Saturday Morning Live

SAT 9/3
"I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day," quoth the immortal poets of KISS, setting the standard of hard-rockin' debauchery for generations to come. This weekend, though, local metal fans may find their schedules reversed, since Houston's MetalFest at the Meridian is scheduled for no later than 9 a.m. on Saturday. Could work out nicely, though: Like, who needs coffee when you've got metal? Or, more specifically, what's a cup o' joe compared to the metal act Burnt Face Jack? Thirty bands will be bringing the grind, the speed and the death to the headbanging faithful all the livelong day. Groups scheduled to dole out the sonic adrenaline include League City's NecroJesus, which makes the dubious claim via Myspace.com that it's the real reason behind the war in Iraq; Immortal Remains, a black metal band from Europe that's into church-burning; and Houston's own Lycophile, which will be bringing the wolfen-love with its pick-hit "Sheath of Lesions." By the time Deep 6, Blood Void and Cinema of Fear have all played, who knows? It might even be dark outside. Doors open at 9 a.m. Saturday, September 3. 1503 Chartres. For tickets and a schedule, call 713-225-1717 or visit www.meridianhouston.com. $15 to $20. -- Scott Faingold

Bark in the Park

Hang with the dawgs at Houston Symphony's Peter and the Wolf

THU 9/1
Hark! What's that sound? Could it be a little boy going out into a snow-covered, 19th-century Russian meadow to capture a wolf, armed with only a rope and several animal-of-prey pals for backup? If it's Thursday and you're within earshot of the Woodlands Pavilion, the answer just might be da. The Houston Symphony will be performing Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf that night with John Morris Russell conducting and local media hotshot D'Artagnan Bebel intoning the narration. Prokofiev wrote Peter in 1936 to entertain his children, and it remains one of the most popular pieces in the classical canon. With its exciting, kid-friendly adventure story and catchy, character-specific musical themes, it also provided the basis for the 1946 Disney short. Join the hunt at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 1. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands. For tickets and information, call 281-364-3010 or visit www.woodlandscenter.org. $10 to $20. -- Scott Faingold

Howdy, Stranger!

THU 9/1
Even the suavest person among us occasionally forgets a name. "Oh, you! How are… you?" you stutter into your cocktail, hearing only the phrase Whatshisname? in your head. In Radio Music Theatre's play of the same name, that very problem plagues the residents of Dumpster, Texas, when a visiting stranger knows everyone in town but is recognized by no one. RMT favorites Country Wayne Conaway and His Swingin' Sidekicks return for this show. Check your social awkwardness at the door at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, September 1. Show continues at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through November 19. 2623 Colquitt. For tickets, call 713-522-7722. $20. -- Mary Templeton

Watch 'Em FLY

SAT 9/3
FLY Dance Company's been off touring the known world, but now it's back with Triad: Yellow, Blue, Red. The troupe's latest show features its patented hip-hop moves set to the flamenco musical stylings of Garcia y Reyna, creating what could be described as the dance equivalent to Hurban radio. 8 p.m. Saturday, September 3. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 100 Concert Drive. For information, call 713-523-3709 or visit www.milleroutdoortheatre.com. Free. -- Scott Faingold