4/28/11: Today’s Tips: Thursday

MUSIC: Alejandro Escovedo & the Sensitive Boys @ the Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton. You simply can’t go wrong with Escovedo. And this time around, he is rockin’. With Jesse Malin. 7pm. $25 in advance; $30 at the door.

MUSIC: “Hyper-Rainforest” @ EMPAC at RPI, Troy. The world premiere of Francisco Lopez’s 80-channel immersive concert created from a decade’s worth of smapling natural sounds recorded in the world’s rain forests. 8pm. $15; seniors and students $10. Through Saturday.

FILM: “The Room” @ Proctors, Schenectady. The worst movie ever made? 7pm. $9 in advance; $12 at the door; students $6.

READING: Will Oldham @ Basilica Hudson, Hudson. It’s a release party for the new audio book version of Rudy Wurlitzer’s novel “Slow Fade” as read by musician-actor Will Oldham (Bonnie Prince Billy, Palace Brothers, etc.). Oldham and screenwriter-novelist Wurlitzer will both participate, accompanied by music from guitarist Ben Chasny (of Six Organs of Admittance) and photographic projections by photographer Lynn Davis. Elisa Ambrogio (of the noise rock band Magik Markers) will open the evening with her own reading. 7pm. $5 suggested donation.

MUSIC: “For the Benefit of Japan” @ Pagliacci’s, Albany. Two of Nippertown’s funkiest combos – Mirk and the Ill Funk Ensemble – team up to raise funds for UNICEF’s Japanese earthquake relief fund. 8pm.

MUSIC: Andrew & Noah VanNorstrand @ the Crandall Public Library, Glens Falls. The multi-talented brothers play contemporary acoustic and alt-folk music.7pm. FREE.

MUSIC: The Albany Symphony Orchestra @ Canfield Casino, Saratoga Springs. “Spirituals Project” with baritone Nathan De’Shon Myers and Copland’s “Appalachian Spring.” 7:30pm.

MUSIC: Hank & Cupcakes @ Jillian’s, Albany. The Brooklyn husband-and-wife pump out infectious pop-rock. 9pm. $5.

THEATER: “tick, tick… BOOM” @ Columbia High School, East Greenbush. It’s opening night for the Spotlight Players’ production of the autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, who also wrote “Rent.” Directed by Jason Ford and starring Matthew Streifert, Adrien Gleason and Alana Sangiacomo. 8pm. $15. Through Sunday.

MUSIC: The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra @ the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy. R. Strauss’ Serenade in E-flat Major, Op. 7; Hartman’s Concerto funebre for Violin & Strings; Mozart’s Rondo in C Major for Violin & Orchestra, K. 373 and Adagio in E Major for Violin & Orchestra, K. 261; and Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 in D Major. With violin soloist Arabella Steinbacher. 7:30pm. $40, $45.

MUSIC: “Zankel World Musics” @ Skidmore College’s Zankel Music Center, Saratoga Springs. A performance by Skidmore’s Indian Music Ensemble, led by sitarist Veena Chandra (and including her son Devesh Chandra on tabla and Veena’s sitar and Indian dance students), followed by Yacub Addy and his West African Drumming Ensemble (including members of Addy’s classes, as well as Ghanaian dancer Fosino Nelson from Odadaa! 8pm. FREE.  

FILM: “The Garden” @ MASS MoCA’s Club B-10, North Adams. The film tells the story of the country’s largest urban farm: the miraculous 14-acre community garden in South Central LA that was founded as a healing project after the 1992 riots. When a wealthy developer’s plans threaten to level this oasis, the community fights to save their garden. 7:30pm. $8; students $5.

MUSIC: Saliva @ Northern Lights, Clifton Park. With Rev Theory, Emphatic and Seven Day Sonnet. $13 in advance; $15 at the door.

MUSIC: Jimkata @ Red Square, Albany. Guitarist-vocalist Evan Friedell leads the Ithaca-based electro-rock quartet in their return. With S.C.O.R.E. 8pm. $10 in advance; $12 at the door.

FUNDRAISER: A Little Bit of Jazz & More” @ Proctors’ Fenimore Gallery, Schenectady. A jazz party featuring Colleen Pratt & Friends to benefit the Schenectady Day Nursery. With hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and waters. 5:30-8pm. $50, $100.