You may not have heard of comedian Pablo Francisco, but chances are, after his show you won't forget him. The 20-something Tucson native got his first break during a comedy competition at age 17. Since then, he's been spotted on Mad TV, Comedy Central, and the Tonight Show. His dead-on impersonation of "Movie Preview Guy" Don La Fontaine, previewing a faux Hollywood blockbuster with Arnold Schwarzenegger as a tortilla vendor targeted by the Mob, is so convincing that La Fontaine invited Francisco to perform at his birthday party. Catch the comic tonight at 8 at the Palm Beach Improv (550 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach). Tickets cost $21.30. Call 561-833-1812, or visit www.palmbeachimprov.com. (PAL)
FRI 8
Imagine if a tribe of gypsies on acid invaded Teletubbyland, accompanied by Peter Max, who painted bright, cartoon-like pictures of them while they -- of course! -- played reggae-infused bluegrass music. Now you get the idea behind Snake Oil Medicine Show, an Asheville, North Carolina-based band composed of guitarist/songwriter George Pond ("whose witty Dr. Seuss-like lyrics explore everything from the golden rule to quantum physics," according to his bio); his fiddle-playing wife, Caroline; his banjo-playing brother, Andy; and drummer Billy Seawell. The band has its own surreal documentarian in artist Phil Cheney, who paints trippy pictures of them during shows and brings his traveling art gallery on tour. Snake Oil Medicine Show has an album called Grasstafari and a DVD called Jazz Thugs with a Hillbilly Fetish, and its live show -- which guest rappers, puppeteers, and jugglers have jumped in on -- has been described as a "hillbilly rave." As Caroline once said, "When the positive energy flows and surrounds us like a giant positive glow-ball manifestation, I groove out triplefold. Warm fuzzies for all." Right on, sister! The band hits the Bamboo Room tonight at 9:30. Tickets cost $15. Call 561-585-BLUE. (DF)
SAT 9
He's calmed down a little bit -- he's quit hollerin' about "people dead" and quit singing about just guns, guns, guns, and more guns. Collaborating with No Doubt and enjoying massive success might have chilled him out; he's even over his Tupac-vs.-Biggie-style feud with Beenie Man. But don't go thinking that Bounty Killer -- a.k.a. the Warlord, a.k.a. the Professor, a.k.a. the Poor People's Gov'nah -- has gotten soft in his old age. Tonight, he storms the stage at Joseph's (5900 NW 24th St., Fort Lauderdale), a new, $7 million club. Bounty -- a Jamaican legend and now mentor to a stable of young stars like Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel -- brings hard-firing beats on his "Anger Management" tour. Tonight's performance also features Black Chiney and Renegade. Tickets cost $30. Call 754-234-0295, or visit www.firestormevents.com. (DF)
SUN 10
"There were some good things that happened in 2004," Mr. Easy said in an interview for reggae distributor Jetstar. "'Drive Me Crazy' being rerecorded on a new musical track with Kevin Lyttle for Kevin's album. The song was released in the U.S. as the second single for his album, plus it was included in the soundtrack for the movie After the Sunset. But this new year, it's the year that I really want to do it." Chances are, you'll hear more of Easy's name as the Jamaican-born, New York-bred singer continues to blow up. Although he released one album on the Motown/Quest label in 1994, it was only after he returned to Jamaica and collaborated with roots rocker Beres Hammond, dancehall king Beenie Man, and radio favorite Sean Paul that Easy started taking off. Tonight, he headlines the "Spring Bling" party at Peppers Café (3828 N. University Dr., Oakland Park). There will also be music by Rickie Rudie (a.k.a. Bling Dawg), Super Twitch, and Shadow Star. Call 954-270-8440. (DF)
MON 11
Furniture speaks a lot about culture. Take a chair, for example; it has the ability to crystallize a designer's philosophy while reflecting the spirit of the times. And you probably just thought it was a place to plop your ass. At the "Evolution/Revolution: A Century of Modern Seating" exhibit at the Wolfsonian Museum of Modern Art at Florida International University (1001 Washington Ave., Miami), you can view how stylistic changes in furniture have been influenced by the times. The gallery also delves into the age-old relationship among form, function, and symbolism. It's enough to keep anyone on the edge of his or her seat. The gallery is open from noon to 6 p.m. Admission costs $3.50 to $6. Call 305-535-2622, or visit www.wolfsonian.org. (PAL)
TUE 12
Back in the day, press photographers toiled in the field, burned their hands while processing film with chemicals, and were lucky if their names even ran with their pictures. They didn't cry about copyrights or whine about files downloading too slowly to their laptops. And they liked it! They loved it! They wanted more of it! Paul Goldman was one such photographer. He freelanced for news outlets quite anonymously from the early '40s through the '60s. After his death in 1986, his negatives went into boxes and got moldy and dusty. It wasn't until 2001, when collector Spencer M. Partrich went to have a look-see, that anyone comprehended the gravity of the pictures Goldman had shot. Working in Israel with tremendous access to important figures during a time of great historical significance, he'd documented the birth and infancy of a nation. See the exhibit "The Forgotten Photographs: The Work of Paul Goldman from 1943-1961, from the collection of Spencer M. Partrich" from April 8 to May 28 at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre (55 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach). Call 561-276-9797. (DF)
WED 13
By day, Scott Schultz is a mild-mannered New Times advertising account executive -- polite, well-dressed, a bit lanky. But by night, with the right amounts of alcohol and nicotine, the unassuming Scott is magically transformed into the comedy-producing machine Big Scott the Destroya! Tonight, the Destroya commandeers the strip pole and stage at Gumwrappers (3233 N. Ocean Blvd., Fort Lauderdale) as he hosts Any Which Way Wednesdays, an open-mic night for just about everything. It's an eclectic mix of comedians, hip-hop poets, unplugged rock bands, puppeteers, dancers, a beer-drinking pony, and whatever else is looking for stage time on an off-night at a strip club. The show starts at 9 p.m. and basically runs until people stop going on stage. Walk-ins need to sign up by 8 p.m. or wait 'til the end of the list. Call 954-565-9264. (PAL)
