SONNY LANDRETH
Continental Club, Thursday, Aug 7
Mississippi-born Cajun dweller Sonny Landreth always struck me as Louisiana’s answer to A-Town’s Eric Johnson. On his latest slide-guitar slice ’n’ dice, From the Reach, you’ll find the aural resemblance in instrumentals such as chunkster “The Milky Way Home” and shredding, penulimate closer “Überesso.” Stealing thunder from Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago last year, Landreth remains a six-string überesso all his own. – Raoul Hernandez

BLACK COBRA/LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR
Red 7, Thursday, Aug 7
Two nights, two metal bands with requisite mythical-sounding animal names. SF duo Black Cobra took thrash to task on last year’s Feather and Stone (At a Loss), amping up the pummel factor with just guitar and drums. Fellow SFers Slough Feg open, with Sirhan Sirhan, Lions of Tsavo, and the Flood. Chicago’s Lair of the Minotaur hoof it up a notch on latest War Metal Battle Master (Southern Lord), a grinding “concept album” that’s screaming to be turned into a video game. Sourvein, Four Days to Burn, and Canyon of the Skull play first. – Audra Schroeder

ESTHER'S FOLLIES: WORLD GONE WILD The most popular troupe in town returns with their riotous musical send-ups of local and national politics and cultural phenomena, making already hot topics burn with a bright comic intensity, with the incredible and – ai! ai! ai! – spicy illusions of master magician Ray Anderson. Thrills! Chills! Ripped-from-the-headlines events turned into comedy gold! Reservations highly recommended. Thu.-Fri, 8pm; Sat., 8 & 10pm. $20 (discounts available Thursdays & Fridays for seniors, students, military). Additional $5 for special reserved seats. Esther's Pool, 525 E. Sixth, 320-0553. (Comedy)

BILINGUAL COMPUTER LITERACY COURSES Learn the basics of operating a computer and surfing the Web at this new technology center provided by Southwest Key. Feel free to jump in anytime during the eight-week program, or just use the computers on your own. Class will be taught in Spanish on Mondays and English on Tuesdays, and the lab will be open to the public on Wednesdays and Thursdays for individual use. 6:30-8pm. AMD Community Technology Center, 6002 Jain, 462-2181. Free. www.swkey.org (Events)

CORONATION PREPARTY This weekend is the United Court's big Coronation weekend, three nights of royal ribaldry! Esteemed members and guests from the International Imperial Court System and from around the globe shall be in attendance. This night before the big night features an Out of Town Show and a local Bar Tour. Come celebrate with royalty! Fri., Aug. 8, hospitality begins at 11am, Out of Town Show, 6pm, Bar Tour, 9:30pm. Radisson Austin North, 6000 Middle Fiskville, 451-5757 or 800/333-3333. tigerboyangel@yahoo.com www.unitedcourtofaustin.org, www.radisson.com (The Gay Place)

CORONATION XV: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DOLLS: CELEBRATION AT STUDIO 54 A midsummer night's folderal, in which reigning monarchs Regent Emperor XIV Jake Stone and Empress XIV Simone Riviera, step down to honor this year's new royalty. Come marvel at the pageant of United Court's annual Coronation weekend. Hospitality begins at 9am; protocol, 11am; coronation, 5pm. Radisson Austin North, 6000 Middle Fiskville, 451-5757 or 800/333-3333. $30. www.unitedcourtofaustin.org, www.radisson.com (The Gay Place)

KISSIN' COUSINS Because their high-energy shows are filled with their original “Southern-rockin’ soul” and covers you will love, of course, Nakia & His Southern Cousins were given a residency on Sixth Street. It's been a big year for the band – named one of the 10 Best New Bands at this year’s Austin Music Awards and given a stellar invitation to play Austin City Limits this year – and things just keep getting better. So, check them out, every week, and fall in love with keeping it in the family. Thursdays, 10pm. Momo's, 618 W. Sixth, 479-8848. www.nakia.net (The Gay Place)

METROPOLITAN BREAKFAST CLUB This week, Marc Ott, Austin city manager, will be answering your questions. Wed., Aug. 13, 7am. Darrell Royal Memorial Stadium, UT Club, sixth floor, 2108 E. Robert Dedman, 479-9460. $15. www.mbcaustin.org (Events)

PRIDE BUILD 2008 Come raise the walls! Raise your spirits (by volunteering)! And raise some cash! Pride Build 2008 is part of Habitat for Humanity's Devonshire Blitz. Go, team! Fri., Aug. 8, 8am. Check websites for location. www.myspace.com, www.austinhabitat.org (The Gay Place)

QUIZZICAL Join Quizmaster Lois and the gang for another rousing round of memorized minutiae. Wed., Dec. 19, 7pm. Nueva Onda, 2218 College Ave, 447-5063. www.nuevaaustin.com (The Gay Place)

THE GUISE FROM NEW ORLEANS Welcome post-K transplants the Guise as they bring their big and easy "incidentally queer dark surf" – which is such an awkwardly charming self-named genre that we'll allow the overindulgence just this once. Sat., Aug. 9. Oilcan Harry's, 211 W. Fourth, 320-8823. www.myspace.com (The Gay Place)