After driving back to Kentucky last weekend, I realized that the price of gas will quickly lead me to overcome my fear of needles. I hear plasma can make you a quick buck. Now that I’m back, I am happy to report that with the exception of driving an hour south for a few events, the people of St. Joe can stay put and get a good show one way or another.

To hear an interesting bi-lingual blend of indie rock, power pop and Latin music, I suggest you go to see Making Movies when they perform with Oddbender at 10 p.m. tonight at The Rendezvous. Cover is $3. Then again, if you want to hear some hard-lived-but-danceable blues and a few kickin’ guitar licks, check out Fast Johnny Ricker when he plays from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. tonight at Magoon’s. Cover is $6.

It’s not all about feedback and electric rock. Some people probably would rather just hear the voices of the St. Joseph Community Chorus and Chamber Choir at their performance this weekend (see page D2 for details). Or, you might want to check out some St. Joe celebrity dance skills at the “Dancing With the Stars — St. Joseph” at 7 p.m. May 10 at the Missouri Theater.

Did I mention there’s a Grammy-nominated country/bluegrass artist coming to Weston, Mo., this weekend — and playing at O’Malley’s Pub of all places? Well, the Grammy nod was for album packaging, but based on Nashville artist Adrienne Young’s lively tunes and tender melodies, it should be a pretty good time. She performs at 8 p.m. tonight and cover is $5.

I can only point you in one direction to catch a touring act this weekend, but you might as well mark the middle of next week as a time to get out and head south.

First, this weekend. The alternative rock group The Breeders will be sharing the stage with Colour Revolt at 9 p.m. tonight at The Bottleneck in Lawrence, Kan. Tickets are $16.

Then, there’s May 13. That is when The Police come to the Sprint Center in KC with Elvis Costello and the Imposters. This is the last time to see one of the best bands of all time before they call it quits. Argue if you want, but you can’t tell me that “Every Breath You Take” isn’t an almost perfect song. Now that I’m off the soapbox, the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost exactly a lot, but it will be worth it.

For a much cheaper time and a chance to see a band that continues to state its case to be the next Grateful Dead, rock experimentalists and alt-country favorites Wilco perform outside at 10th and New Hampshire in Lawrence at 6 p.m. May 14. Tickets are $29.