Time Warp

Rock nostalgists, it's time to replace those tattered tour T-shirts. This week, three classic rock concerts -- one a double header -- are coming to Space City. The Aerosmith/KISS show at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion promises a bang for your buck. Sure, KISS will be singing the same irrelevant anthems that they eked out back in the day, but who cares? The painted members' onstage antics are reason enough to see the show. And it would be a shame to miss Aerosmith's Steven Tyler strutting around in his tight pants. Fleetwood Mac promises a show both smarter and more sublime. Though a spotty live concert entity in its heyday, the Mac has matured.

The week's wild card is Jethro Tull flutist Ian Anderson's "Rubbing Elbows With" show. Part unplugged concert, part comedy routine, part live talk show with local radio hosts, musicians, celebrities and audience members joining the weird and witty Anderson onstage, it promises some new tricks from an old dog.

KISS/Aerosmith: 8 p.m. Sunday, October 5. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion, 2005 Lake Robbins Drive, 281-363-3300, $65 to $175. Fleetwood Mac: 8 p.m. Monday, October 6. Toyota Center, 1510 Polk, 713-758-7200. $49.50 to $125. Ian Anderson: 8 p.m. Monday, October 6. Verizon Wireless Theater, 520 Texas, 713-230-1600. $23.50 to $46.50. - Rob Patterson

Bitch Away
A comedy about domestic violence

Domestic violence isn't exactly typical fodder for feminist comedy. But Bob Morgan's Where's My Dinner, Bitch?takes an offbeat look at what happens to victims of abuse once they've finally found their freedom. In the work, the husbands of abused trailer-park gals begin showing up dead across Jackson County, and black-eyed widows pour into a shelter for battered women. A torrid lesbian love affair erupts between the head of the shelter and the regional manager of a cosmetics firm, and the hapless damsels learn a thing or two about the power of female bonding -- and the wonders of direct-marketing sales. The production is sure to have strong language and nudity, so leave the kiddies and the puritanical at home. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from Friday, October 3, through October 25. Helios, 411 Westheimer. For more information, call 713-201-0193 or visit www.geocities.com/dccommune. $10. - Keith Plocek Austin Invasion
A group of dancing Austinites is stepping into Houston this weekend. Choreographer Sarah Irwin, a former Houstonian, will return to town with a show called Instincts, which includes an excerpt of "Vanish," a work in progress, and two premieres: "All the Best" and "Conversation with Dog." Irwin is best known for her content-driven, sometimes political, always compelling dance collaborations. Austin choreographers Caroline Sutton of Wicked Cricket Dance Theatre and Ellen Bartel of Spank Dance Company share the bill. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, October 3 and 4. DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway. For information call 713-223-8346 or visit www.diverseworks.org. $15. - Nancy Galeota-Wozny

SAT 10/4
Golden Arch

Yes, Simon Shaheen arranged the violins for Sting's Jaguar jingle "Desert Rose," but don't hold that against him. After all, he's an internationally acclaimed virtuoso of both the oud and the violin. This weekend, the musician will appear with his classical/jazz/Arabic/Latin fusion band, Qantara (meaning "arch"). Can one arch bridge all those musical gaps? 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 4. University of Houston Cullen Performance Hall, 4800 Calhoun. For information and tickets, call 281-859-6715 or visit www.outboundmusic.com. $35 and $50. - Lisa Simon