Thursday, October 20, 2011

THUR 10/20: Art, Theater, Talk, Burlesque, Rock

Otto Piene, Lichtballett
Oh, what a bad blogger I was last night. I didn't do much listening, researching, or typing at all... (But Friday cheapness is on the calendar.)

There was a funny moment on my way home: A transvestite sat next to me on the T, and then a woman was smoking a hand-rolled cigarette when I exited the station.

It struck me that transvestites are far more common than hand-rolled cigarettes.

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THUR 10/20

5:30pm
Otto Piene, "Lichtballett": Artist Talk & Reception
at Bartos Theatre / List Visual Arts Center, Wiesner Bldg, 20 Ames St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

5:30pm -- Artist Talk in Bartos Theatre
6pm to 8pm -- Reception
Art that manipulates light fascinates me. Fireworks or any shiny object has a similar effect, but it's a different level when done by a Bill Viola or Otto Piene.

These will likely be the coolest disco balls that emit their own light that you'll ever see...

If you get there early, you can hear the 83-year-old, German-born Piene speak.

THUR 10/20 (thru SAT 10/22)

Various Times
"To Kill A Mockingbird"
at Roxbury Repertory Theater, 1234 Columbus Ave, Roxbury (Roxbury Community College)
$10 / $5 students
Thursday -- 10am, 8pm
Friday -- 10am, 8pm
Saturday -- 2pm
With the early performances of this production, it reminds me that the book was aimed at the 'young-adult' market. Still, "To Kill A Mockingbird" is a classic story that often ends up on top novel lists.

The movie was pretty darn good as well, and I assume the stage version may fall somewhere between the two.

THUR 10/20

7pm to 8:30pm
An Evening with Travel Writers: Anna Wexler & Lawrence Millman
at Room 14N-304, Hayden Memorial Library, 160 Memorial Dr, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

CTB reader Laura passed along this reading. With winter on its way, maybe it's a good time to begin fantasizing about taking a trip...

Note: Without personal knowledge of the Hayden Library, could this be in room "14E-304"?

THUR 10/20 (thru MON 10/31)

8pm
"The Wrathskellar"
at 545 Cambridge St Enter thru Rear, Cambridge (East Cambridge)
$13 or $20 advance / $25 door

Although only the first show was $10, I want to give a shoutout for something above the usual limit. Pay attention from the beginning and you'll pick up clues for the narrative that emerges throughout the show.

I'll have a review of my experience up soon, but I was left leaving that it was a thouroughly enjoyable theater experience that was well-paced, funny, and sexy.

Far from being a cheesy attempt to scare, it's darker than your average burlesque for Halloween time.

I noticed there is a $13 standing room option for the advance tickets.

FYI: I noticed a couple people miss the sign, but you enter around the corner through a little alley behind the building.

THUR 10/20

8:30pm
"The No Hipsters Rock & Roll Revue"
at Cantab Underground / Club Bohemia, 738 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

Feat: Aaron Shadwell, Stella Swingline, Brendyn Schneider, Madam Karen Lee, Thru the Keyhole Burlesque, The Duet Jameson, Marc Zegans

You've been warned, hipsters! Stay away from the Cantab's basement, because they don't want to sing songs, tell stories, and dance the burlesque for your ironic fixie-riding asses and your over-sized glasses.

THUR 10/20 (and THUR 10/27)

9pm
The Deadly Gentlemen with guests
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$8

This kind of bluegrass-y supergroup is normally seen playing at the Cantab, but it's not Tuesday. String-band-loving hipsters can hang out and enjoy the hot playing and tight harmonies. Banjoist Greg Liszt is probably the only MIT doctorate that's played in Bruce Springsteen's touring band, and that bassist is the son of mandolin master David Grisman.

THUR 10/20

Davila 666 (11:30pm), Barreracudas (10:30pm), Port Charles Quintet (9:30pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

Wow, it's not just that Davila 666 is a Puerto Rican garage-rock band with lyrics en Espanol -- it's really, really good. They're on tour with Barreracudas, punky power-poppers from Atlanta. It all starts with a fine example of classic Boston garage from Port Charles Quintet, which includes the singer and drummer from one of my faves The Prime Movers.

THUR 10/20

10pm
Beware The Dangers of A Ghost Scorpion, The Tin Thistles, BlackWolfGoat
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5 / 21+

Mondo Thursday at the Plough is celebrating Anngelle Wood's 3rd anniversary as the host of the excellent local-music radio program Boston Emissions.

For such an occasion, a broad sampling of local music is on deck. Beware The Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion really nailed their name for a horror-surf band. What is more badass than a band of masked musicians? Maybe a scorpion that is a ghost.

It doesn't seem too much of a stretch to have B.T.D.O.S.G.S. on the same bill as the hard, rowdy Boston punk of The Tin Thistles. It gets more interesting to include the metallic ambience of BlackWolfGoat.

Raise a glass (or two) with Angelle and friends while celebrating with cool sounds.

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