FRI 8/22
Howard and David Bellamy raise quarter horses, so it's
natural that the duo responsible for the 1976 hit "Let Your Love Flow" would
perform at the racetrack. At the concert, it's a good bet you'll hear that insidious
song, plus the tongue-in-cheek "If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You
Hold It Against Me," which was a huge hit in Ireland. In fact, the Bellamy Brothers
were big in Europe, especially Scandinavia, where they continue to enjoy a loyal
fan base. After "Let Your Love Flow," the duo's sugary country-pop kept making
the charts in America but never had as much luck here as abroad. After some
amusing attempts to crossbreed country music with reggae and rap, the Bellamy
Brothers' audience faded in the '90s -- so they've followed the leads of other
aging country stars that play the hits and pander to popular politics. Their
2002 album Redneck Girls Forever contains a fair amount of "social commentary."
Example: the cheesy 9/11 song containing the lines "Let's roll, America / 'Cause
the good Lord's on our side." Mediocrity might have claimed the Bellamy Brothers,
but if your horse comes in, you won't hold it against them. 7 p.m., Friday,
August 22. Sam Houston Race Park, 7575 North Sam Houston Pkwy. West. For information,
call 281-807-8700. $3 to $5.-- Troy Schulze
A Worthy Charity
When a community ensemble tries to put on a song and
dance show, the results can be -- shall we say -- uncharitable. But Galveston-based
Island etc has assembled an eclectic, talented group of performers for its production
of Neil Simon's Sweet Charity, the comedic Broadway adaptation of Fellini's
Nights of Cabiria. Scarlett Buford, a member of the New York City Rockettes
vacationing on the island this summer, plays Ursala, while Frank Petronella,
the Houston-Galveston restaurateur, makes his stage debut as Italian movie star
Vittorio Vidal. And local cast favorite Robin Lusby-Schaefer takes on the role
of Charity, the dance-hall hostess/hooker made famous by Shirley MacLaine in
the film version. 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinees,
through September 7. 2001 Postoffice Street in Galveston. For information, call
409-762-3556. $17 to $22. -- Greg Barr
SAT 8/23
Send-off
We've seen a lot of Chad-Alan Carr over the years. He's been a regular member
of numerous dance troupes around town, and his own member saw the spotlight
in the campy musical Naked Boys Singing! a few years back. Now he's leaving
us for the Big Apple to perform in the national tour of Singing in the Rain,
but not without showing a little more of his burlesque side in Next Stop
NYC, a onetime performance. 8 p.m. Saturday, August 23. Bay Area Harbour
Playhouse, 3803 Highway 3 in Dickinson. For tickets, call 281-337-7469. $10
to $15. -- Keith Plocek
WED 8/27
Jazz It Up
Carol Sanders, a mainstay on the Houston jazz scene, has been tapped for a weekly
gig at new north-side jazz venue Who's the Club. So go out and support sultry-voiced
Sanders and her "Straight-No-Chaser" Jazz Ensemble; after all, August is Jazz
Month here in Houston. 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesdays at Who's, 326 West Little
York. For information, call 713-847-9030. -- Cathy Matusow
