Stereo Total’s puree of retro-rock, punk, hip-hop and synth is easy to wash down because they serve funny, self-aware pop music. The Berlin act plays the Bluebird tonight with Iowa-bred meta-joke Leslie and the Ly’s, whose flashy art-rock falls somewhere between Peaches, Har Mar Superstar and a 40-story thrift store in flames. Local twee-pop band b.sous opens. $17.
Lisa Lampanelli’s“Queen of Mean” rep has been stoked by critics and PR goblins quick to hail her as the next Don Rickles, but the insult comic earns every ounce of it by gunning down ethnic and gender stereotypes before turning the weapon on herself. If this sounds fun (as opposed to traumatizing), check out Lampanelli at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday. $39.75.
The Ultimate Music Experience, a breathless round of auditions for this year’s Capitol Hill People’s Fair, will feature 80 local acts vying for a spot at that June festival — with no cover charge. Check out the deluge starting at 8 a.m. Saturday-Sunday at Bender’s Tavern (benderstavern.com). Also visit the Toad Tavern’s Spring Rockfest on Saturday, with Savage Henry, the Trampolines, Rubber Planet, Flash Mob and more. $8.
John Wenzel: 303-954-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com
