Saturday, January 26, 2008

Cheap Thrills: 1/25 to 2/1


Lots of movies this week. A few art openings, esp. next Friday.

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FRI 1/25
* Apollo Sunshine, Self Righteous Brothers, Wonderful Spells
* “Who Killed the Electric Car?” & “A Crude Awakening”
* "Destination Moon" & "A Grand Day Out"
* Lumen Eclipse: "Le Peek"
* Robyn: Listening Party

SAT 1/26
* 30th Annual Science Fiction Marathon
* Coffin Lids, Muck and the Mires, Wild Zero, Bill
* Lovewhip, Conservative Man, Varsity Drag
* Boabom Intro Class

SUN 1/27
* “Titler’s Oddville”
* The Boston Babydolls w/ The Swaggerin' Growlers

MON 1/28
* Art Cards
* The Robbie Roadsteamer Acoustic Show
* "Free Freedom"

TUES 1/29
* Bang Camaro, The Snowleopards, Landsdowne
* The Second Glass Wine Tasting Party
* "In Bruges": Free Sneak Preview

WED 1/30
* "Blind Republicans, Impotent Democrats, and the Recovery of American Ideals"
* Free Burrito Day

THUR 1/31
* Jeremy Lyons & The Deltabilly Boys

FRI 2/1
* The Last Town Chorus, The Low Anthem
* "Love, Sex & Chocolate" (an art show)
* "Inappropriate Touching": Opening Reception
* "Greed, Guilt and Grappling: Six Artists Respond to Climate Change": Opening Reception

SAT 2/2
* Scamper, Baker, Harris, Aloud

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FRI 1/25

9:30pm
Apollo Sunshine, Self Righteous Brothers, Wonderful Spells
at Milky Way Lounge, 403 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
$10

Apollo Sunshine is out there making a buzz in the music world (some have even moved out of Boston), but they're not too big -- yet -- to rock out in their off-center yet melodic style at the Milky Way. There is a lot going on in almost every Self Righteous Brothers song, you're gonna dig them all like listening to a bunch of short bursts of splendor held together with Sponge Bob band-aids. Wonderful Spells have basically been together since kindergarten, so they've had a lot of time to work on honing their sweet power-pop.

FRI 1/25

8pm to 11pm
"Who Killed the Electric Car?" & "A Crude Awakening"
at Stata Center, Room 144, 32 Vassar St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

A double feature at the Environmental Film Festival. There was free pizza last year...

FRI 1/25

7pm
Sci-Fi Night: "Destination Moon" & "A Grand Day Out"
at Phillips Auditorium, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden St, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq and Fresh Pond)
FREE

This might not be the best story with the best actors, but this sci-fi flick from 1950 took the time to be faithful to real "science" even though it was a "fiction" at the time. I bet JFK watched this, and said we could go to the moon... Hey, why not? To make this a totally friggin' awesome night of wholesome fun, they're showing Wallace & Gromit short "A Grand Day Out" about the guys going to the Moon to get more cheese!

FRI 1/25

10pm
Robyn: Listening Party
at Matt Murphy's Pub, 14 Harvard St, Brookline
FREE

The Swedish pop starlet won't be there, but you can listen to her new album.

Shh... If you're in the neighborhood, her record company is going to buy everyone a 'free drink' at 10.

FRI 1/25

7pm to 9pm
Lumen Eclipse: "Le Peek"
at Middlesex Lounge, 315 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

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SAT 1/26

Coffin Lids (11:45pm), Muck and the Mires (10:45pm), Wild Zero (9:45pm), Bill (9pm)
at Abbey Lounge, 3 Beacon St, Somerville (Inman Sq)
$8 / 21+

I like The Coffin Lids incorporating a horror vein into their classic garage rock approach, and there is honesty, passion, and farfisa organ. I contend that Muck & The Mires are still the "best garage band in the country" since Little Steven has not held another competition to unseat them. When I listen to Wild Zero, I picture a dude with a big moustache and leather jacket lording over a stretch of desert blacktop on his Harley, and I mean that in a good way like The Cult or Danzig. Bill is also the name of the band's singer, and he does have Down's Syndrome. You might be thinking something akin to "Timmy!" on South Park, but it's much more than that. The music is interesting and not exploitative from what I can tell.

It's The Coffin Lids' (7") Record Release Party, so there will be giveaways, raffles, and - from 8pm to 10pm - $2 PBR tallboys (which might be a 50-cent discount). Get there at 8pm, and you'll hear the acoustic punk stylings of Jay Allen on the pub stage -- and you might not have to pay the cover...

SAT 1/26

7pm to 7am
30th Annual Science Fiction Marathon
At Bldg 26, Room 100, 60 Vassar St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
$7 / $4 after midnight

At some point, there will be some Hayden Christensen prize giveaways (he was recently at MIT), including Star Wars DVDs & Jumper "onesheet" movie poster autographed by him. Thankfully you won't have to see any of his acting tonight...

7pm Galaxy Quest
9:30pm - Sunshine
11:30pm - pizza break, 'surprise' sci-fi episode
Midnight - The Host
3am - Gattaca
5am - Starship Troopers

SAT 1/26

10pm
Lovewhip, Conservative Man, Varsity Drag
at The Midway Cafe, 3496 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain
$8 / 21+

I just became aware of Varsity Drag about a month ago, and they rock! It should remind you of early-Lemonheads, because Ben Deily started the band with Evan Dando sang and wrote with The Lemonheads on the first 3 albums. Lovewhip has a bunch of fun bunch electro/dance songs that can appeal to the non-'dance music' fan. Conservative Man plays some good keyboard-emphasized indie-rock.

SAT 1/26

Noon to 12:45pm
Intro Boabom Class
at Boston School of Boabom, 33A Harvard St Ste 201, Brookline Village
FREE

The Tibetan version of tai-chi or yoga. Hey, you might like it...


The class lasts 45 minutes -- bring loose, comfortable clothes, an open mind, and a huge desire to learn! You can take the class barefoot, or with socks on.

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SUN 1/27

10pm to Midnight
Titler’s Oddville
at The Beehive, 541 Tremont Street, Boston (South End)
$10 online / $15 door

This will likely be a bizarre, jaw-droppingly hilarious "nu-vaudeville" performance featuring dirty songster Red Peters, Shane Mauss, the Yo-Yo Couple, and more. You will definitely never forget this show...

See my interview below.

SUN 1/27

8:30pm
The Boston Babydolls w/ The Swaggerin' Growlers
at Paradise Lounge, 969 Comm Ave, Boston (near BU)
$10 / 18+

The Boston Babydolls continue their monthly burlesque showcase into the new year, and they're anxious to celebrate the breaking of all their resolutions in the show theme: "Resolved!" The Swaggerin' Growlers kick it off with some Poguesy punk.

Shh... here's a 2-for-1 coupon that was in their email:

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MON 1/28

4pm to 7pm
Art Cards
at Redbones -- Downstairs, 55 Chester St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$5 per 9 Cards

Rob Logan and Redbones hosted a similar series of nights last year. You draw/doodle/create masterpieces on the page of 9 cards that are then laminated and cut. Trade your objets d'art with others or take them home. (They'll be worth tens of some currency when you're gone.)

Logan, who created the murals at 'Underbones', will be there at each session to get you started -- and likely give encouragement. No previous talent necessary!

Proceeds benefit Redbones' Art in Somerville Fund, a partnership of Redbones and the Somerville Arts Council.

Other sessions:
SUN 2/24: Noon to 4 pm
MON 3/3: 4pm to 7 pm

Fun for the whole family, and adult entrees are 1/2 price when you buy an Art Card.

MON 1/28

7pm to 9pm
The Robbie Roadsteamer Acoustic Show
at All Asia Cafe, 334 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

MON 1/28

8pm
"Free Freedom"
at Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St, Boston (New England Conservatory/Fenway)
FREE

Drummer/NEC instructor Rakalam Bob Moses is celebrating his birthday with a performance that includes his "spiritual master" Bhapuji Tisziji Muñoz on guitar, Medeski (Medeski Martin and Wood) on keys, and others. Top-notch free free-jazz.

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TUES 1/29

9pm
Bang Camaro, The Snowleopards, Landsdowne
at Middle East - Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE w/ RSVP / 21+

My friends at Going.com have teamed with Miller Lite to bring you a free rock-stravaganza. Everyone should see Bang Camaro once. You might not want to see them again, but you'll be glad to have witnessed the heavy metal spectacle of 20 singers. The SnowLeopards are excellent rockers.

All you have to do is RSVP here. If you're not already a member, it's painless and you control whether you get emails from the site.

TUES 1/29

5pm to 8:30pm
The Second Glass Wine Tasting Party
at The Savant Project, 1625 Tremont St, Boston (Mission Hill)
FREE

TUES 1/29

Seating starts at 6pm, Film at 7pm
"In Bruges": Sneak Preview
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

It's a hit-man comedy with Colin Farrell, but the trailer really made me laugh. Director Martin McDonagh will be there for a Q&A. It's a first-come-first-served thing, so have a "plan B".

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WED 1/30

7:30pm
Todd Gitlin, "Blind Republicans, Impotent Democrats, and the Recovery of American Ideals"
at First Parish Church, 3 Church St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

WED 1/30

11am to 8pm
Free Burrito Day
at Chipotle Mexican Grill, 1924 Beacon St, Brighton (Cleveland Circle)
FREE

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THUR 1/31

10pm
Jeremy Lyons & The Deltabilly Boys
at The Alchemist Lounge, 435 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain
FREE

Bluesy New Orleans guitar-based swampiness.

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FRI 2/1

9pm
The Last Town Chorus, The Low Anthem
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$10 / 21+

FRI 2/1

6pm to 9pm
"Love, Sex & Chocolate" (an art show)
at The Art Kitsch(en), #223B in 450 Harrison Ave, Boston
FREE

FRI 2/1

6pm to 10pm
"Inappropriate Touching: Dirty Comics and Art": Opening Reception
at Washington Street Arts Center, 321 Washington St, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE

FRI 2/1

6pm to 8pm
"Greed, Guilt and Grappling: Six Artists Respond to Climate Change": Opening Reception
at Mills Gallery, Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont Street, Boston (South End)
FREE

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SAT 2/2

9pm
Scamper, Baker, Harris, Aloud
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 advance / $10 day of show / 18+

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Cheap Way to go to the Super Bowl:

Buy some raffle tickets from Ben Watson's charity group "One More". $2 per ticket, minimum of 5 tix. The winner gets Ben's 2 tickets to the game, flight, hotel, transportation, gameday brunch, and an off-season dinner with the Watsons.

Entry deadline is 3pm on TUES 1/29. The drawing will be held that afternoon.

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Link of the Week:

The Center for Public Integrity compiled 935 false statements about Iraq made by Bush & 7 top officials in the 2 years after 9/11/01.

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Quote of the Week:

The best laid schemes o’ mice and men
Gang aft a-gley;
And leave us naught but grief and pain
For promised joy.

--Robert Burns, "To a Mouse, On Turning Her Up In Her Nest With The Plough"

Hope you had happy Burns Night!

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