Thursday, March 29, 2012

THUR 3/29: Mexico, Ireland, Ball, Hop, Film, Music


I love when there's a variety of options... And you can add a dash of philanthropy while keeping relatively cheap fun.

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

THUR 3/29

6pm
"Music of the US-Mexico Borderlands": Performance & Talk
at Tsai Auditorium, CGIS South Bldg, 1730 Cambridge St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

Feat: Dr. Loco aka Jose Cuellar, Ph.D.

One might expect Dr. Loco to have a degree in Tex-Mex boogie. Despite years playing in rock bands, el bueno doctor is professor emeritus of Latina/Latino Studies at San Francisco State University.

With musical performance and storytelling -- and probably some cleverly disguised academic analysis -- Prof. Cuellar/Loco will take you on a journey along the border.

"A reception will follow."

THUR 3/29

6:30pm to 8:30pm
Irish Dance & Ceili w/ Seamus Connolly & Friends
at Gasson Hall, 140 Comm Ave, Chestnut Hill (BC campus)
FREE

In a different geographical direction but with a similar desire to inform and enlighten, Seamus Connolly is the Director of BC's Irish Studies Music, Song & Dance program. He also happens to be the only 10-time Irish National Fiddle champion.

Keep in mind this is a "dance & ceili", so be a festive listener at the least.

THUR 3/29

7pm
"The Dead Authors Ball"
at The Burren, 247 Elm St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
FREE / Donations welcome

Feat: Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Brass Band, Anthony Scibelli

Enjoy the horn music, the comedy, and the facial hair.

At the final check-in for 826 Boston's annual Moustache-a-Thon, people are encouraged to "come dressed as your favorite deceased wordsmith." That request can be broadly interpreted such as, "I'm business-casual Ernest Hemingway..."

There are a couple used-clothing stores nearby to make an ad-hoc costume, or you could give that money to a non-profit that offers tutoring for young people to encourage and improve their writing.

THUR 3/29

7:30pm to 2am
Annual BHCHP Sock Hop
at Cask 'n Flagon, 62 Brookline Ave, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
$5 or a package of new socks

Isn't it a pleasant moment when you first put on a new pair of socks? It must be even more satisfying if you've been wearing the same pair for weeks (or months)...

The Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program needs socks, so why not have a 50's style dance party to collect a bunch of them -- or money to buy socks.

There's trivia from 7:30pm to 9pm, then dancing until closing time.

THUR 3/29 (thru SUN 4/1)

Various Times
Boston Underground Film Festival
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$10 per screening / $75 festival pass

Thursday Schedule:

8pm -- "John Dies at the End"
10pm -- Opening Night Party
I haven't felt the Buzz that often accompanies the annual BUFF, and it seems like the schedule is slightly abbreviated. I still think this is my favorite Boston film festival (that are coming in the near future), because they have a nice mix of films that might go to independent cinemas and other films that are really weird.

The opening movie is based on a humorous horror novel, and it has a good cast including Paul Giamatti. Can a couple slackers save the world from an alien invasion? Why not -- although I get the feeling that someone doesn't survive...

If you go to the screening, they should say where the party will be. Various programs will be shown through Sunday

THUR 3/29

9:30pm
Franc Graham Band, Nash Satterfield
at Milky Way Lounge / Bella Luna, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain (The Brewery Complex)
$7 / 21+

For a past gig, I was going to compare Franc Graham to Lucinda Williams and wondered if that was an unfair comparison. Then I read her bio where she mentions how Lucinda heard her stuff and invited Franc to open for her on tour (unfortunately didn't have a happy ending). Still, she writes some cool, earthy songs with a cleaner vocal style. Yes, that is Morphine's Jerome Deupree on drums.

"Nash Satterfield" sounds like the name of a person to me -- like a guy with an acoustic guitar. It's actually a group. With a female singer. With a beautiful voice. And their stuff is a hopped-up, swingy alt-country that careens between the speakers.

THUR 3/29

The Mallett Brothers Band (10:45pm), OldJack (9:30pm), Monophonic (8:30pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

A show with OldJack playing is a show worth hearing.

I've liked OldJack from the first time I saw them, and I keep on liking them more as time goes on. What hit me as a rock-soul revue has gradually become something earthier with a soulful heart. Monophonic kicks things off with straight-up 'pub rock' (their words but applicable). If the rootsy Mallett Brothers don't tickle your monkey bone, you don't have to stay.

No comments:

ShareThis2