. 21+. $13 adv, $15 dos.

Sunday, Dec. 3

8 p.m., Moore Theatre — Wolfmother (a.k.a. Those Australians with the Sweet Sounding Organ and Overplayed Song, “Woman.”) $23.50 (plus applicable fees).

8 p.m., Neumos — The English Beat with guests. 21+. $15.

9 p.m., El Corazon — Movin 92.5 presents … PM Dawn?! Set Adrift On Memory Bliss, indeed. 21+. $12 adv, $15 dos.

9 p.m., Comet Tavern — Mr. Gnome, All Time High and Golden Pig Electric Blues Band. With names like that, the music better be good. 21+.

Monday, Dec. 4

7 p.m., El Corazon — Gosling have hatched a new album chock full of experimental power-pop. Check them out live and decide if you’d like to take one of their CDs home with you. All ages. $8 adv, $10 dos.

7:30 p.m., Meany Theater — CarolFest. The UW choirs present holiday music from a variety of times and cultures. $10.

8 p.m., Showbox — Joanna Newsom is one woman whose harping you won’t want to tune out. 21+. $15.

Tuesday, Dec. 5

7 p.m., University Book Store — “It’s fruitcake weather!” So stop by and enjoy Truman Capote’s autobiographical short story, The Christmas Memory, read by the University Book Store’s lead used book buyer, Brad Craft. Free.

7 p.m., El Corazon — If you like sunny melodies with a heavy downpour of drumming, then this is your Division Day. Also performing are Peter Walker, Argo, Boss Tweeter and Estocar. All ages. $8 adv, $10 dos.

7:30 p.m., Meany Studio Theater — Do you dig big beats and rapid rhythms? Craving a good vibraphone riff? Mouth watering at the mere mention of the marimba? Then check out the UW Percussion Ensemble’s Modern Meters. $10.

8 p.m., Neumos — Handsome Family, Sera Cahoone and guests. 21+. $10.

8 p.m., Meany Hall — Pacifica Quartet. Soon after its creation in 1994, the Pacifica won top prizes in three of chamber music’ss most important international competitions. $32.

Wednesday, Dec. 6

7:30 p.m., Meany Theater — Studio Jazz Ensemble. $10.

8 p.m., Neumos — Dan The Automator, producer, remixer and songwriter who has worked with such diverse musicians as Gorillaz, Jamie Cullum and A Tribe Called Quest, headlines the 2K Sports Bounce Tour. He will be joined by Chali 2na of Jurassic 5, Common Market and more. All ages. $15.

9 p.m., Crocodile Cafe — Disney Cover Night returns! Dive under the sea of sound as local musicians show you a whole new world beneath the surface of familiar cartoon classics. Participants include members of The Catch, Kane Hodder, The Pale Pacific, White Gold, Tennis Pro and many more! $7.