Fri. Nov. 30

In the world-turned-upside-down department, we have ... Christopher Guest being given an honorary doctorate by Berklee College of Music and something called "Christopher Guest Meets Berklee," a concert taking place at Berklee Performance Center Friday Nov. 30. Guest, of course, is one of the co-geniuses behind Spinal Tap (best ever hard rock/metal parody band) and the Folksmen (best ever folk-pop band parody) and a hero in our Mad/Spy magazine-inspired world. When I was working for the Boston Globe, and Spinal Tap was re-uniting for an arena tour, I talked to Guest twice: First as in character as Nigel Tufnel, the arrogant guitarist twit, and, a week later, as Christopher Guest, creator of the same. Never, did either us reference the first interview the second time we talked. It was, truly, like two different people. Suffice to say, we've admired Guest for his writing, perfomring an directing going back to his National Lampoon Radio Hour days up through "For Your Consideration." But a degree from Berklee?! Berklee president Roger Brown explains: "Talk to any rock, blues or jazz musician and you are likely to find that they can quote 'This Is Spinal Tap' chapter and verse. 'Turning it up to 11,' harmonizing 'Heartbreak Hotel' at Graceland, or playing absolutely inappropritate music at a US Air Force base, capture the highs and lows of a musician's life like no other film ... He is also a very talented guitarist and mandolin player who wrote many of thehits from these seminal films." I agree with Brown and would add that humor in music is such a hard thing to accomplish - think about all the failures - and think of how Guest and his mates (Harry Shearer and Michael McKean) hit it on the head, twice, with two genres. (At Carnegie Hall once, the Folksmen opened for Spinal Tap. What's going on at  the Berklee Performance Center, is Guest, on guitar and vocals, willl play with Berklee students and faculty, interpreting music the music of Spinal Tap, the Folksmen and the music from another Guest classic film, "Waiting for Guffman." The music will be played in styles such as big band, swing, Latin and Bossa Nova. How will "Tonite We're Going to Rock You Tonite" and "Big Bottom" sound dressed up in another genre's clothes? Frankly, we can't wait.  Tickets: $30. Starts at 8:15.

136 Massachusetts Ave., 617-747-2261 www.berkleebpc.com