TUES 1/24: Music, Film, Theatre, Trivia

FYI: Wednesday's cheapness is on the calendar.

If you didn't go to yesterday's MBTA meetings at their downtown offices, there are many more sessions around the area through March. Thanks to Sean for leaving a detailed & reasonable comment on my post with the schedule.

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TUES 1/24

6:30pm to 8:30pm
Quatuor Zaïde
at French Cultural Center, 53 Marlborough St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

Program:

Mozart, "String Quartet No. 23" ("Prussian No. 3")
Debussy, "String Quartet in G Major"

A musical exchange program has sent a string quartet to Paris, and 4 French women have been sent to Boston for a week. Quatuor Zaide is a young quartet, but they've already been garnering accolades.

Theis another public performance at the New England Conservatory on THUR 1/26.

TUES 1/24

7pm to 8:30pm
"Shouting in the Dark": Screening
at Whitaker Bldg, about 21 Ames St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

If you think Al-Jazeera is clearly an enemy of democracy, you might want to check out some of their undercover journalism during last year's (unsuccessful) protests in Bahrain.

The whole 51-minute documentary is viewable on YouTube, but it's screening tonight if you'd rather not watch on a laptop. There's a chance to discuss it with people "face to face", as we used to say.

You might even get some free pizza just for caring about freedom in the Middle East.

TUES 1/24

7:30pm
"A Number": Pay-What-You-Can Night
at The Factory Theatre, 791 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
$5 minimum

Whenever I go to a play, there's a warm feeling of pride that I've tried to support the theatre as a viable part of our culture. Then a smug superiority rises because most people I know don't go to the live productions.

For another week or so, the Whistler in the Dark group are performing a trio by playwright Caryl Churchill who has won several Obies and other awards.

As this past review states, "A Number" requires you to think and suspend your disbelief slightly. The crux of the 'action' revolves around a man interacting with his son -- and his son's clones.

As I've said before, there's nothing wrong with paying $20 ($10 students) on other nights. On the other hand, PWYC nights encourage you to attend.

"Tickets are available at the box office starting at 6:45pm."

TUES 1/24

8pm to 11pm
Boston Bruins Stump Trivia
at King's, 50 Dalton St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE / 21+

I don't mind Stump Trivia; they provide diversion in many bars around the nation. I just can't get excited about them either, because I wonder if we really need a massive organization to provid trivia for so many pubs.

Tonight's winning team will win a pair of Bruins tickets. If you have 3 to 6 players, then some are out of luck -- or you could sell the tix and split the money. Other prizes should be available for 2nd and 3rd place. (Maybe more?)

TUES 1/24

Mercies (11pm), Emily Peal (10:15pm), Stephen Konrads (9:30pm), Dan Blakeslee (8:45pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8

It's kinda funny that Mercies is a side project from a band (The Dear Hunter) that began as a side project from another band (The Receiving End of Sirens). Fans of TDH (and TREOS) should enjoy Mercies. As these things sometimes go, it seems each band is less 'heavy' than the previous one.

I recognize Stephen Konrads' name from a local band, but I assume he might be doing a solo gig. There's a good chance that Emily Peal will present her lovely, dreamy tunes by herself, and Dan Blakeslee often gets folky alone.

MON 1/23: Art; Film, Talk, Humor, Music

It could be a good year since it's the Year of the Dragon, and dragons are cool.

Since I used to work with a couple Cantonese speakers I learned it as, "Gong hay fat choy!"

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MON 1/23

6pm to 8pm
"Histories of Now: Six Artists from Cairo": Opening Reception
at Grossman Gallery, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, 230 The Fenway, Boston (The Fens)
FREE

Feat: Mohamed Abla, Ahmed Basiony, Hala Elkoussy, Shady El Noshokaty, Sabah Naim, Moataz Nasr

It was about a year ago that protestors in Tahrir Square sparked the 30-year reign of Egyptian "President" Hosni Mubarak. These are the times when skeptics tell the idealists that they'll never change anything -- and when the idealists try anyway.

The SMFA offers a multi-media sample of artists who have been doing their part more than creatively. Ahmed Basiony died in Tahrir Square last year. I doubt all of the other artists will be in attendance, but I noticed Shady El Noshokaty is giving a lecture on WED 1/25 at the Museum of Fine Arts around the corner.

On view through SUN 3/17.

MON 1/23

6pm
"Carmen Jones"
at Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

The BPL's current Monday-night film series "Black and Beautiful Celebrating African American Actresses" runs through the end of February that would seem to purposely coincide with Black History Month.

Otto Preminger directs Dorothy Dandridge as the femme fatale that was simply known as "Carmen" in Bizet's opera that serves as the source material. The wayward soldier is played a young Harry Belafonte.

MON 1/23

6pm to 9pm
Bread & Puppet Theater, "Upriser Calisthenics": Opening Reception
at Cyclorama, Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
FREE

In conjunction with their week of annual performances at the BCA over the last few years, the Bread and Puppet Theater also displays an art exhibit mainly by company founder Peter Schumann.

At last year's reception, I was quite charmed by his mad genius. With an unkempt look and German accent that hasn't lessened after decades in the hinterlands of Vermont, he performed a piece that included violin and passages of gibberish -- and made perfect sense.

Some of Bread & Puppet as well as locals Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Brass Band will attempt to get the crowd into a dance/party mood.

Yes, there was some free food and quite a bit of art for less than $10.

MON 1/23

7pm to 9pm
Boston Skeptics in the Pub: Mathemagician Ethan Brown
at Tommy Doyle's, 96 Winthrop St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

Every month, people get together for some drinks and skeptical conversation that usually includes a presentation from a guest speaker. The topics usually do seem casual and informal.

If you're not totally irritated by young people who are super-intelligent and talented, you might get a kick out of pre-teen 'mathemagician' Ethan Brown who incorporates some magic tricks into his mental math tricks.

The kid is performing at a science & skepticism conference in NYC in a couple months, so this is closer and cheaper.

MON 1/23

9pm
"The Classic Game Show Show"
at Middlesex Lounge, 315 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5-ish?

Feat: Union Square Round Table, Anderson Comedy, Ken Reid, Liz Prince, Spencer Gralla

Two of the local comedy collectives are combining their powers a la '70s TV game shows.

The Union Square Round Table will revive their version of "Match Game" that would occasionally occurred at the old Milky Way.

Since Anderson Comedy doesn't actually want to be responsible for a $10k grand prize, they're calling their version "BYO $10,000 Pyramid".

If you really, really want to participate, you should go to the Facebook page and see if they're still interested in recruiting people. The audience will be contestants, and the USRT/Anderson folks & friends will pretend they're celebrities and try to help you win prizes -- while making everyone laugh.

This could be free, and I wouldn't expect the cover to be more than $5...

MON 1/23

Neptune (11pm), The In Out (10pm), Cotton Candy (9:30pm)
at Charlie's Kitchen, 10 Eliot St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5 / 21+

Aren't Monday nights good for something weird and noisy? Monday days are usually filled with the depressing distance of the nest weekend, but the liberated soul has fun whenever they can.

On their homemade instruments, Neptune rips out some their own peculiar, arty-funky, avant-rock groove. Once I let go and let them redefine my understanding of melody & rhythm, it was a far more enjoyable listening experience.

While I haven't warmed up to The In Out very much, I do concede they know how to play even if the genre-hopping, devil-may-care approach that draws comparisons (since others compare) to The Fall, Pavement, and others.

The opening Cotton Candy won't confront your ears so much with light and fun indie-pop, but pay attention to the lyrics and you might think to yourself, "Hmm, that's a bit weird." And then you'll be on your way to some freaky musical corners.

SUN 1/22: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

Kudos to the guy who compiled Gronkowski's touchdowns and sync'ed the 1812 cannons.

SUN 1/22: Talk, Music, Film

I guess some people may not want to watch the game.

Hopefully, I'll constructively blog as the Pats beat the dirty birds.

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SUN 1/22

3pm to 4:30pm
"Where Does Democracy Come From?" Popular Uprising & Parliamentary Elections in Egypt
at First Parish Church, 3 Church St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

If someone knows how to explain the recent Egyptian elections to Americans, it's probably a Stanford Middle East history professor who has lived in the country off-and-on over the last 40 years.

That guy is Joel Beinin, and he'll discuss the results and their impact on the Arab Spring movement.

SUN 1/22

3pm
"Hot Songs for a Cold Winter's Day"
at Arts at the Armory Performance Hall, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville (Spring Hill)
$10

Feat: Dennis Brennan, Gabrielle Agachiko, Catharine David, Gail Leondar-Wright, Pamela Enders, Debbie Lane, Ruthie Ristich, Rich White, Marva Wooden, Julie Dougherty, Marilyn Dale

There's not much info about this gig in general, but I did notice many of the performers also appeared here for a "Torch Night" last year as part of the Somerville Jazz & Blues Fest.

One could expect most of the jazz/cabaret/folk singers backed the amazing Dennis Brennan on guitar and keyboardist Bill Duffy.

SUN 1/22

4pm to 7pm
"Who Took the Bomp? Le Tigre on Tour": Screening
at Washington Street Arts Center, 321 Washington St, Somerville (Union Sq)
Donations Appreciated

In a couple weeks (2/3 to 2/5), Lady Fest Boston will present bunch of bands over several night at the Cambridge YMCA.

My initial impression is that these preliminary events were fundraisers, but it looks like you might just be encouraged to participate in the art auction at Washington street to offset festival costs.

It's a grrrl-power afternoon with a documentary about Kathleen Hanna's current band Le Tigre.

Hey, there will be free popcorn...

SUN 1/22

9:30pm
"Hooked On Who": "The Impossible Astronaut" & "Day Of The Moon"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$7 suggested donation

As an old-school Doctor Who fan, I enjoyed when my "Hooked on Who" experience from a couple years ago when I caught a Tom Baker a 4-part story arc. The script was by Douglas Adams, so there were more laugh lines than usual; people were guffawing and yelling stuff.

It might be cool to watch the first 2 episodes of the most recent season tonight with its sweeping shots of Utah and the scariest bad guys in a long time.

SUN 1/22

He's My Brother She's My Sister (10:30pm), Henry Wolfe (9:30pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

Led by a pair of siblings, HMBSMS nail a sunny-LA, good-time indie-folk. They're probably the best band with a tap-dancer that I've heard for a long while. I wouldn't be surprised if people felt like dancing themselves.

Opener Henry Wolfe should appeal to fans of Freedy Johnston. His recordings also have a nice variety in stylistic touches.

Saturday Night Calendar

Along the way, I pledged I wouldn't apologize, but I've not been happy with the last week or so. There are a few cheap options tonight with more to come.