Rock club Valentine’s hosted the Kirkwood brothers’ hard rocking Meat Puppets for an enthusiastic, if not ecstatic, crowd Friday night.

Matisyahu doesn’t really worry about how other people see his music. That’s not to say that he isn’t concerned about the message his music puts across. But his goal is always self-expression and self-fulfillment.

"The 39 Steps," at Proctors through Sunday, is more than an extended comedy sketch than a play, but, for sure, it is a big, fat homage to Alfred Hitchcock's movies and the suspense genre in general.

Based on the novel “Push,” by Sapphire, the movie “Precious” takes us on a journey into the hell of Harlem. There we meet this girl who is a de facto servant to a horror show of a mother. As the movie informs us, the mother is herself a victim, and an insanely jealous woman.

How do smart, mature High school girls shandle their romantic appetites?

“Planet 51” is no instant classic, but it does rate as a pleasant diversion, a kind of bridge on connecting holiday blockbusters with movies you can take the kids to.

Tanglewood’s 2010 season, which officially opens July 9, will be a celebration of artists, conductors and special works that reflects the numerous anniversaries that the season represents.

The Hal Ketchum concert scheduled for Saturday at 8 p.m. at The Egg has been canceled because of illness.

Unlike 95 percent of performers, now or ever, Ray Davies actually has greater star power than stardom: He’s greater than his acclaim. And that acclaim is considerable.

Fred Rose and Allison Spratt say they’re not blessed with good memories, and that should help them as they take on the iconic roles of Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle in the Capital Repertory Theatre production of “My Fair Lady.” Both Broadway veterans, Rose and Spratt have never seen a stage production of the play, and while they’re extremely familiar with the 1960 movie version with Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn, they haven’t closely scrutinized the film or its performances.

The Meat Puppets never had to reunite. According to guitarist and vocalist Curt Kirkwood, the band never broke up.

Women are not the only subject Dona Ann McAdams has focused her camera lens on during her 35-year career. But she has always looked for, and found, women and girls to photograph. “I’ve always shot women because I am one, and I’m interested in how we are perceived in the world,” she said.

Pumpkin generally keeps company with cream cheese and cinnamon. Chocolate is only an occasional consort.<

Registered dietitian Lisa Petroski offers encouragement saying the approaching holiday season does not have to wreck diets and waistlines. Smart cooking can cut down on calories without cutting out flavor.

Ani Difranco started her sold-out show at The Egg’s Hart Theater Tuesday night with “A New Bible.” On ukelele, she called for a new bible with two words, “Mother Earth.” The screaming and energy was a mix of concert noise and a political rally.