Durham
The Art of Political Satire
Reynolds Theater, Duke CampusWith North Carolina’s presidential primary less than two weeks away, the timing couldn’t be better for The Art of Political Satire, an interactive evening of improv and animation by Chicago’s famed Second City troupe and cartoonist Kevin Kallaugher. Kallaugher, who signs his work “KAL,” has been resident cartoonist at The Economist magazine for the past 30 years; for most of that time, he was also editorial cartoonist for the Baltimore Sun. In 2006, he became Artist-in-Residence at the Imaging Research Center at the University of Maryland, where he conducts Frankenstein-like experiments in real-time political animation. The first fruit of those dark labors, “Digital Dubya,” made its online debut in August 2007 and gave its first live press conferencevoiced by KALduring a joint appearance with the Second City last October.

The response was so positive The Economist decided to send the show on the road, with Durham the second stop in a tour that began Monday in Atlanta and includes San Francisco, Philadelphia and New York.

Between scenes by Second City members on various local and national issues, KAL will do what he calls “stand-up cartooning…. The audience will be taught how to draw President Bush, and I’ll chat about satire” on a panel moderated by WUNC’s Frank Stasio. KAL will also introduce his new animated versions of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and welcome a mysterious “special guest.”

The Art of Political Satire makes its only North Carolina appearance at 7 p.m. in Reynolds Theater at Duke University’s Bryan Center. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for Economist subscribers, students and seniors, with all proceeds going to the North Carolina Community Foundation. For more info, visit artofsatire.economist.com. V. Cullum Rogers

Carrboro
Ruthie Foster
The ArtCenterTruth in titling can be just as elusive as truth in advertising, which make Ruthie Foster’s 2007 release, The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster, an exception that proves a rule. On the album, the Austin-based Foster skillfully, gracefully, soulfully, bluesily and gospelly laid claim to songs by Lucinda Williams, Son House and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Add Foster’s guitar and piano playing to her vocals, which are as vibrant as they are adaptable, and then consider the fact that her five originals fit right in among the time-tested. Phenomenal. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. Rick Cornell

Pittsboro
Katie Crouch
McIntyre’s Fine BooksIt’s been more than four decades since Bob Dylan sung of the travails of a debutante in New York city in “Like a Rolling Stone.” Katie Crouch’s debut Girls in Trucks promises to revisit this territory. Each chapter tells a different tale in the life of Sarah Walters, a Charleston deb trying to deal with life after college in New York City. Called “captivating” by Entertainment Weekly, you can experience Trucks for yourself when Crouch reads at McIntyre’s at 7 p.m. tonight. Zack Smith

Raleigh
Son Volt & Bobby Bare Jr.
Lincoln TheatreA night of sons: The Jay Farrar-led Son Volt is the offspring of much-beloved alt-country heroes Uncle Tupelo, while Bobby Bare Jr.’s father is an equally much-beloved country hero. Hard to believe our little Son Volt is already 12, with the band getting more adventurous over those years; horns even blasted from last year’s The Search. Bare, however, hit the ground inventive. His eponymous band was a summit between arena rock and backporch AmericanaGrand Funk Tweetsie Railroad, anyone?and things haven’t gotten any tamer since, with daring songwriting, Pixies covers and horns of his own. It’ll be an interesting night. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door, and the sons rise (one at a time, please) at 9 p.m. Rick Cornell