Anything But Joey

Anything But Joey Reunion

For a pop-punk band that formed with the stated intention of “meeting girls,” it’d be easy to snap to judgment on possible explanations for a reunion only 10 months after the band’s “last show.” The official line, however, is that Anything But Joey is simply reforming for the heck of it, for grins and giggles, for one more chorus of that oppressively catchy “Girl Roommate” song. Anything But Joey joins Rushmore Academy and Stuck on Broadway at 10 p.m. today at The Bottleneck, 737 N.H.

Gourmet Mushroom X

Lawrence’s only “punk rock supergroup cover band” makes one of its biannual appearances during the holidays. Ex-members of bygone Lawrence groups such as Action Man, Second Chance, Brompton’s Cocktail and Id Explosion unite to deliver classic punk songs and covers of their own tunes from previous bands. Want to hear “Six Pack” by Black Flag AND Joe Worker’s “Frozen Embryos”? Then this is the act for you. Gourmet Mushroom X performs at 10 p.m. today at The Replay Lounge, 946 Mass.

Led Zeppelin V

Led Zeppelin V

This Led Zeppelin tribute act (jokingly named after the iconic band’s fifth album – which was the first to NOT be titled with a numeral) features members of Be/Non and Blackpool Lights, two hard-rocking Lawrence-formed groups. Lest one expects a lazy set from a bunch of overambitious wannabes, be warned that the group has seriously “brought it” for previous performances: tight pants, long wigs and all. Led Zeppelin V performs at 10 p.m. today at The Record Bar, 1020 Westport Road, Kansas City, Mo.

'Twas the night before the night before'

‘Twas the night before the night before’

Tired of hearing “Jingle Bells” on the radio every five minutes? Wishing there were only two instead of 12 “Days of Christmas”? The Lawrence Chamber Orchestra thinks it might have a solution for the holiday-song blues: “Twas the Night Before the Night Before” benefit concert. Flautist John Boulton and friends will play mostly light classical music. “This show does not have a stitch of Christmas music in it,” he says, except an encore selection of holiday favorites. “Christmas music is ubiquitous this time of year, and it’s not necessarily Christmas music people want to go out and see.” The show starts at 7:30 p.m. today at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H.

'A Christmas Carol'

‘A Christmas Carol’

More than half a million fans of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” have seen the Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s production of the holiday classic since 1981. This season marks the theater’s 25th anniversary of staging the show, which emphasizes the importance of family, social values and business ethics. The Rep’s artistic associate Gary Neal Johnson will play Ebenezer Scrooge for the sixth year. Holiday weekend performances are at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. today, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Monday at the theater, 4949 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Mo.