THU 9/23
What a dilemma facing Tammy Pescatelli. Where does an aspiring comic go after a TV appearance with Danny Bonaduce? Hmm ... could it be up? Well, it's a decade later, and Pescatelli's numerous film and TV gigs -- not to mention her relentless touring -- have given her quite a boost on the popularity front. Far from being relegated to the former child star circuit, Pescatelli has moved on to work alongside comedic heavyweights Jamie Foxx, Darryl Hammond, and Chris Rock. Not only did the "Sicilian girl from Cleveland" impress the usual industry bigwigs (she won three Addie Awards), but audiences bought her shtick as well. That's right -- you, the viewer, voted to make Pescatelli a finalist in the second season of NBC's Last Comic Standing. That's no mean feat, even if Season One loser Ant managed to crawl his way back onto the show (we won't speculate how he got the gig). Meanwhile, poor Danny-boy's probably waiting for another round of Celebrity Boxing. Maybe he should ask Pescatelli if she needs a roadie. The Sicilian girl performs tonight through Sunday at the Palm Beach Improv at CityPlace (550 S. Rosemary Ave., Ste. 250, West Palm Beach). Tickets cost $15.90. Call 561-833-1812. -- Jason Budjinski
Funk-core
Hash out the jams
FRI 9/24
Call it a coincidence. Call it good timing. Either way, Hashbrown chose a good year to leave South Florida, what with all these damn hurricanes flying by (are we done yet?). But that's not to say the New York transplants have forgotten their roots. As proof, the three-piece returns home this weekend for three days of hardcore funk and soul (or funk-core, if you must). So what has the Hash been up to? Played any good shows? Good? Dude, they opened for James Brown, George Clinton, and the late Rick James. That's pretty damn good, if you ask us. Hashbrown performs Friday and Saturday at the Poor House (110 SW Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale) and Sunday at Dada (52 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach). Shows start at 10 p.m. each night, and admission is free. Call 954-522-5145 (Poor House) or 561-330-3232 (Dada). -- Jason Budjinski
Yeah, Yeah:
Usher and Kanye West
THU 9/23
You'd think by his accumulation of awards, that buff and baby-faced Usher is kind of popular. Already in 2004 his silky March release, Confessions, has garnered two MTV Music Video Awards and four Teen Choice Awards, mostly for the track "Yeah," which is a hook-up with Lil' Jon and Ludacris. "Yeah" has that catchy chorus. (And if you add a y and rearrange the letters, you'll get "Hey Ya." Hmm.) But the album's other tracks deserve more respect. "Burn," "Caught Up," "Truth Hurts," and "Take Your Hand" all reveal a voice charged with curiosity, like a talented kid in an R&B candy store. The Truth Tour concert, Usher and Kanye West, starts at 8 p.m. at American Airlines Arena (601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami). Tickets cost $47.50 to $65 at www.ticketmaster.com, or call 786-777-1250. -- Dave Amber
Pacific Party Time
THU 9/23
Knives of fire! Dances of War! Drums from Mars Music! Tonight certainly is a "Polynesian Paradise: at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts (201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale). So put on a grass skirt (or lei) and check out the exotic music and hula dancing of the Pacific Islands. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25. Call 954-462-0222. -- Jason Budjinski
