Friday, March 20, 2009

SAT 3/21: Crafts, Films, Music, Purim Party


Argh! The weekly list should go out, but late. I've tried to be efficient today, but life had other plans for me. I also really want to get a free drink at the NFT party (see below) tonight...

Enjoy our first Spring weekend! More to come...

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SAT 3/21

Noon to 6pm
Holy Craft! Fair & Flea Market
at Massasoit Lodge #129 of Elks, 55 Bishop Richard Allen Dr, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$1

DIY arts/crafts flea market in the vein of Bazaar Bizarre, Punk Rock Flea Market, etc.

On a sunny Saturday, this seems to be a time when the shopping bug strikes. The next gift-giving days (Mothers Day / Fathers Day?) may be too far in the future for some. Depending on how cool your parents are, you'd probably find things for their child... That's okay -- treat yourself.

Your dollar admission goes to AFSC Material Assistance Program that helps homeless, domestic violence survivors, and others get the basic stuff that everyone needs.

SAT 3/21

3pm to 4pm
"Scarred Justice: The Orangeburg Massacre 1968": Screening
at Harvard Film Archive, Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

Two years before the Kent State shootings -- and two months before Dr. King's assassination -- three African-American students were killed and dozens more injured when the police opened fire on a protest at South Carolina State College. We don't have to dwell on every tragic moment of American history, but we shouldn't ignore or forget them either.

Listen to firsthand accounts of protesters and police officers; other interviews include the SC governor at the time and journalists that covered the story. I assume there will be some talking before or after the screening, but the running time is 57 minutes. ("PBS, anyone?")

SAT 3/21

6pm
Jason Crigler / Goats in Trees
at Atwood's Tavern, 877 Cambridge St , Cambridge
FREE

This is top-notch, poppy folk/rock; I liked everything I listened to. As I understand it, Jason Crigler & band may have used the name "Goats in Trees", and now it's mainly his name. He's got an amazing personal story, if you read his bio.

In the blurb about the gig, Jason Crigler gushes about Dave Mattacks playing the drums. He's right -- this guy has a super-impressive CV (Fairport Convention, Nick Drake, Paul McCartney, Joan Armatrading, Brian Eno, Jimmy Page, Cat Stevens, XTC, etc etc).

SAT 3/21

8pm to 1am
"Gragger/Noisemaker": Workmen’s Circle Annual Radical Purim Party
At SEIU Local 615, 26 West St, 2nd Fl, Boston (Downtown Crossing)
$10 - $20 Sliding Scale

Feat: Debo Band (10:30pm), Bloco AfroBrazil (8:45pm), DJ D'hana, members of Boston Hoop Troop and the Grasshopper Collective (11:30pm).

You don't have to be Jewish to go to a Purim party. I'd guess you would feel more comfortable at this party if your politics lean strongly to the Left. I looked at some photos from last year (about 300 attended last year), and it looks a bit like HonkFest as far as music is concerned. Besides the bands and DJ, there's going to be a hula-hoop and (indoor?) fire-juggling performance. Costumes are encouraged.

Sliding scale -- as I understand it -- is "pay what you can". (Some webpage said "cash bar", so it's definitely not a dry party.)

SAT 3/21

9:30pm
Cropduster, Township, Rpllnt, Trucker Mouth
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$9

Cropduster say they want to sound like "cough syrup rock", and that fits. There are some classic influences, but it sounds modern to my ears. It feels so long ago that Township won the Rumble, but it was 2007. Maybe it's because of their retro-70's rock sound -- but I like it. Brooklyn band Rpllnt rock out with their hooks out; I'm hoping to hear more from them. Trucker Mouth has quite a bit of Southern-rock influence with a big scoop of crunchiness.

SAT 3/21

Rocky Velvet (11:30pm), The Fathoms (10pm), DJ Easy Ed
at Midway Cafe, 3496 Washington St, Jamaica Plain
$10

Rocky Velvet, old-school rockabilly from relatively young high-school buddies from Albany, may be in Boston for the last time before they hang up their [blue suede] shoes. (It looks like they're scheduled to play at the Plough & Stars next month, but you never know when rockabilly bands will leave the scene...)

The Fathoms precede with expert instrumental surf, then Rocky Velvet will play two sets. My virtual buddy, DJ Easy Ed, is probably going to play appropriately awesome nuggets before, between, and after the live music.

SAT 3/21 (thru THUR 3/26)

Various Times
Boston Underground Film Festival
at Kendall Square Cinema, 1 Kendall Sq, Cambridge
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$8 (individual shows)

Boston hosts a handful of independent/underground film festivals. BUFF offers some movies that are on the cusp of art-house cinema distribution and some that are just too far out. I've seen some shorts and trailers from this year's programs, and there's a lot of good filmmaking even if the production values aren't as slick as you're accustomed to. There is a lot of horror and sex -- but often with a sense of humor and intelligence you'd expect from independent cinema.

These are some thoughts about Saturday's offerings:

The "Radical Jesters" program looks like an interesting set of docs about anarchic, pranking street artists. Several creepy tales of suburbia comprise "Morris County". "Hausu" is a 30-year-old Japanese horror-musical-comedy-plus, which is not necessarily intended to be humorous. I actually think "9to5: Days in Porn" looks like an interesting documentary (director in attendance); I wouldn't be surprised if it comes back for short theatrical run.

"Cinemental Does BUFF" is a program of queer shorts curated by Aliza Shapiro & Robert Nadeau who have excellent taste and already do a monthly night at the Brattle. The other shorts programs are twisted takes on themes like family relationships ("BUFF Family Values"), insanity ("Paranoia (Does It Annoy Ya?)"), and secrets (umm, "I Have a Secret...").

I'd recommend "Make Your Own Damn Music Video!"; some of the artists include Amanda Palmer, Deerhoof, Team Robespierre, The Steamy Bohemians, Freezepop, Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys, Gene Dante & Future Starlets, Neptune, Uncle Monsterface, and Jaggery. There's going to be a live performance at the end from a "mystery band". (I checked, and Amanda Palmer is out of town.)

You don't have to see any movies to go to J. Cannibal's "birthday party" at Om (Harvard Sq) at 11pm. The $10 cover is supposed to include a Maker's Mark cocktail.

Saturday at Kendall Square Cinema

Noon -- "Radical Jesters" w/ "Creative Violation: The Rebel Art Of The Street Stencil", "Outside Agitator", "Start From Zero: Profile Of An Artist"
12:30pm -- "The Man Who Would Be Polka King" w/ "Greaseland"
2:45pm -- "Cinemental Does BUFF"
3pm -- "I Have a Secret..."
5pm -- "BUFF Family Values"
5:45pm -- "Paranoia (Does It Annoy Ya?)"
7:15pm -- "Modern Love Is Automatic" w/ "Doctor Reddy"
7:45pm -- "Blood River"
9:30pm -- "Plague Town" w/ "H5n1"
9:45pm -- "Morris County" w/ "Bluff Point"
Saturday at Brattle Theatre

5:30pm -- "Make Your Own Damn Music Video!"
7:30pm -- "The Last American Freak Show" w/ "Bally Master"
10pm -- "Hausu"
11:55pm -- "9to5: Days in Porn"

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