Raleigh
Carlos Alazraqui
Goodnight’sOn the phone, Carlos Alazraqui has about the most gentle, calm voice you can imagine. As a performer, it’s a much different story. Best known for his role as gun-crazed, ultraviolent Deputy Garcia on Comedy Central’s Reno 911!, Alazraqui brings a manic, intense physicality to his work as a comedian, whether it’s describing a bout of road rage or doing a video of his Reno character catching a crook while skydiving.

This weekend, Alazraqui brings his act to Goodnight’s for what promises to be a high-energy show. How does he find his material? “That’s stuff that comes out in therapygood old-fashioned bottled-up rage,” Alazraqui says, speaking recently by telephone. “As a comedian, you realize you have to be stronger than the audienceyou have to be in control. It’s not an absolute for being a comedian, but it helpsit’s like fighting your ghosts.”

Those who don’t know Alazraqui as an actor probably know his voicehe has an extensive list of voiceover credits that include the titular characters in Nickelodeon’s Rocko’s Modern Life and Cartoon Network’s Camp Lazlo, effeminate boss Mr. Weed on Family Guy and, perhaps most infamously, the Chihuahua who uttered the words “Yo quiero Taco Bell” in a series of commercials.

Alazraqui cites Tom Kenny, the voice of Spongebob Squarepants, as a model for his voiceover performances. “I used to just sit there and read my lines, but I saw Tom performhe really makes it a physical thing, doing lots of gestures and acting out his roles,” Alazraqui says. “So I do a lot of that myselfyou become animated with your body to make your voice move.” His work has brought him a unique fan baseat college comedy performances, he’ll have fans quoting lines from shows he doesn’t even remember. “Voice actors live in relative anonymity in the Hollywood world,” Alazraqui says. “The best are like these really good jazz musicians who perform in these out-of-the-way speakeasiesyou’ll see all these people on American Idol and then go to one of these clubs and go, ‘Oh, that’s how it’s done!’”

In his voice acting and live-action performances, Alazraqui has one rule: “Keep it real.” And where does he find things to be angry about for his act? “A lot of it comes from watching cable news.” Zack SmithFor more information, visit www. carlosalazraqui.com or www.goodnightscomedy.com. The show runs through Saturday, June 21.

Pittsboro
Nina de Gramont
McIntyre’s Fine BooksOMG, did you hear? Nina de Gramont is coming to town! She’s, like, this author from North Carolina who has written some totally cool stuff for magazines and now she’s coming out with this book called Gossip of the Starlings. It’s about these crazy prep school girls and, like, within the first 30 pages protagonist Catherine loses a horse show because she stayed up all night taking speed! I hate it when that happens. And, seriously, I can’t decide which the better rich-girl name is: de Gramont’s Skye Butterfield or Gossip Girl‘s Serena van der Woodson. Sigh. Speaking of the idiot box, maybe if I finish reading this book, my mom will finally get off my case about wasting my brain cells watching reruns on the CW. Jessica Fuller

Nina de Gramont appears at 7 p.m. Visit www.fearrington.com/village/calendar.asp.

Raleigh
Robinella
The Pour HouseThis Nashville quintet’s rustic jazz-country swing is keyed to the exemplary pipes of Robin Ella Contreras. Contreras’ vocals blend Victoria Williams’ homespun timbre, Jolie Holland’s breathy traditionalism, and a dash of cabaret color that’s more Regina Spektor than Norah Jones. Indeed, over time, Robinella’s bluegrass underpinnings have receded in favor of greater pop sophistication. Hear the evidence at 8 p.m. for $10-$12. Chris Parker

Raleigh
Hammer No More and Totally Destroying It
Tir Na NogEvery Thursday, Tir Na Nog hosts “Local Beers, Local Bands,” a night of freeness sponsored by WKNC. Few bills are as likely to reel in KNC’s core as this: Hammer No More and Totally Destroying It both play the type of pure, ’90s-inspired pop (one band is more indie than emo, and vice versa) that’s perfect for college radio, with driving verses building into hooks meant to be blasted in dorm rooms and from summertime cars with the windows down. The show starts at 10:30 p.m. Kyle Rosko