Thanksgiving Eve music guide 

Get your fill of the pre-Thanksgiving gigs

Music

I really don't believe in Thanksgiving. Yes, I'm thankful, but that's everyday. I'm pretty sure Thanksgiving Day --- like the lunar landing --- is made up. I'm not big on turkey either. My friend Dick, can roast one helluva bird on the grill, but frankly, I'd prefer steak. I do however like rock 'n' roll. And Thanksgiving eve has got to be the best night for going out second only to New Years' eve. Plus, it's still a little warmer outside.

So before mom makes the big meal, gets into the chardonnay, and starts saying how she really feels, here's what you can do on Wednesday, November 22:

Want some rock 'n' roll? There'll be plenty starting with Aggressive Betty playing the Metal For CancerBenefit with Godrot, Kaged, Split Rail, Perfect Symmetry Third Degree, and special guest MC Lou Grammat The California Brew Haus, Ridge Road, 10 p.m., $5-$7.

My pick of the night is definitely the slick hard rock triple bill on The Veins' pre-Thanksgiving day bash with The Blastoffs and The NY Vaults (fresh off an opening slot for The New York Dolls) at The Bug Jar, 219 Monroe Avenue, 454-2966, 9 p.m., $7. This night always sells out here so arrive early or dig it from the line outside

It doesn't get much heavier than this line up at Heavy Rocathon 5 with Dirty White Boys and Forgotten Impact at Montage Live, 50 Chestnut Street, 232-1520, 8 p.m., call for tix.

You may not dig tribute bands, but this Toronto group's ability to mirror exactly whatever band it's copying (it ain't just Floyd) will astound you. Classic Albums Live: Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moonhappens at WaterStreetMusic Hall, 204 North Water Street, 325-5600, 8 p.m., $12-$15.

Ex-Black Sheep guitarist Don Mancuso'sguitarshould sound great reverberating off the walls with his band D-Drive and guests Regi Hendrix and Puddle when they play at the Main Street Armory, 900 East Main St, 232-3221, 8 p.m., $10.

Get mellow with Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad'salarmingly authentic, infectious reggae atMilestones, 170 East Avenue, 325-6490, 10 p.m., $5.

More hard and heavy stuff for the kids with Glory Of This, Much The Same, Just Short Of Nothing, andGonculatorat The Penny Arcade, 4785 Lake Avenue, 621-ROCK, 8 p.m., call for tix. For more classic metal tribulation with Metal Works head to Stooges, 511 East Ridge Road, 266-9559, 9 p.m., free.

Easily the most popular --- if not the longest running --- cover band in town, The Skycoastershost the 27th Annual Turkey Bash with Uncle Plum at The Riverside Convention Center,123 East Main Street, 232-7200, at 6-11 p.m., $10, 21+.

Cover bands abound around town. You can bar hop these joints and see versions or virtually anything: Guy Smiley will be at Millennium, 2235 Empire Boulevard, 671-5539, 9 p.m., free; Joey T & The Formula at Capizzo's, 2454 Ridge Road, Ontario, 315-524-7553, 9 p.m., free; Just For Kicks at Willow Inn, 428 Mantou Road, 392-3489, 9 p.m., free; and Perfect World will play The Coach, 19 West Main Street, Webster, 872-2910, at 9 p.m., free.

And if that's a little too loud for ya, you can go the more acoustic route with Marty Roberts at Johnny's Irish Pub, 1382 Culver Road, 224-0990, at 5 p.m., free.

Thinkin' jazz? The Bill Welch Band will play it sweet and mellow at the ClarissaRoom, 293 Clarissa Street, 325-5350, at 8 p.m., free. And one of my all-time favorites, The Margaret Explosion, will explore the stratosphere at the Little Theatre Café, 240 East Avenue, 258-0412, 7:30 p.m., free.

Flint Creek plays all countrified for you two-step types at The Roost, 4853 West Henrietta Road, 321-1170, 9:30 p.m., free, 21+

And then there's the blues. No matter how much you turkeys eat, whether it's hot and delicious or cold and mean --- there's always room for the blues.

The Australian harmonicat with plenty of didgeridoo voodoo, Harper retoins to the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, 99 Court Street, 325-7090, at 10 p.m., free. Dig the outback and the lowdown brought together in the up close.

Looking almost as good as they sound, Electro Kingswill bring some extra suave to the proceedings at Beale Street II, 1930 Empire Boulevard, Webster, 216-1070, at 9:30 p.m., free. Tony Giannavolawill get things started at 6 p.m. Billy Joe & Gypsy Lou will rock raucous at the original Beale Street, 689 South Avenue, 271-4650, 6-10 p.m., free.

Or if you're down by the lake you can salute Captain Jack Blues Band at Rab's Woodshed, 4440 Lake Avenue, 663-4610, at 10 p.m., free. Rochester's full-o-soul favorites Coupe De Villeswill shake the joint --- Merchants Grill to be exact, 881 Merchants Road, 482-2010, 9 p.m., free. And last but not least, Last Minute Blues Band bay at The Bay, 372 Manitou Road, 392-7700, at 9 p.m., free.