Thursday, December 09, 2010

THUR 12/9: Craft, Talk, Mix, Music


Besides the Harvard ceramics show/sale listed below, MassArt is in the midst of its Annual Holiday Sale that is going on in the Tower Bldg Lobby through Saturday (10am to 7pm). I like how they take out the guesswork by saying "Visa, MasterCard, cash, and checks accepted."

If you're in the Lowell area tonight, there's a free 80th Birthday Concert (7:30pm) for musician-composer David Amram on the Durgin Hall on the UMass campus.

I chatted with him at a Kerouac event a few years ago (they were friends), and he was such an awesome, fascinating guy with the vibrance of someone a fraction of his age. Various orchestral ensembles will perform as well as David with a jazz quartet.

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THUR 12/9

3pm to 8pm
Ceramics Holiday Show and Sale: Opening Reception
at Harvard Ceramics Studio, 219 Western Ave, Allston (near the Stadium)
FREE / Whatever you buy

FRI 12/10 to SUN 12/12: 10am to 7pm

There are some impressive pieces here. I'm not sure if you'll find a "treasured bargain" as they say, but I'd enjoy looking around. This ceramics show has actually been around for 32 years...

During today's opening, they're giving out "free wine cups made by the exhibitors" while supplies last.

THUR 12/9

5:30pm to 6:30pm
"Technology, Tombs, and Texts: Uncovering the Ancient Maya Past": Lecture
at Yenching Auditorium, Peabody Museum, 2 Divinity Ave, Cambridge (Harvard Campus)
FREE

Feat: Arlen F. Chase & Diane Z. Chase

This seems like watching a special on the History Channel, but the experts are in the same room give a lecture with pictures. And they might answer your questions about their work to map out an Mayan-period city in Belize.

"Followed by a public reception at the Peabody Museum."

THUR 12/9

6:30pm to 9:30pm
Haifa Emergency Relief Fundraiser
at FELT, 533 Washington St, 4th Floor, Boston
$10 suggested donation

It was heartbreaking to see the gigantic forest fire break out near Haifa since there's not much forest in Israel to begin with! A reader sent me notice of this get-together to assist the people of Haifa, one of Boston's sister cities, with housing and medical needs.

All are welcome to join the Young Adults group of CJP to hang out on the top floor of Felt. If any local organization knows what's going on, it looks like it is CJP.

If you're going to have a drinks downtown tonight, it wouldn't hurt to make it mean something. "Light snacks will be provided. Cash bar."

THUR 12/9

8pm
Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble: Mozart & Beethoven
at The Fenway Center, 77 Saint Stephen St, Boston (Northeastern campus)
FREE

Program:

Mozart, "Divertimento In C Major, K.188"
Mozart, "Serenade In C Minor, K.388"
Mozart, "Divertimento In Bb Major, K.186"
Beethoven, "Octet in Eb Major, op. 103"
Conducted by Eric Hewitt

Some people may have a good concept of a wind ensemble until they try to describe it and say, "WTF is a wind ensemble?"

My take is to think of woodwinds and brass instruments with some percussion -- or a marching band that doesn't march and plays a classical repertoire. Not as stuffy as a symphony orchestra, but not light as cotton candy either.

Hey -- it's free culture, baby!

THUR 12/9

The BF's (Midnight), John Powhida International Airport (11pm), The Bandit Kings (10pm), Fireking (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8

This looks like a fun mix of powerpop, Americana, and otherwise eclectic rock. There seems to a vague Gloucester connection to the groups, so it's like hearing the sound of Cape Ann with the North Shore drive.

The Bandit Kings describe themselves as "jangle rock", but this sounds really twangy and folky to me especially with the dual female harmonies up front. The other 'regal' band Fireking can fall into the powerpop category, but they'd lean towards ballsy rock if the songs didn't have hooks around every corner. The BF's deliver a powerpop package with quirky trimmings, and it's a nice contrast to think some of these guys used to play in this punk band.

Who knows where the John Powhida International Airport will be landing tonight, I suspect it will have the twisted pop/funk/soul sensibility along with the lofty vocals that I first heard in The Rudds.

THUR 12/9

Dennis Brennan Quatro (10pm), Mascara (9pm)
at Atwoods Tavern, 877 Cambridge St, Cambridge (near Inman & Kendall Sq)
$5

On most Thursdays, you can find the most-excellent Dennis Brennan rocking with the "Quatro" at Atwoods. Brennan is a great songwriter and performer in any of the formats he plays around town. Think of this backing band as taking his rootsy tendencies a bit louder. Whenever I notice a really good band as the opener, I have to pass it along.

Even if they don't really go on before 9:30pm, it's better to be safe than sorry to miss the Chris Mascara and his power trio rip through clever, twisted glammy-garagey material. All of these guys can really play, and Mascara has got rock-star pipes and charisma.

THUR 12/9

10pm
Los Sugar Kings
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

How do Los Sugar Kings play at Toad? Even stodgy Boston crowds on chilly night will want to move and sway to this Latin blend until it mutates into a full-blown urge to dance in this slender bar.

On the other hand, I've seen crowds enjoying dance music while barely grazing their neighbors. Still, this is band is another winter warmer on tap at Toad.

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