Friday, February 15, 2008

Cheap Thrills: 2/15 to 2/22

see the lunar eclipse on 2/20
So I went and had some fun last night. (Thanks to Peter who bought me a drink. You rock, man! I'll remember you from now on.) As usual, I post some/most of my list.

--------------------------------------------------------------

FRI 2/15
* Muck and The Mires
* Downbeat 5, Rock Bottom
* Mini Opus: Small Work from Montserrat: Closing Reception and Sale
* State Radio
* "Born in the Bronx": Book Signing & Old-School Hip-Hop
* Dr. Ali Abdiweli, "Human Rights and Civil War In Somalia"

SAT 2/16
* Free Self Defense Class for Women
* Jason Berube, "The Mayan Calendar & The Transformation Of Consciousness": Lecture
* Varsity Drag, The Perennials, The Lights Out, Big Big Bucks
* The Moonlighters, Craig Robertson
* "Beyond Belief"

SUN 2/17
* Chinese New Year Parade
* Cafe Sci: "CERN" (and the largest and most expensive machine ever)
* Lizard Lounge Poetry Night 11th Anniversary Show
* Darkbuster's 3rd Annual Hometown Throwup -- thru SUN 2/24

MON 2/18
* Rick Berlin, Emeila, Jeff Chasse
* Free Beginner Salsa Lessons

TUES 2/19
* Switches
* "Burn to Shine" (Seattle): Free Screening
* "Positive Illusions: What's So Great About Truth?": Discussion

WED 2/20
* "Sensational Spain": Wine Tasting
* Lunar Eclipse
* Chandler Travis Philharmonic
* Raps on the Gap: "Hip Hop Music and School Success"

THUR 2/21
* Sick Tricks Bike Night
* "The Simpsons -- Backstage Tour"
* My Pamplemousse

FRI 2/22
* Boone, Topheavy, Doom Buggies, Dave Clark Band, The Buckners
* Lester Brown, "Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization": Discussion

SAT 2/23
* Silent Dance Experiment
* Wings Over Cambridge, The Lowest of Lowe, Clock Strikes Ten

--------------------------------------------------------------

FRI 2/15

10pm
Muck and The Mires
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass. Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5

They claim they're playing 40 songs in two sets, the last local show for a few months.

FRI 2/15

10pm
Downbeat 5, Rock Bottom
at Johnny D's, 17 Holland St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$10

Downbeat 5 are awesome, and Rock Bottom has a bunch of seriously good players for 70's-rock fun.

FRI 2/15

6pm to 8pm
"Mini Opus: Small Work from Montserrat": Closing Reception and Sale
at Bear Gallery, 116 Rantoul St., Beverly (Montserrat College of Art)
FREE

Small works of art that can be purchased tonight for $10 each...

FRI 2/15

7pm
State Radio: Performance & Signing
at Newbury Comics, 332 Newbury St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

State Radio is one of the bands that has risen out of reggae-rockers Dispatch.

FRI 2/15

9pm
"Born in the Bronx": Book Signing & Old-School Hip-Hop
at Milky Way Lounge, 403 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
$10 / $7 online / 21+

Joe Conzo was photographing his South Bronx neighborhood, and he often pointed his lens at the pioneers of hip-hop before the world paid attention. Tonight is a book-signing party for his collection "Born In The Bronx" with performances by some of his early subjects, Cold Crush Brothers and Rodney C, as well as some of Boston's torch-bearers like Kiki Breevlife and Floorlords dance crew.

I saw this in some forum: "caz [of Cold Crush Brothers] was the rakim of rap before rakim was. c'mon yall, these is legends."

FRI 2/15

7pm to 9pm
Dr. Ali Abdiweli, "Human Rights and Civil War In Somalia: Stories from A Forgotten Country"
at Room 237, Building 4, 182 Memorial Drive (Rear), Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

Get some history of the civil war and learn what's happening now.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

SAT 2/16

Noon to 1:30pm
Self Defense Class for Women
at Villari's Self Defense Center, 54 Union Sq, Somerville
FREE

Improve your alertness & confidence -- and learn a couple moves to take care of that perv on the T.

"Call ahead to reserve your space: 617-625- 5070"

SAT 2/16

3pm to 5pm
Jason Berube, "The Mayan Calendar & The Transformation Of Consciousness": Lecture
at Outpost 186, 186 1/2 Hampshire St, Cambridge (Inman Sq)
$5 or b/o

I thought the Mayans said the world would end in 2012, but I guess it'll be more like a new era of existence. Hear all about it...

SAT 2/16

Varsity Drag (Midnight), The Perennials (11pm), The Lights Out (10pm), Big Big Bucks (9pm)
at The Cantab Lounge (Underground) 738 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8

Rockity power-pop.

SAT 2/16

9pm
The Moonlighters (10pm - 2 sets), Craig Robertson (9pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

The Moonlighters are modern people in the style of old-time swing. Craig Robertson is part of the local organization Ukulele Noir. (Btw, I like the new Church; the bar is better than the old Linwood Grill setup.)

SAT 2/16

7pm
"Beyond Belief"
at Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston (Fenway)
$15, but...

This documentary is an amazing story. From MFA description:

Susan Retik and Patti Quigley are two ordinary soccer moms living in the suburbs of Boston until tragedy strikes. Rather than turning inwards, grief compels these women to focus on the country where the terrorists who took their husbands’ lives were trained: Afghanistan. Over the course of two years, as they cope with loss and struggle to raise their families as single mothers, these extraordinary women dedicate themselves to empowering Afghan widows whose lives have been ravaged by decades of war, poverty and oppression – factors they consider to be the root causes of terrorism.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

SUN 2/17

10am to 5:30pm
Chinese New Year Parade
near Harrison St and Essex St, Boston (Chinatown)
FREE

I'm guessing the big spectacle will be the opening ceremony, but there will be more activities, dragon action, and firecrackers throughout. Good day for dim sum?

SUN 2/17

6pm
Cafe Sci: "CERN" (and the largest and most expensive machine ever)
at Lir (Upstairs), 903 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE / 21+

Deep under Switzerland, the science world is waiting to unlock some secrets of the universe with an $8 billion science experiment. It's fascinating stuff, and these nights are purposely jargon-free. Cafe Sci is a semi-regular gathering where you watch a segment from the NOVA, and a scientist (MIT professor Steve Nahn, this time) is there to talk about it -- mainly to answer questions. It was very casual when I went. And NOVA is a great show that gives all the science the average person would want to know.

I don't always list these, so you get on the e-mail list by writing here.

SUN 2/17

8pm
Lizard Lounge Poetry Night 11th Anniversary Show
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$5 / 21+

Poetry slam starts at 8pm, poetry jam starts at 9:30pm. There are so many special guest poets and musicians, there won't be much room for an audience.

SUN 2/17 thru SUN 2/24

9pm (last show at 1pm)
Darkbuster's 3rd Annual Hometown Throwup
at Harpers Ferry, 158 Brighton Avenue, Allston
$10 / 18+ (last show: All Ages)

Darkbuster played along with The Bosstones at one of their Hometown Throwdowns. While they were on 'hiatus', Darkbuster started their multi-show tradition. Three years in and they've moved from O'Briens to Harpers. They'll be performing various sets throughout the week, and it's going to be a punkstravaganza with all sorts of great bands and surprises.

If you're not a fan yet, Darkbuster is on the cusp of recognition akin to Dropkick Murphys. It's a ferocious sonic assault with playfulness in their attitude and many of the lyrics. Oft-described as drunk-punks, many of their loyal fans will go for the $50 8-show pass, and there won't be enough liver transplants to fill the need.

"Sponsored by Miller High Life with giveaways and the Miller Girls"

Sunday's show includes The Throwaways (a slightly re-formed Marvels), and the reunions of Pinkerton Thugs and Three Sheets.

MON 2/18
with The Welch Boys, The Outsiders

TUES 2/19
with Jay Allen & The Arch Criminals, The Larkin Brigade

WED 2/20
with The Scars, The Morgan Knockers

THUR 2/21
with Gimme Danger, Jason Bennett & The Resistance

FRI 2/22
with Mark Lind & The Unloved, The Rum Fits, S4G
(Update: Sadly, The Shods won't be able to perform.)

SAT 2/23
with: Hub City Stompers, The Allstonians, Band Of Felons

SUN 2/24
with Stigma, Death & Taxes, Reason Enough
All Ages -- 2pm

(Stay tuned for 'extended coverage'.)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

MON 2/18

Rick Berlin (10:10pm), Emeila (9:20pm), Jeff Chasse (9:20pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$3

MON 2/18

See Darkbuster above!

MON 2/18

7pm to 9pm
Free Beginner Salsa Lessons
at Morss Hall, Walker Memorial Bldg, 142 Memorial Dr, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

(Every Monday through 5/19)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

TUES 2/19

Noon
Switches
at First Act Guitar, 745 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

Not a bad way to spend a lunch break, if you're nearby. One of Britain's up 'n coming bands with a lot of promise.

TUES 2/19

6pm
"Burn to Shine" (Seattle): Concert Film
at Great Scott, 1222 Commonwealth Avenue, Allston
FREE / 18+

TUES 2/19

7:30pm to 9:30pm
"Positive Illusions: What's So Great About Truth?": Discussion
at McIntyre & Moore, 255 Elm St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
FREE

I love the title of this month's discussion. It could be a pretty lively dialogue:

"Socrates said that the unexamined life isn't worth living. But what if discovering the truth about ourselves didn't set us free, but merely depressed us? Are we sometimes better off believing falsehoods, or should commitment to truth always come first? Is it possible to knowingly deceive ourselves, and if so, should we?"

This might be the last Philosophy Cafe at McIntyre & Moore as they're soon closing in Davis Sq to reopen at some undisclosed (to me) location.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

WED 2/20

6:30pm to 8:30pm
"Sensational Spain": Wine Tasting
at BarLola, 160 Comm Ave, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE w/ RSVP / 21+

The Spanish Quarter wines are rather inexpensive, but I read a good review anyway. They're about to be sold in the Boston area, so enjoy some of their complimentary wine and tapas. There should be live music and flamenco dancing. Someone will also be there to talk about the wines, if you feel like it.

RSVP by 2/19.

WED 2/20

9pm to 11pm
Lunar Eclipse
at Harvard Observatory, 60 Garden St, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq and Fresh Pond)
FREE

With binoculars or even the naked eye, the moon is going to look pretty darn red around 9pm EST. The prime time will be between 10pm and 10:30pm. Why not get a better look at an obsevatory? This is the last lunar eclipse for 2 years.

Remember to dress warm!

WED 2/20

8:30pm to 11:30pm
Chandler Travis Philharmonic
at Toast Lounge, 70 Union Sq, Somerville
FREE

They're doing their incredibly casual mix of rock/pop/jazz/country/soul/etc almost every Wednesday.

WED 2/20

6:30pm to 8pm
Raps on the Gap, "Hip Hop Music and School Success": Discussion
at Starr Auditorium, Belfer Center, 79 JFK St, Cambridge (Kennedy School of Govt)
FREE

This is apparently the first in a series of presentations on ways to reduce racial and socioeconomic gaps in achievement. It may be similar topic as a talk at Berklee last week, but among the panel of scholarly types is the excellent Talib Kweli.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

THUR 2/21

8pm
Sick Tricks Bike Night
at The OtherSide Cafe, 407 Newbury St, Boston (Back Bay)
$10 / All Ages

I meant to find out more about this thing, but you'd probably enjoy this if you really love your bicycle or love hanging out with bike-messenger types and that sort of crowd. It's a fundraiser for the Northeastern Cycling Club, so your admission gets you a free draft beer (or cup of chili) and a raffle ticket. I know there'll be bike videos screening... More raffle tickets will be for sale, and they claim to have more than a hundred prizes "everything from socks and pumps to wheelsets".

THUR 2/21

7pm to 8:30pm
Mike Reiss, "The Simpsons -- Backstage Tour": Lecture
at Rosovsky Hall, Harvard Hillel, 52 Mt. Auburn St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

Like "The Simpsons"? Writer Mike Reiss was there from the beginning. He doesn't appear to be selling a book or anything; he's just a grad who's talking at his alma mater about his time with 'The Simpsons' and his other work like 'The Critic' and 'Queer Duck'. Expect some friggin' funny clips. Yes, it's open to the public.

THUR 2/21

10pm
My Pamplemousse
at The Alchemist Lounge, 435 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain
FREE

An interesting indie/world-music sound. I especially like the name too...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FRI 2/22

8pm
Boone, Topheavy, Doom Buggies, Dave Clark Band, The Buckners
at O'Brien’s, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$7 / 21+

I'll be here. Complaints/compliments gladly accepted.

FRI 2/22

7:30pm
Lester Brown, "Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization"
at First Parish Church, 3 Church St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

SAT 2/23

12:50pm
Silent Dance Experiment
at Faneuil Hall in front of the Sam Adams Statue
FREE

These random, public 'interactive performances' seem to be sweeping Boston. If you have an mp3 player, you might want to join in the fun... The special mix mp3 file will be available on the website on SUN 2/17.

SAT 2/23

Wings Over Cambridge (9pm), The Lowest of Lowe (10pm), Clock Strikes Ten (11:30pm)
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$10 / 21+

Special Tribute Night to Nick Lowe (update: link fixed), Wings, and Cheap Trick

Feat. Members of The Pills, The Gentlemen, The Rudds, Eric Salt, Phil Aiken, etc.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Link of the Week:

Send someone a kooky e-card, available for some hilariously mundane occasions.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Quote of the Week:

"Love involves a peculiar, unfathomable combination of understanding and misunderstanding."

-- Diane Arbus

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

th-th-that's all, folks.

~r

No comments:

ShareThis2