Tues. June 8

Last time I talked to Robyn Hitchcock it was about five years ago. He was chatting about his latst record, "Spooked," at the time and he's done a few others since. Hitchcock’s latest recording with is with Venus 3 and it's called "Propeller Time." The album features contributions from an array of illustrious guest musicians, including John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin/Them Crooked Vultures), Johnny Marr (The Smiths/Modest Mouse), old pal Nick Lowe, and former Soft Boys/Egyptians band mate Morris Windsor, among other notables. H Yep Rock Records has issued a pair of box sets, "I Wanna Go Backwards" and "Luminous Groove," which cover much of Hitchcock’s ‘80s output, as well as expanded individual reissues of most of his albums of that era. But back to our talk in 2005. What Hitchcock - who plays solo at the Coolidge Corner Theatre Tuesday June 8 - wanted to talk about was posthumous songwriting.

"You've got to keep busy in eternity," Hitch said, "but people assume [life is] when you've made all your moves." He added he'd like to continue making writing songs beyond death "through heavenly means or diabolical." This is to suggest, that like Jerry Lee Lewis, he isn't too certain where he'll land on the Heaven/Hell divide - although we're guessing Jerry Lee's pretty serious about the issue (we've talked to him) and Robyn is, perhaps, not.

We've had more than a few good times in concert and in chats with Hitchcocks over the years. It's hardly a unique position. Hitchcocks gets on well with rock critics and has an engaging, if enigmatic, personality that makes great copy - just like his cryptic psychedelic-folk approach makes for great songs. It's been said before and we'll say it again: Hitchcock is the Syd Barrett of our times.

Tues. June 8

 The Beehive is one of the South End's coolest dine 'n' drink establishments, with frequent bonus of hearing some great, free, (mostly) jazz music. Tuesday June 8 should be one of those occasions, when the new New York quartet Slice takes the stage from 8-midnight (allowing, of course, for a few breaks.) The band is led by vibraphonist Tom Beckham and features the talents of Nate Radley (guitar), Matt Pavolka (bass) and Diego Voglino (drums). Beckham has been called "a lyrical player with a flair for writing distinctive, memorable tunes" by Jazz.com and a "fine composer" by Baltimore Magazine. The Village Voice says, "His exclamatory way with the mallets brings lots of fireworks to the instrument's naturally mellow personality."

541 Tremont St., 617-423-0069 www.beehiveboston.com

Sat. June 5 & Sun. June 6

To wind up their latest  season, the Lyric Stage has conjured up a star-studded and completely enchanting version of the Noel Coward classic “Blithe Spirit.” Featuring the dynamic dramatic duo of real-life partners Richard Snee and Paula Plum as two-thirds of the ethereal love triangle at the heart of this heart-touching play, “Spirit” also offers the otherworldly talents of Anne Gottlieb, Kathy St. George Arthur Waldstein , Sarah deLima, and a speedy scene-changing (and often scene-stealing) Lyric debut from Anna Waldron. As the undying second wife, Gottlieb floats from domineering to decorus as she tries to get close to and then away from her harried husband (the ever-dapper and dutiful and at times a bit devilish Snee).

Sat. June 5 & Sun. June 6

Homer Simpson is in hog heaven this weekend. He's not working - the show's done for the season - and his very favorite food has its own holiday. We did not know this until local foodie publicist J.P. Faiella shot us a note. But there is a Ntional Doughnut Day Festival at Smolak Farms starting Friday June 4 - Sun. June 6 and if Homer doesn't show up for this, well, then we just don't know our cartoon characters! (The actual day is the first day, June 4.) Donoughts - spelled donuts nowadays, everywhere - are a New England obsession, what with the Dunkin Donuts chain based in Quincy and the donut considered a key part of your food pyramid. (Just kiddin' on that one.) We'll say donuts are a guilty pleasure that we ever-so ocassionally indulge in. Once, at the Globe doing a piece on the new Charlestown I hit a small donut shop that did produce the most delectable of donuts and made me say thanks for the small entrepreneur in this age of mass-produced everything. Of course, there's that knowledge, or we think it's knowledge, that once eaten a donut sits in your digestive tract half a year before finding its way out. Maybe that's not true. Remember this is the Internet, home of hyperbole and wive's tales that gain credence, so don't trust us on that one. Trust ... oh Wikipedia!

In celebration of National Doughnut Day, Smolak Farms located in picturesque North Andover, will be holding their first-ever, weekend-long Doughnut Day Festival. In honor of the holiday’s founders, Smolak Farms will be donating a portion of the festivals proceeds to The Salvation Army.

National Doughnut Day was officially established in 1938 by the Chicago Salvation Army to raise much-needed funds post depression, and to honor the work of World War I Salvation Army volunteers. Huh?

Sat. June 5

Gay Pride Week - will Gay Pride Stretch - takes place June 4-13 and Brendan Boogie and Andrea Kremer are doing a cool thing at the Lizard Lounge to celebrate Saturday June 5 - a night of gay music, or gay-identified music, as played by a variety of gay and not-gay Boston area musicians. It's part of their series "The Cover Up," where locals masquerade as other bands and have a hoot doing so. No specific bands this time - what you want an entire Frankie Goes to Hollywood Set? Sylvester? Holly Near? Indigo Girls? - but songs. Here's host Brendan Boogie on what he's doing:

"I fear I may be completely unqualified to host the Gay Pride-themed Cover-Up show. You see, I am not gay. I also have no pride. But no matter if you're gay, hetero, bi, transgender, bi-curious, genderqueer or tri-sensual, there's no doubt about one simple fact: the gays know how to rock.