Imagine effectively fighting the heavy burden of world hunger simply by eating. That's what the Share Our Strength's TASTE OF THE NATION food and wine benefit has been doing for some time. The benefit will be held Sunday, July 25, at the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel (739 Canal St., 525-0211). Since its 1988 inception, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $47 million to benefit 450 of the most effective anti-hunger organizations. With 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting these organizations -- and 70 percent of those proceeds benefiting organizations in New Orleans, such as Bread for the World and Second Harvesters Food Bank -- the event directly caters to the problems within reach. And there's plenty to look forward to on the menu. People can enjoy delectable delights prepared by 25 of New Orleans' top chefs, in addition to an array of wine bars, specialty cocktails and a silent auction. "This is definitely one of the events I truly enjoy going to," said Chef Michael Hampton of Vega Tapas Cafe. "We have done a lot of events like this, but this is one that's fun for me, too (in addition to the guests)." Hampton has participated in Taste of the Nation for the past four years, previously representing Martin Wine Cellar and RioMar. "This year, we're going do a cucumber broth with almonds, grapes and extra virgin olive oil," Hampton promises. "Something a bit summery." The list of participating chefs is almost endless, but here's a quick sample to underscore the variety of food at this event: Chef-chair Susan Spicer of Bayona, Bourbon House's Jared Tees, Lilette's John Harris, Rene Bistrot's Rene Bajeaux, Herbsaint's Donald Link, Gus Martin of Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse, and Tenney Flynn of GW Fins and Zydeque. Taste of the Nation is presented by American Express and Jenn-Air; local sponsors include Evian, Sysco, Astor Crowne Plaza, Finlandia Vodka, Lite 92.3, 106.7 The End and Gambit Communications. Tickets are $50 in advance, $60 the day of the event. Call to purchase. -- Katie LaCorte

They Might Be Giants 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 21 House of Blues, 225 Decatur St., 529-BLUE In what has been a sort of two-decade triangulation of fire, They Might Be Giants have been punk-rock nerds with a flare for the avant-garde. Huh? They could only laugh when fans started moshing and body-surfing to such horn-rimmed-glasses nuggets as 'Particle Man.' But even punks and geeks have to grow up at some point, and TMBG seems completely at ease with its latest release, Spine (Zoe/Rounder), as quirky as ever but with slightly more mature tones. The band that wanted everyone to build a little birdhouse in their soul (you done yet?) now gets more personal with 'Wearing a Raincoat,' with John Linnell and John Flansburgh imploring, 'Needing a mind for later on / Is a friend that comes at a price / But when you hate the friend that comes at a price / You will play drums to help you sleep.' It's all done with a vocal inflection that sounds morphed from both Michael Stipe and Kermit the Frog, if you can imagine that. With TMBG, you usually can. Tickets $25. -- David Lee Simmons

Auf Der Maur 10 p.m. Thursday, July 22 One Eyed Jacks, 615 Toulouse St., 569-8361 Melissa Auf der Maur learned more than a little about charisma and rock attitude in her five years backing up Courtney Love in Hole, a band that was far more capable than the celebrity hawks ever realized. She followed that experience with a doomed session with the senescent edition of the Smashing Pumpkins, an experience that mercifully did not ruin her. On her own, Auf der Maur rocks convincingly without sounding like either of her previous outfits. The songs on Melissa's eponymous debut album are lessons in what can be done with Big Sounds, while projecting Zeppelinesque moments like 'Followed the Waves.' The music sounds rooted in her experience as a bassist and support vocalist, working within well-defined structures and paying close attention to mood. The undulating sensuality of her bass playing animates these sultry psychedelic grooves in as evocative a manner as anything she saw from Love. Her refusal to overstate 'Taste You' only enhances its allure. Tickets $10. -- John Swenson

Joshua Paxton Keyboard Trio 9:30 p.m., Thursday, July 22 Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar, 5535 Tchoupitoulas St., 891-8500 Since he has moved back to town, Joshua Paxton has reestablished himself as one of the most versatile and knowledgeable pianists in the city. His resume includes stints with Michael Ray & the Cosmic Krewe, Leigh Harris, the Afghan Whigs, and Maria Muldaur. His brief solo set at the premiere of the James Booker film Sugar B had the audience's heads shaking in disbelief. This set at Dos Jefes will be Paxton's double-whammy keyboard trio with Paxton on piano, his mad doppelganger David Ellington on organ with David Mahoney on drums. This band can switch from Ray Charles to Chick Corea in the blink of an eye, and both Paxton and Ellington are experts at the intricate riffs and two-handed interplay of Professor Longhair and James Booker. Dos Jefes' intimate setting assures that little can get in the way of the listeners' appreciation of music, so grab an ice-cold beverage, a cigar, and a seat on the couch while the trio's piano and organ gifts indicate exactly how they're 'Classified.' No cover. -- David Kunian

Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes 10:30 p.m. Friday, July 23 Maple Leaf Bar, 8316 Oak St., 866-9359 Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes have earned their reputation as New Orleans' funkiest rock band with their performances. Showing a rock band's love for the physical side of playing, the band's May 21 Maple Leaf show was recorded for a live CD to be released this Friday. That night showed a band that is still developing, playing hard and loud with an obvious debt to its jam band predecessors. It has been exactly two months since the recording, and now the band returns to the Maple Leaf for its CD-release party after a long stint on the road. It will be interesting to see if the traveling and nightly gigs have helped the individual instrumental talents merge into the sort of distinctive whole that Galactic became. It'll be nice to see the popular, hard-working band become something truly unique, and match what is quite possibly one of the coolest band names in the New Orleans music scene. Tickets $8. -- Reuben Brody

Julie Smith signing and reading 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 24 Garden District Book Shop, The Rink, 2727 Prytania St., 895-2266 If there's one thing local mystery writer Julie Smith knows, it's tough-as-nails female sleuths. From the author who brought us Skip Langdon, a hardnosed former debutante and now a New Orleans police detective with a soft side, comes another series character, Talba Wallis. In the third installment of the series, Louisiana Lament, Talba works during daylight hours as a young private eye under the stern and crusty guidance of Eddie Valentino, but by night she is reincarnated as the Baroness Pontalba, a royal poetess in the smoky backroom world of New Orleans poetry. Her double identity will hopefully serve her well in this episode, where she is thrown into one of the darkest and most diabolical environments known to human kind: the Southern literary scene. Trying to aid her half-sister, Janessa, who is a suspect in a double homicide of a mother and daughter, Talba has to discover who wanted to kill the mother, a wealthy patroness of the arts. Free admission. -- David Winkler Schmit

"Band Together" 8 p.m. Saturday, July 24 Frenchmen Street (various venues) Band Together 2004, a local grassroots voter-awareness organization, is kicking off its campaign with a big bang. In this inaugural fundraising effort, the group is taking over Frenchmen Street with more than 15 bands in five venues (Blue Nile, d.b.a., Dragon's Den, Cafe Brasil and Monaghan's 13). It's a pretty solid deal for only 10 bucks -- wristbands can be purchased at any participating venue and permit access to all, and drink tickets are even provided at some. The lineup is something of a who's who of downtown-friendly rockers: Liquidrone, Happy Talk Band, the Paradise Vendors, the Stacks, Red West and the Medicine Show, Bipolaroid, the Bruisers, the Bad Off and others. Band Together's mission is to register local voters at rock shows as well as provide information on issues pertinent to the upcoming presidential election. Registration tables and info pamphlets will be available, although the apolitical could easily choose to rock in a nonpartisan manner. Tickets $10. -- Alison Fensterstock

What's Going On: Visual Artists Address Black on Black Violence Through August Ashe Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 560-9070 Gun violence is raging once again. Appalled by the surge in black-on-black crime, Willie Birch organized an art show. Now among America's most prominent black artists, Birch grew up in the Magnolia housing project, where he saw many of his childhood friends killed before they turned 18. Free and open to the public, What's Going On comprises some 25 paintings, sculptures and photos by a diverse array of well-known to little-known artists. And while an art show can't stop crime, it can raise consciousness and help to promote a more creative outlook, perhaps making the mean streets a little less mean while reflecting Birch's belief that creativity is a necessary part of the treatment of the violent crime epidemic. -- D. Eric Bookhardt