Kevin Smith, Paquita la del Barrio and more: 5 shows to see in the Coachella Valley

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Friday

Comedy: During the late 1990s and early 2000s, film director Kevin Smith's movies such as "Clerks," "Mallrats," "Chasing Amy" and "Dogma" became popular with Gen X and millennials. The cult-classic comedies also made Smith, who portrayed the character Silent Bob, a renowned figure in the film industry. He has also branched out into podcasting, stand-up comedy and writing comic books.

On Friday, he will appear on stage at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage. Those going to the event can expect him to talk about being Kevin Smith and other funny anecdotes. “I make more money standing on stage talking about being Kevin Smith than I do as a director,” Smith said during a recent interview.

While writing “Clerks” Smith used the character of Dante as a vehicle for himself. The 2006 sequel featured a storyline where Dante gets married, has a child and accepts more grown-up responsibilities. Before releasing "Clerks III" in 2022, Smith said it would be the final film of the series. It's also a departure from the previous films. Smith not only based the film on his own brush with death as a result of a heart attack in 2018, but poured more of himself into Randall.

If you go: 7 p.m., Friday, Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa, 32-250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage. $25 to $125. aguacalientecasinos.com

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Thursday

Barbra: During the 2010s, singer Sharon Owens' musical "Barbra and Frank, The Concert That Never Was" imagined Barbra Streisand and Frank Sinatra on a co-headlining tour together. Owens, who played Streisand in the show, would appear with Sebastian Anzaldo as Frank Sinatra singing duets such as "Something Stupid" and "New York New York."

Owens continues to sing the music Streisand and will perform "Tribute to a Funny Girl" on Thursday at the McCallum Theatre.

If you go: 8 p.m., Thursday, McCallum Theatre, 73-000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert. $95 to $155. (760) 340-2787. mccallumtheatre.com

Friday

Mexican: In Mexican music, Paquita la del Barrio (Paquita from the neighborhood) is a trailblazer. She persevered despite the machismo of regional Mexican music and took on sexism in many of her songs. Her life story was the subject of the 2017 Univision TV series "Paquita la del Barrio," which revealed her childhood in poverty, overcoming many life struggles and becoming a successful Mexican music artist.

Paquita la del Barrio will perform on Friday at Acrisure Arena. She's on tour celebrating 40 years in the music industry and the concert includes special guests El Coyote, Ezequiel Peña, Josi Cuen, and Cheque Junior.

If you go: 7 p.m., Friday, Acrisure Arena, 75-702 Varner Road, Palm Desert. Tickets start at $85. acrisurearena.com

Americana: Los Angeles Americana band Rose's Pawn Shop has performed on the same stages as Lucinda Williams, Railroad Earth, and Jack White and The Raconteurs. But even though Rose's Pawn Shop features banjo, stand-up bass and fiddle, this band doesn't perform your grandfather's style of country or Americana music. There's plenty of energetic rock guitar-driven songs to enjoy.

Rose's Pawn Shop will perform Friday at Pappy and Harriet's.

If you go: 9:30 p.m., Friday, Pappy and Harriet's, 53-688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown. $12.50. (760) 228-2222. pappyandharriets.com

Saturday

Comedy: Australian comedian Jim Jefferies is known for pushing boundaries and volatile humor in his stand-up routines. But it's worked out for him, because he's recorded several stand-up specials and hosted "The Jim Jefferies Show" on Comedy Central for three seasons from 2017 to 2019. Some of the subjects of his stand-up comedy are millennials, religion, politics and more.

See for yourself when Jefferies performs on Saturday at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.

If you go: 8 p.m., Saturday, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio. $59 to $89. (760) 342-5000. fantasyspringsresort.com

Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @bblueskye.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 5 shows to see in the Palm Springs area this week