10/4: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

The way it used to be...

SUN 10/4: Rock, Nuts, Beer, Comedy

Dang, I had written stuff about Sunday cheapness but I left words on my usual machine.

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SUN 10/4

Mission of Burma (4:30pm), Big Bear (3:30pm), Eula (2:30pm)
at East Campus Courtyard, 3 Ames St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

Boston named today as "Mission of Burma Day", which is cool even though they're doing the free show on the other side of the river. Depending on where you are, you could catch one of the greatest local bands after the Pats games.

I understand one half of this but: "Backpacks and coolers are not allowed."

Newbury Comics will be at the show to sell the new Mission Of Burma album, "The Sound The Speed The Light" -- two days before you can buy it in stores.

SUN 10/4

2pm to 4pm
"Going Nutty": A Festival of Nuts
at Bloc 11 Cafe, 11 Bow St, Somerville (Union Sq)
at Grand the Store, 374 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$5 suggested donation

This is the sort of thing that must freak out nut-allergy folks, but there is going to delicious "all-you-can-munch" treats for two hours.

Some of the finest chefs / bakers / restaurants in the city to show off their skills using nuts from Cambridge's Superior Nut Company.

SUN 10/4

Noon to 6pm
Somerville Oktoberfest
outside of Redbones, 55 Chester St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
FREE admission

Feat: The Mad Bavarian Brass Band

"Chester Street becomes a biergarden for the afternoon."

This has to be a cheaper option than Harpoon's Ocktoberfest. German food and beer at decent prices.

SUN 10/4

9pm
"AGORAFABULOUS!": Mostly True Tales from Sara Benincasa
at ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

I watched some Sara's clips, and this could be a pretty funny one-woman comedy show. Sara said somewhere that much of the inspiration came when she was living here...

SUN 10/4

8pm to Midnight
Aloud's Video Release Party
at River Gods, 125 River St. Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE / 21+

Not only is Aloud a kickass, super-solid rock band; they also pay attention to the visual angle by having videos that are more than performance clips. They also created an ambitious performance that incorporated short films and abstract videos while the band played.

Tonight is the premiere of video "You Got Me Wrong", and they'll show other videos like "Aloud's Rock Tour of Boston" where they visit clubs and interview other bands.

DJ sets by members of Aloud

Sneak Peek: SAT 10/3

Before it gets any later.

If you have out-of-town visitors, there's stuff happening along the Greenway (including free rides on duck boats)...

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SAT 10/3

Noon
"Brats: Our Journey Home": Screening
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

Did you grow up with a military parent? Do you know one?

Writer-director Donna Musil will lead a post-screening discussion about "ways to celebrate the brat culture, utilize brat skills, and tackle the challenges facing military brats of all ages."

SAT 10/3

1pm to 8pm
Harvest Fest
at Arts at The Armory, 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville
FREE / $12 including food & drink

Feat: One Fine Morning, Hugh McGowan, Zebbler Encanti Experience

You don't have to get the $12 wristband, but it might be pretty boring without it because it allows you "unlimited* food and drink".

* As long as you behave.

Tickets available at Downtown Wines & Spirits and online.

SAT 10/3

1pm
The Ig Informal Lectures
at Room 250, Bldg 10, 222 Memorial Dr, Cambridge (MIT Campus)
FREE

Hear brief (and funny) presentations by winners of the 2009 Ig Nobel Prizes, which are given to ridiculous research.

Seating is limited.

Presented in association with the MIT Press Bookstore.

SAT 10/3

8:30pm
The Soft Pack, The Subjects, Thick Shakes, Brontosaur
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

A sweet mix of garagey, punky, noisy rock.

SAT 10/3

John Powhida International Airport (Midnight), Sidewalk Driver (10:50pm), Aloud (9:55pm), The Motion Sick (9pm), JC McKitterick (8:30pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

It's Sidewalk Driver's CD release party who are pretty darn glammy and good. The Motion Sick, Aloud, and John Powhida International Airport are three of my favorite bands, so I obviously believe this is some of the best, big, anthemic, catchy, clever rock around.

SAT 10/3

Electric Laser People (Midnight), St Helena (11pm), Ghost Box Orchestra (10pm), I Have Ears (9pm)
at Cantab Underground / Club Bohemia, 738 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8 / 21+

This is a pretty good show too. I like St Helena and I Have Ears.

SAT 10/3

Midnight
Feast Of Flesh IX w/ "Return Of The Living Dead"
at Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline
$10

Feat: Black Cat Burlesque, Walter Sickert & The Army Of Broken Toys

Midnight horror flick + creepy-goth band + burlesque + "gory goodie bags" = Good (scary) Times!

FRI 10/2: Tributes, Indie-Rock, Folk

I don't know why, but I was fascinated by this MJ tribute show. I didn't find a lot of info, and I put too much effort into it...

I believe future cheapness will be posted today, and that's a good start.

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FRI 10/2

8pm
"Celebrating the Music of George Russell"
at Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St, Boston (New England Conservatory/Fenway)
FREE

When he died this summer, The Guardian said, "There was no such thing as a typical concert by George Russell," which struck me as a high compliment that any musician or composer would appreciate.

A group of his former colleagues and students at NEC celebrate his genius by playing some of the tunes that still live on. Although it's a farewell toast, it's okay to make it an introduction.

FRI 10/2

9pm
Michael Jackson Tribute Show
at George Sherman Union, Basement, 775 Comm Ave, Boston (BU campus)
$5 / FREE with BU ID

Feat: The Rosies, El Rio Humano, Black or White, The Novel Ideas, Chordially Yours, The Bostones, DJ Brothers, Nooka Jones

A tribute show like this is probably going to be a grab-bag, but I listened to the bands and it sounds promising. Some are probably going to get into the spirit and be more amusing than others.

All of the bands seem to know their way around a melody, and I think the King of Pop's stuff have a lot of potential for rock bands. I assume "Black or White" is a band that got together for this gig.

Hopefully no one is going to do Alien Ant Farm's version of "Smooth Criminal" -- maybe one of the BU a cappella groups...

FRI 10/2

The Besnard Lakes (Midnight), Thalia Zedek (11pm), New Numbers (10pm), St. Claire (9:05pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

Is it friggin' Quebec week at TT's? Last night, it was The Lost Fingers; now The Besnard Lakes are bringing their trippy, multi-layered, Montreal-style indie-rock. For some reason, Thalia Zedek reminds me of Leonard Cohen; maybe it's the weathered vocals over intense songs, but she veers more towards rock than Lenny -- even when she isn't loud. St. Claire have a sweet folk-noir sound that I enjoy.

FRI 10/2

8:30pm doors
Anne Heaton, Christina Courtin, Laura Cortese, Christopher Pappas
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$8 advance / $10 door /21+

If you're in the mood for most excellent folkiness, get thee to my favorite basement club in Cambridge. (It might be my favorite basement in greater area.)

Since WERS has the strongest non-commercial signal on my desk radio (and streaming audio is blocked in the office), I hear Anne Heaton and Laura Cortese periodically. I know, because their songs always jump out at me. Laura Cortese may be my favorite tonight, but Chris Pappas has definitely blown me away with his band The Everyday Visuals.

It looks like advance tix are still available ($8-ish).

THUR 10/1: Talk, Film, Acoustic Goodness, Sondheim

I'm guessing what you're thinking: "Where was that song sampler, mofo?" Yeah. After I got home from dinner, I was about to have a major blogging session; but I laid down first and fell asleep until the morning. Sinatra said it best, "Regrets... I've had a few." It's coming later (probably); it's going to be a busy day.

Shhh... Free drink alert: I was unsure whether I should put this on the open web, but I checked and someone already twittered about it. After 8pm, you can go to RedLine (Harvard Sq) and mention "Thrillist" to the doorman for 3 chips to be redeemed for 3 tall-boy beers.

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THUR 10/1

6pm to 9pm
"Be The Change: Surviving and Thriving in the Professional World of Social Change": Panel Discussion
at Democracy Center, 45 Mt. Auburn Street Cambridge
$5 suggested donation

Thinking that you might want to make a difference by working in non-profit or public service field? There's going to be a panel discussion with people that work in the arena will be followed by a "networking hour".

THUR 10/1

7pm
"Whip It": Preview Screening
at Loews Harvard Square, 10 Church St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE w/ Flyer

The Phoenix review pretty much panned the movie, but I like roller-derby. And it can't be worse than most major studio crap (especially if you get in free)... Print the PDF flyer, and a friend can join you at the screening -- if you get in.

"Please arrive early. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and is NOT guaranteed."

THUR 10/1

7pm
Global Voices Film Festival: Launch Party
at Goethe-Institut Boston, 170 Beacon St, Boston (Back Bay)
$10 donation

The annual Global Voices Film Festival takes place from THUR 10/8 to SUN 10/11 at various venues around Harvard Sq.

Tonight's party gives you a chance to see previews of the films while enjoying food from local restaurants and beer from Harpoon. The way I look at it is that you don't have to sit through a whole movie if you find it boring (and your admission includes grub that's better then popcorn and a coke).

If you really love documentaries and human rights, tonight you can buy a festival pass to all screenings for $50, which would cover your donation for this party ($10 = tonight's party; $50 = tonight's party + next week's festival pass).

THUR 10/1

7:30pm
The Points North, Gracious Calamity, The Needy Visions
at First Church in Jamaica Plain, 6 Eliot St, Jamaica Plain
$8

There are a lot of alternate venue concerts in JP. Instead of a house, a bunch of neighborhood bands are playing in a church tonight. While I've never been inside, I bet First Church has good acoustics.

I wrote something positive about The Points North, and they put it on their MySpace:

Listening to The Points North gives you the impression that these are age-old songs that were only recently dug out of the ground. Maybe it's the acoustic guitars, accordions, flutes, etc; but it's beautiful stuff that would sound great electric as well.

Gracious Calamity and The Needy Visions (acoustic set) are opening. Starts at 7pm in the Parish Hall at First Church in Jamaica Plain (off Centre St by the Monument.)

Admission includes a copy of a vinyl record from The Points North. Hey, you're bound to go to a yankee swap before the end of the year...

THUR 10/1

The Lost Fingers (11:30pm), Family Of The Year (10:30pm), Sam Calef (9:30pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

I thought I was the only outlet that was hip to The Lost Fingers tip, but I saw an article in the Metro this morning. In fairness I heard their gypsy-jazz version of "Pump Up the Jam" on NPR a couple months ago, and I flipped. Firstly, I love Django Reinhardt and that jazzy bounce of the guitars. Secondly, these dudes from Quebec have released a whole CD of quirky covers including AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" and "Part-Time Lover" by Phil Collins & Phillip Bailey.

Two of the guys in Family of the Year moved to LA from Mass. a few years ago, and now their buzzing band is returning to open for Ben Folds and The Boston Pops tomorrow night after being chosen out of 650 bands who wanted the gig. Others might have also ben worthy, but it's easy to understand why the Family of the Year's lush folk-rock was selected.

I don't say this often, but this would probably be a good choice for a last-minute date option. Even local rock troubadour Sam Calef has an acoustic edge that won't harsh a romantic mood.

THUR 10/1 to SAT 10/3

7:30pm
"Putting It Together"
at Loeb Drama Center, Experimental Theater, 64 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE w/ RSVP

Ever wanted to get acquainted with the songs of Stephen Sondheim? There's a story of a fancy party that provides the anthology of selections from his many musicals.

RSVP by email

(Name and number of tickets would probably be helpful.)