MON 4/12: Talks, Film, Music

Well, I really screwed up the weekend listings. Oops...

My understanding is that Titus Andronicus/The Babies/Hallelujah The Hills at Great Scott is sold out, but maybe someone will have an extra ticket to sell outside. It's a gamn good $10 show.

Monday nights are live music nights at Charlies Kitchen and Zuzu. It's a chance to start the week with cheap music whether you want it loud or quiet.

While I was not a huge fan of The Wedding Present, they are playing the entirety of their '89 album "Bizarro" at the Middle East (downstairs) for a couple dollars over $10. They're joined by Girl In A Coma and The Motion Sick.

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MON 4/12

6pm
Paul Verhoeven, "Jesus of Nazareth": Discussion
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5

It surprises me that the director of "Basic Instinct", "Showgirls", and "Starship Troopers" has written a scholarly book about Jesus from a historical point of view.

At 8pm, Verhoeven will introduce one of his classics "RoboCop". You can see both for a combo ticket of $12 / $10 for students, seniors.

"Copies of Jesus of Nazareth will be available for sale at the reading."

MON 4/12

7pm
David Sax, "Save the Deli": Discussion
at Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard St, Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
FREE

Delicatessens are awesome places for sandwiches, potato salad, etc; and no one makes a thick pastrami sandwich like a Jewish deli. Do we need a book to exhort the survival of the deli? Maybe we do. There will be some samples from Zaftigs to persuade you.

MON 4/12

7pm
"Frankenstein": Screening
at Room 105, Bldg 2, 182 Memorial Dr, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

James Whale's 1931 version kicks off a week of Frankenstein films, a play, and a discussion including: "The Bride of Frankenstein" (TUES 4/13) and "Young Frankenstein" (WED 4/14).

MON 4/12

10pm
Molly & Jamie, Karen Barnicle, Lindsey Starr
at ZuZu!, 474 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE / 21+

Molly from Banditas and Jamie from Wonderful Spells for a trio of likely acoustic performances.

MON 4/12

10pm
The Cold Beat, Wallcreeper, The Young Leaves
at Charlie's Kitchen, 10 Eliot St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5 / 21+

The Cold Beat is a lean, mean rock machine that has some good songs that get a loud, fast approach that makes many mention The Replacements; and I can hear it a bit. The Young Leaves mention their influences (Husker Du, Dinosaur Jr, Archers of Loaf, Superchunk, etc) and each of them get opportnities to shine through from song to song.

FRI 4/9: Much Music & Pee-Wee

I don't know why I can't focus today. It could be the coup in Kyrgyzstan... I heard that an asteroid almost (in astronomical terms) hit Earth yesterday... Maybe it was the scotch last night...

There are a couple all ages shows that look interesting. There's a (generally accurate) connotation that "all ages" means "under 21". I like to think that people of all ages are welcome.

Although it's a few bucks more than $10, I strongly encourage checking out the Ray Neades tribute shows tonight and tomorrow at Church. There are so many killer bands coming out to honor the passing of the Beefy DC singer, and the proceeds benefit his widow.

There's still time to win a trip to see the Dropkick Murphys in Dublin. Not a bad deal for a minimum donation of $10.

Saturday fun is on the calendar.

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FRI 4/9

5pm
Freelance Whales: Performance & Signing
at Newbury Comics, 332 Newbury Street, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

Didn't go to the Middle East last night? Before a gig at the coffeehouse at Brandeis, Freelance Whales do their folky indie-pop thing for a little while.

When I heard "Generator^1st Floor" by Freelance Whales, it did sound a bit like a giant, ancient creature swimming around a sun-glittered ocean. I dig the detailed arrangements with freewheeling vibe.

FRI 4/9 & SAT 4/10

Various Times
Record Hospital Fest 2010
$10 / $15 for both nights Suggested Donation / All ages / No Booze

A bunch of bands from New York and Pennsylvania as well as Ohio and Indiana are joining local bands. Don't fret the "no alcohol" -- there are nearby bars...

WHRB 95.3 presents... featuring the best acts from a wide range of diy-centric acts -pop punk, postpunk, punk, hardcore, posthardcore, etc

FRI 4/9

The Beets (11:10pm), German Measles (10:30pm), Pants Yell! (9:50pm), Arcing (9:10pm), Gerty Farish (8:30pm), General Interest (7:50pm), 1994! (7:10pm), Grown Ups (6:30pm)
at Harvard Advocate, 21 South St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)

SAT 4/10

The Libyans (10pm), Nomos (9:20pm), The Men (8:40pm), Slasher Risk (8pm), Folded Shirt (7:20pm), Boyfriends (6:40pm), Confines (6pm)
at Democracy Center, 45 Mt Auburn, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)

I think the music should finish about midnight and 11pm, respectively.

Even though you're not interested in going, the flyer made me giggle.

FRI 4/9

7pm to close
"A Tribute to Michael, Prince & Stevie"
at Game On, 82 Lansdowne St, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
FREE / $10 after 10pm

Not sure what's going to happen at this "tribute", but who doesn't like jams from Michael Jackson, Prince, or Stevie Wonder? It appears to have been organized by Haitian Brothers Networking Nationwide, and partial proceeds from this event will go to benefit Partners in Health. It would be nice to give a donation of some kind if you show up before 10pm.

The Sox are in Kansas City tonight, so one might be able to walk up to the bar with relative ease while watching the game.

I'm not sure if it's really a selling point, but Governor Patrick may show up between 7pm and 10pm.

[Facebook]

FRI 4/9

8:30pm
High Places, Golden Girls, Truman Peyote
at Room N181, North Bldg, Evans Way at Huntington Ave, Boston (MassArt)
$9 / All Ages

When listening to the electronica of High Places and Truman Peyote, I'd probably lull and sway instead of dance if I went to the show. I regularly read about High Places, so they may be a big deal; from what I've heard, they have a dreamy pop vibe. As you might guess, Truman Peyote is a bit more experimental. To shake things up, Golden Girls will get loud and fast like the three young Worcester punks that they are.

Also appearing: DJ Pink Sweatshirt (TD of Big Digits)

[PDF campus map]

FRI 4/9

9:30pm
Varsity Drag, Tartufi, Soccer Mom
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$8 -- 21+ / $11 -- 18+

A pretty sweet show that makes it worth spending time at my least-favorite rock club.

I feel funny to say Varsity Drag sounds like Band X or Y, because the Varsity captain is Ben Deily of the original Lemonheads. He apparently wrote the songs that rocked (and that had balls) on the early albums, and he continues to write great songs with melodies and noise. Superb! (And reminds me of Husker Du...)
He even got together with Evan Dando for a gig at SXSW tast month [YouTube].

Kudos to the adventurous and ambitious Tartufi who have a really long bio on their site, but it's actually pretty interesting with lines like, "Tartufi sounds like The Firey Furnaces with more complex arrangements. Tartufi sounds like Philip Glass with balls." It is more complex and layered than you'd expect from a duo, but technology helps a lot. This is music I'd enjoy listening to with my arms crossed -- and loving it.

Soccer Mom gets the party started in a shoegazey cloud of rock.

FRI 4/9

10:30pm
Barrence Whitfield & The Monkey Hips
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass. Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5 / 21+

Barrence Whitfield should be more widely known as the rock ' soul king of Boston. There are times when I get excited and exaggerate, but this man is amazing. With his mighty soulful singing, he should be in the pantheon of rock/r&b singers. He is something like a missing musical link that skipped from Little Richard directly to the Boston rock scene of the '80s. The Monkey Hips are a squad of rockin' dudes including a sax player.

(PS: It's free if you get there early enough...)

FRI 4/9

Midnight
"Pee Wee's Big Adventure": Quote-Along
at Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline
$10

When I saw this film for the first time, I lost my voice from laughing so hard. This collaboration between Tim Burton and Pee-Wee Herman along with a spectacular cast shows Burton at his whimsical best.

Don't worry if you can't quote along. I'm sure there will be plenty of folks to handle it.

Bring your white platform shoes, so you can compete in the Pee-Wee dance competition to the boppin' little tune of "Tequila".

THUR 4/8: TV & Rock

The crocus doesn't lie? After a couple weeks of little green buds appearing, I feel like every tree came back to life yesterday. (Thank you, office, for providing air conditioning.)

The plan was to write a quickie today, and get a good post for Friday and the weekend. We'll see...

While not as hot today, it's still possible to enjoy a roof-deck party. Splash Lounge is not the place I'd hang out (no sneakers/t-shirts), however I'd swing by after work for a free buffet and free billiards from 5pm to 10pm. It's happening every Thursday in April, and you just need to RSVP here.

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THUR 4/8 thru SUN 4/11

Various Times
Twin Peaks, Season 1"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$9.75

For the 20th anniversary of "Twin Peaks", the first season will be shown over 4 nights for a watching party that should be bigger than the first time around when folks used to gather with friends to watch perhaps the weirdest TV program that had a second season.

That was the cool thing about this show: It was more bizarre and subversive than we can realize in retrospect, because it raised the bar of what could be acceptable for a popular show. (Hi, "X-Files" and "Lost", etc, etc.) One day I will write a book about the psychological themes of David Lynch's work. Let him simply blow your mind until then.

Yell and guffaw at the screen with a couple hundred buddies, then watch the rest on Netflix.

THUR 4/8

7pm -- Pilot & Episode 2
9:30pm -- Episodes 3 & 4

FRI 4/9

10pm -- Episodes 3 & 4

SAT 4/10

10pm -- Episodes 5 & 6

SUN 4/11

10pm -- Episodes 7 & 8

Get into every screening for $25.

THUR 4/8

Faces On Film (Midnight), St. Claire (11pm), Mr. Sister (10pm), Hands and Knees (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8 / 18+

These four bands often play together in various combinations.

I think I'm starting to get Faces on Film; while they have been delving into their sound with originality and subtlety, there seems to be a growing field of arty, folkish indie-rock bands -- and FoF does it masterfully.

Although there are musical elements and band members shared among St. Claire and Mr Sister (and Faces on Film if I'm not mistaken), you'll hear two separate batches of clever, smokey, folk-noir. And I'm a sucker for the jazzy, horn-like timbre of Mr. Sister's Amelia Emmet. I also dig the twangy goodness of Hands and Knees.

THUR 4/8

9:30pm
Child Bite, Zoos Of Berlin, Thick Shakes, Southern Belle
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$9 / 18+

Oh, that Ryan and his Smashing Life... The site is presenting a couple Detroit bands that take very different approaches. Where Child Bite is a slapdash conglomerate of noisy influences that was described as a "no-wave band... with a few hooks", Zoos Of Berlin has a crisp, synthy pop that reminds me of London rather than the Motor City.

I doubt I will ever completely succumb to the burgeoning laptop era, however I can tell the electro/rock of Southern Belle has the goods. I want to enjoy any good song, and these guys have plenty. The sound that brings me real joy is fuzzed-out guitars bashing out dirty nuggets of classic garage-rock in the way that Thick Shakes roll. Good stuff!

THUR 4/8

9pm
Those Wolves Actually Happened, Hello Ninja, The Susan Constant
at House of Blues Restaurant, 15 Lansdowne St, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
$10 / 21+

The drummer from The Susan Constant is running the Marathon to raise funds for GoKids Boston, who obviously promote health initiatives for young people.

A trio of worthy of bands rock it up in what sounds like the restaurant next to the main club to me. (Somewhere sez, "...feel free to drop by early to get yourself some food..." And they're starting to host shows in this room.) My favorite band of the night is Hello Ninja's head-bobbing, punchy, sassy, tuneful rock.

All door proceeds benefit the cause.

WED 4/7: Opera, Horror, Music

There was some bad news for the concept of Net Neutrality yesterday. If you like using the Internet and want to get a quick idea, check out this item. This could be the end of equal access to everything on the Net. Seriously...

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WED 4/7

7pm to 8pm
Opera Night: "Mozart's Idomeneo"
at Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

If you didn't get your opera fill last night at Cafe 939, Boston Lyric Opera hosts a lecture and musical mini-performance prior to each of their new production.

After a presentation by Roye Wates (music, BU) about the significance of "Idomeneo" to Mozart's development as a young adult, Camille Zamora and Sandra Piques Eddy will give a short performance from the opera who respectively play Ilia and Idamante, the princess of Troy and prince of Crete. (That's opera for ya....)

WED 4/7

7pm
All Things Horror Presents:
"Night of the Living Dead Reanimated" w/ "Alice Jacobs is Dead", "The Resurrection of Officer Rollins", "Movie Monster Insurance"
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville
$5 / 17+

There's an indie-horror film festival that's happening in Somerville, except it screens in monthly installments. The goal is to feature a feature-length film and several shorts that aren't already available in wide distribution. They may have appeared at other film festivals, so you probably haven't seen them unless you know the ATH guys.

Tonight's feature is an animated reworking of the granddaddy of all zombie films. The zombie fun continues with award-winning "Alice Jacobs is Dead" and "The Resurrection of Officer Rollins". One can imagine the satirical angle of a short called "Movie Monster Insurance".

Before every cool kid is trying to get into this monthly indie-horror showcase that features the best films and shorts that you can't see anywhere else -- yet. Grab a beer and popcorn, and you're still doing better than seeing a movie at any other theater. You might even win a prize...

WED 4/7

The Cham-peons (11:15pm), Shango Axe w/ Riki Rocksteady (10:15pm), Ska-Prest (9:15pm), DJ Ford E. Buxworth (8:30pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

When someone is having a "Ivan P. Zimmerman Memorial Benefit Show", it would be nice to know a little about Ivan. Despite the dearth of info on the band's pages, I found out that he was a fellow who grew up on the Cape and passed on last year which was far too soon. The proceeds will be used to assist people to enter rehab (not sex rehab).

It won't be a sad affair thanks to the good time sounds. Can anyone be in a bad mood whem listening to reggae and ska? Capping the night are The Cham-peons, a bunch of guys who have the instrumentation of a gypsy band, but are probably closer to a ska band in sensibility. I'd like to listen to more.

WED 4/7

9:30pm
Tim Barry, Red Clay River, Larcenist
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

The volume won't approach the same level as Tim Barry's days with hardcore band Avail, however the intensity is there in his growl and hard-living songs based on his hard living and the history of his hometown Richmond.

Also from Virginia, Red Clay River slaps you around and gets in your face by blustering through acoustic-power downhome music. Local guys Larcenist fit right in with a folky-punky vibe that made me think "heavy Americana".

WED 4/7

10pm
Joanie Pimentel
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

I didn't really find much info about Joan's solo gig tonight. I saw her funky soul-rock band Superhoney a few times, and her singing was the highlight of their performances. Is she going full-on folk? Or will she have a small combo with her?

Either will likely sound pretty cool. You might have a chance to see the beginning of her new project...

TUES 4/6

Hey DKM fans:

There is a $10 opportunity to win a package to go to Dublin and see the Dropkick Murphys on 4/22. It includes two tickets, a meet & greet with the band, an autographed copy of the "Live on Lansdowne" DVD/CD, three nights in a hotel room, and $2,500 to cover transportation, etc.

Raffle tickets are $2 with a minimum purchase of 5 tix, which are available online.

The last day to enter is next Monday 4/12 and benefits The Claddagh Fund founded by bassist Ken Casey as an umbrella group to assist various programs for children, veterans, and alcohol/drug recovery programs.

Even if you don't like the Dropkicks, it's a trip to Ireland...

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TUES 4/6

7pm to 9pm
Boston 48HFP Open Call
at ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE / 18+ Audition / 21+ Drink

It's less than a month until the Boston 48HFP weekend, and some of the teams might need actors.

Tonight's audition is open to those who wish to audition (2 minutes maximum) for filmmakers that attend -- and anyone who just wants to watch. (You can watch some of last year's auditions.)

The general public can at the very least enjoy those auditions that get sprayed with silly string when the actor go over the allotted time.

Sign-ups begin at 6pm and are auditioned on a first come, first serve basis. "You can perform anything you want, it is your time to shine!"

Boston 48 Hour Film Project happens from FRI 4/30 to SUN 5/1. Films are screened from TUES 5/4 to THUR 5/6.

TUES 4/6 (and WED 4/7)

7pm
"In the Mood For Love"
at Harvard Film Archive, Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

These free Tuesday/Wednesday screenings at the HFA are great to get acquainted with filmmakers like Wong Kar-Wai; I'll never complain about a free movie, but I notice he is one of their favorite directors to feature.

I prefer "Chungking Express" for its humorous take on unrequited love, but "In the Mood for Love" explores multiple extra-marital affairs in the director's typically lyrical, lush, colorful style.

TUES 4/6

7:30pm to 8:30pm
Opera Boston Underground: "Trouble in Tahiti"
at Cafe 939, 939 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
$10 / All Ages

For those who enjoy -- or think that they might enjoy -- opera, these "underground" nights offer a usually shorter program in a casual setting for a fraction of the cost of going to Opera Boston's main productions. Consider this a chance to drip your metaphorical toe into live opera.

Tonight's semi-staged performance of one-act opera was written by the great Leonard Bernstein who wanted to create accessible music. This story about a dissatisfied married couple in the '30s has been described as "satiric and jazzy."

The shows have graduated from the underground Lizard Lounge to the slightly above ground-level room at Cafe 939. Alas, no booze is served but the acoustics are excellent and available seating is comfortable.

TUES 4/6

8:30pm
The High Seas, The Nightlights, Lady, The New Dumb
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$7 / 18+

The guy at HeadsUpBoston is inaugurating the TWOPLUS TWO music series that is going to take place on most Tuesdays at O'Brien's. Along with being on Tuesdays, it's apt title: Two local bands get together two out-of-town bands to offer a consistent spot to catch bands that don't normally play in the area.

Most of the bands tonight seem to lean toward the arty-prog side with appealing tunes rocking the atypical rhythms and chimey, angular guitars. I don't think I've heard of The Nightlights (NYC, formerly Boston), but I vaguely recall seeing the name of Lady (NH) -- and thinking that it wasn't a good band name for the 21st century.

I've enjoyed listening The New Dumb previously. They're a little punkier and seem to carry themselves with an appropriately "who-gives-a-fuck" attitude.

Check back at Heads Up Boston to eventually see videos from tonight's show.