MON 4/4: Hockey, Skillshare, Trivia, Music

Congrats to Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents for winning last night's preliminary!

(Just as I called it...)

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MON 4/4 (thru SUN 4/10)

6pm, 7pm
5th Annual Boston Police Commissioner's Cup Hockey Tournament: Night #1
at Jim Roche Community Skating Rink, 1275 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury
FREE

If you're still ticked off about your last ticket, maybe there will be some cop-on-cop violence as teams of Boston cops play this week to qualify for Sunday's playoffs and championship game...

Tonight, there's one game at 6pm and another at 7pm.

MON 4/4

6pm to 8:30pm
"Leveraging Social Media for Social Change": Skillshare
at The NonProfit Center, 89 South St, Boston (near South Station)
$5 to $10 sliding scale

6pm -- Socializing; bring your own dinner
6:30pm -- Training
8pm -- Q & A and more socializing

For those who are on a mission and haven't been getting the word out, there may be some good ideas to pick up at this session led by Amanda Johnston of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders.
http://glad.org/

RSVP is requested, and they say, "Newcomers always welcomed!" When these sort of events have a ranged price, it's usually a "what you can afford" deal.

(If you're going just for your band, I suggest being discreet.)

MON 4/4

8:30pm
Scottish Quiz Night
at The Haven, 2 Perkins St, Jamaica Plain
FREE

The last time Girls Pint Out led the trivia night at The Haven, it was supposedly heavy on Boston and beer trivia. There will be Scottish trivia questions tonight, because it's the beginning of "Tartan Week" at Boston's only applicable restaurant (even though it's a NY thing).

Every team gets a free deep-fried Mars Bar, and that's a pleasant incentive for the sweet-tooth.

Something extra Scottish is happening almost every night through Sunday.

MON 4/4

9pm
Rock n' Roll Rumble Preliminaries: Night #2
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9

Feat: Walter Sickert & the Army Of Broken Toys (11:15pm), A Wish For Fire (10:30pm), Tijuana Sweetheart (9:45pm), Full Body Anchor (9pm)

After a year off, the Rumble is off to a good start. Tonight's lineup mostly leans toward the hard/heavy/proggy side.

Walter Sickert & the Army Of Broken Toys makes an original sort of clamor that might be compared to previous avant/cabaret Rumble winners like Dresden Dolls or Reverend Glasseye, but I don't think they'll pull it off. Full Body Anchor gets loud and noisy with a lot of interesting things going, but I suspect the judges might be swayed by the ballsy, charismatic rock steamroller known as Tijuana Sweetheart.

As I mentioned yesterday, Boston Band Crush has done a great job covering this year's participants including a 24-song sampler from Rumblers.

MON 4/4

9:30pm
Movits!, One Happy Island
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$10 / 18+

It's been over a year since Movits performed on The Colbert Report, so maybe the 'just curious' crowd won't show up in force like their first US tour. It is a rather apt description to say this group from Sweden blends hip-hop with swing-jazz for upbeat, quirky, and charming sound where you don't care that you don't understand the lyrics.

There is no filler on the bill as I can only see the sweet indie-pop of One Happy Island joining the party.

SUN 4/3: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

It's good to hear Taylor Mali's explanation of a teacher's worth when they're being criticized in some parts of the country.

SUN 4/3: Film & Rock

If you had some interest in the "Sound on Sight" photo exhibit at Aviary in JP when I mentioned the opening last month, today is the final day (11am to 6pm).

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SUN 4/3

7pm
European Short Film Festival
at Room 250, Bldg 10, 222 Memorial Dr, Cambridge (MIT Campus)
FREE

There are a lot of German shorts tonight and more festival award-winners and student films from Finland, France, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain.

There are about 2 hours of film with an intermission around the halfway point.

SUN 4/3

9pm
Rock n' Roll Rumble Preliminaries: Night #1
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9

Feat: McAlister Drive (11:15pm), Old Jack (10:30pm), Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents (9:45pm), The Blizzard of 78 (9pm)

The Rumble is back! I'm not sure any of the bands will take the competition too seriously other than wanting to play as well as possible -- and maybe kicking it up a notch...

It really is a chance to see a lot of great local bands together for a week of preliminary gigs before they narrow 24 bands down to 4 for the finals in a couple weeks

The first night is going to be a straight-up rocking good time. My guess is Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents may win. They kick ass with a huge band doing a modern take on the soulful, girl-group sound, and I think Jenny Dee is great singer.

Anyone could take it, really. Old Jack serves up a tasty rock-soul brew as well, but will they have the energy after waking up at 4am this morning? With their big rock and strong songs, The Blizzard of 78 should've had 2 or 3 international hit records in a world with justice. McAllister Drive has the last spot, could and they could give a spirited performance that steal the whole thing...

As usual, Boston Band Crush has done a great job covering this year's participants including a 24-song sampler from Rumblers.

SUN 4/3

9:30pm
Protokoll, Young Adults, Thick Shakes, Andy Maher Candy Bar
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$9 / 18+

If you go to this show, there is a possible danger you might not remember tomorrow is Monday. This is really a Friday or Saturday show on the wrong night.

Protokoll did revive their post-punk dance thang at The Pill on Friday. And before the reunion weekend is over, they will party with noisy-punky Young Adults, garage-tastic Thick Shakes, and chewy-lo-fi Andy Maher Candy Bar.

SAT 4/2: Pillow Fight!

More on the calendar. (Stay tuned, fingers crossed...)

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2:55pm
Pillow Fight Day 2011
at Cambridge Common (Harvard Sq)
FREE

Just like last year, it's going to be on Cambridge Common. They say it's to avoid ruining grass, which is something we can stand behind if there's room.

More than a thousand people could be there, so it should be quite a spectacle.

Discreetly bring a pillow and wait for the horn to go at it. Shouldn't we do something to signify the beginning of Spring -- or more so the end of Winter? Add a little catharsis to your swing!

You can see the full details here, but keep it fun. Only play with people that want to play. Costumes are encouraged.

It is "International Pillow Fight Day", so grab that pillow and incite the nearest loved one into a round of soft pugilism.

(Thanks, Julia!)

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FRI 4/1: Art, Poetry, Shorts, Rock

Oh the best laid plans of mice and men... I was in pretty good shape on Wednesday night, then things went a little sideways. (My apologies especially to Mims.)

As far as I know, there are no April Fools' jokes on this list. Not even the (hopefully costumed) Anime Boston folks chowing down at Cantina la Mexicana starting around 7pm...

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FRI 4/1

5pm to 9pm
First Friday Open Studios
at SoWa Arts Bldg, 450 Harrison Ave, Boston (South End)
FREE

There is usually a good crowd of people walking around and checking out the approximately 50 artist studios.

FRI 4/1

7pm to 9pm
Karen Moss, "Dissonant Worlds": Opening Reception
at Fourth Wall Project, 132 Brookline Ave, Boston (Fenway)
FREE

At first, I was wondering why an established artist would have a show at a gallery that's often associated with graffiti art. Then I looked Moss' online portfolio is filled with vibrant colors and pop culture references from the past. I also read where she likes to change her style every few years. Looks it's time for another change. The exhibit is on view through TUES 4/26.

FRI 4/1

7pm to 10pm
Boston/NYC Poetry Grudge Match
at Arts at The Armory, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville (Spring Hill)
$10 / All Ages

Slam poetry season is when the rivalry between Boston and New York is at its peak. You can see the effects at every Red Sox - Yankees game. Before National Poetry Slam 2011 takes place in Boston, 8 heavy-hitting poets from each city do battle, and I imagine it could end with a tie...?

The bluegrassy Whiskey Boys will open the night with a set, and the festivities will be capped by performances from comedian Aimee Rose Ranger & musician Ruby Rose Fox (maybe together as a pair of Roses).

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FRI 4/1 (to SUN 4/3)

Various Times
European Short Film Festival
at Various Locations at MIT
FREE

Friday -- 7pm

at Kirsch Auditorium, Stata Center, 32 Vassar St, Cambridge (MIT Campus)

Saturday -- 3pm & 7pm Sunday -- 7pm

at Room 250, Bldg 10, 222 Memorial Dr, Cambridge (MIT Campus)

There is a different program of European shorts at each session that usually lasts 2 hours of shorts with an intermission. For instance, tonight's selections come from France, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, and Spain.

Festival award-winners and student films from across the continent also represent Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and the UK.

Maybe the subtitles will help you pick up a few phrases...

FRI 4/1

9pm
I Pistol, The Crushing Low, Topheavy, Hey Now Morris Fader
at Rosebud Bar & Grill (behind Diner), 381 Summer St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$6 / 21+

All good things come to an end, which may mean that "American Idol" will last for decades...

Alas, this is the last Topheavy gig, so this is the last time you'll get a chance to see these guys give it their rifftastic rockinn' all. There isn't a bad band on the bill from I Pistol's fabulous crunchy powerpoppy tunes to the The Crushing Low's noisy swirl to the keyboard-rock of Hey Now Morris Fader.

FRI 4/1

9:30pm
Eldridge Rodriguez, Pray For Polanski, Soccer Mom
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$8 / 21+

On the other side of the river, there is another kickass rock show. Eldridge Rodriguez of The Beatings has a new solo album that dials down the volume yet the tweaked songcraft is still there. Maybe Sarah Borges might show up to sing the duet...

Pray for Polanski and Soccer Mom bring the indie-rock with rockabilly/rootsy angle on one hand and a shoegazey vibe on the other.

FRI 4/1

10pm
The Pill w/ Protokoll
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$5 / 21+

Whenever I feel like dancing, it's more fun if there are guitars in there -- or at least the keyboards don't sound like a disco retread. It seems like The Pill hasn't had a live performance in a few weeks, and this one is a doozey for the DJ's and diehard regulars.

For a while, Protokoll was killing it with a dark, synthy batch of post-punk. There were admirers and (I seem to recall) haters, which means that they were really affecting people. It's been a few years since they've played a gig, and they're reuniting for the weekend with this and a Sunday show also at Great Scott.

You don't have to dance, but you will probably want to shake, jump, jerk, dougie, or whatever.

FRI 4/1 (and SAT 4/2)

Midnight
"Bike Porn: 4:PLAY"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$10

If you think this may be a compilation of gnarly bike tricks, it depends on your definition of "bike tricks". This is the 4th collection of shorts that fit under the umbrella of "bikesexuality, bikeuriosity, and bike objectification."

I watched the trailer (sorta NSFW), and that seems like a good description. The single screening sold out last time, so they've added an extra night.

If you show up on a bicycle, maybe someone will sit on your handlebars afterwards...