12/17/11: Today’s Tips: Saturday

MUSIC: “Blue Suede Christmas: The Ultimate Elvis Holiday Bash” @ the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy. Elvis tribute artists Scot Bruce & Mike Albert team up with the Big “E” Band. 8pm. $29, $39, $49; students and children $15.

MUSIC: Ominous Seapods @ Valentine’s Music Hall, Albany. One of the premier bands on the early jam-band scene reunites for one final farewell show before guitarist-vocalist Dana Monteith relocates to Australia. Maaze plays downstairs. 9pm. $20.

MUSIC: The Albany Symphony Orchestra @ the Palace Theatre, Albany. With violin virtuoso Joshua Bell, who performs Tchaikovsky’s famous Violin Concerto, and favorites by Ellington, Bizet, Strauss, and an exciting composition by living composer Bruce MacCombie.
7:30pm. $33, $53 & $83.

MUSIC: Annual Holiday Folk Show @ Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs. A trio of musical couples – Addie & Olin, Linda Schrade & David Kiphuth and John Kirk & Trish Miller celebrate the release of their new CD, “Peace & Goodwill for the Winter Holidays,” with Nippertown’s only Candlemas-Hanukkah-Ramadan-Solstice-Christmas-Kwanzaa-New Year-Boxing Day-Epiphany celebration. 8pm. $18. UPDATE: This concert is sold out.

MUSIC: Wu-Tang Clan @ Northern Lights, Clifton Park. The hip-hop pioneers are back for their second Nippertown show of the year. It’s being advertised as “featuring all original members.” With Mirk, Dem White Boys and DJ Playground. 8pm. $40.

MUSIC: The Zucchini Brothers @ The Egg, Albany. Nippertown’s favorite kid-friendly rockers return with their annual holiday show. 2pm. $10.

MUSIC: Duncan Sheik @ Club Helsinki, Hudson. The writer-performer of the hit song “Barely Breathing,” as well as the writer of the hit Broadway show, “Spring Awakening.” With David Jacobs-Strain opening. 9pm. $18.

MUSIC: “Melodies of Christmas” @ Proctors, Schenectady. The 32nd annual celebration of holiday music featuring the Empire State Orchestra and Youth Choral. With the McKrells, the Orlando School of Dance and more. 7pm. $25. Through Sunday, December 18.

THEATER: “A Christmas Carol” @ the Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield. Through Friday, December 30. Yes, Dickens’ holiday classic is being directed by Eric Hill and E. Gray Simons III, but what you really want to know is how will James Taylor do in his first theatrical role as Bob Cratchit? 7pm. $25; children. Through Friday, December 30.

MUSIC: Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group @ the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington. The long tall Texan with the killer songs and the wry sense of humor, is back in Nippertown, following a knock-out performance at The Egg last weekend. 9pm. $75 & $100.

MUSIC: Todd Nelson’s TN4 @ Pinto & Hobbs, Albany. 9pm.

MUSIC: Probing Digit @ Putnam Den, Saratoga Springs. 9pm. $7.

MUSIC: The Compact @ American Glory, Hudson. Erin Hobson and Steve Ross churn out catchy melodies that stretch out stylistically from rock to Americana, from funk to folk with a world sound. 9pm.

BURLESQUE: SPAM @ Valentine’s Music Hall, Albany. Scooter Pie at Midnight revs up another midnight blast of rock & roll burlesque. 12midnight. $5.

MUSIC: Blue Machine @ the River Street Pub, Troy. 8:30pm.

MUSIC: The Erin Harkes Band @ Graney’s Stout, Albany.

MUSIC: David Grover @ the Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield. The ever-popular Berkshire children’s music singer-songwriter offers a concert at the museum in conjunction with the Festival of Trees. 1pm. Free, but the concert is a ticketed event; tix are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the museum’s front desk at 10am.

MUSIC: Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra @ Danceland at the Latham Circle Mall, Latham. 10pm.

MUSIC: The Jeanne O’Connor Trio @ Provence at Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany. 7pm.