The Thamesmen - "Gimme Some Money" Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer & Friends @ Avalon Joss Stone @ The Greek Sarah Silverman @ Largo Metal Skool, Shapes of Racecars, The Ringers, Crash Hot @ Key Club The Section Quartet w/guests Grant Lee Phillips, Sam Phillips, Linda Perry @ Troubadour Low vs Diamond, The Young Immortals, IO Echo, Mr. Uncertain @ Spaceland Blackcowboy, Neuromance, MC Rut, The Blackout Trust @ Viper Room I Make......

Tonight, Monday night, at 8:00 PM, the Avalon in Hollywood hosts Concert For A Cause, a benefit for the International Myeloma Foundation, with a rare treat indeed: a virtual performance of a virtual band. Yes that will be Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer on stage, in place of David, Nigel and Derek, a hard jolt of reality from the creators of the greatest illusion in rock history. Spinal Tap. Not to mention......

Ventriloquism -- like terrestrial radio, like film projecting -- is a dying art, but British ventriloquist Nina Conti and her simian friend Monk singlehandedly make a case for bringing it back. With his doleful eyes, dour little old man voice and the most expressive face I've ever seen on a puppet, Monk is a work of pure genius. And Conti's ability to throw her voice is unparalleld. Nina & Monk may well be the funniest......

Recommended Dixie Chicks - Shut Up & Sing - Remember when rugged individualism was the hallmark of the "American character"? Remember when that individualism was defined by a willingness to speak your mind? Remember when criticizing your governmental overlords was a patriotic duty? Yeah, me neither. But maybe country music trio The Dixie Chicks were trying to recall that mythologized frontier spirit when lead singer Nathalie Maines criticized President Bush for launching the Iraq......

Tuesday Night "Rachael Ray's Thanksgiving in 60" (FOOD, 6:00 p.m.) If you're in need of last minute T-giving ideas watch this evil little sprite dish them out "Beauty and the Beast" (IFC, 6:00 p.m.) Director Jean Cocteau's 1946 surreal take on the fairy tale. Hey, at least I'm not pushing you to watch Eisenstein's "Alexander Nevsky" at 9:25 p.m. "NHL Hockey" (PRIME, 7:00 p.m.) Sharks @ Ducks "NBA Basketball" (the CW or FSW, 7:30......

Thursday Night Lights Can you believe the powers-that-be let Emmitt take the disco ball last night? Awesome. "College Football" (PRIME 42, 4:00 p.m.) Oregon @ USC "NHL Hockey" (Fox Sports, 7:30 p.m.) Flyers @ Kings "College Basketball (PRIME 42, 7:30 p.m.) South Carolina @ USC "Once Were Warriors" (IFC, 7:50 p.m.) Dysfunctional Maori family in this award-winner "Survivor: Cook Islands" (CBS, 8:00 p.m.) Survivor flirtations raise the ire of "the Others", oops, am suffering......