Top 10 NJ Arts Events of the Week: G3, Vernon Reid’s Jimi Hendrix tribute, more

by JAY LUSTIG
G3

Joe Satriani, center, is touring with Phil Collen, left, and John Petrucci as G3.

Here is a guide to notable arts events taking place throughout the state, through Feb. 19:

MUSIC

 The G stands for “guitar.” Six-string wizards Joe Satriani, John Petrucci (of Dream Theater) and Phil Collen (of Def Leppard) are teaming up for a tour, under the name G3, which comes to Prudential Hall at NJPAC in Newark, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. Since 1996, Satriani has toured often with different versions of G3, featuring many other guitarists, including Brian May, Billy Gibbons, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Robert Fripp, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Johnson and Steve Lukather.

And, speaking of guitar wizardry, Vernon Reid of Living Colour will lead a Jimi Hendrix tribute under the name Band of Gypsys Revisited — also featuring guitarist André Lassale, bassist Jared Nickerson, drummers Jerard Snell and James Rouse, poet Flow Mentals and turntablist DJ Logic — Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. at Crossroads in Garwood. The show is being billed as a 75th Birthday Tribute to Hendrix as well as a Black History Month Celebration; Hendrix would have turned 75 in November.

• Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes will present a Valentine’s Day Week-themed show, titled “Stupid Cupid” — featuring love songs in addition to other songs in their repertoire — at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, Feb. 16. Doors will open at 7 p.m., and Remember Jones, performing in “piano serenade” format, will open.

Shelby Lynne, left, and Allison Moorer.

• Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer are both critically acclaimed singer-songwriters. They also happen to be sisters, and released their first album together, Not Dark Yet — devoted mostly to covers of songs by writers such as Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, Kurt Cobain and Merle Haggard — last year. They’ll perform at the Newton Theatre, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m.

The Upstate New York-based group The Mambo Kings (pianist Richard DeLaney, percussionists Freddy Colón and Tony Padilla, saxophonist John Viavattine and bassist Hector Diaz) will guest with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. at Prudential Hall at NJPAC in Newark, and Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. at the State Theatre in New Brunswick. Thomas Wilkins will conduct the orchestra, and the program will include music by Astor Piazzolla, Tito Puente, Dave Brubeck, The Beatles and others.

• Christine Ohlman — the longtime vocalist in the “Saturday Night Live” band, as well as a singer-songwriter whose material reflects a deep understanding of classic R&B, classic soul, classic rock and classic rockabilly — will headline “Mardi Gras Forever! Let the Good Times Roll,” a show taking place Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. at the Outpost in the Burbs at the First Congregational Church in Montclair. She’ll perform with her band Rebel Montez, with the band Big Mamou opening. (For a chance to win two tickets, send an email to njartscontest@gmail.com by midnight Feb. 14 with the word “Ohlman” in the subject line.)

DAVID GREENSPAN

THEATER

Two River Theater in Red Bank will present “The Bridge of San Luis Rey” — a stage version of the philosophical, Pulitzer Prize-winning 1927 Thornton Wilder novel, adapted by and starring David Greenspan — Feb. 17-18, 21-25 and 28 and March 1-4, 7-11 and 14-18. The novel was also made into a film three times, in 1929, 1944 and 2004.

An argument over abstract art makes for compelling drama in Yasmina Reza’s play “Art,” which won the 1998 Best Play Tony, among other honors. In it, a man buys an expensive piece of artwork — an all-white canvas — and his relationship with two friends, who question its artistic validity, becomes frayed. The Centenary Stage Company will present the play at the Sitnik Theatre at the Lackland Performing Arts Center in Hackettstown, Feb. 16-18, 21-25 and 28 and March 1-4.

FAMILY

President’s Day, Feb. 19, is Family Day in downtown New Brunswick, with various events at various venues. The State Theatre will offer the stage show “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” as well as sand art, a coloring station and a photo booth in its upstairs lobby, and the game, Plinko, in its downstairs lobby. The Mason Gross School of the Arts will offer face painting and balloon animals, and there will be a variety of workshops (dance, storytelling, yoga etc.) in the Heldrich Hotel, singers Joanie Leeds and KB Whirly at United Methodist Church, and ice sculpting demonstrations, costumed characters and more on Livingston Avenue.

FILM

Revolutionary in its own way, the 1978 movie “Animal House” set the template for many uproariously crass, bad-behavior-celebrating R-rated comedies to follow. There will be a 40th Anniversary Celebration screening of the film, with a live appearance by actor Tim Matheson (who played the smooth-talking ladies’ man, Eric “Otter” Stratton), Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Prudential Hall at NJPAC in Newark.

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