A/E Highlights

Bummed? Tanya Tucker wants to help

Country singer Tanya Tucker, who performed the hit "Delta Dawn" at age 13 and spent part of her youth in Henderson, has written a book called 101 Ways to Beat the Blues.

Actually, Tucker is more like the editor, as the book is a compilation of "remedies for the blues" from 70 celebrities, including Willie Nelson, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr and Billy Bob Thornton, as well as 30 "regular folks." Weird Al Yankovic, for example, has a surefire remedy: "For me, nothing beats the blues like pouring cool chocolate pudding in my underwear on a hot summer's day."

Tucker, it turns out, probably has the blues herself about now, as she's battling in court in Tennessee to keep an ex-fiance from harassing and assaulting her. She might consider following the advice of legendary science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke, who suggests "exploring the infinite universe of fractals."

In any case, Tucker is slated to sign copies of her book at 7 p.m. Friday at the Borders Books at Rainbow and Lake Mead boulevards. The book tour stop coincides with her Saturday night concert at Buffalo Bill's at Primm. Info on book signing: 638-7866. Info on singing gig: 386-7867.--Geoff Schumacher

If only we all had a spit valve

How many things in life could be improved with the addition of a valve to drain the nasty little byproducts from them? For instance, can we get someone to install a blog valve? None of this has anything to do with the excellent jazz musician Curtis Stigers, who is playing at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Reed Whipple Cultural Center at 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 on performance day. Info: 229-6211.

Kick-start your drunken revelry

Next week, it'll be all about the flat green beer and off-key, Guinness-soaked renditions of "Danny Boy." This week you can enjoy Irish culture without the hangover. Ragus, featuring Irish dance and music, performs 7:30 p.m. Friday through Saturday at the Suncoast. Tickets are $24.95. Info: 636-7075.

Cruel nicknames for fun and profit

We knew some poor kids stuck with terrible monikers in high school. Why couldn't they have turned lemons into lemonade, or in this case the name "Big Head Todd" into a cool band name? Maybe it's not to late for Chewy, Hips, Tapered Dick, Skippy Lids and Kermit. Big Head Todd and the Monsters play at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the House of Blues. Tickets are $20 to $30. Info: 632-7600.