In case you missed Eric Swedlund's great preview of Dr. Dog's show this evening at the Rialto, here's a reminder: Check out Dr. Dog and Cotton Jones tonight! If you need a bit more convincing, below you can watch their ultra-catchy "That Old Black Hole," from their new album, Be The Void.

Tickets for tonight are $22 — even better, you can grab combo tickets good for both this evening's show and tomorrow's The Head and The Heart show for $30. That's a smoking damn deal for $30, people. Jump on that and lock in your plans for the next two nights.

No, this documentary has nothing to with a bunch of theater actors singing about austim. But when I read the title, the thought crossed my mind for a split second.

"Autism: The Musical" follows Elaine Hall and her Los Angeles based, musical theater program for kids with autism, The Miracle Project. The main story is Elaine's challenge to prepare five of the kids for an upcoming musical performance. Here's why she became so involved with autism: Elaine adopted a Russian baby who was later diagnosed with the developmental disorder. After years of being a stay-at-home mom, and taking care of her son, Neal, she went through a divorce and had no other choice but to go back to work. She was afraid to be apart from Neal, so the perfect solution was to start a theater program for kids with autism.

It was both touching and amusing to get to know the five kids. One of them, Henry, had an obsession with dinosaurs and that is, LITERALLY, all he talked about -at an incredible speed too. Another kid, Wyatt, made me laugh a couple of times with his inappropriate comments, one of them relating to his genitals.

The story itself is very uplifting. It was cool to see that there are people out there trying to include these kids more in normal activities. Just because they have autism, doesn't mean all they do is sit in a room rocking back and forth. They have huge talents that, with the help of very patient people such as Elaine, they can exploit and amaze their communities.

This documentary is good to watch on a Sunday morning, when the mood is right, though I found myself fast forwarding through some parts. But, if you are interested enough to see how the musical turned out, go to Casa and rent a copy. Here's what The New York Times had to say about it.

Last year, Arizona Between Nosotros organized a series of performing-arts events, and took their work over the border to Nogales, Sonora. This year, they return with Indebted/Endeudado, tonight (Saturday, Sept. 29), from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), 265 S. Church Ave.

The night's theme is debt: Financial debt, emotional debt, political debt, and social debt. From organizers:

Indebted/Enduedado is a multi-disciplinary, multi-lingual event featuring performance art, devised theatre, and video, exploring what it means to be in debt. The visually and emotionally striking evening of multidisciplinary performance is Saturday, September 29, 2012 from 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm in MOCA’s Great Hall.

Presenting artists include Paco Velez, Sarah K Smith, Logan Phillips, Denise Uyehara, Heather Gray, Adam Cooper-Terán, Yvonne Montoya, Cyndi LaFrese, and Jason Aragon. Curated by Sarah K Smith and Paco Velez.

Tickets available at the door the evening of the performance. $5 for MOCA members, $8 for non-members.

A panel discussion about the performance is on Wednesday, October 3, 2012 from 6:30 — 7:30 pm at MOCA.

If you read this week's Weekly, hopefully you read the excerpt from Jeff Biggers' new book, State Out of the Union: Arizona and the Final Showdown Over the American Dream, and tonight at the Rialto, you'll get a chance to hear Biggers read and perform. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m.; admission is just $5.

Need a few more reasons to go? Admission goes to the Raza Defense Fund, but you'll also get to see Salvador Duran, The Jons, Carlos Arzate and Mariachi Nueva Melodia.

From show organizers:

State Out of the Union: Arizona and the Final Showdown Over the American Dream is award-winning journalist and historian Jeff Biggers’ riveting account from the Arizona frontlines on how the state's historical conflicts over immigration, Ethnic Studies and state’s rights have become a national bellwether.

But Arizona is not only home to some of the most virulent anti-immigration legislation in the country—it is also the bir
thplace of a new movement of young Latino activists and allies who have challenged the self-proclaimed architect of SB 1070 in a historic recall election, and are also mobilizing to defend Mexican American Studies, civil rights and the state’s education system from censorship.

Linda Tarason is a fighter. She was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2005 and had 60 percent of her colon removed. In six months, she had 12 chemo treatments. Tarason was cancer-free for seven years until being diagnosed with lung cancer. She endured more surgery and a softball-size section of her left lung was removed.

Instead of lamenting her health difficulties, Tarason decided to get involved. She is one of two Arizona leaders of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Each year, she organizes a fundraising event.

In 2010, she arranged a group dance video at Tanque Verde Guest Ranch. Last year, she conducted a flash mob at Park Place Mall. This year, it's an all-ages dance jam with a DJ and dance lessons.

Join Tarason to celebrate LiveStrong Day from 7 to 11 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29 at Sonoran Dance Academy, 5536 E. Grant Road. $10, $5 for students to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Munchies and desserts will be provided.

An RSVP is appreciated. Call 440-7206, email [email protected] or visit www.tucsonforlivestrong.org for information.

It's time for the 6th Annual Celebration of Music and Culture Charity Event, a multi-genre showcase that hosts a variety of professional musicians. It will be hosted at the TCC Leo Rich Theater on Sunday, September 30, 2012, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $40.

The event's proceeds will support the Tucson Musicians Museum Mentor Program for Youth. TMM's Mentor Program will give the guidance of a qualified professional musician to youth who otherwise wouldn't have been able to afford this service. TMM would like to develop sustained youth/mentor relationships and reach out to as many young people as possible. It will be the support of the community that helps to make this program successful for Tucson's youth.

The evening will include live performances by this year's inductees, free appetizers, a cash bar, a silent auction, and a ceremony for this year's inductees, including Brian, David and Howard Bromberg.

For more information, including ticket info and a full list of inductees and performers, see below the jump.

The folks at the Living Streets Alliance are doing Kidical Mass Tucson on Saturday, Oct. 6. It's a kid and family friendly bike ride on the city streets that starts at 10 a.m. near the Himmel Park Library goes to the UA, loops Old Main and returns to Himmel Park for an ice cream social and treats.

There's a second Kidical Mass in the works on Oct. 27. Press release from organizers:

With the support of many partners and sponsors, including El Grupo Youth Cycling, Pima County and City of Tucson Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs, Performance Bicycles, Outdoor Nation, and Merrell, Living Streets Alliance will present a second Kidical Mass ride on Saturday, October 27th at 10:00 am beginning and ending at the Tucson Children’s Museum!

Kidical Mass began in 2008 in Eugene, Oregon, organized by Shane Rhodes, who wanted to see more families excited about using their bikes. Since it’s inception, the movement has spread to communities across the globe all in the name of having fun - on a bike - with kids!

Families will practice pedaling with the kiddos during these short, leisurely, rides. Participants are encouraged to bring their helmets, however a limited supply of children’s helmets will be provided for FREE courtesy of the City of Tucson Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. Families can also decorate their bikes in advance for increased visibility and for fun! All kids will receive stickers and “Kidical Mass Tucson” temporary tattoos.

This is a family-friendly, law-abiding ride designed to bring families together and ride safely as a group. Ride leaders and sweepers will be present to assist in making sure no one is left behind, but all parents are asked to take responsibility for their children on the road for the safety of all.

Kidical Mass is hosted by the local non-profit organization, Living Streets Alliance whose mission is to “promote healthy communities by empowering people to transform our streets into vibrant places for walking, bicycling, socializing, and play.” LSA is improving access for active modes of transportation in the region through outreach, education, advocacy and research.

I finally got a chance to see Iron Sky last night—and it's the most looney bit of cinema I've seen since Bubba Ho-Tep. The description from The Loft:

"In 1945 The Nazis Went To The Moon. In 2018 They Are Coming Back."

In the last moments of World War II, a secret Nazi space program evaded destruction by fleeing to the Dark Side of the Moon. During 70 years of utter secrecy, the Nazis construct a gigantic space fortress with a massive armada of flying saucers. When American astronaut James Washington (Christopher Kirby) puts down his Lunar Lander a bit too close to the secret Nazi base, the Moon Führer (Udo Kier) decides the glorious moment of retaking the Earth has arrived sooner than expected. Two Nazi officers, ruthless Klaus Adler (Götz Otto) and idealistic Renate Richter (Julia Dietze), travel to Earth to prepare for the ultimate invasion. As the final hour looms closer and the Moon Nazi UFO armada darkens the skies, ready to strike at the unprepared Earth, every man, woman and nation alike, must re-evaluate their priorities. Can the Earth possibly survive this all-out attack by the Moon Nazis? See the SS sci-fi action/comedy extravaganza of the year and find out for yourself!

There are a lot of influences in this movie, including Dr. Strangelove, Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon, Game Change, the Ilsa film series and even a little bit of The Watermelon Man. All I can say is that I got a big kick out of it. The run at the Loft ends on Thursday night, so you've only got a few more nights to check it out on the big screen.

Casey Chimneystar Condit was about 13 years old when she began to question her sexuality. And like so many LGBT teens, Condit was afraid to voice those questions to her family.

One of Condit’s closest friends spoke to her about a youth-support group at Wingspan, Southern Arizona’s LGBT community center. “My friend told me about her experience going to the support group,” Condit said. “I started feeling the rumbling of bravery in myself, and I decided to try to go, too.”

After a lot of effort, Condit defeated her fears and finally attended one of the meetings. More than 15 years after taking that first step, Condit is now Wingspan’s acting director of programs.

“She is one of Wingspan’s many success stories,” said Cynthia Garcia, a member of the Wingspan dinner committee.

Wingspan has been around for about 24 years. The organization offers a safe haven for LGBT people who have been victims of bullying, are homeless or who don’t have support from their families. Some of the services the organization provides include anti-violence programs, the Homeless Youth Project, the Eon Youth Program and Senior Pride.

The 14th annual Wingspan Dinner will help raise funds for those services. “Another purpose for the dinner is community-building,” Garcia said, “for everyone to come together and celebrate the accomplishments of the LGBT community and our allied community.”

The dinner features David Morden of the Rogue Theatre as emcee; a performance by Palm Springs, Calif.-based comedian Shann Carr; and a keynote address by Susan Stryker, the author of many books on LGBT topics, including Transgender History. She is also a professor at the University of Arizona.

During the event, Wingspan also will announce the winners of its Community Awards. Dancing and casino games will follow the dinner

“I hope people who attend the event take away tremendous memories of a joyful night,” Condit said. “I hope they take away the message that Wingspan is a thriving organization working to grow in a sphere that we need the community to be a part of.”

Admission is $125; purchase tickets before Tuesday, Sept. 25, by calling 624-1779. The dinner takes place at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, at the JW Marriot Starr Pass Resort and Spa, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd.

The term "la bestia" or "the beast" refers to the freight trains traveling from Southern Mexico to different cities in Northern Mexico. Many Central American migrants aboard la bestia to avoid traveling the immensity of Mexico by foot. Ultimately, their goal is to come to the U.S. driven by the hope to have a better life.

Those who haven't started their journey hear about the atrocities other migrants encounter on la bestia — by "on la bestia," I mean they, literally, sit on the top part of the freight trains, stand in between the train cars or try to hang below them, hoping to God they don't fall off — but they are so eager to come to the U.S. that they disregard these warnings or they, simply, have no other choice but to disregard them because the only option they see in front of them to escape the extreme poverty in their native countries is to come here and work.

For Central American migrants, crossing the Guatemalan-Mexican border is like entering the gates of hell. They not only have to worry about falling off the train but also defending themselves from Mexican gangs that are like crows, waiting for the best opportunity to come on the trains with machetes and rob the migrants; female migrants add rape to that list of concerns.

Living in Arizona, sometimes, we only hear about the dangers migrants face in the desert. But what about migrants who come from as far as Guatemala and Nicaragua?

La Bestia has been the saddest documentary I've watched so far. It features a bunch of interviews with them, so you will learn about why they decided to leave their native countries and hear about their experience on la bestia.