IT'S LIVE: THIS WEEK ONLY

FIRST FRIDAY, gallery walk, self-guided tour and after-hours shopping at venues Downtown and in Chinatown. 5-9 p.m. today; free; 521-2903.

CARTEL, with guests. Power to the pop-punk people. Or something like that. 6 p.m. today, Pipeline Cafe. www.ticketmaster.com.

MELISSA ETHERIDGE, rock star, cancer survivor, Oscar winner, gay-rights activist, mom. 8 p.m. today, Blaisdell Concert Hall. 591-2211.

BLACK SQUARE, with Bari Bari 13 and 2Face4. It's a pre-tour party for the Square. 8 p.m. today, Anna Bannana's; 18/older. 946-5190.

FIRST FRIDAY MASHUP, hip-hop, dancehall and neo-soul: so happy together. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. today, Indigo Eurasian Cuisine. 521-2900.

ON THE 1, a benefit show for nonprofit org Drug-Free Hawaii, with art, fashion and music. 8 p.m.-midnight today, rRed Elephant. 545-2468.

FIRST FRIDAY AT ONG KING ARTS CENTER, music by Taimane Gardner, Quadraphonix, more; 9 p.m.-2 a.m. today, Ong King. 306-7823.

FLOW, a hip-hop showcase with Audible Lab Rats. Test your spit with a $100 freestyle battle. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. today, The O Lounge; 944-8436.

RA, as in uncooked. Alt-rock with With Off the Deep End and local band Missing Dave. 7 p.m. Saturday, Pipeline Cafe; 18/older. 589-1999.

LEA SALONGA, The Philippines' claim to Broadway fame. 8 p.m. Saturday, repeats 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Blaisdell Concert Hall. 591-2211.

GO JIMMY GO, with The Spacifics and DJ Big Barr. A send-off for the Jimmy boys. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday, thirtyninehotel; 21/older. 599-2552.

NATURAL VIBRATIONS. What would Boardriders do without reggae? 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday, Boardriders Bar & Grill; 21/older. 261-4600.

PIMPBOT, ska, rock, reggae with Missing Dave, 82Fifty, Breaking the Innocent. 10 p.m. Saturday, Don Ho's Island Grill; 21/older. 528-0807.

THE SPACIFICS, with DJs. Hip-hop done right: local and underground. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday, Indigo Eurasian Cuisine. 521-2900.

Margaret Cho, comedy concert. She's back, all brushed up on Asian-mom jokes. 4, 7:30 and 10 p.m. Sunday, Hawai'i Theatre. 528-0506.

Ween, the "brothers" Gene and Dean Ween might jam all night long, not that we're complaining. 7 p.m. Monday, Pipeline Cafe. 877-750-4400.

Slewfoot Blues Band, jazz in this city's only true jazz lounge. Follow the dragon. 8 p.m. Tuesday, The Dragon Upstairs; $5; 526-1411.

Ides of March Toga Party, greet impending doom draped in a sheet. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Tuesday, Anna Bannana's; 21/older. 946-5190.

HAWAII COMEDY THEATER, Comedy Polynesia, 7:30 p.m., Sharkey's Comedy Club, 9 p.m., beginning Wednesday, Princess Kaiulani. 531-4242.

Saosin, So-Cal post-hardcore and screamo — the sensitive side of hardcore. 6 p.m. Thursday, Pipeline Cafe; $22-$50; www.ticketmaster.com.

ON THE TURNTABLES

DOUBLE JOY FIRST FRIDAY, with DJs Mark Chittom and Grady Gillan; 6 p.m.-2 a.m.; thirtyninehotel; 599-2552.

NOTABLE, NEW AND NOT-SO-NEW: DJS, BANDS AND SPACES

Top Shelf, with DJs, 808 Boyz, go-go dancers and more (must we say more?). 9 p.m. Fridays, Hula's Bar & Lei Stand. 923-0669.

RE:FRESH, reggae, hip-hop, tango, more, with DJ Sovern-T, 45Revolver. The Spacifics guest tonight. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Fridays, Che Pasta, Downtown.

The Circus. Dancers, DJs and the magic of Cirque Hawaii performers. 10 p.m. Fridays, Cirque Hawaii (the old IMAX theater). 753-4970.

The Playground. DJed hip-hop, R&B, soul, dancehall. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Fridays, the W Honolulu; 21/older. www.tantriqentertainment.com.

House of Isis. DJs Big John, Billy G are the featured turntablists. 9 p.m.-4 a.m. Saturdays, Zanzabar; 21/older. 924-3939.

Dragonfly Room. Hip-hop, R&B, neosoul, DJ Anit and ever-present dress code. Aces! 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturdays, W Honolulu; 21/older.

Fly. DJs Jrama, Epic, Lava, go-go dancers, performances by Cirque Hawaii. 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Saturdays, Cirque Hawaii; 21/older. 753-4970.

Modern Love, dance, rock, pop. Downtown isn't just for weekends anymore. Just go, already. 9 p.m. Wednesdays, Mercury Bar. 537-3080.

Big Wednesdays. A little something to get over the hump. 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Wednesdays, The O Lounge; 18/older. www.verticaljunkies.com.

Redda Fire. Reggae and dancehall on the lovely waterfront. Dance! 11 p.m.-4 a.m. Thursdays, The Living Room, Fisherman's Wharf. 395-2100.

Eastside Grill. Not just a sports bar, but a great place to relax with friends; great pupu. Daily, Puck's Alley, 1035 University Ave. 952-6555.

Mai Tai Bar. The nonhookup beachside getaway with live music. 4:30-10:30 p.m. daily, The Royal Hawaiian hotel. 923-7311.

Reach Debra Yuen at dyuen@honoluluadvertiser.com and Kawehi Haug at khaug@honoluluadvertiser.com.