In what is being billed as the largest collection of antiquities ever provided by Egypt to a North American exhibition, the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) offers a major coup in THE QUEST FOR IMMORTALITY: TREASURES OF ANCIENT EGYPT. The exhibit, which opens SUNDAY and runs through Feb. 25, 2004, might well be the most anticipated Egyptian collection since the King Tut/Rameses exhibition rolled through town more than 25 years ago. (New Orleans was one of only seven American museums selected for that famous exhibition.) This one, at first glance, seems even more intriguing as it speaks to the pharaonic beliefs of the afterlife, sustenance and renewal and the pharaoh's relationship with divinity. Perhaps the most stunning example of this theme will be illustrated in a life-size model of the burial chamber of the New Kingdom pharaoh Thutmose III (1479-1425 B.C.), which is the last of the exhibition's six sections. The others are "Journey to the Afterworld," "The New Kingdom," "The Royal Tomb," "Tombs of Nobles" and "The Realm of the Gods." Other notable objects in the collection will be the sandstone Head of Thutmose I (from the 18th Dynasty), the Canopi chest of Queen Nedjmet (late 20th Dynasty), and a sculpture of the legendary god Osiris (26th Dynasty), which is wrapped as a mummy and lying in a resurrection pose. In keeping with the afterlife theme, the exhibition's walls will feature the earliest known copy of the Amduat, a text that explains the sun god's travel through the afterworld. The exhibition also features a film, The Quest for Immortality in Ancient Egypt, produced by the National Gallery of Art, where the exhibition started its five-year tour in the spring of 2002. Tickets for The Quest for Immortality: Treasures of Ancient Egypt at NOMA (1 Collins Diboll Circle, City Park, 488-2631) are $17 for adults, $16 for seniors ages 65-plus, and $10 kids ages 3-17. -- David Lee Simmons

Blast! 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Thursday, Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 14-19 Saenger Theatre, 143 N. Rampart St., 524-2490 Blast! rips through the Saenger Theatre this week. The Broadway in New Orleans season returns this week to its chosen local home, the Saenger Theatre, with a long list of Tony Award winners and crowd-pleasers that kicks off with Blast! Celebrating music and the way it makes us move, Blast! is rooted in tradition and pageantry of the drum corps Star of Indiana, a group formed in 1984 in Bloomington, Ind., to assist young people in music education. The group garnered critical acclaim and attention over the years in international competitions, and in 1993 Artistic Director James Mason transformed the 128-member drum corps into the theatrical juggernaut known as Blast! Now touring with 54 members mostly in their early twenties, the work is popular because of the blend of passion and precision in its three performance sections: the brass, percussion and visual (dance) ensembles. Blast! won the 2001 Tony Award for "Best Special Theatrical Event" and the 2001 Emmy for "Best Choreography." Tickets $20-$60, student discounts available. -- Frank Etheridge

Reverend Horton Heat with Southern Culture on the Skids 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14 House of Blues, 225 Decatur St., 529-BLUE It was in the midst of mid-90s Nirvana fallout when the Reverend Horton Heat emerged from Texas, jumped on Interscope Records and released Liquor in the Front. By then, a whole cult of fans had latched on to the delights of the Reverend, who quite irreverently mixed up punk and rockabilly. It was a beautiful marriage, especially with lyrical themes that harp on what the Rev considers "all the good things in life," including beer, tequila, martinis, cocaine, sermons, pretty women, and the devil. Middle o' North Carolina-based outfit Southern Culture on the Skids features grotesque country-swamp caricatures about moonshine, motels, etc., on albums such as 2000's Liquored Up and Lacquered Down. Somehow, the whole tour just makes sense, especially when it barrels through the Southland this month. Throw Rag, easily the heaviest rocker of the threesome, is also on the bill. Tickets $17. -- Cristina Diettinger

"Reds, Whites, and the Blues" 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 City Park, Pavilion of the Two Sisters, 486-5900, ext. 136 The second annual "Reds, Whites, and the Blues" combines music, wine and food for a good cause. The event, co-sponsored by Select Brands wine brokers and Gambit Weekly, raises money for the Foundation for Entertainment Development and Education and the Big Easy Awards (for music, theater and the classical arts). This year's event includes entertainment from some of the best talent in musical theater: The Harry Mayronne Trio and vocalists Ann Casey, Chris Wecklein and Tricia "Sista Teedy" Boutté. But you can be forgiven for staring past the music and right at the raffle for a 150-bottle "Instant Wine Collection." Tickets for the event are $45 in advance (parties of six or more get a $10 discount); raffle tickets are $5. -- Simmons

Loyola's Loup Garou featuring O.A.R. 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17 Tipitina's, 501 Napoleon Ave., 895-TIPS Originally named ... Of A Revolution, Ohio State frat party band O.A.R. have followed a clear-blazed path to commercial success over the past two years. In the same vein, with the same sound, playing to the same college demographic as the Dave Matthews Band, O.A.R. snowballed from frat house porches to theaters, arenas and festivals through a delicate balance of Internet file-sharing and strategic marketing. The band even works with one of Dave's earliest producers, John Alagia, to perfect its well-loved, mellow island-rock. But, in light of the resurgence of roots music in the 2000s, there is not much revolutionary about what O.A.R. does musically. They incorporate elements of several different American roots forms (reggae, blues, country, jazz, etc.) into a not-too-heavy string of happy, melodic, pop-rock sing-alongs. Not surprisingly, their summer release, In Between Now and Then, is a new soundtrack for so much collegiate beer-drinking. Soda Popinski opens. Tickets $15 ($10 for Loyola students). -- Diettinger

Carla Bozulich/Nels Cline Singers 10:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17 El Matador, 504 Esplanade Ave., 569-8361 Carla Bozulich is an underground heroine, having cut her teeth singing for punk bands, art rockers and most famously the country band the Geraldine Fibbers. Nels Cline is well known for his crazy guitar playing with bassist Mike Watt and Sonic Youth guitarist Thurston Moore, among many others. Together, they have recently completed an album-length version of Willie Nelson's epic The Redheaded Stranger that mixes country and torch songs and soundscapes. This country concept album is one of Willie's most beloved recordings, and some say one of the best records ever committed to wax. Bozulich and Cline came here in 2002 and performed this music at the A.R.K., and attendees were wowed. It's difficult to reinterpret a classic record that people hold close to their hearts, but this band has pulled it off so well that when Willie himself heard it, he asked if he could play on several tracks. That's all the recommendation a person should need. Tickets $10. -- David Kunian

Fresh Art Festival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 18-19 700 block of St. Joseph Street, 523-1465 Creativity and inspiration, both indigenous and imported, are featured this weekend at the Arts Council of New Orleans' Fresh Art Festival. Now in its fourth year, the event features works from more than 80 artists coming from 26 states, with all participating artists on hand to meet with festival-goers. Free and open to the public, the festival last year drew an estimated 15,000 people to view a showcase of both contemporary crafts and fine art, with a range of mediums presented, including painting, glasswork, photography, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, drawing, metalwork, mixed media and wood. All works are original and no machine-made or mass-produced entries are accepted. Keeping the entire family in mind, the Fresh Art Festival offers artist demonstrations, hands-on activities for kids, live entertainment and food prepared by area restaurants. To view the artwork or for more information, visit www.artscouncilofneworleans.org. -- Etheridge

Paul Taylor Dance Company 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 Mahalia Jackson Theatre of the Performing Arts, Armstrong Park, 522-0996 The New Orleans Ballet Association isn't fooling around with its season opener. Nearing the completion of its fifth decade, the Paul Taylor Dance Company performs the works of a man Time magazine once called "the reigning master of modern dance." Why all the hubbub? Well, Taylor, a disciple of Martha Graham, has gained such critical acclaim for infusing his choreography with an undeniable sense of musicality. He has an apparent fondness for American roots music and beyond, working his dance steps to everything from ragtime to reggae, tango to Tin Pan Alley. Over the years, the accolades have come pouring in -- and not just from the media. Taylor received the National Medal of the Arts from then-President Bill Clinton in 1993; two years later, he received the Alur H. Meadows Award for Excellence in the Arts for his innovative work. Tickets $26-$75. -- David Lee Simmons

The Ab Baars Trio 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St., 528-3800 Dutch saxophonist/clarinetist Ab Baars and his trio make a rare appearance in New Orleans, to coincide with a new (import) CD release for the GeestGronden record label, titled Songs. Baars' Amsterdam-based modern jazz outfit flirts with the outside, more so than perpetuating a mainstream approach. For this Awake-NU Series presentation, you might be inclined to leave your inhibitions at the door. An open mind -- especially for traditional or perhaps conservatively minded jazz aficionados -- should be deemed a prerequisite for this event. Baars is highly respected within European jazz circles. With the artist's new album, the listener will be treated to his nicely conceived, avant-garde/jazz-drenched perspective on traditional Native American music. You can expect the unexpected as the trio's quirky demeanor and forward-thinking improvisational excursions are counterbalanced by a distinct sense of purpose. Moreover, Baars employs a masterful vibrato technique, to coincide with his trio's imaginative navigation of progressive jazz-type concepts. Tickets $10-$12 -- Glenn Astarita

An Evening of Gershwin 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 Orpheum Theatre, 127 University Place, 523-6530 The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) begins its inaugural Pop Series this season with the program An Evening of Gershwin. The three-concert Pop Series looks to bring performances geared more toward the upbeat and uptempo, so it makes sense to devote an entire concert to George Gershwin, arguably America's most popular composer. With familiar favorites such as "Rhapsody in Blue," "Porgy and Bess" and "An American in Paris," Gershwin composed both concert and pop music, often combining these styles with deft incorporations of jazz and folk rhythms and themes. For this concert, the LPO invites back conductor Chelsea Tipton to lead featured artists Willis Delony, piano; Liz Argus, soprano, and Ivan Griffin, baritone. Delony is accomplished in both jazz and classical piano, and Griffin is also known for flexibility, having played recitals, operas and theater musicals. Argus is well-known to local musical theater fans, having performed with numerous local troupes. Tickets $22-$52; to purchase tickets or for more info, visit www.lpomusic.com. -- Etheridge

Burning Spear 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 House of Blues, 225 Decatur St., 529-2624 Reggae legend Burning Spear shows why he's a Freeman on Saturday at House of Blues. It seems that time, or at least mainstream appreciation, has finally caught up with Winston Rodney, aka Burning Spear. Raised in St. Ann Parish, the same rural, impoverished area of Jamaica as Bob Marley, Burning Spear recorded "Door Peep" in 1969 at fabled Studio One, earning a shot through his connection to Marley. More than three decades later, Burning Spear now is a Grammy winner (2000's Best Reggae Album for Calling Rastafari) and 2002 Vanity Fair cover subject with his own recording label, Burning Spear Records. He's also revered worldwide not just for his music, but also his message. With a stripped-down style that extols reggae's roots, Burning Spear's music carries the philosophical torch of Black Nationalist movement founder and writer Marcus Garvey. This year, he released Freeman, which follows the stellar Live in Montreaux, a 2001 concert featuring classics such as "Slavery Days" and "Rocking Time." For Saturday night's Freeman Tour stop, expect a mix of both. Tickets $22. -- Etheridge

Rock City Morgue 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 El Matador, 504 Esplanade Ave., 569-8361 New Orleans, with all its creepy cemeteries and Voodoo lore, is the ideal hotbed for a band that celebrates the occult with pure relish. Rock City Morgue is the macabre-themed five-piece created by former White Zombie bassist (and New Orleans bar owner) Sean Yseult and her longtime friend and showboat singer Rik Slave. Blending heavy arena rawk with the darkest of overtones, the band is a pleasing mélange of the sick, the twisted, and the rockin'. Rock City Morgue toured the East Coast this summer with new drummer Keith Hajjatr and a brand new recording to show off. Titled Some Ghouls, the EP was released on Antidote Records this summer, promptly picked up by Spanish label K Industria, and released on 10-inch vinyl in Germany. A Brazilian release is also in the works. The band continues to gig in its hometown when it's not bludgeoning the international community, playing one-off gigs in dark bars. This one comes on the heels of a quick jaunt through Spain. Call for ticket info. -- Diettinger

The Wizard of Oz 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19 Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 400 Phlox St., Metairie, 885-2000 With a plot we all know and themes we could stand to appreciate more often, The Wizard of Oz shows no signs of slowing in its timeless popularity. Over the next two weekends, the Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS) looks to initiate a new generation into the tale of Dorothy, her dog Toto and their trip down the Yellow Brick Road. Along her journey to see the Wizard and secure safe passage back to her home in Kansas, Dorothy teams up with the brainless Scarecrow, the heartless Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. The adventures spin a great story and produces sing-along classics such "If I Only Had a Brain" and "We're Off to See the Wizard." For this production, Dennis G. Assaf conducts the JPAS Symphony Orchestra and Kris Shaw directs with choreography by Ken Beck. Tickets $26 orchestra seating, $24 balcony, $12 students and children. -- Etheridge

Lizz Wright 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19 Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St., 529-3800 Vocalist Lizz Wright is a bit of a puzzle to listen to; what she lacks in vocal or songwriting inventiveness, she more than makes up for in warmth and elegance. Listen to this year's Verve release, Salt, and you hear a woman sometimes trapped between smooth jazz and tame contemporary R&B. (The album was co-produced by Tommy LiPuma, Jon Cowherd and native New Orleanian Brian Blade.) Her gospel and blues inflections come in wisps, which also means you can rarely accuse her of over-singing (and we're grateful for that). If she does hit a stride, it's on her title track where she takes a slow groove and rides it strong, ripping up and down the scales in a near wail as she declares, "One thing that life can't do/ It can't take your song from you." OK, then. Tickets $30 general admission, $20 CAC members and students. -- Simmons

European and American Photographers Through October John Stinson Fine Arts, 900 S. Peters St., 586-1944 Who is William Eggleston and why would so many photographers want to take his picture? No, he's not a movie star -- but he is an art star. One of those not quite household names, it was Eggleston who put color photography on the art world map. And the Memphis-based lensman did it in a gutsy and unlikely way, by making striking photographs out of banal subjects: Southern strip malls, motels and pop culture icons such as Graceland. It's a world of neon, plastic and rust, and Eggleston's golden touch caused photographers from all over the world to take notice, and, when in his company, take his picture as well. Picturing Bill features portraits by Nan Golden, William Christenberry and others, including our own William Greiner, who curated the show. -- D. Eric Bookhardt