4/15/10: Today’s Tips: Thursday

TALK: Arn Chorn Pond @ Hudson Valley Community College’s Maureen Stapleton Theatre, Troy. The human rights activist and musician survived the Cambodian genocide and four years in a labor camp because he learned to play the flute in a music ensemble created by Khmer Rouge leaders to play the regime’s songs. His story is told in the documentary film, “The Flute Player.” He shares his message of survival, hope, healing and peace with audiences around the world. 12noon. Free.

MUSIC: Flower/Corsano Duo with MV/EE @ the Spring Street Gallery, Saratoga Springs. An adventurous evening of music featuring return appearances by two challenging duos. Brattleboro, Vermonters Matt Valentine and Erika Elder were hailed in The New York Times last week as “pioneers of what has been called the New Weird America, a folk-based idiom that’s as indebted to ‘The Anthology of American Folk Music’ as it is to sprawling British psychedelia.” Read our review of the Flower/Corsano Duo’s previous Spring Street performance here. 7:30pm. $10.

READING: Paul Pines @ the Social Justice Center, Albany. Former NYC jazz club owner, Lake George Jazz Weekend producer and novelist showcases his powerful poetry at the monthly Third Thursday Poetry Night hosted by Dan Wilcox. With an open mic reading session. It’s the unofficial pre-Albany Word Fest kick-off event. 7:30pm. $3 suggested donation.

MUSIC: Gaelic Storm @ Revolution Hall, Troy. The former Irish pub band’s career launched big-time with the performance in James Cameron’s blockbuster, “Titanic,” and the Celtic quintet is still pumping out some serious jigs and reels more than a decade later. 8pm. $23.

ART TALK/EXHIBIT RECEPTION: Chris Murray and Jon Gernon @ Siena College’s Yates Gallery, Loudonville. Two Nippertown realist painters join forces for a two-person exhibition, “The Reality Show.” The artists’ talk begins at 4pm in Room L26 of the library. The reception upstairs in the gallery begins at 4:30pm. Read David Brickman’s review of the exhibit at Get Visual. Free.

MUSIC: Blondes Have More Fun @ Vapor, Saratoga Springs. A Rod Stewart tribute band? Really? 8pm. $20.

MUSIC: Bread & Bones @ the Crandall Library, Glens Falls. The Vermont-based acoustic trio of Richard Ruane, Beth Duquette and Mitch Barron play their traditional roots-music-based original tunes as part of the library’s Folklife Concert Series. 7pm. Free.

FILM: “In The Loop” @ Proctors, Schenectady. One-night-only screenings of the absurdist political comedy that earned an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Directed by Armando Iannucci and starring James Gandolfini, Mimi Kennedy, Steve Coogan, more. 5:15pm & 7:15pm. $6.