29 THU • FILM Rein of Fire Brew and View — Sure, Rein of Fire might not be a cinematic achievement that will withstand the test of time, but it might be the perfect reel for the Brew and View series at the Magic Bag (22920 Woodward, Ferndale; call 248-544-3030). Set in a future where dragons have been awakened from hibernation to torch the Earth, Rein of Fire might need a couple cold ones to pass the test.
29 THU • MUSIC Jay Bennett — It seems that Jay Bennett’s defining musical trademark lies in the uncanny ability to progress in two directions at once. In his former band Wilco it was easily heard when he multitasked as both guitar and keyboard innovator on its last two seminal records. That Bennett was largely responsible for Wilco’s signature domination of creative college radio makes his efforts as songwriter and a band leader a treat to "No Depression-neuvo" (cq) crowd across the country. On the road with Will Johnson of the criminally underrated Centr-o-matic, Bennett and collaborator Burch will play the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave, Detroit; call 313-961-4668.
31 SAT • FUN FOR ALL Clarence Clemens and the Temple of Soul — The former E. Street tenorman has had some good luck lately. With his successful reunion with Bruce and high-profile engagements across the country, Clarence Clemens might just escape the "whatever happened to …" blues. He is scheduled to take the stage with his band, Temple of Soul, at Arts, Beats and Eats, the outdoor festival in Pontiac, Saturday at 10 p.m. The festival opens Fri., Sept. 30 and runs through Monday. Look to www.artsbeatseats.com for information.
30 FRI • ART Ziam — Tired of slipping on beer and all the strained conversation at smoky grunge-pop-rock shows? To spike your weekend with the beautiful and bizarre, check out the fashion-music-poetry-dance extravaganza hosted by Detroit performance artist Ziam at Eastern Market's intimate Johansen Charles Gallery. Ziam's blue-jean creations and the show's dancing (gorgeous) models, African drumming and Broadway-esque performances promise to delight. As underground as you can imagine and rarely on time, Ziam's productions and their diverse crowds are a wonder Doors open at 10 p.m. The gallery is located at 1345 Division, Detroit.
31 SAT • MUSIC Aloha — Enough good can’t be said about Aloha, a quartet of progressive noisemakers wielding fistfuls of deconstructionist post-post-rock, fragments of free jazz and genre-defying bop-pop rhythms in live shows that are equally exhilarating and exhausting. Supported by like-minded locals Judah Johnson, and the noisy expressionist punk of Knoxville’s Dixie Dirt, the show will be a welcome relief to underground music fans wishing to dodge the weekend’s festivals. At the Lager House 1254 Michigan Ave, Detroit. Call 313-961-4668.
31 SAT • MUSIC Faruq Z. Bey and the Conspiracy Wind Ensemble — Hooray for Detroiters, hooray for jazz that saxophonist Faruq Z. Bey seems to be on a roll these days. The record 19 Moons on Entropy Stereo documents his work with Northwoods Improvisers; a recent unreleased live recording session caught his band Speaking in Tongues. The Conspiracy winds in the past has included reed players Len Bukowski, and Skeeter Shelton among others, and the Bey book can range through decades of knotty originals, and covers as varied as Roscoe Mitchell pieces to "Send in the Clowns." As the Boy Scouts say, "Be prepared." Music starts at 9 p.m. sharp with the Ben Hall/Mike Khoury duo. Entropy Studios is at 10338 Jos. Campau, Hamtramck. Click on www.geocities.com/entropystereo/studio.html.
31 SAT • PARTY Radioactive — Join the cast and crew of ipmradio.com in a rousing chorus of "Fuck the RIAA." The night of darkwave and industrial featuring Chiasm, Algernon33 and URN, with DJs Pfrank, Piotr, Moondancer & CS68 will help promote The Internet Radio Fairness Act, a bill aimed at preventing Web casters from being forced out of business due to recent pay-to-play rulings by Congress. The concert will be simulcast worldwide on six different Internet radio stations. At the Labyrinth, 1703 Cass Ave. Detroit; call 313-962-2300.
