Ticket Alert: Kid Rock and Mannheim Steamroller

To avoid scalpers and Craigslist scams, consult this handy guide to the shows soon to go on sale …

This Saturday, at 10 a.m., you have a big choice to make — and no, it’s not "rake the leaves or don’t rake the leaves," "drip or French press," or "take down the Halloween decorations or leave them up." Your choice, my friends, is Kid Rock or Mannheim Steamroller. Yes, that’s really what it’s come down to in this cultural swamp.

On one hand, you’ve got an overgrown guy with an urban redneck shtick that mixes rap with rock, blues and country music to the delight of his millions of white-trash fans. And, on the other hand, you’ve got an overgrown guy (Chip Davis) with an annoying "I’m-a-genius" shtick that mixes classical inspiration with Christmas songs, electronic music and Muzak-level jazz, much to the delight of his millions of white-trash fans. The Kid will be at the Borgata on February 13th (a perfect Valentine’s present, if I ever saw one), $95. Mannheim Steamroller comes to the Hershey Theatre on December 4th, $49.50-$75. Note that this is an afternoon show that was just added because the evening show sold out, if you can believe that.