CL's picks for the week 

Wednesday, November 15

The Salt Lake City siblings Meg & Dia teeter between alterna-rock where the guitars get turned up and sugary pop that would be right at home on the Disney Channel. The young duo knocks out a few ditties that are laced with confessional and literate word play, which, in the end, is all about young love and those pesky teen dilemmas. Meg & Dia Frampton perform at Amos' Southend with Sugarcult, The Pink Spiders, and Damone. Tickets are $15-$18, with a $2 surcharge for under 21. Doors open at 7 p.m. Details: www.amossouthend.com. (Shukla)

A protégé of Jack Johnson, Donavon Frankenreiter, got a career-lifting boost when he snagged the opening tune for the ultra-hyped flick Snakes on a Plane this past summer. The pro surfer, guitarist and singer/songwriter rides on an R&B-laden 70s influenced rock groove. His new disc, Move By Yourself, is stocked with plenty of funky retro rockers, but Frankenreiter's soulful voice keeps it from sounding dated. Opening for Gov't Mule at Neighborhood Theatre. General admission tickets are $29. Showtime: 8 p.m. Further details: 704-358-9298 or www.neighborhoodtheatre.com. (Shukla)

Thursday, November 16

Lights, camera, SMOKE SIGNALS! The 2006 Directors Guild of America award winner, Chris Eyre, will present a special screening of his 1998 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award winning film. Leave the ganja at home, different kind of smoke! Smoke Signals is considered to be one of the first major films directed by a Native American. When you finally get tired of the mundane hunting down of wild buffalo wearing only a few strategically placed feathers to experience Native American culture, swing by The Light Factory's Duke Power Theatre at 7 p.m.; 345 N. College St. Tickets are $20. Call 704-333-9755 for more info. (Adam Padgett)

It's improv with a backbone -- or at least network TV staying power -- as Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood bring their Emmy-nominated comedy partnership to Belk Theater, starting at 8 p.m. We suspect that all the prime orchestra seats have been snapped up by Whose Line Is It Anyway fans aspiring to join the stars onstage for the frolic. Colin & Brad will no doubt seek to involve everyone in the interactive merriment, one reason why a boisterous sell-out crowd is forecast. Plus no Drew Carey! Single tickets for the two-hour presentation of original scenes are $35-$45. Call 704-372-1000. (Tannenbaum)

Friday, November 17

Back in the day (like, the mid-1990s), R&B music was populated by an army of effeminate vocalists, such as Prince, El Debarge and, yes, Michael Jackson. Then, along came Guy. The trio -- consisting of Teddy Riley and brothers Damian and Aaron Hall -- boasted a more macho, man-on-the-street look and a hip-hop inspired sound (called New Jack Swing), and single-handedly made it cool for bad-boys to sing and dance. Tonight, celebrate the best of this era at the New Jack Reunion Tour featuring a performance by Guy and fellow New Jackers Blackstreet, Tony Toni Tone, and After 7. Cricket Arena, 8 p.m. (Carlton Hargro)

Heavily painted blue folk are invading the sacred ground where those orange guys with all those ups play roundball. Yes, Blue Man Group How to Be a Megastar Tour 2.0 is at Charlotte Bobcats Arena, bringing all their talent -- and crazy gadgetry -- to bear on the task of teaching us how to be rock stars. This satirical deconstruct of what goes into making "the rock concert experience" in all its narcissistic glory may have you laughing yourself silly if you don't lose your hearing first. Count on the Blue Men to get everyone involved in the happening, with heavy-metal magic and illusion in the mix. It may start at 8 p.m. at Bobcats Arena on Nov. 17. Or maybe not: it's a rock concert! Tracy Bonham opens. Tickets are $39.50-$85 at www.charlottebobcatsarena.com. (Tannenbaum)

Get a sneak peak into the approaching wine season at the 13th Annual Beaujolais Nouveau Wine Tasting Festival. Beaujolais only holds sixteen of these events in the US and Charlotte is proud to have been recognized for its thirteenth year! Learn more about French culture and Limoges, Charlotte's sister city. Held at the Levine Museum of the New South, 200 E. 7th St, tickets are $25 for CSC/AF members and $30 for the public. Help raise money for these organizations at tonight's event from 5-8:30 p.m. More info at www.afcharlotte.org. (Maria Fisichello)

Charlotte Symphony Orchestra is letting us have it both ways. We can "take it easy" tonight at Ovens Auditorium as guest vocalist Michael Shotton headlines in Hotel California: The Music of The Eagles. Or we can take it down the road to a decidedly more radical, progressive Neighborhood Concert at Davidson College on Saturday night, entitled Russkies and Yanks. You probably can guess the desperado hits Shotton has programmed -- that's the point, isn't it? -- but brace yourself for a couple of newfangled American compositions balanced against a pair of Russian standards up at Exit 30. CSO resident conductor Alan Yamamoto unveils Jennifer Stasack's Crossing Rivers V in a world premiere (with the Davidson College Symphony) and introduces Aaron Jay Kernis' Musica celestis. Tchaikovsky's "Waltz from Swan Lake" and Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet Suite #2 provide the borscht. Both concerts begin at 8 p.m. Hotel CA tickets are $22-$44. General admission Saturday night at Duke Family Performance Hall is $15, just $5 for students/children. Call 704-972-2000. (Tannenbaum)

Sunday, November 19

Ever wanted to go back in time? At the Carolina Renaissance Festival, which attempts to set the scene of 16th century Euro life, you can. Here, the staff endeavors to recreate Camelot complete with dress, jousting tournaments and olden-themed shows to pull you into the world of Arthur and Guinevere. Purchase handcrafted items and feast on savory food at this magical little hamlet. This year's festival will also include a special new musical comedy act called "Nunnie Nunnie" with Mother Redempta and Sister Philomenia. Curious yet? This will be the final weekend for this event, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-12, $15 for senior citizens, and free for children under 5. For more information call 704-896-5544 or visit www.royalfaires.com/carolina. (Anita Overcash)

Monday, November 20

In 1998, a Massachusetts transgender woman named Rita Hester was murdered. One year later, the first Transgender Day of Remembrance was held to recognize those murdered due to anti-transgender violence. Hester's death is still unsolved, but the annual remembrance day is still going strong. The Lesbian & Gay Community Center today will host a panel discussion featuring community leaders and others who can speak on transgender issues. This free event will also feature a candlelight vigil; starting time is 7 p.m. For more information on the Remembering Our Dead project, visit www.rememberingourdead.org. To reach the Center, call 704-333-0144. (Shugart)