TODAY

We start the weekend tonight with a broad assortment of music from a joker, a crooner and three shredders.

The shredders arrive in the form of G3, pulling out its axes at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg. On this edition of the tour, kingpin Joe Satriani is joined by John Petrucci and Paul Gilbert, formerly of Racer X and Mr. Big.

Gilbert, who recently released his first all-instrumental CD, "Get Out of My Yard," explains in his new bio, "In 1988, I joined the band Mr. Big. At the same time, a big record company offered me a deal to make a solo guitar instrumental album just like Joe Satriani. I turned the offer down. When I would try to write instrumental songs, I don't know what to do with the second verse. In a pop song, it's OK to repeat the music and just change the words. But with no words, my second verse ends up being exactly the same as the first. How do I get around this?" Apparently he figured it out.

The three guitarists will all play individual sets before joining Satriani and his band for a final jam session. The show is at 7:30 tonight. Tickets are $43 to $49. Call 724-836-8000.

Stephen Lynch cites his inspirations as Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell and "This Is Spinal Tap." The latter set him off on a musical comedy career -- not that Paul and Joni didn't have their funny moments -- that recently earned him a Tony nomination for his role in "The Wedding Singer." He's also released three CDs of humorous songs, guested regularly on "Opie and Anthony" and performed in one of the highest rated specials on "Comedy Central Presents." Lynch takes the stage at the Byham Theater at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.50. Call 412-456-6666.

Playing the sold-out Benedum is Italian crooner Patrizio Buanne, a PBS pledge-drive sensation who works in the style of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Buanne, still in his 20s, has sung for the pope and the president, sold a million albums worldwide and sang the theme song for the 2006 World Cup. The show is at 8 p.m.

Our weekly visitor from Philly -- following right behind Clockcleaner, Hot Cross and Stinking Lizaveta -- is Genghis Tron, a band on Relapse that blends grindcore with synthpop. They play the Lawrenceville Moose at 7 p.m. with Kylesa, Caustic Christ, Belie My Burial and ((microwaves)). Admission is $12.

ALL WEEKEND

Saxophonist Tim Ries arrives at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild with "The Rolling Stones Project," a jazz interpretation of the band's music. What helps the credibility of this event is that he actually played for the Rolling Stones. Shows are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.

Theater-goers can get high, high, high on "Reefer Madness," opening this weekend at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Point Park University's student company presides over this satirical musical comedy that parodies those early warnings about the evils of marijuana. It runs through April 22. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. in the Rockwell Theatre in Oakland. Tickets are $12 and $14. Call 412-621-4445.

City Theatre taps into current affairs with "The Missionary Position," a new comedy by Keith Reddin about a Christian activist and a fundraiser set during a presidential election campaign. It's directed by Tracy Brigden and running through May 20. Tickets: $15 to $45. Go to www. citytheatrecompany.org.

Cellist Lynn Harrell joins the Pittsburgh Symphony for Haydn's Cello Concerto in C Major. Michael Christie also conducts the orchestra in Esa-Pekka Salonen's "Foreign Bodies" and Sibelius' "Symphony No. 2." Concerts are 8 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $17 to $72. Call 412-392-4900.

The New Hazlett Theater on the North Side is the scene for the Dance Alloy's "Fragile," an evening of works featuring world premieres by Donald Byrd (Tony nominee for "The Color Purple") and Alloy artistic director Beth Corning and a Pittsburgh premiere by Susan Marshall. Shows are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday (pay what you can); and 7 p.m. Monday (with food provided by Whole Foods Market and music by the Celtic roots band Callan). Tickets are $20; $15 students & seniors; $2 off when you reserve in advance: 412-363-4321 or info@dancealloy.org.

Those who would rather do the dancing can take part in Salsa Pittsburgh's Spring Salsa Rumble, featuring DJs and dance performances by Al "Liquid" Silver and Karla Espinoza from Los Angeles, as well as Ismael Otero and Shani Talmor from NYC, Friday at 8:30 p.m. at the Palisades Ballroom in McKeesport ($10). The dancing continues with workshops at the Wightman School in Squirrel Hill Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and a Saturday dance at Bulgarian Macedonian Cultural Center in West Homestead at 10 p.m. ($8). Call 412-881-9237 or visit www.salsapittsburgh.com

Note: these concerts happen April 20, 21 and 22: PG theater critic Christopher Rawson will help Chatham Baroque close its season by reading travel accounts by 16th- and 17th-century English writers to accompany its program, "Crossing the Channel." Violinist David Douglass of The King's Noyse will join the trio for accompanying ayres, dances, fantasias and sonatas by composers of the time. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church in Sewickley; 8 p.m. Saturday, at Synod Hall in Oakland and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside. Tickets are $8 to $20; call 412-394-3353.

FRIDAY

Blues fans have a tough choice between Johnny Winter at the Rex at 8 p.m. ($30) and the Nighthawks with Billy Price at Moondog's at 9:30 p.m. ($15). Actually, looking at those times, there might be a chance of catching both.

SATURDAY

Christina Aguilera has moved beyond teen-pop to a more mature, even vintage, sound, but that didn't stop her from loading her tour with bubblegum acts Danity Kane and the Pussycat Dolls. That's the bill at Mellon Arena at 7:30 p.m. Aguilera said in a recent teleconference, "It's nice to have an all female, girl-empowered kind of show. You know, I'm happy that we all are able to do it together and you know, be in support of other women.' " As we mentioned last week, Aguilera's show is an arena spectacle with a big band and circus atmosphere. Tickets are $52 to $89. Call 412-323-1919.

Jerry Seinfeld -- apparently, he used to be on a TV show or something -- is at the Benedum for two sold-out shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m. If anyone offers you a ticket, grab it, because he's quite funny and he's unlikely to go off on any crazy rants like the goofy guy across the hall.

The Pittsburgh Dance Council goes to "Hell" at the Byham Theater. The production is from the Amsterdam-based dance company Emio Greco/PC. Its description is, "Inspired by Dante's Inferno and Beethoven's Fifth, the Company will explore traditional connotations and associations linked to the theme 'hell' in an effort to gain new insight to existential questions. This performance contains male and female nudity." It begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $19 to $40. Call 412-456-6666.

Does the name Aasif Mandvi ring a bell? You might know him as a correspondent for "The Daily Show" or an OBIE-winning actor for the one-man show "Shakina's Restaurant." The native of Bombay will be reading excerpts from a solo show in development called "The Adventures of the Curry Pot Cowboy." It is described as "an autobiographical stream of consciousness journey that winds its way though 30 years and three continents, attempting to make sense of: India, Islam, British Prep Schools, Blondes, American Pop Culture, Fame, War, Omar Sharif and the ultimate quest to become the Fonz." He is joined by John McIntyre and comedian Gab Bonesso for the 14th Ward Independent Club Annual Fundraiser at Minadeo Elementary School in Squirrel Hill. It begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 advance; $30 at the door; $15 students/low income. Call 412-421-0966 or go to www.pgh14widc.org.

Filter wrote, "Combining Modest Mouse with Electric Light Orchestra is no mean feat, but Aqueduct manages it with ease." Aqueduct is the solo project of David Terry, a Seattle artist (via Tulsa), playing Club Cafe at 10:30 p.m. with Youth Group. The early show there is folk-based singer-songwriter Maia Sharp at 7 p.m. Call 412-323-1919.

Flux, a grassroots event celebrating local art and music, returns for the first time in three years, with Flux 14 at Braddock and Library Street in Braddock at 8 p.m. Artists include Beano, Tony Buba, Tim Kaulen, Jennifer Lee and Tom Sarver, and the performances include Attack Theatre, barebones Productions, Centipede E'est, Daryl Fleming & the Public Domain, Jmalls and Pandemic! Deejays. Tickets are $10.

The Brillobox combines hand-crafted art and music at Make Shop Rock, an evening that includes designers -- Family Dinner for One (Boston), Kylie Grater (Kansas) and Fresh Popcorn Productions (Pittsburgh), among them -- showcasing and selling their handmade work. Musical guests include DJ Pete Spynda (Pandemic), Discuss, and The Instances (with Dustin Kinsey of White Whale). It begins at 8 p.m. Cover is $5.

Quartetto Gelato is not your typical classical quartet. You could tell that from its name, but the instruments the members play tell the story better: violin, mandolin, accordion, piano, cello and clarinet. The group relishes mixing classical music with popular tunes in its concerts. It performs at 8 p.m. at Mt. Lebanon High School, exploring music from the countries that the Orient Express visited in its 1883 odyssey. Tickets are $20-$25; 412-264-3354.

Prepare for some Old Black Magic at the Homewood Carnegie Library. It's the title of a show by illusionist Walter King, aka The Spellbinder, who has performed with the likes of Bill Cosby, Whitney Houston and Gladys Knight. Part of his act consists of a tribute to African American heroes from slavery through the Harlem Renaissance through the current day. The family show begins at 5 p.m. and is followed by a more adult-style cabaret show at 8 p.m. also featuring entertainment by the Afro American Music Institute and a dessert reception. It's at 7107 Hamilton Ave. Tickets are $6-$8 for the early show; $25 for the adult show. Go to www.thatoldblackmagic.net.

SUNDAY

The Heinz History Center opens "Capture the Moment: The Pulitzer Prize Winning Photographs," a show consisting of 135 images, capturing such events as the flag raising at Iwo Jima, the Kent State shootings, 9/11 and Katrina. Martha Rial, former PG photographer, will discuss her Pulitzer Prize-winning photographs of Rwandan and Burundian refugees, and curator Cyma Rubin will discuss the history and significance of the Pulitzer Prize at an opening reception that runs from 1 to 4 p.m. The show runs through Aug. 5. For reception reservations, call 412-454-6372 or e-mail nhorner@hswp.org.

You've seen the Gene Wilder and the Johnny Depp "Willy Wonka." Now, check out the live version. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents Kennedy Center-commissioned production of Roald Dahl's "Willy Wonka" for two performances at the Byham Theater, 1 and 4 p.m. This production features live actors, puppets and such songs as "The Candy Man," "I Want It Now!" and "Pure Imagination." The lobby of the Byham Theater will be transformed into a carnival featuring jugglers, clowns, puppeteers, and face painters. Tickets are $12.50-$22.50; $7.50-$12.50 for children 12 years and under. 412-456-6666.

After a winter hibernation, the horses are back in Schenley Plaza in Oakland. To celebrate the arrival of spring, revelers can ride the PNC Carousel free from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other activities courtesy of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and the city of Pittsburgh include balloon artists, face painting, caricature artists and a glass-blowing demonstration by the Pittsburgh Glass Center. Food kiosks will be open, and there will be live music under the Plaza's signature tent.

Organist David Higgs -- hailed by The New York Times as "one of the brightest, most promising young concert organists to have appeared on the American music scene in years" -- performs at the Music in a Great Space the concert series at Shadyside Presbyterian Church at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10; $5 for seniors; students and children free. 412-682-4300.

Aqualung -- not to be confused with Aqueduct, or Jethro Tull, for that matter -- is British singer-songwriter Matt Hales, who could, however, be confused with Radiohead. Aqualung hits Diesel at 6 p.m. on tour with his second effort Memory Man. Admission is $15 advance; $17 at the door. Call 412-323-1919.

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Correction/Clarification: (Published April 14, 2007) The dates for a series of Chatham Baroque concerts were incorrect in this Hot List as originally published April 12, 2007. The concerts will take place April 20, 21 and 22.