Tim’s Picks: The Here Comes a Regular Edition

Civic’s ‘Sordid Lives,’ poetry at The Spot, for those about the rock at Long Center and, wait … is that Tommy Stinson? Five choice ideas for the weekend and beyond in Lafayette/West Lafayette.

Special thanks to today’s sponsor Purdue Convocations, presenting Jesus Christ Superstar. This iconic musical phenomenon is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas. In celebration of its 50th Anniversary, a new mesmerizing production comes to Purdue’s Elliott Hall of Music Friday, April 14. Buy Tickets.

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By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette

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Five choice ideas for the weekend and beyond in Lafayette/West Lafayette.

“Sordid Lives,” 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, tonight and April 13; 7:30 p.m. Fridays, April 7 and 14; 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, April 8 and 15, and 2:30 p.m. April 16, Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette, 313 N. Fifth St., Lafayette — From the warped mind that brought us “Daddy’s Dyin’ (Who’s Got the Will),” Del Shores’ follow-up dark comedy is full of white trash. When Peggy, a good Christian woman, hits her head on the sink and bleeds to death after tripping over her lover's wooden legs in a motel room, chaos erupts in Winters, Texas. Quite a synopsis for a show that earned dozens of awards after its 1996 premiere and became a film in 2000, which starred Olivia Newton-John, Delta Burke and Leslie Jordan. The Civic Theatre show is directed by Laurie Russell and is recommended for ages 18 and older. $12-$24. Tickets.

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John Leo and Kristine Esser Slentz. (Photos: Callie Zimmerman, left, and Kristine Esser Slentz)

Poetry reading with John Leo and Kristine Esser Slentz, 7 p.m. Friday, April 7, The Spot Tavern, 409 S. Fourth St., Lafayette — In celebration of National Poetry Month, The Spot welcomes a pair of Hoosier poets to give readings of their new works. John Leo is based in Indianapolis and the young writer published “The Name of Ancient Wars” in 2021. His poems also appear in the new anthology “A Flame Called Indiana: New Writing from the Crossroads.” Hailing from Northwest Indiana, Kristine Esser Slentz has performed her verses all over Indiana, the Chicago area and New York City, where she earned an MFA in poetry from the City College of New York and co-founded the Adverse Abstraction monthly in New York’s East Village. She is preparing for the release of her new book, “The Archives.” The work is a follow-up to her 2021 acclaimed collection, “woman, depose.” Slentz’s poetry has appeared in 36 journals and anthologies since 2017.

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Thunderstruck (Photo provided)

Thunderstruck: America’s AC/DC, 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 7, Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette — “Shake a Leg” to downtown Lafayette to witness the rock ‘n’ roll onslaught of Thunderstruck, a top American AC/DC tribute act. Whether you’re a Bon Scott fan or a Brian Johnson devotee, Thunderstruck has you covered as its setlist dips into both eras of the Aussie band that still shoots to thrill after 50 years. While AC/DC still performs today on occasion, Thunderstruck supplements fans’ urge to get shook all night long live with unbridled energy, aplomb and “High Voltage.” $24. Tickets.

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A Gauche: Danny Weiss, Patrick DeBonis and Dor Ben-Amotz. (Photo provided)

A Gauche, 11 a.m. Saturday, April 8, Tippecanoe County Public Library, Klondike Branch, 3062 Lindberg Road, West Lafayette — Local jazz trio A Gauche kicks off Jazz Appreciation Month with a tribute to early jazz greats. About 100 years ago, King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band was one of the hottest acts around when it invited a young trumpeter named Louis Armstrong to join, giving the future legend a grander stage to showcase his talents. Soon after, the group recorded “Dippermouth Blues” at Gennett Studio for Gennett Records based out of Richmond, Indiana. Considered to be one of jazz’s first hit records, the track greatly featured Armstrong’s soloing prowess as well as vocals from Lil Harden, one of the first female jazz stars. Hardin and Armstrong married a couple years after the session. A Gauche consists of Danny Weiss on saxophone, Dor Ben-Amotz on drums and Patrick DeBonis on tuba — the perfect group to guide you through the last 100 years of jazz. Free.

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Tommy Stinson, right, and Chip Roberts are Cowboys in the Campfire. (Photo: Vivian Wang)

Tommy Stinson, 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, People’s Brewing Company, 2006 N. Ninth St., Lafayette — From teenaged punk bassist for The Replacements to rocking arenas as a seven-year member of Guns N’ Roses (2.0) in the ‘00s and ‘10s, Tommy Stinson’s career is set for another chapter as leader of Cowboys in the Campfire, a new project that puts Stinson behind the vocal mic armed with an acoustic guitar. Stinson and his Cowboys are preparing for a new record, “Wronger” to be released June 2, with a tour that will bring Stinson to perhaps his most intimate show in decades. People’s, which holds only 50 music fans, will be in store for tunes new and old from Stinson’s 40-plus-year career. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to get close to a punk rock legend who influenced the likes of Jeff Tweedy, Kurt Cobain and Billy Joe Armstrong — who have all stated Stinson and The Replacements inspired them to pick up guitars, according to The New York Times. SOLD OUT.

Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.

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Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.