Hot-shot guitarist Anthony Gomes is back in town (in case you’re wondering, Gomes rhymes with homes) for a show at Sticky Fingerz. Everybody I know who sees him for the first time comes back raving about the show. Check him out, 9 p.m.
Acoustic Sounds Cafe has its first of two shows this month tonight at the Second Presbyterian Church, a cool and acoustically right venue for some good singer-songwriter stuff. Ray Bonneville, who I saw come through a couple of years ago, is the headliner tonight. Bonneville is a Juno Award winner (Canada’s version of the Grammy Awards) who uses intricate chording, plays an uptempo style a lot of the time, and has a gravely voice delivering lyrics that are sure to entertain. Opening is a spoken-word artist, Minton Sparks. I haven’t seen her, but Performing Songwriter says of Sparks: “There’s no one quite like Sparks on the contemporary music scene … no one with her ability to find and describe such haunting rhythms of this world in such precise, unadorned terms.” Good enough for me. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Get there by 7 for the seats up front, though.
The Rep debuts its season opener tonight. “Moonlight and Magnolias” sounds tempting: It’s about David O. Selznick trying to salvage his major project of 1938-39, “Gone With the Wind,” bringing in a new screenwriter and director for a week of churning the novel into something that might work on screen. It was an Off-Broadway hit, and the Rep’s Bob Hupp is directing. I’m expecting fun things. Tonight’s show is at 8 p.m. and there is a post-show reception with the small cast. There may still be a few seats; call 378-0405, or set up something for later. The show runs through Sept. 24. Then The Second City from Chicago is in for two weeks with its riotous improv.