Things to see this week in CT include an ‘Office’ favorite, a Tony winner and a bluegrass icon
A lot of acts on Connecticut stages this week may never have sat at the top of the charts and may not be household names but are legendary all the same.
Madeleine Peyroux has the voice of an earthbound angel. Ceschi & Anonymous Inc. has brought oodles of fresh musical concepts to the Connecticut music scene. High on Fire is a band revered by other metal bands, and Rodrigo y Gabriela take the acoustic guitar duo idea in new directions.
Rupert Holmes had a much-derided pop smash hit in 1979 but is undersung as a mystery novelist. Peter Rowan is East Coast bluegrass royalty, and Lenny Clarke personified the heyday of the Boston comedy scene.
Everywhere you look, there is another great talent that doesn’t need that fact verified by a sales chart.
Here are some of the top things to see this week in Connecticut.
Ceschi & Anonymous Inc. and Sage Francis Space Ballroom, Treadwell St., Hamden
A great supporter of the local band community, Michael Anzel passed away in December at just 40 years old. Some of the bands he loved and championed are gathering to pay tribute to his memory. It’s a wild bill that includes the eclectic modern rock/hip-hop outfit Ceschi & Anonymous Inc., indie rock legend Sage Francis, Tommy V, Allie Burnet and Myles Bullen. May 5 at 8 p.m. $25, $20 in advance. spaceballroom.com.
Madeleine Peyroux Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield
For Madeleine Peyroux, popular music can mean old standards, early country songs and jazz, as well as buoyant originals. Her extraordinary voice, which evokes both Billie Holiday and Patsy Cline, makes every one of her live shows special. Peyroux returns to Ridgefield Playhouse on May 7 at 7:30 p.m. New Orleans singer-songwriter Joy Clark opens. $45-$70. ridgefieldplayhouse.org.
A Live Conversation with Rainn Wilson Oakdale Theatre, 95 S. Turnpike Road, Wallingford
Rainn Wilson has done many movies, TV series and stage plays but is best known for his indelible portrayal of Dwight Shrute on “The Office.” Wilson takes part in a screening of a favorite “Office” episode and a talkback afterward. May 8 at 7:30 p.m. $31.50-$194.10. concerts.livenation.com.
Rodrigo y Gabriela College Street Music Hall, 238 College St. New Haven
The eclectic Mexican acoustic guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela is influenced by a wide range of musical genres, from jazz and world music to heavy metal. The duo is from Mexico City but started its performances in Ireland, and they’re popular around the world. They play College Street Music Hall in New Haven on May 8 at 8 p.m. $49.32-$69.92. collegestreetmusichall.com.
Rupert Holmes Book Signing Goodspeed Opera House, 6 Main St., East Haddam
Rupert Holmes crafted the demented pop hits “Timothy” (for The Buoys) and “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” (for himself). He also writes plays and musicals, two of which are currently playing in Connecticut: “All Things Equal: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg” at Westport Country Playhouse through May 5 and “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” through June 2 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam. Holmes is also a novelist, and his latest book is the bestselling thriller “Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide.” The book has become a bestseller. Neil Patrick Harris and Simon Vance were enlisted to narrate the audiobook. The Goodspeed is holding a book signing event for Holmes at the opera house on May 8. There are two sessions: After a 4:45 p.m. “Drood” talkback in which Holmes will take part and from 6:30-7:15 p.m. before the evening performance. You don’t have to attend either performance to be at the free talkback or signings. Copies of “Murder Your Employee” will be available to sign. goodspeed.org.
Peter Rowan Katharine Hepburn Cultural Art Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook
Northeast bluegrass icon Peter Rowan, who used to play with Bill Monroe and the all-star Old & In the Way and wrote the pop standard “Panama Red,” plays solo at The Kate on May 9 at 7:30 p.m. $42. thekate.org.
Stove God Cooks The Webster, 31 Webster St., Hartford
Stove God Cooks, from Syracuse New York, offers a return to the raw, rough-hewn hip-hip sounds of yore. His “Let Him Cook” tour lands May 9 at 8 p.m. at The Webster, with Babygrande Records labelmates The Yutes (made up of brothers Chris and Santris Palmer) opening. May 9 at 8 p.m. $30-$200. thewebsterct.com.
Lenny Clarke Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville
Lenny Clarke was a titan of the old Boston comedy club scene of the 1980s. As a host, he boosted the careers of countless young comics and he’s had a fine career himself with acting roles in movies including “There’s Something About Mary” and TV series like the current “Extended Family.” He’s at his best on a comedy stage and is at Mohegan Sun’s Comix Roadhouse for three nights May 9-11. Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 6 and 8 p.m. $20-$45. mohegansun.com.
Amon Amarth Oakdale Theatre, 95 S. Turnpike Road, Wallingford
Don’t let their Tolkein-inspired name fool you. Amon Amarth is a Swedish death metal band that has been around for over 30 years. May 10 at 6:30 p.m. $53-$192.95. concerts.livenation.com.
Elton Undressed Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London
Todd Alsup’s tribute to Elton John makes another Connecticut appearance, this time in the intimate Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center. The one-man piano concert show began at TheaterWorks Hartford and is directed by that theater’s artistic director, Rob Ruggiero. May 10 at 7 p.m. $39. gardearts.org.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Infinity Hall, 32 Front St., Hartford
The nattily attired hipster lounge jazz combo Big Bad Voodoo has ruled the casino stages in the state for decades, but here the band is in an unaccustomed space at Infinity Hall Hartford. Knock me, daddy! May 10 at 8 p.m. $35-$45. infinityhall.com.
Anthony Rodia Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville
Westchester, New York comic Anthony Rodia is on a roll. His podcasts and YouTube videos (often featuring his characters Uncle Vinny and Zia Lucia) have made him a major comedy star. He’s got three shows at Mohegan Sun on May 10 and 11, and they may well have all sold out by the time you read this. Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 5 p.m. $69.35. mohegansun.com.
Hartford Symphony Orchestra: Mozart & Prokofiev The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford
This month’s Hartford Symphony Orchestra Masterworks concert features famous works by Mozart (the overture to his opera “The Marriage of Figaro” as well as his “Prague” symphony) and Prokofiev (his first symphony) but also modern composer Kenneth Fuchs’ “Spiritualist,” a musing on three paintings by Helen Frankenthaler. Adam Boyles conducts, and the guest pianist is Angelina Gadeliya. May 10-12. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. $35-$69. hartfordsymphony.org.
High on Fire Toad’s Place, 300 York St., New Haven
This extraordinary metal band has been around for over 25 years and still is shaking up the genre. High on Fire’s ninth album “Cometh the Storm” was released just last month and the band plays Toad’s Place in New Haven on May 11 at 7 p.m. $29.50-$53. toadsplace.com.
Keyshia Cole, Bobby V and Nivea Foxwoods Resort Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket
Foxwoods specializes in tours of still-vital R&B acts from recent decades. Keyshia Cole, Bobby V and Nivea all had hits in the early or mid-2000s and sing them as smoothly, sultrily and sharply as ever. Bobby V (“Slow Down,” “Anonymous,” “Beep”) has joined the supergroup R.S.V.P. that formed through the webcast music battle “Verzuz.” Cole (“Let It Go,” “I Remember,” “Love”) has kept busy in recent years with a talk show and a Lifetime bio-pic about herself. Nivea released a new single, “Killa,” last year. May 11 at 8 p.m. at Foxwoods Premier Theater. $92.45-$200.85. foxwoods.com.