CALENDAR

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6 p.m., Sonic Boom Records, Ballard [HTML_REMOVED] Attention conspiracy theory buffs! I've got a raging clue: ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead are expected to lay down some killer riffs tonight at a free in-store performance.

7 p.m., Showbox -- Scooby, Scooby Doo, who needs you? ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead are joined by The Blood Brothers. With raging hard clues like these, even Shaggy just might get lucky enough to put two and two together. All ages. $20.

7:30 p.m., Playhouse Theatre [HTML_REMOVED] Romeo and Juliet. $10 students w/ID, $15 general. Final performance Sunday, Dec. 10.

7:30 p.m., Meany Theater [HTML_REMOVED] University Symphony, joined by faculty violist Melia Watras and guest violinist Michael Jinsoo Limand. $10.

8 p.m., Neumos [HTML_REMOVED] If you love the I Love The 70s, 80s and/or 90s series, chances are you also love the comedy of Michael Ian Black. Hopefully, there will be enough love to go around for Black's co-headliner, Michael Showalter, whom I assume is well known by someone for something. All ages. Bar w/ID.

8 p.m., Crocodile Caf[HTML_REMOVED] [HTML_REMOVED] Tropical-tinged indie rock from Coho with With Friends Like These and, Eastern Grip. 21+. $6.

8 p.m., Historic University Theater [HTML_REMOVED] Jet City Improv presents The Martini Brothers' Holiday Showcase (formerly EveryXMasStoryEverTold). Runs through Dec. 23. Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays and Sunday's at 2 p.m. $10. Visit www.jetcityimprov.com for more details about this and other shows.

9 p.m., Chop Suey [HTML_REMOVED] 3rd Annual Laptop Battle National Championships, featuring laptop producers from eight cities, including Seattle's Squid Leader. 21+. $8.

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Movies Opening Today

(Mel Gibson's) Apocalypto [HTML_REMOVED] Whether you consider the Apocalypse as "an unveiling and a new beginning" or "the End of Time," there can be little doubt that this Mayan epic will make or break the third act of Mel Gibson's career. R.

Breaking and Entering [HTML_REMOVED] Jude Law stars as a yuppie London architect who re-evaluates his life after a young Muslim thief breaks into his office. R.

The Holiday [HTML_REMOVED] Speaking of putting two and two together: A romantic comedy starring the can't-miss foursome of Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Jack Black. Diaz and Winslet meet online and decide to swap homes for a holiday, where they make new connections. PG-13.

Blood Diamond [HTML_REMOVED] This action-quest-drama set in 1990's civil war-torn Sierra Leone has all the makings of a hit. Compelling backdrop? Check. Requisite hottie? Check. (Djimon, Djimon Hounsou, I love you.) Leonardo DiCaprio? Yawn. Character growth? That remains to be seen, but with Jennifer Connelly co-starring it seems highly likely that something will develop. R.

Driving Lessons [HTML_REMOVED] A coming-of-age comedy starring Harry Potter's Rupert Grint. Ben (Grint) befriends an eccentric retired actress (Julie Waters) and takes her on a road trip. Kind of like Driving Miss Daisy without all the racial baggage in the trunk. Harvard Exit. PG-13.

The Cave of the Yellow Dog [HTML_REMOVED] "A Mongolian nomad family find themselves in disagreement when the oldest daughter, Nansal, finds a dog and brings it home. Believing that it is responsible for attacking his sheep, her father refuses to allow her to keep it. When it's time for the family to move on, Nansal must decide whether to defy her father and take her new friend with them. Oscar-nominated director Byambasuren Davaa's follow up to the hugely successful The Story of the Weeping Camel is a thought-provoking mix of documentary and drama that tells the story of the age-old bond between man and dog, a bond which experiences a new twist through the eternal cycle of reincarnation in Mongolia." Varisty. One week only. Not rated.

6 p.m., Sonic Boom Records, Ballard [HTML_REMOVED] Jim Noir. "Imagine a Wurlizter jukebox stacked with the hits of ELO, Super Furry Animals, Pepper-era Beatles, The Beta Band, The Beach Boys, early Pink Floyd and Supertramp. Now imagine blowing that jukebox up with a cartoon-style dynamite stick and making a record from the exploded fragments of vinyl and luminescent tubing. That's a bit like what Tower Of Love [Noir's first full-length release] sounds like." Free.

7 p.m., Fusion Cafe, 909 4th Ave. [HTML_REMOVED] The Vera Project presents Mirah, a surprisingly little-known singer-songwriter in the vein of Sarah McLachlan, with three full-length albums to her name. Also on the bill are Kimya Dawson, Teeth And Hair and Terrordactyls. All ages. $7 ($6 w/ Club Card).

TBA, High Dive [HTML_REMOVED] Guilty Pleasures Night: A Benefit for Mercy Corps, featuring Argo, Cantona, Pleasurecraft, Stuporhero, Central Services, Snakebites, X-Ray Eyes, Life in a Blender, Mike Danner and special guests. 21+. $7.

8 p.m., Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley [HTML_REMOVED] A(n Improvised) Christmas Carol. Unexpected Productions gets in on the holiday action, twisting the Dickens out of Dickens to suit its audience's fancies. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 7 p.m. Runs through Dec. 24. $12. Visit www.unexpectedproductions.org for more information on this and other shows.

8 p.m., Crocodile Caf[HTML_REMOVED] [HTML_REMOVED] A Sub Pop/Barsuk Winter Celebration and Holiday Karaoke Party Extravaganza Featuring acoustic performances by Jim Noir (in town all the way from Manchester, England), Fruit Bats and Tiny Vipers as well as karaoke performances from members of Math & Physics Club, The Pharmacy, Speaker Speaker, Thee Emergency, KEXP DJs and many more. 21+. $10.

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5 p.m., El Corazon [HTML_REMOVED] Acoustic indie pop from The Scene Aesthetic with From Aphony, Danger:Radio, Man Without Wax and Matt Bekker. All ages. $12 adv, $15 dos.

7 p.m., Fusion Cafe, 909 4th Ave. [HTML_REMOVED] The Vera Project presents the heavy-hitting political punk rock of The HollowPoints. Fall From Grace, The Insurgence and Last 1 Out will also perform. All ages. $7 ($6 w/ Club Card).

7:30 p.m., Meany Theatre [HTML_REMOVED] The Seattle Choral Company presents Mozart's "Messiah." I know exactly what you're thinking: Mozart didn't compose "Messiah" [HTML_REMOVED] Mel Gibson did. Anyhow, the Seattle Choral Company are filmmakers, not historians, so I'll cut them some slack. $10-$30.

7:30 p.m., Key Arena [HTML_REMOVED] ...And the Bloody Trail of raging hard clues leads to ... none other than Death Cab For Cutie. They would've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for this pesky, flaming hot journalist. OK, probably not, but I still call dibs on Gibbard. Now where are those handcuffs? All ages (the concert, not the afterparty). $29.50.

8 p.m., Neumos [HTML_REMOVED] KEXP 4th Annual Yule Benefit, Part I, featuring Juno (Reunion show), Ghostland Observatory, Junior Boys, Annuals and The Hands. 21+. $20.

9 p.m., Chop Suey [HTML_REMOVED] A Very Groovy Christmas with Paul Mendez, DJs Prisim, MarQ, Monkey, Johnny Moonsoon, Check 6 and Gabriel. 18+. Bar w/ID. $20 under 21. $10 over 21.

10 p.m., High Dive [HTML_REMOVED] Local indie pop rock at its best. The Ruby Doe, Shim and The Young Sportsmen. 21+. $7.

10 p.m., El Corazon [HTML_REMOVED] Burning Hearts Burlesque presents El Diablo's Holiday in Hell, featuring live music by The Sacred Truths, The Histrionics and '63 Burnout. There will also be live burlesque, belly dancing, variety performances, an evil Santa & Mrs. Claus costume contest and more than one creepy-looking guy lingering near the back of the crowd (so far, only my older brother has RSVP'd, but I sent out a lot of invitations). 21+. $10 adv, $12 dos.

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2 p.m., Meany Hall [HTML_REMOVED] The Seattle Choral Company presents Mozart's "Messiah." For the record, Handel originally composed "Messiah." However, the Seattle Choral Company will be performing Mozart's unique arrangement of it in honor of the 250th anniversary of his birth and/or death. Hey[HTML_REMOVED]a guy can only do so much research. $10-$30.

7 p.m., Neumos [HTML_REMOVED] KEXP 4th Annual Yule Benefit, Part II, featuring Cold War Kids, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, Juno and Junior Boys. All ages (balcony only). $20.

8 p.m., Showbox [HTML_REMOVED] Devotchka aim for an ambitious Eastern European, indie-cabaret sound. Fortunately, they employ a can't-miss arsenal of brass, strings and talent. All ages. $13 adv, $15 dos.

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7:30 p.m., El Corazon [HTML_REMOVED] Alternative rock from Firescape, a side project of Something Corporate guitarist and songwriter Josh Partington. All ages. $8 adv, $10 dos.

8 p.m., Showbox[HTML_REMOVED]Days In Between and Mass Sugar in the Green Room. 21+. $5.

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7 p.m., University Book Store [HTML_REMOVED] Rachael Ray ... Rachael Ray ... Rachael ... Ray! The name alone is hot enough to cr[HTML_REMOVED]me my br[HTML_REMOVED]l[HTML_REMOVED], so you can bet I'll be standing in line with my copy of her new book 2-4-6-8: Great Meals for Couples or Crowds. I'll be standing a little to the left if you need to find me.

7 p.m., El Corazon [HTML_REMOVED] Left At The Castle promises to deliver leftovers from Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay, John Mayer and Jason Mraz all blended up into one fruity concoction. OK, maybe that's not quite how they'd describe their creative process, but what nobody reads can't hurt them. Left Lane, Sharper Than You and Dreamwright will also perform. All ages. $8.

7 p.m., Showbox [HTML_REMOVED] Senses Fail, Saosin, Bleeding Through and I Am The Avalanche. All ages. $17 adv, $20 dos.

8 p.m., Neumos [HTML_REMOVED] A Very Special Holiday Party with Kmria, a Pogues tribute band, featuring past and present members of The Decemberists, Eels and Minus Five. 21+. $8.

8 p.m., Chop Suey [HTML_REMOVED] Dressy Bessy says, "Bend the rules or set them down." I say throw down the cash and check out this adorably colorful powerpop band. 21+. $7.

9 p.m., Crocodile Caf[HTML_REMOVED] [HTML_REMOVED] Popular local indie-rock quintet Spook The Horse with Aaron Manino. 21+. $6.

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6:30 p.m., El Corazon [HTML_REMOVED] If the thought of pop-punk doesn't make you a little bit queasy, check out Off Centered, not-quite-straight from Illinois. Also performing are Motives of Erich Zann, Two Twenty Twos, The Heat Exchange and Harsh. All ages. $10.

9 p.m., Chop Suey [HTML_REMOVED] A Night of Rollickin' Fun with Back-By-Popular-Demand comedian Todd Barry (Adult Swim/Comedy Central) plus special guests. 21+. $5.

9 p.m., Crocodile Caf[HTML_REMOVED] [HTML_REMOVED] Pop out the jams with local indie power-poppers Central Services and Jon Auer, best known for his work with The Posies and newly reformed Big Star. 21+. $6.

9 p.m., Showbox [HTML_REMOVED] Rock The Bells 2006 featuring Redman, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah (of Wu-Tang Clan fame) and many more. 21+. $30 adv, $35 dos.

Reach Calendar editor Christian Nelson at christiannelson@thedaily.washington.edu.