SUN 12/12: Amanda Palmer & Holiday Rock

I suck, but here's some cheapness for tonight.

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SUN 12/12

7pm
An Evening with Amanda Palmer & Tristan Allen
at Berklee Performance Center, 136 Mass Ave, Boston (Back Bay)
$10

The cool thing about this show, besides Amanda Palmer, is how Tristan Allen got on the bill. This kid from upstate New York was attending Berklee's summer session, and he approched Palmer to listen to his songs, pianist to pianist. She loved it, and twittered it and that sort of stuff. This could be the start of something big for Tristan Allen...

Both will play sets, then together. A Q&A session will follow.

SUN 12/12

9:30pm
You Can Be A Wesley, Girlfriends
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
FREE / 18+

Great Scott is having a Holiday Party. Probably no egg nog to be had, but there two excellent bands, DJ's, and plenty of booze behind the bar.

They would love it if you brought a toy drive to assist the Dept of Social Services. They say, "teen gifts especially needed."

[Facebook]

SAT 12/11: Music & Art

Attention, there is no snow on the ground to keep you from venturing for fun.

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SAT 12/11 (and SUN 12/12)

Noon to 7pm
Polk Fest 4
at All Asia Cafe, 334 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5 / All Ages

There was a gig last night with 10+ musicians, 5 comedians, and a poet; and I thought that was excessive! Polk Records is throwing another Polk Fest with 20 performers over 7 hours on each day. It's a bit better, because this ain't a tiny gallery with no room to move.

Let me clarify: You can "polka", but you might be the only one. There's a bunch of indie/rock/noise and acoustic-based stuff and other weirdness throughout the day. Two artists will be creating on Saturday while all the reverie goes on.

It is a holiday party where people would be saluted for wearing ugly Xmas sweaters and the like. Polk has a compilation of seasonal tunes by a bunch of cool bands that's available for whatever you want to pay online.

Should be a good time. Facebook says this is the scheduled order on each day (first to last).

Saturday:

Ununi, Mudflap Junior Jones, Reverend, Gaetana Brown, Crashing Cars, High Windows, Bent Knee, Matt Kona, Mirror Neurons, Naga Gaga, Stroamata, Brief Awakening, Dadfight, Diamond Mines, Streight Angular, Call of the Drum
-- Live Art by Ian Sanity, James Neville

Sunday:

Tim Novak, Paul Sentz, Madame Psychosis, Assistant Director, Birdorgan, Trusty Sidekick, Daniel Harris, Looks Realistic, The New Highway Hymnal, PFM, Lion Cub, Karen Zanes, School 4 Robots, Ryan Jackson Troika, Night Fruit, Old Hat, Tin Thistles, The New Years Revolution, Ladderlegs, Coffin Choir, Sinbusters

Both nights are good. I've been a fan of Diamond Mines (Saturday) for a long while. The bands I recognize are mainly playing towards the end of the day. I couldn't find anything about "Call of the Drum"; I wonder if it's going to be an ad-hoc drum circle...

At this cover charge, you shouldn't feel bad about going, leaving (with a stamp on your wrist), and coming back later...

SAT 12/11

4pm to 9pm
Triiibe, "In Search of Eden: A Work in Progress": Performances
at 808 Gallery, 808 Comm Ave, Boston (BU campus)
FREE

Feat: Inter-Nec (4pm to 5:30pm), Milo Silva (6:30pm to 7pm), The Hog Stompers (7pm to 9pm)

This multi-media installation that has been in the process of creation for about a month and will finish next weekend. I think it won't ever really be finished in the minds of the triplet-sister performance artists and their collaborators, because this project is concerned about the ongoing process of creation.

Besides the installation work, there is live music today. Perhaps the most special cheap performance of the day may be Milo Silo from Martha's Vineyard who rocks a Mongolian violin. He's definitely been under my radar, but his dad was a longtime Vineyard blues musician and he took care of him when he got cancer a few years ago. It's going to look and sound something like this. An experimental chamber group of college students perform before Milo.

I haven't heard The Hog Stompers before, but I hope to see these guys get more gigs in the future. Their laid-back blues/country vibe is not because they can't play -- this is exactly where they want to be, and I think many types/crowds can get on the hog-stomping wavelength.

SAT 12/11

Family Jewels (7:30pm), Rocking Horse Rodeo (9:30pm)
at Sally O'Brien's, 335 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE

They say it's the Family Jewels' 10th anniversary party, which is as good as reason to celebrate. Former Modern Lover & Chartbuster Asa Brebner and a bunch of other crack players bring back the doo-wop/R&B joy of rock 'n roll before it exploded globally thanks to a hip-swiveling white guy from Memphis. For some, they may wonder, "WTF are we hearing?" I happen to find a bopping ecstasy when I hear those big harmonies on top of the the jumping rhythm.

Stick around of come later for the clean, melodic Alt-country without too much twang of Rocking Horse Rodeo. Hey, it's free...

SAT 12/11

8:30pm
"Mixtape: 1984"
at Rosebud Bar & Grill (behind Diner), 381 Summer St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$7 / 21+

Feat: The Organ Beats, "Boys of Somerville", Corin Ashley & the Chess Kings, Electric Laser People, Ken Zimmerman

Nate Rogers & Boston Band Crush present a series that periodically celebrates a year in music. I noticed the historic year of 1967 a couple months ago.

Now they've put together a killer lineup to represent 1984 including the "Boys of Somerville" with players from The Luxury, This Blue Heaven, St Helena, Conservative Man, and The Lights Out.

The hit list should include songs from:

Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Queen, Van Halen, Tears for Fears, Huey Lewis, U2, Wham!, The Cars, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Prince, Bryan Adams, Paul McCartney, The Pretenders, Rush, Billy Idol, etc

Yikes, what a variety of strong yet cheesy year for pop culture -- but not so bad when you compare it to 26 years in the future.

The music supposedly starts at 8:30pm sharp.

SAT 12/11

9:30pm
Hey Mama, Love In Stockholm, HeyLady, Brothers McCann
at Middle East - Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

It's a bit sad that Hey Mama is playing their last show in Boston, because I think they have the talent, songs, and charisma to break through with wide-ranging bluesy-rocking explosive experience. They really have it going on.

It's a solid show full of soulful, funky, and horntastic bands; so you have plenty of booty-shaking fun in store. I do think that Hey Mama was one of the best live bands I've seen in a while.

SAT 12/11: Early Stuff - Rock & Santa Speedos

Some technical difficulties here, but there is more Saturday cheapness on the calendar, and more to come here.

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SAT 12/11 (and SUN 12/12)

Noon to 7pm
Polk Fest 4
at All Asia Cafe, 334 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5 / All Ages

There was a gig last night with 10+ musicians, 5 comedians, and a poet; and I thought that was excessive! Polk Records is throwing another Polk Fest with 20 performers over 7 hours on each day. It's a bit better, because this ain't a tiny gallery with no room to move.

Let me clarify: You can "polka", but you might be the only one. There's a bunch of indie/rock/noise and acoustic-based stuff and other weirdness throughout the day. Two artists will be creating on Saturday while all the reverie goes on.

It is a holiday party where people would be saluted for wearing ugly Xmas sweaters and the like. Polk has a compilation of seasonal tunes by a bunch of cool bands that's available for whatever you want to pay online.

Should be a good time. Facebook says this is the scheduled order on each day (first to last).

Saturday:

Ununi, Mudflap Junior Jones, Reverend, Gaetana Brown, Crashing Cars, High Windows, Bent Knee, Matt Kona, Mirror Neurons, Naga Gaga, Stroamata, Brief Awakening, Dadfight, Diamond Mines, Streight Angular, Call of the Drum
-- Live Art by Ian Sanity, James Neville

Sunday:

Tim Novak, Paul Sentz, Madame Psychosis, Assistant Director, Birdorgan, Trusty Sidekick, Daniel Harris, Looks Realistic, The New Highway Hymnal, PFM, Lion Cub, Karen Zanes, School 4 Robots, Ryan Jackson Troika, Night Fruit, Old Hat, Tin Thistles, The New Years Revolution, Ladderlegs, Coffin Choir, Sinbusters

Both nights are good. I've been a fan of Diamond Mines (Saturday) for a long while. The bands I recognize are mainly playing towards the end of the day. I couldn't find anything about "Call of the Drum"; I wonder if it's going to be an ad-hoc drum circle...

At this cover charge, you shouldn't feel bad about going, leaving (with a stamp on your wrist), and coming back later...

SAT 12/11

1pm
Annual Santa Speedo Run
Starts at Lir Irish Pub, 903 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE to watch

It's too late for you to run in far too little clothes, but you can watch the 500 runners who have raised at least $300 that goes to 3 local charities (Starlight Childrens's Foundation, Play Ball Foundation, Hospitality Homes).

As a spectator, I guess you can station at your favorite bar along the route on Boylston or Newbury.

It seems like more women participate every year, so the straight male can fully enjoy the spectacle without worrying about what may be the perception... I just know I'm glad I'm not running today. Brrr, shrinkage!

It'll be crowded at Lir, but you might be able to party with the runners with a charitable donation ($20 in previous years).

FRI 12/10: Variety, Film, Crafts, Music

Is it bad that I may already be fatigued by the holiday season? And that I haven't started my shopping yet? I will try to soldier on...

The word is that the Cambridge Whole Foods (on River St) will start selling a $3 wine today. Maybe you'll like it, but many people don't. You're probably better off going the extra half-mile to Trader Joe's for Three-Buck Chuck (ain't $2 in Cambridge). Of the boxed wine I've tried, Bota is quite good and equivalent to $5-or-less per bottle...

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FRI 12/10

6pm to 11pm
The unStandard Show: Special Edition
at Out of the Blue Art Gallery, 106 Prospect St, Cambridge (near Central Sq)
$5

Music by: Adam Aslan & Aslannots, Streight Angular, My Politic, Michael Louis, Hannah Christianson, Pat Nelson, Brian William Seaver, Emily Fehler, Earl Jhainish Sinnatamby, Sarah Fard, Gaetana Brown

Comedy by: Laura Crawford, Matt Kona, Santiago Angel, John Paul Rivera, Phil Healy

Poetry by: Gili Hirsch

This tiny gallery stuffed with paintings and photography often hosts readings and such. It's a cavalcade of music, comedy, and poetry organized by unStandard who normally presents shows with a more modest number of performers.

FRI 12/10

7pm & 9:30pm
Double Feature: "Do It Again", Kinks Klip Kollection
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$9.75 / $7.75 students / $6.75 seniors

There is nothing wrong with having a quest, and few may be more noble than Globe writer Geoff Edgers' globe-trotting attempt to reunite The Kinks for one more show.

Perhaps we're reminded that the journey is as important, if not more so, as the destination. Along the way Geoff does talk to various musicians like Robyn Hitchcock, Peter Buck, Paul Weller, Sting, Zooey Deschanel, and more.

It's screening several times over the weekend as part of a "Celluloid Heroes" mini-series, but I recommend tonight's double feature hosted by Edgers and director Robert Patton-Spruill. After the rockumentray and Q&A session, it's billed as "Kinks Party", but I like Kinks Klip Kollection much better. It's a 2-hour set of clips that span about 20 years of The Kinks' kareer...

FRI 12/10

7pm
Matt Wilson Christmas Tree-O
at Lily Pad, 1353 Cambridge St, Cambridge (Inman Sq)
$10

In the jazz and drum world, Matt Wilson is considered one of the best around. Ha has recorded a very strong, musical holiday collection in a trio (or "tree-o") format. If you go, you should bring a few extra bucks to take a copy of it with you.

FRI 12/10

7pm to 11pm
Holiday Handjobs
at VFW George Dilboy Post, 371 Summer St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$2

Feat: Rogue Burlesque, Meff 'n' jojo's Tiny Instrument Revue

If you're looking for an artsy-crafty for someone naughty in your life -- naughty in the good way -- there are about 20 tables offering items from "...queer crafters & artists as well as other underrepresented creative types, cheeky-freaks, freaky-geeks" etc.

The VFW's bar is going to be open, so people are encouraged to linger and enjoy live performances around 9:30pm.

Partial proceeds from the door will benefit The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, so put that in your pipe and... do whatever you like with it.

FRI 12/10

8:30pm
Golden Bloom, Thieving Irons
at Arts at The Armory Cafe, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville (Spring Hill)
$10 / All ages

Doors open: 8pm

Golden Bloom's songs are simply magnificent power-pop gems that will always maintain their melodic, witty luster. Definitely recommended for people who like music...

I saw a great band named Pela play a few years ago at a show that Golden Bloom opened. Although that band only exists in memories and mp3's, the guitarist has a new project called Thieving Irons, which is more solo acoustic than anthemic indie-rock but still quite good.

This is going to be a mostly acoustic show throughout. "Special guests" were teased, and I'd guess it might include one or two ex-members from The Motion Sick since they've joined Golden Bloom's Shawn Fogel in Neutral Uke Hotel.

FRI 12/10

9:30pm
28 Degrees Taurus, Sunset Hearts, The Highway, Whir
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$9 / 21+

My main draw to this gig is 28 Degrees Taurus. They draw on a bunch of influences to make sweet, spacey noise. The newer songs seem more focused yet maintain the dreamy, psychedelic fuzz that they do so well. Sunset Hearts is one of those large indie-rock bands with members from various other bands -- somewhat like what often happens on the Montreal scene, but these folks are from Portland. Me likey! Whir has a good shoegazey sound, and The Highway reminds me of classic '60s-style power-trio rock.

FRI 12/10

10:30pm
Three Day Threshold
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5-ish

With all of the scientists around Boston, I wonder if any have ever tried soak rock and country in whiskey and beer for extended periods to determine the results. None might sound like Three Day Threshold, because this ain't the kind of good-time, honky-tonking hybrid that can be produced in a lab. I know they've played at Belgian prisons and Central American USO shows, but they already kicked ass before then.

I suggest getting there early for a couple extra rounds of liquid lubrication. You may avoid the door charge, but I think TDT would respect that.

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.