Font Resize1 DAVID BYRNE AND ST. VINCENT: What an inspired collaboration. Byrne, the onetime Talking Heads frontman who has mastered everything from nerdy funk-rock to Latin jazz, and St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark), whose hypnotic song structures and blistering guitar work have made her one of indie rock's most in-demand acts, teamed up on the album "Love This Giant," which was released last month. It's got everything: big beats, quirky but hooky melodies, strange lyrics and offbeat arrangements with horns ablazing. On Monday, Byrne and Clark bring the tour behind the album to San Francisco's Orpheum Theatre for what should be an indie rock fan's paradise.
Details: 8 p.m.; $63.50-$129; www.axs.com.
2 RICHMOND HOME FRONT FESTIVAL: This year's installment of the annual bash that celebrates Richmond's role in the World War II shipbuilding effort will showcase the historical offerings at the new Visitor Education Center for the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, located adjacent to the festival grounds at Craneway Pavilion. Other festival attractions include tours of the USS Potomac (Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidential yacht), live music, food and beverage vendors, kids' activities, classic cars and more. On Friday, The Pavilion will host a Rosie the Riveter 1940s USO Dance.
Details: The dance is 6-10 p.m.; $20-$25. Home Front Festival is 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; free; more information and tickets are at
3 DIABLO SYMPHONY: The Walnut Creek orchestra is celebrating developments old and new in its season-opening concert Sunday. The season marks the 50th anniversary of the orchestra, said to be the oldest group of professionally trained musicians in Contra Costa County. And Sunday's performance marks the debut of Music Director and Conductor Matilda Hofman. The program, titled "Arabian Nights," includes portions of Shostakovich's ballet "The Age of Gold," Haydn's Trumpet Concerto and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade." The trumpet soloist is Joyce Johnson Hamilton, Diablo's retired conductor.
Details: 2 p.m. Sunday, Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek; $10-$25; 925-943-7469, www.lesherartscenter.org, www.diablosymphony.org.
4 POINT RICHMOND ACOUSTIC: Contemporary folkies Paul Kamm and Eleanore MacDonald, known for their wistful melodies, soaring harmonies and his deft guitar work, open this nifty concert series' new season Friday. East Bay singer-songwriter Megan McLaughlin is on the bill.
Details: 8 p.m.; First Methodist Church of Point Richmond; $15 (tickets sold at the door); www.pointacoustic.org.
5 "SEX, SLUGS AND ACCORDION": With a title like that, how can a gypsy/cabaret/comedy/storytelling show about an hermaphroditic slug go wrong? Jetty Swart, aka Jet Black Pearl, has brought her talents to the Marsh Berkeley for a weekly show through Nov. 14. Did I mention this show is not for the little ones?
Details: 8 p.m. Wednesdays (no show Oct. 31); $10-$50; 415-282-3055, www.themarsh.org.
6 AUTUMN LIGHTS FESTIVAL: Show up at Oakland's Lake Merritt on Saturday evening, and you'll be mesmerized by neon bubbles, electric fireflies, gourds ablaze with haunting designs and a giant snail car. The items are part of the annual Autumn Lights Festival, which is illuminated by the inspired works of local artists. Video works, a silent auction, food trucks and beer and wine also will be part of the festival fun. Proceeds benefit Friends of the Gardens at Lake Merritt.
Details: 6-10 p.m. Saturday, 666 Bellevue Ave., Oakland; $25-$35; www.brownpapertickets.com, www.anotherbullwinkelshow.com.
7 PEPPINO D'AGOSTINO AND CARLOS REYES: There will be so much musical talent on one stage Friday at Pleasanton's Firehouse Arts Center, organizers might need to apply for a special zoning permit. D'Agostino, the world music acoustic guitar wizard, joins forces with renowned Latin jazz harpist and violinist Reyes for what should be a night of mind-bending jams.
Details: 8 p.m.; $12-$25; 925-931-4848, www.firehousearts.org.
8 RANDY RUTHERFORD: The Bay Area musician and storyteller has lost about 70 percent of his hearing, a condition that informs much of his work. His latest comedic solo show, "The Water Is Wide," is about the conflict that develops between Rutherford's real girlfriend and the imaginary woman in his head who helps him cope with his hearing loss. The real girlfriend thinks a vegan diet would return his hearing; the imaginary girl prefers fried bologna sandwiches (I know which one I'm rooting for).
Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday; St. John's Episcopal Church, Clayton; $15; 925-672-8717, www.brownpapertickets.com.
9 GREAT MUSIC FROM GREAT BALLETS: Classical dance fans might want to catch this event, which features concert pianist Gregory Tabolof performing portions of "Swan Lake," "Romeo and Juliet," and other masterworks as Diablo Ballet Artistic Director Lauren Jonas discusses the music's role in and effect on the ballet.
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Sherman Clay piano store, Walnut Creek; free; www.DiabloBallet.org.
10 LENORA LEE DANCE: The San Francisco company, which blends contemporary dance, martial arts and multimedia effects, celebrates its fifth season this weekend with three works that look at the Asian immigrant experience. The program includes a new piece, "The Escape," about three Chinese women encountering American society in the early 20th century.
Details: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3:30 p.m. Sunday; Dance Mission Theatre, San Francisco; $15-$25; www.brownpapertickets.com; www.lenoraleedance.com.
Contact Randy McMullen at rmcmullen@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/randymac57.
