Font Resize1. Terrence Brewer: The talented young Bay Area guitarist's latest album, "Groovin' Wes," is a fitting tribute to Wes Montgomery, whose pioneering licks in the 1950s and '60s helped revolutionize jazz guitar and, for that matter, jazz itself. Brewer will showcase the album during a gig at Berkeley's Jazzschool.
Details: 4:30 p.m. Oct. 11; $15; 510-845-5373, www.jazzschool.com.
2. "Texas Chainsaw Musical": Willows Theatre Company learned from last year's "Evil Dead" production that nothing enlivens musical theater like severed limbs and projectile spewing of (fake) blood. Enter "Texas Chainsaw," opening Oct. 9, which is based on the classic slasher flick and which, of
course, offers "splatter zone" seats for those who prefer a more visceral connection to their gory song and dance routines.Details: 7 and 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 31; Willows Cabaret Theatre; Martinez; $20 ($25 for "wet" seats); 925-798-1300, www.willowstheatre.org.
3. Fleet Week: The Blue Angels and tall ships are back in San Francisco, along with exhibits, tours and live music and dancing.
Details: 1-4 p.m. Oct. 9, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 10; 11 a.m.-7:45 p.m. Oct. 11; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 12; various S.F. locations; most events are free; 650-599-5057, www.military.com/fleetweek.
4. Livermore Valley Opera:
Details: 8 p.m. Oct. 10 and 16-17, 2 p.m. Oct. 11 and 18; Bankhead Theatre at Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center, Livermore; $39-$59. Also, the company's opening gala celebration is 5:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the same venue ($50); 925-373-6800, www.livermoreperformingarts.com.
5. Martinez Fall Music Festival: the John Muir Amphiteatre, on the Martinez waterfront, hosts this three-day event featuring Gina Graziano & the Miracle Workers tonight, several bluegrass and jug bands Saturday and the Martinez Community Chorus and Diablo Regional Concert Band Sunday.
Details: 7 p.m. Oct. 9, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 10, 1-3 p.m. Oct. 11; $4-$10 daily, $18-$25 three-day pass; 925-917-0441.
6. Paula West and George Mesterhazy Quartet: The sublime Bay Area jazz/cabaret singer teams with the versatile quartet for what's billed as an evening of Great American Songbook standards as well as more modern pop-rock numbers (they performed Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" at a recent show in Charleston, S.C.).
Details: Presented by San Francisco Performances; 8 p.m. Oct. 10, Herbst Theatre, S.F.; $27-$39; 415-392-4400, www.cityboxoffice.com., www.performances.org.
7. California Symphony: The Walnut Creek orchestra goes for innovative programming once again by booking world-famous juggler Michael Moschen to perform to Ravel's "Mother Goose Suite" and Mason Bates' "Mercury Interlude." I figure it's only a matter of time before these guys jam with Marilyn Manson. The program also features "The William Tell Overture" and Silbelius' "Symphony No. 2."
Details: 4 p.m. Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13; Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek; $44-$64; 925-943-7469, www.lesherartscenter.org.; www.californiasymphony.org.
8. Jamie Foxx: The singer, actor and comedian brings his "Blame It" tour back to the Bay Area for a stop at Concord's Sleep Train Pavilion.
Details: 8 p.m. Oct. 10; $48.75-$93.75; 800-745-3000, www.apeconcerts.com.
9. Abracadabra: We turn to this ABBA cover band in these dark times because ... 1. The real ABBA is never getting back together, 2. "Mama Mia!" the stage musical's not playing around here, and 3. "Mama Mia!" the movie version has Pierce Brosnan singing in it (nuff said).
Details: 8 p.m. Oct. 10; $15-$45; El Campanil Theatre, Antioch; 925-757-9500, www.elcampaniltheatre.com.
10. "The First Day of School": SF Playhouse presents Billy Aronson's new comedy about the trouble a group of parents get into after their kids have tramped off to class.
Details: 7 p.m. Tuesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 7; SF Playhouse, S.F.; $40; 415-677-9596, www.sfplayhouse.org.
Reach Randy McMullen at 925-943-8262 or rmcmullen@bayareanewsgroup.com
