Pic Hits for the week

thursday
january 16
Smokin' Joe Kubek Band featuring Bnois King: A rock-solid blues band; these guys cook. Dual guitarists Kubek and King are the heart and soul, respectively, of the Dallas act, which has been on a steady rise since its 1991 debut for Bullseye/Rounder, Steppin' Out Texas Style. The group's latest disc for Bullseye, Got My Mind Back, encapsulates the band's appeal: finger-lickin' lead work by Smokin' Joe and sumptuous, fall-off-the-bone vocals by Bnois on originals like "Can't See for Lookin'" and the title track. Showtime is 9 p.m. Thursday, January 16, at the Rhythm Room, 1019 East Indian School. The cover is $7. Call 265-4842.

"Native Voices: Reflecting Forward": Heard Museum Guild's annual lecture series continues through Thursday, February 13. Gerard Baker, superintendent of Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, hosts a program titled "Little Bighorn Battlefield: A Change in Interpretation" at 10 a.m. Thursday, January 16, at the museum, 22 East Monte Vista. It's repeated at 7:30 that evening at Carefree Inn, 37220 Mule Train Road in Carefree. Next up is Tewa-Hopi artist Dan Namingha, who discusses his work at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 22, at the Heard. Tickets to each lecture are $11, $9 for members. Call 252-8840.

Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction: The 26th annual display and sale of classic autos--including the world's first Ferrari and comedian/Porsche nut Jerry Seinfeld's 1954, mint-condition 356 Speedster--is scheduled Thursday, January 16; Friday, January 17; Saturday, January 18; and Sunday, January 19, at WestWorld, 16601 North Pima Road in Scottsdale. Daily hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is $12, $6 for teens and seniors, $3 for kids ages 6 to 12, free for those younger. Call 273-0791.

Birmingham 6: Fans of Front 242 likely also will be drawn to this Danish act, not only because B6 plows the same industrial/ideological patch of ground, but because F242's Jean-Luc De Meyer provided the vocals for the group's latest Cleopatra disc, Error of Judgement. Kim Lohde Petersen and Michael Hillerup named their duo (De Meyer isn't a full-time member) after a case in which the British government falsely accused six Irish men of being IRA terrorists, then imprisoned them for 17 years--a situation evocative of the one in the movie In the Name of the Father. Numb, and Rorschach Test share the bill on Thursday, January 16, at the Mason Jar, 2303 East Indian School. Call 956-6271.

Stars on Ice: Many of the biggest names in figure skating--Kristi Yamaguchi, Paul Wylie, Katarina Witt, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, Scott Hamilton and others--perform in this 11th annual touring show. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Thursday, January 16, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. Tickets are $27.50 and $37.50, available at the arena and Dillard's; proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Southern Arizona. Call 379-7800 or 503-5555.

Swinging on a Star: The Johnny Burke Musical: The late Burke wrote the words to some of our most memorable popular songs, and most of his career high notes are hit in this Tony-nominated homage by writer/director Michael Leeds; see the review on page 57. Arizona Theatre Company continues its 30th-anniversary season with the Southwestern premiere of the work. Final performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday, January 16; 8 p.m. Friday, January 17; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, January 18; and 7 p.m. Sunday, January 19, in Center Stage at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe; a discussion follows Thursday's show. Tickets range from $30 to $37, available at Herberger and Dillard's; call 252-8497 or 503-5555.

friday
january 17
MLK Breakfast: The theme of the 11th annual homage to late social activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is "PLAY for Peace" ("PLAY" stands for "Playfully Linking Adults and Youth"). Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza opens the event with an address at 7 a.m. Friday, January 17, at Symphony Hall, 225 East Adams. An awards ceremony and a performance of Al C. Eaton's MLK--We Are the Dream follow. Breakfast is served at 8:30 on the Phoenix Civic Plaza deck, which will be transformed into a playground featuring 17 "play zones." Breakfast tickets, which include playground access, are available at Civic Plaza and Dillard's box offices (call 262-7272 or 503-5555); open admission to the playground is from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and costs $2, $1 for seniors, 50 cents for kids 12 and under. Proceeds benefit the City of Phoenix's MLK Fine Arts and Education program. For general information, call 495-0573. For details about other activities scheduled in conjunction with this year's MLK Day observation on Monday, January 20, see the Events listing or "Dream Time" in Kid Pics.

Big Band Alumni Orchestra featuring Frank DeVol, Rex Allen, Irv Kluger, Harry Babbitt, Beryl Davis and Bob Grabeau: The above-mentioned celebs of yesteryear join other musicians from the swing era for the vintage hit parade "Battle of the Big Bands, Round 2." The highly accomplished DeVol is probably best known for his role as musically challenged bandleader Happy Kyne on the late, great TV satire Fernwood 2-Night; Davis sang with Glenn Miller's Army Air Force Orchestra, and she still dedicates her version of "I'll Be Seeing You" to the memory of Major Miller. Performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. Friday, January 17, at Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 North Arizona Avenue; and the same time Saturday, January 18, at the Sundome, 19403 R.H. Johnson Boulevard in Sun City West. Tickets range from $14 to $28 for the Chandler show, available at the center and Ticketmaster (call 786-2680 or 784-4444); they're $10 to $19 out west, available at the 'dome and Dillard's (call 975-1900 or 503-5555).