A/E Highlights

What did you say, freak show?

Well, yes, as a matter of fact our pussy can do the dog! What the hell business is it of yours? For these and other lyrics to freak out the neighbors, check out the Cramps, along with the Gore Gore Girls and Deadbillys, starting at 6 tonight at the House of Blues. Tickets are $20. Info: 632-7600.

Wooooeee, that's a tall drink o' water

The professional bull riders are still in town wrapping up their world finals this weekend. You can watch guys get thrown around by burgers on the hoof, enjoy the smell of large animal pucky or watch Loki Ferris, Girls Gone Wild columnist, stalking the man flesh while wearing her "Save a horse, ride a cowboy" T-shirt. It all goes down tonight through Sunday at the Thomas & Mack Center. Tickets are $45-$171. Info: 739-3267.

How do we know it's not really KISS?

Really, it could be anyone under that makeup. Dick Cheney spent a summer playing skins while pretending to be Peter Criss. He would have gotten away with it too if he hadn't been scarier than Gene Simmons. Black Diamond, which claims to be a KISS cover band, plays at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Cannery, 2121 E. Craig Road. Admission is free. Info: 731-7333.

Now that's scary

What does a one-hit wonder do for an encore? She parlays a sketch character into a sitcom and then turns that into a one-woman (sorta) stage show. Vanilla Ice is still out there, and he may be getting ideas. Be afraid. Be very afraid. Vicki Lawrence and Mama perform at 8 tonight through Sunday at the Orleans. Tickets are $34.95. Info: 365-7111.

Yo, Houdini! Does this get a rise out of you?

Harry Houdini didn't believe in mediums. He said that if it was possible for spirits of the dead to pass on messages from the great beyond, he'd do it. Of course, he hasn't, which proves his point. Unless he was wrong and he's just being stubborn about it. Dixie Dooley will try to make a collect crystal ball call to Harry at 1 p.m. Friday at the Riviera. If that doesn't work, he'll entertain the audience by demonstrating spirit tricks used by mediums in the 1920s. Info: 457-8448.

Yippee! Dead people!

Don't get us wrong. We love the dressing up, the candy and of course the spooky sounds tapes, but the Mexican Day of the Dead festival makes Halloween look like Secretaries Day in Amish Country, The Life Is Death Festival features music, dance, crafts and traditional displays relating to Day of the Dead. The event is 4-9 p.m. Moday and Tuesday at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod. Admission is $3. Info: 455-7340.

The night gallery

Picture if you will...a gallery filled with strange and terrifying works. Nightmare images wrought by feverish artisans. Gaze deeply into the abyss that is this canvas...a little painting we call "Bad Rod Serling impression." Now step back and wonder if anyone reading this remembers TV's "The Night Gallery." The Gallery Au Go-Go at 4972 S. Maryland Parkway presents "Noche De Las Calveras," a Halloween art show, at 8 p.m. Saturday. Info: 419-5681.

So close you can smell the comedy

Second City has been cranking out top-notch performers for decades. The list is formidable, but includes a lot of the "SNL" cast as well as "SCTV." We've almost forgiven them for foisting Joan Rivers upon the entertainment scene. They perform a show at the Flamingo that is part scripted, part improvised at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with additional shows at 10:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Second City Scriptless, an all-improv show, is at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and Sunday and 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $29.95. Info: 733-3333.