HEAR
Dead & Company Phil Lesh and Trey Anastasio have gotten off the bus since the Dead’s Fare Thee Well summer shows, but their replacements—bassist Oteil Burbridge and guitarist John Mayer—have reportedly been a solid match for the band’s classic material. November 27 & 28, 7:30 p.m., $46-$91, MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Poncho Sanchez Latin Band Equal parts bebop, Afro-Cuban and soul music, this collective of instrumentalists—led by its conga-playing namesake (who also sings)—hits the head, the hips and the heart all at once. And speaking of the hips: It’ll be nice to have an excuse to dance inside Smith Center’s Cabaret Jazz again. November 27, 7 p.m.; November 28, 6 & 8:30 p.m., $37-$59.
Gogol Bordello The hyperactive octet is getting in on the full-album-performance racket with this year’s jaunt celebrating 2005’s Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike (which ends Saturday at Brooklyn Bowl)—as if you needed a gimmick to sweat it out with Eugene Hutz and the gang. With Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas. November 28, 9 p.m., $30-$35.
Surprisingly Awesome Did you know the guy who holds the world free-throw record (5,221 consecutive makes) is a rancher? Or that a handful of families control the world’s concrete? This new podcast tackles bland topics, like mold, and exposes their fascinating secret lives. gimletmedia.com
SEE
Elf the Musical It’s hard to imagine Elf without Will Ferrell’s hilarious and cherubic performance. But add a little song and dance—honed with a touring company—and any Buddy steals the show. November 24-29, $29-$129, Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall.
DRINK
Ellis Island holiday nog Made from a recipe handed down through generations, the local brewery’s eggnog—also available at all Village Pub locations—tastes like Christmas with a kick. The boozy, velvety, nutmeg-y deliciousness is a holiday must-have for some of us at the Weekly, and after you get a taste, it’ll likely become a tradition for you, too. $6 per glass, $30 per bottle.
