Sat. June 30

  How to explain Kiki & Herb? They’re a lounge act, a duo, that met when they were both dumped at an institution, maybe around 1930. They were diagnosed as “retards,” and discovered they each had an obsession with music – he piano, she voice. Herb also decided he was Jewish and gay; Kiki was straight and produced a few children over the years. Some are alive, some not. And here they are in the South End at the Calderwood Theatre with a stretch of shows that concludes tonight, Saturday  June 30, giving us “Kiki & Herb: Alive From Broadway,” an hour-and-45 minute trip through time, through music (Gnarls Barkley to Brigh Eyes to Elliot Smith to Scissor Sisters.), through politics, through pathos, through booze (most stage booze, a little real) and up to a conclusion, voiced by Kiki that life would be better if people were nicer to each other.
Kiki is actually Justin Bond and Herb is actually Kenny Mellman and they started this parodic, camp lounge act in San Francisco 14 years ago. This year they were nominted for a Tony in the “special events” category. This happened the same day Jerry Falwell died, which Kiki called being “doubly blessed” at a performance early in their run. (They lost the Tony, and the winner was, well, not gracious, they said from the stage.) What they do on stage is create this slightly dim, rather boozy, sometimes razor-sharp duo, with Herb serving as a foil (vocally and with expressions) to Kiki’s rampage through pop music and culture. At one point, Kiki thanks the gays for keeping their act going all these years, and then the Catholic Church, because without their hostility … Kiki did praise the Church, though, for selecting a “Nazi pope,” and, thus, finally “coming out of the closet.”
Speaking of Catholicism, Kiki reveals at one point she and Herb were born before Jesus was and were present at his birth. They also drank from the cow – Daisy – which ate the afterbirth. So, cow, Herb and Kiki all became eternal. (The cow is a stuffed animal that rests on Herb’s grand piano.)
Outlandish? Oh, a little. Entertaining? Highly. The show runs Tuesday – Thursday at 7:30, Friday and Saturday at 8, and Sunday June 17 (only) at 2 p.m. Tickets: $50-$40.

527 Tremont St., www.huntingtheatre.org

Thurs. June 28

About 12,000 runners will be streaming through the Back Bay beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday June 28. JP Morgan Chase has been doing this since 1984, raising money for a variety of charities. About 600 companies are represented. (Morgan has these events up and running all over the world.) To celebrate the fete, Felt is throwing an "Appreciation Party," later that night - well it actually starts at 8 when the runners are still running - with a performance by '80s cover band Fast Times. Felt will be offering a late-night dinner menu and a festive atmosphere throughout. Need we say, running shoes are quite ok. There's no cover and it's open to the public. If you're feeling sheepish about not running, but want to be just a tad altrusistic you can - yes! - drink. That's because a portion of the bar revenues are going to support the Waterfront Peforming Arts Series. (That's JP Morgan's choice this year, too.)

533 Washintong St., 617-350-5555 feltboston.com

Thurs. June 28

Schmoozing with the Sox? Especially red-hot ageless knuckleballer Tim Wakefield? Is that worth $150? Well, there's more. Wakefield and catcher Jason Varitek are the main Sox supporters of the Pitching In for Kids Foundation and a fundraiser is again being staged by Bill Bluemenreich at his Comedy Connection. A dozen restaurants are supplying top of the line food (Kingfish, Maggiano's etc.) and half a dozen comics, including "Yes, Dear" co-star Mike O'Malley will entertain. That starts at 8 pm Thursday June 28. Prior to, Ernie Boch, Jr.  & the Automatics - I guess you can't call it a garage band exactly, but that's what it is sorta - will play on the west end of Faneuil Hall Marketplace, as will Danny Klein & Friends. DK, of course, is the former J. Geils Band bassist and he and his pals put on a wonderful Geils-y show.

1 Faneuil Hall Market Place, second floor, 617-248-9700 symfonee.com/comedyconnection

Thurs. June 28

 How many times have you walked into a bar and thought, "Gee, if only they were painting live nude female models tonight? Wouldn't that be swell?" Well, they'll be doing that exactly at 33 Thursday June 28 after 10 p.m. (Boston has some pretty strict provisions against getting naked in public; we're guessing the "art" element of this event is what got it under the wire.) The party features DJ Liam spinning hip-hop, mashups and house music. UV Vodka is your sponsor; they're calling it a "Vodka Glow Party." It's free but you should email a reservation to the address below.

33 Stanhope St., 617-572-3311

Wed. June 27

 Sometimes you can make judgment about artists by the company they keep. In the case of Dustin Kensrue - who sings in the post-hardcore/screamo/metal band Thrice - you might consider he's touring this summer with the Nightwatchman, the one-band  politically oriented singer-guitarist Tom Morello, (in photo) who's been with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. Both musicians are taking breaks from their main bands and pursuing alternate paths together on tour this summer. Morello, a former Harvard guy, has got politics up front and center. Kensrue takes a deep dive into the alt-country pool fans of Ryan Adams enjoy. Gruff, hard-edged, plaintive. Fans of Neil Young and Johnny Cash will want to pay attention; Thrice fans might scratch their heads. (On one song on his "Please Come Home," Kensrue 'fesses up a fondness for Cat Stevens. (Who does that nowadays?) Says Kensrue of this incarnation: "As an artist, I always want to be as real and honest as I can be in my songs. I feel where powerful songs come from - tapping something inside of you, that actually means something to you and getting that into the song - I think you can hear when a song is not from that place. I try to be an artist who aspires to find hope even in dark places. If I don't, I don't want to bring people down to that place with me. I'm looking for a way out." Kensrue opens the Wedensday June 27 show at T.T. the Bear's around 9; Morello's on about 10:30. Now, as you might expect given the star-power, this one is sold out, meaning it's up to you to find that one friend with a spare ticket and a real fondess for you and lefty politics.

10 Brookline St., Cambridge, 617-492-0082 ttthebears.com