Memphis Entertainment

They've been together almost 40 years and are enshrined in the venerable Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but members of R&B funk monster band Earth, Wind & Fire don't rest on their laurels.

A Warner Bros. executive says the Batman sequel "The Dark Knight" has set a single-day box office record by taking in $66.4 million on opening day.

BOISE, Idaho -- Travis Dryden spent his childhood listening to his parent's records. And then he left them behind with the other detritus of his pre-college years to be sold for pennies at a yard sale.

Watching "The Dark Knight" is a stressful, dread-inducing experience. The movie makes a grim joke out of the idea that it was inspired by a series of so-called "comic" books. The only laughter in the film is the halting, psychopathic chuckle of the Joker.

Dex Romweber has a bit of a reputation. His famed fire-and-brimstone combo, Flat Duo Jets, was revered for its explosive, visionary take on American roots music and hailed as pioneers of the two-piece, guitar-drum format. But ask Romweber and he'll admit that the band was simply a charmed collision of youthful enthusiasm and old-school influences.

As a founder and longest serving member of Earth, Wind & Fire, bassist Verdine White has seem a lot during his four-decade run with the group.

ABBA songs are, of course, evil in musical form.

On "Miss Invisible," the autobiographical song that got Marié (pronounced Ma-re-AY) Digby her major-label record deal when it won the Pantene Pro-Voice Music Competition in 2004, the 25-year-old singer-songwriter relates the feelings of that friendless girl in school who just seems to haunt the halls:

Four-star ratings are not handed out carelessly by dining critics at this newspaper. In the 10 years that we've used the four-star system, five have earned the honor. Today, Restaurant Iris becomes the sixth. Chef/owner Kelly English opened his casual fine-dining spot in the former La Tourelle house less than three months ago, and word of mouth has already made it improbable that you'll get a table if you walk in without a reservation even midweek. There are many reasons.

Almost every woman owns a piece of jewelry that belonged to her mother or a beloved relative -- a keepsake that holds sentimental value or a secret story cherished by its owner.

Last March, Grammy-winning musician Dan Zanes -- a former rocker turned folksy children's singer -- filled the 824-seat Germantown Performing Arts Centre with gratified parents and kids. His electric roots guitar music doesn't get on parental nerves quite like the purple dinosaur's ditties, nor plumb the depths of silliness like Wiggles tunes. Hipster families watch his music videos on the Disney Channel and have something in common: a respect for the thin, bushy-haired guy in the suit.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Paul Revere and the Raiders, the classic American garage rock outfit known for such '60s and '70s hits as "Steppin' Out," "Kicks" and "Indian Reservation."

Capsule descriptions and starred mini-reviews by The Commercial Appeal movie writer John Beifuss.

Greg Lackey named his band "Kings of the Delta," but his home is West Memphis.

Memphis College of Art on the street gallery, 338 S. Main: "Oh Lord, Won't You Send Me a Sign!" Show by 2008 Printmakers of University of Mississippi,.

Reviewed shows are initialed by theater critic Christopher Blank.

Watching "The Dark Knight" is a stressful, dread-inducing experience. The movie makes a grim joke out of the idea that it was inspired by a series of so-called "comic" books. The only laughter in the film is the halting, psychopathic chuckle of the Joker.

It's after 5 on a Friday afternoon, the time when most Memphians are knocking off work and making plans for the weekend.

Holy promotion! Two Malco theaters are hosting programs of bat-activities Saturday to coincide with the opening of "The Dark Knight."

Why so serious? Let's have some fun with "Dark Knight," before Heath Ledger scares our capes off. Here are 10 Bat-questions to prep for the movie.