Today

Maggot Invasion – I sneered at the Espresso Art paintings that were made with African-American blood and tears, and ashes from the World Trade Center, but this is just as bad. Artist Carla Elam’s abstract paintings emerged from soaking maggots in tempera paint and letting them crawl over the canvas. Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Noon to 4 p.m. Free. Back Alley Gallery at The Station, 1395 W. American Ave.

Gwar – This thrash-metal band is most famous for its compelling live performances, which include scenes of necrophilia, pedophilia, scatology, executions, fire dancing, Satanism and physical violence. They also spray the audience with fake blood, pus, semen, urine and other miracles of human expulsion. 7 p.m. $20 in advance, $22 day of show. Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St.

Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band – This Grammy Award-winning jazz and salsa artist lets “”his congas do the talking.”” That sounds bizarre and scary, but on second thought it’s probably just a saying that helps to describe his Afro-Cuban and bebop sound. 7:30 p.m. $10 for students. Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd.

Win Tickets to “”Avenue Q”” – Hotel Congress is giving you a chance to channel all your sexual desires into a sock. (By making a puppet, silly.) But you can still make it goofy or with boggly eyes or whatever you want. After the Oct. 15 sock-submission deadline, Congress will chose the best one and give its creator tickets to “”Avenue Q,”” a Tony Award-winning musical. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free. Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St.

Friday

UA Farmers Market – We can only hope this food will be better than Union fare. People will be selling honey, produce, coffee beans, meat, salsa, cheese and more on the UA Mall. Great to visit before your Calculus class. 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Free. West end of the Mall

Tucson 48-Hour Film Shootout – This event seems like a tougher version of the First Friday Shorts. Everyone meets at 6 p.m. and they have two days to create an entire short film using a mystery element such as a prop, a character name or a line of dialogue. Sounds hard, but take solace in the fact that your movie will at least be better than one of David Lynch’s films. 6 p.m. $50 entrance fee. The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.

Saturday

“”Totally Awesome ’80s Sing-a-long”” – And yet another confirmation that the Loft is the best theater in the country. Who else would put on a sing-a-long featuring “”Golden Girls,”” “”Purple Rain,”” “”Punky Brewster”” and more? And the bonus is, you can wear your fake ’80s American Apparel legwarmers. 9 p.m. $5. The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.

Comedy Fest ’07 – This actually sounds interesting. Band members from No Sleeves Caleb, Blues and American Black Lung will attempt to perform standup comedy. If they suck, they can at least play some funny stupid songs like Sarah Silverman. 6 p.m. $5. The Living Room, 413 E. Fifth St.

Sunday

George Carlin – Aw, now here’s a real comedian. Does anyone remember that scene he did in “”Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”” where he pretended to suck dick on the side of the freeway just to get a ride? Ha-ha, so hilarious. 7:30 p.m. $20-75. Casino Del Sol’s AVA, 5655 W. Valencia Road

Pulp Writer: Entertaining the Masses During the Great Depression – The granddaughter of pulp writer Paul Powers will talk about the genre and how it distracted Americans from the horrors of the Great Depression. Her lecture will also include a display of pulp magazine and book cover art. Noon to 1 p.m. Free. Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Ave.

Monday

Two Gallants – The Plush Web site describes these folk rockers as “”Dylan meets The Black Keys.”” But I think they use those terms to everyone on Saddle Creek. Except The Faint, I guess. 9:30 p.m. $10. Plush, 340 E. Sixth Ave.

Tuesday

“”Avenue Q”” – See puppets singing songs like “”The Internet is for Porn,”” “”I’m Not Wearing Underwear Today”” and “”Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist.”” If you’re lucky, it’ll still be as funny as when you were in high school. 7:30 p.m. Runs through Oct. 21. $18-48. Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave.

Arizona Jazz Dance Showcase 2007 – The Southwest Winds Quintet will move to the music of Samuel Barber, Rimsky-Korsakov, David Maslanka and other composers you listened to when you hung out with the band kids in high school. 7:30 p.m. Free. Crowder Hall, School of Music building, 1017 N. Olive Ave.

compiled by Andi Berlin