Six Picks: k.d., Neldoreth, Hitchcock, Sondheim, Vegas StrEATS, Gabriel & Dresden

Siss Boom Bang

Singer k.d. lang's golden voice suits just about everything, from Tony Bennett duets to the Bond theme that shoulda been ("Surrender"). Now she circles back to her rockin' country roots with her touring outfit Siss Boom Bang today at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $30-$109 for the 7:30 p.m. show at 361 Symphony Park Ave. Call 749-2000.

- Mike Weatherford

Neldoreth

Neldoreth's bestial black metal is equally predicated upon mood and misanthropy, with moments of dark, majestic atmosphere before singer Oz Bloodcure's tonsil-torturing vocals kick in and everyone dies. See the band at 8 p.m. today at Boomers, 3200 Sirius Ave. Tickets are $10; call 368-1863.

- Jason Bracelin

'North by Northwest'

It's one of Hollywood's classiest geography lessons. "North by Northwest," Alfred Hitchcock's 1959 mistaken-identity thriller starring Cary Grant as an ad executive on the run, is back in theaters for a day. See it at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday at Sam's Town, South Point and Suncoast. You'll never look at Mount Rushmore the same way again.

- Christopher Lawrence

Stephen Sondheim

Good times and bum times, he's seen 'em all, and my dears, now he's here ... Broadway titan Stephen Sondheim, that is, who joins Tony-winning performers Brian Stokes Mitchell and Christine Ebersole for "An Evening of Music and Conversation" Saturday, featuring the composer's own reflections on "A Life in the Theater." Curtain up at 8 p.m. Saturday at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave. For tickets ($29-$85), call 749-2000.

- Carol Cling

Vegas StrEATS

The monthly Vegas StrEATS food-truck festival is Saturday at the El Cortez downtown. The festival, which runs from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., brings not only food to the Fremont East Entertainment District, but live music and art as well. And, as you would expect, drink specials will abound.

- Heidi Knapp Rinella

Gabriel & Dresden

Gabriel & Dresden spin tonight at Marquee nightclub at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. They're two-time winners of "Best American DJ" at Miami's Winter Music Conference. They've done it all - remixing others (Madonna, the Killers and others) and climbing dance charts with their own trance, club and house hits.

- Doug Elfman