Eight Days

Thurs/Oct 13
Shhh . . . did you hear that? Was it . . . an oompah-pah band? Strap on your extra liver and make sure the nearest domestic-crisis shelter is on your speed dial, because Oktoberfest's back in town! 6:30 p.m. All ages. Free. Old World Restaurant, 7561 Center Ave., Ste. 49, Huntington Beach, (714) 647-7107.

Fri
There's a wealth of goodness this fine Friday night. You've got your Aimee Mann at the Mouse House of Blues (8 p.m. $22.50. 1530 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, 714-778-2583). You've got two Katrina benefits—one at Alex's Bar with the Alleged Gunmen and The Days End(9 p.m. 21+. 2913 E. Anaheim Blvd., Long Beach, 562-434-8292), and the other at Global Rhythm Dance Studio, which offers you dance lessons and a party at which to show off your new and fancy footwork (7-10 p.m. $20. 10184 Adams Ave., Huntington Beach, 714-963-5900). But most important—be still, my heart—you've got the Swingin' Utters at the Galaxy.When they played at Club Mesa in 2000, AnthonyMichael Hall got turned away while various members of Social D and Nashville Pussy cooled their heels in the line outside. See the band my friend Alison described as “melodic, Pogues-inspired snotty punk,” and which I described as something I can't find on our stupid website, so I don't know what it was. Anyhoo, I saw them at the Hut, 'cause I'm cool like that. With Mercy Killers, The Voids and One Big Lie (8 p.m. All ages. $13. Galaxy Concert Theatre, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana, 714-957-0600).

Sat
Speaking of Alison, I went and saw The Bacon Brothers with her once. (Her idea.) They kind of sucked, but they were kind of fun, in a sucky way. You can go see them at the Coach House (8 p.m. All ages. $27.50. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949-496-8930), or you can go pay some money for an unmarried man who might actually give you the time of day at the Jaycees Bachelor Bid and Silent Auction. Has anybody else noticed how omnipresent these gigs are becoming? Should I start to worry about our tender morals, or the fact that eligible men are so goddamn scarce you have to shell out for them? Eh, whatever. This one's got a reception and appetizers, and the auction is a silent one with dates following immediately after (5 p.m. $12-$15. Club Cohiba, 110 E. Broadway, Long Beach, 562-866-JAYCEES).

Sun
One of OC's great singers, Jann Browne, performs her timelessly rusty country. A perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. 3:30 p.m.21+. Free. The Swallows Inn, 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 493-3188.

Mon
Arrested Developmentis on, you know. FOX, 8 p.m.

Tues
Is the only thing keeping you off that purty, expensive bike in your garage the fact that it needs a tuneup and you don't know how to give it one? No excuses. Get off your ass and to REI's Basic Bike Class. Learn basic bike maintenance, from lubing a chain to fixing a flat. 6:30 p.m. REI Santa Ana, 1411 Village Way, Santa Ana, (714) 543-4142.

Wed
All the cool music critic peoples here at the Weekly like to make fun of me for this, but truly one of the best shows I ever saw was G. Love N Special Sauce at the Mouse House of Blues. The show was hours of high-energy/shake-yo-ass, while G. himself seemed to squeeze an invisible Thighmaster the entire time. Now's your chance to catch it again. With The Virginia Coalition. 8:30 p.m. All ages. $20.50-$23.Mouse House of Blues, 1530 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, (714) 778-2583.
Meanwhile, the cool music critic peoples will probably be checking out the Steinbeck Lecture Series installment The Ballad of Tom Joad—Woody Guthrie and The Grapes of Wrath. 7 p.m. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Ave. Granada, San Clemente, (949) 498-2139.

Thurs/Oct 20
We wrap up our week with The Evolution of the Newspaper Insights FromThe Orange County Register. OC Register editor and senior vice president Ken Brusic leads the discussion, and who can resist that? 11:30 a.m. $23-$27. Holiday Inn, 3131 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa, (714) 557-3000.