6/10/10: Today’s Tips: Thursday

MUSIC: “A Night at Tess’ Lark Tavern” @ The Linda, Albany. All of the regular house performers at Tess’ – Albany Poets’ Poets Speak Loud, Jim Gaudet & the Railroad Boys, MotherJudge & the Best Damn Open Mic EVER! Band, Keith Pray’s Big Soul Ensemble and Ramblin Jug Stompers, as well as special guest Bryan Thomas – share the stage for the first time ever in a benefit concert for Tess Collins and the staff of the Lark Tavern. 7pm. $15 donation (or more if you can).

DANCE: Limon Dance Company @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs. Carry on the modern dance traditions and innovations of the pioneering Jose Limon, the ensemble presents three classic dances from their vast repertoire, including their materpiece, “The Moor’s Pavane.” With a pre-show talk at 7:30pm. 8pm. $25 ($5 discount with a Saratoga ArtsFest Pass). NOTE: Nippertown.com is giving away a pair of tix to this show, and there’s still time to enter. Just go here.

FILM: “Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage” @ Spectrum 8 Theatres, Albany. This special, one-night-only screening of the new documentary film about Geddy Lee and the Canadian prog-rock band is already sold out, at the Spectrum, so they’ve added another show at 7:15pm on Thursday, June 17 ($9; seniors $7.25; children $6.25). And there’s also a screening tonight (Thursday) at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock and they’re raffling off a pair of tix to Rush’s concert at SPAC, as well as a pair of Neil Peart’s drumsticks before the movie. 8pm. $12.

MUSIC: Chubby Checker @ Alive at Five at Riverfront Park, Albany. Let’s twist again like we did last summer! Yes, it’s been a half century since the Chubb Man took “The Twist” to the top of the charts and created a national dance craze even more insidious than the macarena. Can you name Checker’s only other No. 1 hit? Answer at bottom. Opening the show today is the Ernie Williams Band. 5pm. Free. UPDATE: The show has been moved to the rain location – under the I-787 overpass at the Corning Preserve Boat Launch.

MUSIC: Ray Manzarek & Robby Kreiger @ The Egg, Albany. Yes, it’s one-half of the Doors carrying on the musical legacy of the mysterious shaman of rock Jim Morrision. Rounding out the band are drummer Ty Dennis, bassist Phil Chen and Steelheart vocalist Milijenko Matijevic. 8pm. $35.50, $39.50 and $49.50. UPDATE: This show is SOLD OUT.

MUSIC: The Brian Patneaude Trio @ Jay Street, Schenectady. The saxman bloweth! The Jazz on Jay concert series continues as Patneaude is joined by bassist Mike Parker and drummer Danny Whelchel. Rain site is the Muddy Cup in Proctors’ Robb Alley. 12noon. Free.

FESTIVAL/MUSIC/ART: Saratoga ArtsFest @ various locations, Saratoga Springs. The four-day festival kicks off today with such events as the TAKE Dance Company (at Skidmore Dance Theater at 4:30pm), the Invitation Art Exhibit reception (at the Spring Street Gallery at 5pm), the Burnt Hills Oratorio Society (at the National Museum of Dance at 6:30pm), the Tequila Mockingbirds (Cantina at 8pm) and Sirsy (Gaffney’s at 8pm). The weekend-long Saratoga ArtsFest Passes are $35; seniors $25; students and military $15; children 4-12 $5; children under 4 free.

ANSWER: In addition to “The Twist,” Chubby Checker’s only other No. 1 hit was “Pony Time,” back in 1961.