2/10/11: Today’s Tips: Thursday

MUSIC: Donna the Buffalo @ Jillian’s, Albany. Co-led by vocalists Tara Nevins (fiddle, guitar, accordion, scrubboard) and Jeb Puryear (guitar), DTB whips up their trademark eclectic blend of zydeco, rock, folk, reggae and country. With the Jay Roy Band. 9pm. $20.

SEMINAR/READING: Julie Orringer and Karen Russell @ the Standish Room at UAlbany’s Science Library, Albany. Orringer is the author of the short-story collection “How to Breathe Underwater,” as well as her acclaimed first novel, “The Invisible Bridge,” which was published last year. Russell penned the short story collection “St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves” and her new debut novel “Swamplandia!” Seminar at 4:15; reading at 8pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Jimmy Cobb’s So What Band @ The Egg, Albany. Veteran drummer – and the only surviving member from Miles Davis’ recording of “Kind of Blue” – Cobb leads a contemporary all-star band performing their interpretations of the best-selling jazz recording of all time plus other jazz classics. The “So What” Band also features trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, saxmen Vincent Herring and Javon Jackson, bassist Buster Williams and pianist Larry Willis. 7:30pm. $34.50.

FILM: “Prospero’s Books” @ EMPAC at RPI, Troy. Starring John Gielgud as Prospero, director Peter Greenaway’s visually orgasmic, 1991 cinematic adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” interweaves dance, opera and mime into its narrative. 7:30pm. $5.

MUSIC: Streetlight Manifesto @ Northern Lights, Clifton Park. The Jersey ska-punks come romping into town in support of “99 Songs of Revolution, Vol. 1.” With Terrible Things, Loss for Words and Lionize. 7:30pm. $15.

FILM/MUSIC: “Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women” @ Albany Public Library, Albany. Ether Dream performs a live, original score to accompany a screening of the 1968 sci-fi flick. Starring Mamie Van Doren; directed by Peter Bogdanovich. 7pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Sirsy @ Putnam Den, Saratoga Springs. Rich Libutti and Melanie Krahmer churn out pop-rock sounds. With ferocious singer-songwriter Swati opening the show. 9pm. FREE.

FILM: “At Home in Utopia” @ MASS MoCA, North Adams. The documentary film is an epic tale of a two-generation struggle for equity and justice across barriers of race, nation, language and convention in the Bronx. With a post-screening Q&A with producer Michal Goldman. 7:30pm. $8; students $5.

MUSIC: Holly & Evan @ Gaffney’s, Saratoga Springs. Acoustic blues duo. 8pm.

MUSIC: The Al Haugen Trio @ the Stockade Inn, Schenectady. Jazz accordion. 7pm. FREE.