NPC STATE BODY BUILDING CHAMPIONSHIP

6:30 p.m., Robinson Center Music Hall. $22-$30.

If
the Olympics haven’t quenched your thirst for incredible feats of
physical prowess, head downtown for the state body building
championship. Though there’s no actual athletic competition — the
contestants are really going head-to-head in a beauty contest for
mutants — participants have clearly put in countless hours of training
to appear the most-ripped person in Arkansas. The contest requires each
body builder to perform a series of poses, though there are some
restrictions: According to official guidelines, “the moon pose has been
banned by the NPC and will
not be allowed.” Female contestants are also advised that they “must
maintain a feminine look. Extreme hardness and extreme muscle size is
not acceptable.” Three-time Arnold Classic champion and sometimes
Muscular Development Magazine cover boy Dexter “The Blade” Jackson will
make an appearance.
John C. Williams

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CROSS CANADIAN RAGWEED

8 p.m., Timberwood Amphitheater. $45.99.

Long known to Central Arkansas music fans (the band’s played intimate shows at Sticky Fingerz for years) Cross Canadian Ragweed,
on Saturday, plays a stage more in keeping with its national status.
The Oklahoma-based act — which takes its name from rhythm guitarist
Grady Cross, lead vocalist/guitarist Cody Canada, drummer Randy
Ragsdale and original bassist Mark Wiedemann (Jeremy Plato fills the
role now) — is currently touring in support of “Mission California.”
The record, the band’s ninth overall and fourth on Universal South,
debuted at number six on the Billboard country charts and spawned the
songs “I Believe You” and “Cry Lonely.” Look out for big, arena-style
rock with a country slant.

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THE MUNKS

9 p.m., the Afterthought. $7.

Needless
to say, these guys maintain a pretty busy gig schedule and for all the
right reasons — long shows, diverse sets and spontaneous jams. So
expect the Munks to
crank out their usual lengthy show of three-plus hours, loaded with
numbers from their 2006 debut, “Heartbreak Numbers”; their latest,
“Sing Dirty Songs”; new originals and a few well-placed covers. Fueled
by ambient vocals of singer/songwriter Aaron Grimm and bolted down by
locomotive rhythms of drummer Brooks Browning, the band also consists
of pedal/steel and traditional guitarist Alex Piazza, violinist Bennett
Ryel and bassist Rich Dwiggins. And speaking of covers, the Munks’
rendition of the Who’s “Eminence Front” on YouTube is worth a gander,
especially with Ryel’s violin touch. And Dwiggins handles John
Entwistle’s trampoline bass lines quite nicely, especially while
sporting the Motorhead T-shirt.
Paul Peterson

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