MON 11/14: Big Quiz Thing

8pm to 10pm
The Big Quiz Thing
at Club Oberon, 2 Arrow St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

Do you know a free trivia night where there's a $200 1st-place prize? It's very competitive, but it can be done. The Cheap Thrills Boston team tied for 2nd place in June. I think our team helped to make the night considered to be "The ideal live-trivia audience".

Your average pub trivia is alright, but this is probably the most entertaining trivia game I've played.

There are audio and video questions in categories like "A Quick Tour Through TV Game Show History", "Public Zoo", and “Never Break the Musical Chain”. The hosts are witty too.

Even a wrong answer has a chance for points if it's funny enough.

I may not be able make it on Monday night, so I can't definitely join a team.

If you don't win the grand prize in the 3-way finale, your team could go home with some books, DVD's, gift card and/or tickets to "The Donkey Show".

There is a bar as well even if it isn't a pub.

There is more Monday cheapness on the calendar.

SUN 11/13: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

I saw this video about a month ago, and it's still scary to watch this Wall Street trader candidly talking about his hope the economy will get worse.



Crazy and disturbing to me, but at least someone was willing to tell the uncomfortable truth.

SAT 11/12: Food, Country, Rock, Americana, Surf

If you didn't check out the Allston Open Studios or the Anarchist Bookfair today, there's always tomorrow.

I tried to see MIThenge in the spring, and it was somewhat disappointing. The time was right but the clouds/sky were not. It might be seen this weekend around 4:20pm.

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SAT 11/12

7pm
Cooking Demo w/ Marissa Guiggiana and Jamie Bissonnette
at Trident Booksellers & Cafe, 338 Newbury St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

Chef Jamie of Toro and Coppa did a similar presentation in May, and I had 2 cups of amazing tripe & beef tongue stew. Maybe this time he'll do the pig ear terrine that was also featured in the cookbook, "Primal Cuts: Cooking with America’s Best Butchers" compiled by Marissa Guiggiana.

SAT 11/12

8pm
"For the Sake of the Song": Tribute to Willie Nelson
at Arts at The Armory Cafe, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville (Spring Hill)
$8

Feat: Susan Cattaneo, Highway Ghosts, Glenn Yoder

Aw, who doesn't love Willie?

The red-headed stranger may be one of the few musical icons that appeals to hipsters and their grandparents. It's well-deserved, because he's written some of the best songs in country/pop music like "Crazy" & "Always On My Mind".

The performers will play some of their favorite songs by America's -- the world's -- favorite unabashed, septuagenarian stoner as well as some of their own.

SAT 11/12

9pm
Yale MA, Secret Music, Candy Hearts, Awful Man
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$9 / 21+

Yeah, baby, this is some wicked punchy goodness bookended by the meaty hooks of Yale MA and the fast 'n loud crunch of Awful Man. It might be love at first verse with Candy Hearts and their girl-group sweetness of the vocals over the speedy grind. Secret Music adds some palate-cleansing new wave to the party.

SAT 11/12

Eddie Japan (9pm), Late Cambrian (10pm), The Lights Out (11pm), The Blackboard Nails (Midnight)
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$5 / 21+

Holy crap, this would've been a monstrous gig at next week's International Pop Overthrow next week down the street.

I love the romantic, loungey powerpop of Eddie Japan. I had to figure out when the Late Cambrian period was, and they didn't have fuzzed-out guitars over sweet melodies. There are few bands that can execute really tight guitar-heavy pop-rock and tickle your classic-rock bone like The Lights Out without going over the top into cheese-land. By the tight musicianship of The Blackboard Nails, I assume they're Berklee kids who may have more than just chops.

SAT 11/12

9pm
Truth & Salvage Co, Musikanto, Coyote Kolb
at Brighton Music Hall, 158 Brighton Ave, Allston
$10 / 18+

California's Truth & Salvage Co headlines a night of earthy, rocking Americana that includes folk-rock singer-songwriter Musikanto from Chicago and our own Coyote Kolb who gets deep, down, 'n bluesy.

If really want to ensure the $10 advance price: get there before the doors open at 8pm, buy your tix, and hang out at one of the fine drinking establishments in the area.

SAT 11/12

10pm
Beware the Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion, The Electric Heaters
at Atwoods Tavern, 877 Cambridge St, Cambridge (near Inman & Kendall Sq)
$5 / 21+

Where Matt Heaton & The Electric Heaters are a more traditional surf trio (with an extra bit of twang), Beware the Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion are a band of masked marauders who enjoy nothing more than take it up a couple notches and get a little creepy while they're at it.

Pre-Saturday Post

Until I get myself together, take a look at the calendar.

FRI 11/11: This Day Goes to 11

Happy Veterans Day! Some would like this to also be Nigel Tufnel Day, because it goes to 11 better than any day in the past 100 years.

The next 11/11/11 will be much cooler because there's an additional 1 in the year. Still, these unusual dates are numerological fun. Have some...

Quite a few movie and college things on the list today. So it goes.

Hooray to Radio that has their own sign! I didn't take a picture, but the newest rock club in town can now be found by looking for their name. There's a gig I like tonight listed below.

Thanks to Boston Events Insider, I saw that this is one of the fee-free weekends at national parks. The two closest locations are Adams National Historical Park in Quincy and Cape Cod National Seashore. If you ever wanted to visit the home of Presidents without paying $5, it's a good time between now and Sunday.

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FRI 11/11

5pm to 8pm
Second Fridays
at MIT Museum, 265 Mass Ave, Cambridge (near Central Sq)
FREE

Honestly, there are lots of cool stuff at the MIT Museum that's worth the price of admission, but it's even better when you can get in for free -- like every 2nd Friday of the month.

If you really want to see the best exhibit in the building, go upstairs and spend some time with the kinetic sculptures of Arthur Ganson. They look cool and whimsical, and they incorporate some deeper ideas.

FRI 11/11

7pm to 8:30pm
"Education Under Fire": Screening & Discussion
at Kirsch Auditorium, Stata Center, 32 Vassar St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

Speakers: Josh Rubenstein, Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, David Hoffman, Rainn Wilson

They say, "You are still welcome to attend if you miss the RSVP deadline; however, accommodations may be more difficult."

Some people may want to watch a film about the persecution of the Bahai in Iran, because Rainn Wilson is going to be on the panel. You can't RSVP anymore, but you're still welcome to try. When Rainn has tweeted and FB'ed it, there could be a crowd.

Or perhaps there's an RSVP for tomorrow's Wheelock Family Theatre screening (7pm).

FRI 11/11

7pm
"Winnebago Man": An Evening with Ben Steinbauer
at Room 101, College of Communication, 640 Comm Ave, Boston (BU campus)
FREE

If you haven't seen the YouTube video, you should start there. You might want to learn more about this guy trying to make an RV infomercial and gave us a profane blooper reel.

Ben Steinbauer made a movie about his search for the man in the Winnebago, and he'll be at the screening.

FRI 11/11

7pm
Otto Piene: Film/Video Screening
at Bartos Theater, Wiesner Bldg, 20 Ames St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

Program:

"Olympia Regenbogen/Olympic Rainbow" (1972, 20 minutes)
"The Medium is the Medium (1969, 64 minutes)
"Lichtspur im Haus der Sonne" (1975, 43 minutes)

One of the interesting things about early experimental art is how the work transcends the limitations to make something beautiful. The program includes a film about rainbow arc above the closing ceremony of the '72 Munich Olympics, a WGBH program from 1969 on 6 artists including Piene, and video about a couple site-specific pieces in Hawaii.

FRI 11/11

7:30pm to 9:30pm
Anderson Comedy: "The Gas"
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$5

Feat: Tawanda Gona, Shane McHugh, Mike Han, James Creelman, James Nixon, Niraj Shah, Sue Funke, Brian Moote, Joe Fernandez, Lillian DeVane

Hosted by Rob Crean

Like I said last week: This is one of those appealing weekly shows where you can laugh at the beginning of the weekend for a low cover, drink cheap beer, and still have time to do something else. Or stay and dance with "The Pill" at no extra cost.

Unlike last week, I saw a 2-for-1 coupon in the Dig (page 37). If you have a friend -- or someone who will go to Great Scott with you -- you can get in for basically $2.50.

There is a strong chance you'll be entertained at mere pennies per laugh.

FRI 11/11

Varsity Drag (11:45pm), Apple Betty (11pm), My Own Worst Enemy (10pm), The Vivs (9pm)
at Precinct, 70 Union Sq, Somerville (Union Sq)
$10-ish

For those who love Boston rock of the 90's, this is one of those gigs with some of those sounds that still feels modern. Varsity Drag is helmed by Ben Deily who was also the co-main Lemonhead for the first 3 albums, and I really dig the new band. The Vivs are the modern take of 90's indie-rock band Edith who (after a break) are making spanking, zesty rock with a winning pop formula. Funnily, My Own Worst Enemy is celebrating their CD release, and they're the band that excites me the least even though there's nothing wrong with them. It's been a while since we've had a chance to see Apple Betty, and they simply rock out with punchy cheer.

FRI 11/11

9pm
Lovewhip, Streight Angular, SPF 5000, Mitten
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$5 / 21+

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

These are two parties where I would actually dance.

Lovewhip always brings a funky dance party wherever they play. Electro duo SPF 5000have got hooks to keep on the dancefloor, and I defy you to dislike the synthy-pop goodness of Mitten. Streight Angular even have the right attitude and groove for an indie-rock thang. This little spot is going to be jumping.

I like that the Dirty Bombs are planning to hit the stage at 11:11:11pm. These guys have gathered together from other bands that received buzz, and they blend into something that rocks with a lot of synth. I ran into a Dirty Bomb recently and he suggested that his important band playing at this time and date could be an earth-shattering significance. Okay, if you say so. The Pill DJ's will pump up the Brit-pop and dance-rock before and after.

FRI 11/11

10pm
"Bootleggers' Prohibition Bash"
at Milky Way Lounge / Bella Luna, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain (The Brewery Complex)
$10 / 21+

Feat: The Mood Swings Orchestra

When the Milky Way/Bella Luna is celebrating its 18th anniversary with a Roaring Twenties/Prohibition theme party, people are going to show up in appropriate attire.

There's a theme menu and special cocktails, and a 17-piece all-female big band is going to play swinging tunes of the era.

So if you've got a flapper's outfit in the closet, then go have a razzmatazz. It'll be the cat's pajamas.