Up at UC Davis' Mondavi Center, the coming weekend will see several performances on the theme of “Madness and Music.” The one you want to catch, if you can, is Alarm Will Sound, a genre-bending, electrifying, 20-member band that wears its virtuosity lightly and is game for anything.
Aphex Twin? No problem. Harrison Birtwistle, England's thorny, but highly entertaining modernist composer? You bet. And just for kicks, the group concludes with John Orfe's Dowland Remix (Flow, my tears), based on the 17th-century piece that has spawned literally dozens of imitations and variations. This group should not be missed.