Portishead does the mysterious thing better than any other pop band. The English trio backhanded a lethargic music scene in 1994 with its first record, the noirish classic "Dummy."

Now the group will make its first U.S. tour in more than 12 years.

Consisting of vocalist Beth Gibbons and multi-instrumentalists Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley, the band virtually created down-tempo, groove-based electronica.

Gibbons seduced listeners with haunting atmospheric vocals that sound like a disembodied Billie Holiday, and the foreboding music was eerily displaced. After a second eponymously titled studio album in 1997, the group drifted into a vague but long-lasting solo project hiatus that finally ended with 2008's harder-edged "Third."

Portishead has performed sporadically in England and Europe since then, but its latest appearances constitute a media blitz for the publicity-shy musicians. After headlining and curating the prestigious All Tomorrow's Parties music festivals in London this summer and in Asbury Park, N.J., the band plays in 10 North American cities this month, including the Berkeley Greek Theatre tonight. For more information, go to www.apeconcerts.com/ venue_greekTheatre.cfm.

Final Bows

The curtain drops on American River College's "The Full Monty" this weekend with performances at 8 p.m. today and Saturday and the final show at 2 p.m. Sunday. With a book by Terrence McNally and the music and lyrics by David Yazbek, the popular musical tracks unemployed steelworkers who find their inner pole dancers. In this particular incarnation, the guys are backed by a live 13-piece orchestra. Pamela Downs directs the cast of 30. At the American River College Theatre, 4700 College Oak Drive. Parking is free in Lot "D" at the corner of College Oak and Myrtle, adjacent to the theater. Tickets are $12-$15. For more information, go to arctheatre.org, or call the ARC Box Office at (916) 484-8234.

My Funny Cabaret

On Tuesday night, Graham Sobelman brings his Graham-A-Rama cabaret back to the Cosmopolitan Cabaret to revisit Bob Cooner's swanky "By Hart." Cooner truly inhabits the cabaret experience, and his show celebrates the art of lyricist Lorenz Hart. He was the Hart who composed music with Richard Rodgers. He wrote for the Broadway classics, "Babes in Arms" (stuffed full of great songs including "My Funny Valentine," "The Lady Is a Tramp," and "Where or When"), "The Boys From Syracuse" and the very adult "Pal Joey." The revue features Kristen Anderson Wagner, Martha Omiyo Kight, Madeleine Quandt Wieland and Cooner, who apparently couldn't be bothered to come up with a third name. Sobelman's trio provides the musical support. 7 p.m. Tuesday. At the Cosmopolitan Cabaret, 1000 K St. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Available at the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office and the Cosmopolitan Cabaret Box Office). Go to www.grahamarama.com for more information.

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