This ain't honky-tonk: Presented by They, Who Sound and Signal To Noise, Baltimore-based composer and avant-garde steel guitarist Susan Alcorn performs three sets starting 8 p.m. tonight at 14 Pews (800 Aurora): One solo, and two in trios with David Dove (trombone) and Damon Smith (bass), and Jo Bird (viola) and Sandy Ewen (guitar). Ewen will also exhibit her artwork, with proceeds going to ailing Charalambides guitarist Tom Carter. (More on him soon.) Cover is $5-10 or pay-what-you-can; BYOB.
Multimedia/electronica event Steel Lounge Underground returns to the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston at 8 p.m. tonight. Projection artist Pablo Gimenez-Zapiola will screen animation, photos, footage of Houston, London, Paris, Buenos Aires, and more to the music of Suraj K., Esteban Torres, DJ Baby Jae and Omari Tau.
If you fancy yourself a diva-in-training, head on up to Greenspoint Mall Saturday morning for the "Sparkle Singing Challenge," based on the upcoming movie starring Jordin Sparks and the late Whitney Houston. Chosen by a panel of "local celebrity DJs and athletes," the Houston winner will receive $500 a chance to perform on BET's 106 & Park, as well as a recording session with Sparks' producer and songwriters the Punch Monkeys. Contestants must sing a 60-second a cappella excerpt of Sparkle songs "Celebrate" and "Something He Can Feel," which you can find on the contest's MySpace page, believe it or not. Registration starts at 10 a.m., and the competition begins at noon; ages 13-40 only.
Texas psych god Roky Erickson will sign autographs from 5-5:30 p.m. Saturday before he plays the Continental Club that evening with his new band, the Hounds of Baskerville. Speaking of, is anyone else excited for that new CBS drama Elementary this fall? (What? We like Sherlock Holmes.)