9/26/13: Today’s Tips: Thursday

MUSIC: The Waterboys @ The Egg, Albany. After a dazzling pared-down acoustic show at The Linda earlier this year, Mike Scott returns for his first-ever Nippertown show with his full band, as they play gems from their grand catalog as well as selections from their ambitious new album, An Appointment With Mr. Yeats, in which Scott set the works of legendary Irish poet W.B. Yeats to music. 8pm. $29.50, $39.50 & $49.50.

MUSIC: Josh Ritter @ the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy. The last time Josh Ritter graced the magnificent TSBMH back in 2009, he had his full band with him. This time around the captivating, literate singer-songwriter serves up a stripped-down, acoustic performance. And if that’s not enough, the wonderful singer-songwriter Sam Amidon opens the show. 8pm. $20, $26 & $29; $3 discount for students.

MUSIC: Gurf Morlix @ the Ale House, Troy. The sublime Buffalo-born Texas troubadour is the complete package – producer, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter. He ambles into the Ale House in support of his new album, Gurf Morlix Finds the Present Tense. 8pm. $15.

COMEDY: Russell Peters @ the Palace Theatre, Albany. After selling out arenas around the world on his Notorious Tour, the global comedy rock-star finally lands in Nippertown. 7:30pm. $28, $38, $68 & $98.

READING: Gilbert King @ UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s Recital Hall, Albany. The Niskayuna native received the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction for “Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America,” a meticulously researched, elegantly written account of the future Supreme Court Justice’s role in defending four black men falsely accused of raping a white woman in Florida in 1949. 8pm. FREE. Also, a free seminar at the Recital Hall at 4:15pm.

MUSIC: The Heavy Pets @ the Hollow Bar + Kitchen, Albany. The Florida-based jam band favorites return. With Mister F. 9:30pm. $12.

ARTS WALK: DownStreet Art @ various locations, North Adams. Festivities include five exciting new exhibits, as well as an extended run of Rich Remsberg’s “Historyland” at Gallery 53. Interdisciplinary artist Eliza Barrios will be at Gallery 51. At PRESS you’ll find the “Markings” exhibition. In addition to the exhibits, there will be performances from musician James McBride and puppet company Mortal Beasts & Deities, as well as an interactive projection by Erin Ko & Alex Chouls. 5-8pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Bubonick Funk @ Valentine’s Music Hall, Albany. North Carolina funakateers. With Groovestick.

THEATER ON FILM: “Othello” @ Time + Space Limited, Hudson. The National Theater of London presents a major new production of William Shakespeare’s celebrated play about the destructive power of jealousy, featuring Olivier Award-winning actor Adrian Lester. 7pm. $22; $15 for children under 12. Also at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington at 7pm ($25; $18 students) and at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown at 2pm ($18).

MUSIC: Blues Pro Jam @ Club Helsinki, Hudson. Electric guitarist-singer Murali Coryell will lead the the Helsinki Hellcats – drummer Sonny Rock, organist Cameron Melville, guitarist-vocalist Marty McDermott and bassist Mike Colletti – in a blues jam session. All working musicians in the region are invited to sit in for a freewheeling blues jam. 8pm.

MUSIC: Azzaam Hameed & Annette Harris @ the Stockade Inn, Schenectady. 7pm. FREE.

MUSIC: John Esposito & Friends @ the Stockade Tavern, Kingston. The Speakeasy Jazz series continues with special guest saxophonist George De Leon sittin’ in. 7:30pm. FREE.