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Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming
 Through Aug. 6
Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre
One of the unexpected highlights of last year's arts season was Beef & Boards' hilarious and moving production of the musical "Smoke on the Mountain." Telling the story of a family of musicians playing at a rural church, the show could have been just another one of those simple set/mass appeal shows that theater companies use as cash cows (think "Nunsense," "Forever Plaid," et. al.). Theater snobs may hate them, but when they work-as "Smoke" did-they can be something special.
The "Smoke" creators, knowing they had a good thing going, followed up their original with a Christmas show and then with a second sequel, "Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming." And while most sequels have a noticeable drop-off in quality, I'm optimistic about this one. Why? Because B&B has brought back the entire winning cast from last year's production. I'm looking forward to getting reacquainted with them this week. For more details, click here.
John Mayer
July 5
Verizon Wireless Music Center
Quick story: The only time I've seen John Mayer live was at a VH1 taping at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (For a song from that special, click here.) It was an attempt to create a series pairing younger artists with older artists they admire. The premise was a good one, with each performer playing his or her own tunes, then a couple of duets, and finally both artists doing a song by the other. In this case, Mayer was matched with Paul Simon.
Where Simon seemed miserable and put upon, Mayer was jovial and professional, even as the taping stretched hours past its appointed time. Even late into the evening, Mayer engaged the audience between takes, was wonderfully off-color speculating on what the ghost of Jim Morrison might say about the whole enterprise, and, most importantly, sounded terrific doing his and Simon's songs. I left impressed.
Now even more firmly established as a musical star, Mayer will be on his own, although he's selected some strong openers with Colbie Caillat and Brett Dennen. For more details, click here.
Weird Al Yankovic
July 3
Lawn at White River State Park
The guilty pleasure musical event of the summer is Thursday's performance by the biggest name in song parodies. Across the city, I'd guess, there are people who would like to laugh and sing along with "Amish Paradise," "My Bologna" and "I Lost on Jeopardy," but are just ashamed to admit it.
Well, maybe it's time to embrace your inner Al, sing along with Yankovic's "Star Wars" version of "American Pie" and have a good time. For more details, click here.
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| * There are traditionally five cannon shots. If you are incorporating these into a drinking game, make sure you have a designated driver.
For more details on the concert, click here.
This Week's contest
 For a chance at winning a table for four at the Indiana Historical Society's July 10th Sweet City Blues "Concert on the Canal" featuring Tad Robinson, just fill out the form here. We'll pull one name at random next Monday. (For more info on Robinson, visit here. For more on the series, click here.
Oh, and while filling out the entry form, tell us your favorite blue thing.
Last week, we offered a family four-pack of tickets to see "Weird Al" Yankovic at the Lawn at White River State Park. The winner? Erin Robertson
We also asked for the title of a song parody of your very own. Our favorite responses are here.
And don't forget to visit Lou Harry's A&E blog here.
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Thrusday, July 3, 2008 
Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming: Same cast, different show. 
Through July 5 
