Nik Turner’s Space Ritual Plays Brillobox; “War of The Worlds” Downtown (CPs Thurs. 10/24/13)

1) While most of the acid-slurping musicians from the improvisation-loving London space-rock scene of the late ’60s faded into obscurity or created a more commercially viable version of their sound, a la Pink Floyd, former Hawkwind lead singer Nik Turner has remained dedicated to abrasive weirdness. For the past five decades, Turner has put on elaborate costumes (many of them Egyptian themed) and screamed about “the nexus of time and space,” or something like that, on stages everywhere. Today, he and his latest band of guitar string-shredding weirdos, Space Ritual, come to Brillobox. Roger Waters looks like a dude who writes cola jingles compared to this guy. Authentic krautrock weirdos Hedersleben and Pittsburgh’s own The Sicks open. 9 p.m. 4104 Penn Ave., Bloomfield.

2) In 1938, actor Orson Welles scared the bejeezus out of the country with a fake radio news report depicting a Martian invasion of New Jersey. Given that the media were not prone to experimental, format-bending works back then, many took the unorthodox adaptation of the classic sci-fi novel War of the Worlds to be real, unfolding events. This week, the Bricolage Adventurous Theater is marking the 75th anniversary of the scare by presenting the play as part of its Midnight Radio series, which recreates old-timey radio dramas, complete with creative sound effects and spoof commercials. For this one, a live soundtrack will be provided by the Ortner-Roberts Duo, a chamber music act. 9 p.m. Through Nov. 9. 937 Liberty Ave., Cultural District.

3) Glam rock meets Greek tragedy in Canadian rock star Hawksley Workman’s one-man show, The God That Comes. The play-type performance is a take on the classic drama The Bacchae and features an incarnation of the Greek god of wine leading the masses in a sex-crazed revolution that peeves a tyrant king. The entire story is told through one performer and a Bowie-ish rock soundtrack. The International Festival of Firsts is bringing Workman to The Cabaret at Theatre Square to put on three performances, starting today. We’ll agree that this sort of thing sounds like a first for Pittsburgh. 10 p.m. 655 Penn Ave., Cultural District.

4) Herman’s Hermits was the most British-sounding group of the British invasion. (“Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” sounds like it was recorded by John Cleese in a Liverpool pub while trying to imitate Wallace of Wallace and Gromit.) They’re still touring, even if lead singer Peter Noone is the only member from the group that recorded classics like “I’m Into Something Good” and “I’m Henry the Eighth, I Am.” Opening the Hermits’ show at The Palace today is another blast from the past: doo-wop group The Marcels. 7 p.m. 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg.

5) With a gruff but lovable voice and experimental leanings that are underlined by a solid sense of melody, Man Man’s bearded front man Honus Honus might be the reincarnation of Captain Beefheart. The Philadelphia band has scored enough hipster cred that Portlandia’s Fred Armisen starred in the video for their single “Rabbit Habits,” and they seem to have secured a place as a favorite of people who love the affably odd. Big-voiced Brooklyn singer/songwriter Xenia Rubinos opens for them today at Mr. Smalls Funhouse. 9 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale.

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