Our Picks for the Weekend Star-Bulletin staff

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FAMILY

The latest concept cars are on view at auto show

Eco-friendly technology will be on display as part of this year's First Hawaiian International Auto Show, now at the Hawaii Convention Center through Sunday.

Attendees can compare the latest hybrids and flex-fuel models from a variety of manufacturers on the "Green Trail" and learn how this technology can help save money at the gas pump and help promote a cleaner environment.

Attendees also can check out the usual array of all-new or redesigned 2008 vehicles, pre-production models, exotic and customized cars, vintage Volkswagens and more.

Admission is $7 general, with special days for the military on Saturday (two for the price of one $5 admission) and children (keiki 12 and younger admitted free with a paying adult).

Call 792-6515 or visit HiAutoShow.com.

MUSIC

Heavy metal tribute band pays homage to Metallica

Another heavy metal tribute band has Hawaii in its gun sights, and going by the strength of the material, this one ought to be the trend's zenith.

Damage Inc. plays the early material of Metallica, and they do it with titanic force at breakneck speed.

The tribute band reignites the denim-and-leather excitement sparked by the birth of speed metal and thrash, firebombing such chestnuts as the primitive-but-hypersonic "Whiplash," the Passover epic "Creeping Death" and the little-known "Am I Evil?"

The show starts at 9 p.m. Saturday at Anna Bannana's, 2440 S. Beretania St., for those 21 and over.

At 5 p.m. that day there will be a special all-ages show featuring local openers Amberlin Rose, Mad Spirit, Shadows of Sanctity and We Battle On.

For more information, visit www.underworldevents.com.

MUSIC

Spirit of Hawaiian music lives on at the Outrigger

With the recent deaths of Aunty Genoa Keawe and Raymond Kane, the sweet sounds of Hawaii of yesteryear unfortunately are slipping by us. Thankfully, the nostalgic and mellifluous tone of the steel guitar is being kept alive by the Outrigger Reef on the Beach in Waikiki and its Steel Guitar Sunday event.

Specifically, it's the second Sunday of every month at the hotel's open-air Shore Bird Restaurant and Beach Bar. Veteran Greg Sardinha kicks it off this weekend. Future players include Paul Kim (April 13) and members of the Steel Guitar Association (May 11).

The bar will be offering a special Steel Guitar Slider cocktail as well, made of vodka and fruit juices.

Call 922-2887.

FREEBIE

Symphony and choirs perform classical music

The Honolulu Symphony, under the direction of Aaron Mahi, will be joined by local choral ensembles for a free concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Brigham Young University-Hawaii's Cannon Activities Center in Laie.

Selections to be played include the third movement of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade," John Rutter's "Mass of the Children," the Evening Prayer and Dream Pantomime sections from Englebert Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel," and a special arrangement of "Hawaii Ponoi" by maestro Mahi.

Featured artists will be tenor Michael Belnap and soprano JoAnn Otley (both BYUH faculty members) and the BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir, the Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus, the Kahuku High School Choir and the Ko'olauloa Children's Chorus.

No tickets are needed to attend this event. Call 792-2000 for information.