Carrot Top
It ain’t easy being orange, or adopting the persona of a vegetable, but somehow Scott “Carrot Top” Thompson has done the impossible and carved out a career in comedy that’s lasted almost three decades since he first raised his curly red hair and let funny words fly out of his mouth. Nobody has mastered the art of making an act out of a prop like Carrot Top. In fact, he says he has 35 trunks full of props, requiring a small army just to keep them all in line. NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. venue.thetheatreatwestbury.com $39.50-$52. 8 p.m. Nov. 6.
Jenny Lewis
This indie songstress of Rilo Kiley fame hailing from Las Vegas is touring to promote her latest solo album, The Voyager, which was released in July. Fans of HBO’s Girls may have heard one of her latest tracks, “Completely Not Me,” which was in collaboration with Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij. Opening the show is Girlpool. The Space at Westbury, 250 Post Ave., Westbury. thespaceatwestbury.com $25-$30. 8 p.m. Nov. 6.
Gold Coast International Film Festival
This week-long film fest continues through Nov. 9. Hosting the screenings will be cinemas in Port Washington and at Bow Tie Cinemas in Great Neck, Port Washington, Manhasset and Roslyn as well as the Gold Coast Arts Center in Great Neck. Q&As scheduled throughout the festival include those with Jim Serpico, producer of the firefighting documentary Burn, Tony Award-winning actor Phylicia Rashad, sports writer Harvey Araton for The New York Times and others. goldcoastfilmfestival.org Times, venues, prices vary. Through Nov. 9.
Kathleen Madigan
This journalist-turned-comic has a style all her own. She’s been a contestant on Last Comic Standing, performed on late night TV shows, has released two albums over the past decade and was named “Best Female Comedian” of 1996 by the American Comedy Awards. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. paramountny.com $25-$40. 8 p.m. Nov. 6.
Thomas Maier
Newsday reporter and author of the book Masters of Sex on which the Showtime drama is based will speak about and sign copies of his new book, When Lions Roar: The Churchills and the Kennedys, a comprehensive history of the deeply intertwined personal and public lives of the two famous families. The Book Revue, 313 New York Ave., Huntington. Bookrevue.com Price of book. 7 p.m. Nov. 7.
Leah Laurenti
Two-time American Idol alumni Leah Laurenti of Medford is holding an album release party, which will be live streamed by Corwood Media, in association with IndiMusicTV, whose founding chairman will be in attendance. Leah will be performing many of the original tunes she penned for the album with songwriter Frank Anselmo, including her two most recent singles “Backin’ Down” and “Mistakes.” Proceeds will go directly to the Wounded Warrior Project. Napper Tandy’s,15 East Main St., Smithtown. nappertandysirishpub.com $10. 7 p.m. Nov. 7.
Jefferson Starship 40th Anniversary with Paul Kantner, featuring the return of Slick Aguilar
So everybody knows that when the Jefferson Airplane shed its wings in the 1970s, the Starship took off into the pop stratosphere with a stellar overdrive fueled by arena rock blasted at full throttle. The ole hippie-dippy psychedelic sound wasn’t quite left behind in the rush from its San Francisco roots, but the band headed in a different direction that had harder metallic edges than it ever had. Going further was always the destination of this ship. And what a long strange trip it’s been on—and it’s still going strong. Climb on board and listen to the music of the stars. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. paramountny.com $19.74-$69.50. 8 p.m. Nov. 7.
Lou Gramm
The former Foreigner frontman will undoubtedly be mixing his latest transcendental musical creations in Christian rock with some of the mega-hit anthems that made he and his previous band household names, among them: “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Cold as Ice,” “I Don’t Want to Live Without You” and “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” along with, surely, his popular solo hit “Midnight Blue.” Not to be missed. The Space at Westbury, 250 Post Ave., Westbury. thespaceatwestbury.com $45-$80. 8 p.m. Nov. 7.
Who 2
LI’s second annual Doctor Who Convention celebrating all the characters and trivia from the long-running British Sci Fi show. Clarion hotel & Conference Center, 3845 Veterans’ Memorial Hwy., Ronkonkoma. longislanddoctorwho.com Prices vary. Nov. 7-9.
Long Island Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
The best in current gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender short, documentary, and feature films, plus guest filmmakers and community groups, discussions, parties and receptions provide a chance to meet up with old friends and make new ones. The 17th Annual Long Island Gay & Lesbian Film Festival runs Friday, November 7th through Monday, November 10th, at the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., in Huntington. This year’s lineup features the best in gay, lesbian and transgender features, shorts and documentaries from the United States as well as Israel, Germany, Finland, The Netherlands, Australia and Canada. Among the many guest appearances, both live and via Skype, are Olympics diving champion Greg Louganis (Back on Board), native Long Islander, director JC Calciano (The 10 Year Plan), Don Scime (lead actor and writer of The David Dance), and the directors of To Be Takei. Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington. liglff.org Cinemaaretscentre.org Prices vary. Nov. 7-10.
Hamlet
The Round Table Theatre Company kicks off a month of performing the William Shakespeare play that has become among the most revered and famous in history. Guild Hall, 158 Main St., East Hampton. Guildhall.org $25 adults, $15 students. 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. Nov. 7-23.
Eric Johnson and Mike Stern
Platinum-selling, Grammy-winning guitarist Eric Johnson will be joined by fellow guitar legend Mike Stern for a progressive jazz and blues concert. Johnson, an all-time guitar hero, reflects a broad range of influences: blues, country, pop, rock, jazz, fusion and more. Stern, one of the premier jazz-fusion guitarists and composers, boasts musical partnerships reaching from Blood, Sweat & Tears and Jaco Pastorious to Miles Davis and the Brecker Brothers. A dream come true, this collaboration between Johnson and Stern is an eclectic, irresistible expression of music without borders.Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, 76 Main St., Westhampton Beach. Whbpac.org $45-$65. 8 p.m. Nov. 7. Also at: Boulton Center for the Performing Arts, 37 West Main St., Bay Shore. Boultoncenter.org $50-$55. 8 p.m. Nov. 12.
The Best of Jethro Tull
If San Francisco Giant’s right-fielder Hunter Pence had dropped his bat and glove and picked up a flute, he’d be a spitting double of Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson. Maybe he couldn’t hit all the notes but he certainly could play standing on one leg. Of course, even Anderson doesn’t look quite like himself these days, now that he’s a little grayer around the edges, but he’s got the chops and the repertoire down pat. And he’s out touring with a new album Homo Erraticus and he’s as fond of dipping into the best of Tull’s classic rock catalogue as are the fans of the band he formed more than four decades ago. Whether he’s on flute, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, harmonica or vocals, Anderson is a consummate musician, who’s bridged many genres in his talented career. He might not play in tights and a codpiece the way he used to, but he hasn’t lost a step, nor is he “living in the past.” And no, Anderson will never be “too old to rock and roll.” The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. paramountny.com $79.50-$179.50. 8 p.m. Nov. 8.
Paul Anka
He’s done it his way, thank you very much, and he’s even got a book, My Way, An Autobiography, to prove it. He tells stories about his personal encounters with the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Dodi Fayed, Michael Jackson, Little Richard and Tom Jones, to name a few. His new album features duets with Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Michael Buble, Celine Dion and more. Anka’s been doing it “his way” for five decades and counting. Hard to believe this pop music legend started in Ottawa with his own vocal group, the Bobbysoxers, when he was only 13. Soon enough he had his first number one hit, “Diana,” and then he was on the road with Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry. This singer-songwriter once popped up in Sinatra’s Rat Pack and more recently as a co-writer of Michael Jackson’s posthumous worldwide hit, “This Is it,” cementing Anka’s stature as one of the most prolific and versatile songwriters of his generation. NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. venue.thetheatreatwestbury.com $59.50-$96. 8 p.m. Nov. 8.
Jay Leno
“The hardest working man in show business” is back on the road doing his standup bit now that he’s no longer hosting The Tonight Show. The Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Willescenter.org $70-$250. 8:30 p.m. Nov. 8.
Breakfast With Dan Welden
Learn about the artist’s work and his most recent residency at the widely renowned print facility in Guanlan, China where he delivered the keynote speech at The Guanlan Print Art Museum, the largest print museum in the world. He will offer a photographic power point presentation of his residency in Guanlan as well as an exclusive first viewing and sale of his new works just created in China. The South Street Gallery, 18 South St., Greenport. thesouthstreetgallery.com Free. 10 a.m. Nov. 9.
Long Island Indie Rock and Pop Festival
Long Island has Always been an incubator for music, whether that be rock, rap, jazz, blues, indie, alt, metal or soul. Simmering right below the surface at any given time, really, are absolutely killer bands doling out absolutely crushing tunes. This insane festival offers that all-too rare chance to catch a broad spectrum of that diversity, with Two Days of songs and unforgettable performances. Trust us, You Do Not Want To Miss This. Hot damn. Sunshiner, Too Early to Tell, Carbon Thief, Monkeybite, Ruckzuck, We Take Fire, The Whitmans, Mayve, Monster Bad, Correct and Killer Wails, among many others. 89 North Music Venue, 89 North Ocean Ave., Patchogue. Check out 89northmusic.com and Planet of Sound Promotions for more information. $10 ages 16 to 20; $7 ages 21 and over. 6 p.m. Nov. 8; 3 p.m. Nov. 9.
Sousa’s New Marine Band
The Atlantic Wind Symphony celebrates Veteran’s Day with “A Sousa Salute to Our Armed Forces” with another stirring concert in the tradition of John Philip Sousa, an American composer and conductor known as “The March King” for his American military and patriotic marches such as “The Star and Stripes Forever.” The Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, 71 East main St., Patchogue. Patchoguetheatre.com $9. 3 p.m. Nov. 9.
Fitz and The Tantrums
These LA-based neo soul/indie pop marauders meld different genres and destroy any pre-conceived notions of either. Who the hell needs blazing guitars, anyway!? Warming up the crowd will be Big Data. The Space at Westbury, 250 Post Ave., Westbury. thespaceatwestbury.com $30. 8 p.m. Nov. 11.
Roger Hodgson
The former Supertramp frontman and songwriter will be ripping through the hits that have spanned the past 40-plus years, sure to include many of those he penned, including, among others: “Give a Little Bit,” “Dreamer,” “The Logical Song,” “Breakfast in America,” “It’s Raining Again” and “Take the Long Way Home.” The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. paramountny.com $30-$65. 8 p.m. Nov. 11.
Deconstructing the Landscape
Art bends the heart and opens the soul to the deepest of visions. Great photography can capture those dreams and transport the viewr to some of these truths. This reception and exhibit opening features the works of photographer Jerri A Castillo, whose collection will no doubt fascinate and inspire. Runs through Dec. 31. The Anthony Giordano Gallery, 96 Biltmore Ave., Oakdale. Dowling.edu Free. 5 p.m. Nov. 12.
—Compiled by Spencer Rumsey, Timothy Bolger & Zack Tirana
