WED 3/18: Ting Tings, Film, Comedy, Lectures

Believe it or not, I drank for under $10 last night. At home...

There are other Tuesday nights to carouse...

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WED 3/18

5 PM
The Ting Tings -- Performance & Autograph Signing
at Newbury Comics, 332 Newbury Street, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

I've generally leaned towards liking The Ting Tings. Sometimes sparse is good, but they'd benefit form a bit more instrumentation (at the risk of ruining their sound/chemistry). Their Paradise show is sold out but they're doing a few songs and signing CD's for free...

WED 3/18

7pm to 9pm
"Call and Response": Screening & Discussion
at Room 113, Sever Hall, Harvard Yard, Cambridge
FREE (but buy cupcakes)

This is going to be in a theatre soon, and there will be a buzz and good reviews. You're probably going to want to see it. Instead of buying a movie ticket and a cola, jam your face with Kickass Cupcakes ($3/$4), and the proceeds go to * free slaves * around the world.

Did you think you couldn't help slaves? Eat a cupcake! Or a really fancy cupcake!

The connection between slavery and music is clear in the history of the US as the field songs became gospel, folk, blues, and jazz -- and all their descendents. Described as a "rockumentary on modern-day slavery", the film takes footage of the global human trafficking/slavery crisis and combines it with musical performances and celebrity talking heads.

Some of those appearing in the film include: Talib Kweli, Cold War Kids, Matisyahu, Imogen Heap, Moby, Natasha Bedingfield, Five For Fighting, Switchfoot, Cornel West, Madeleine Albright, Daryl Hannah, and more.

Filmmaker & musician Justin Dillon will be in attendance.

WED 3/18

8:30pm
"Greater Boston Alternative Spring Comedy Fling"
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8 / 18+

Feat: Robby Roadsteamer, Mehran, MC Mr. Napkins, Chris Coxen, The Steamy Bohemians, Renata Tutko, Anderson Comedy Group, Ken Reid, Shane Webb (MC)

Even though it was $15 in December (at The Paradise), I had to give it a mention. Again -- this is a really funny group of comedians including some of my local favorites (Mehran, Mc Mr. Napkins, Ken Reid).

Musical guest Chris Keating will probably make you laugh as well.

Maybe one day I'll list comedy shows at comedy clubs, but I like laughing at other places.


A couple free lectures that I really didn't feel strongly about, but you might like:

WED 3/18

6pm to 8pm
Andrew F. Smith, "The Hamburger in American Life and Culture"
at Radcliffe College Room, Schlesinger Library, 10 Garden St, Cambridge (Radcliffe Yard)
FREE

Andrew Smith, a prolific and authoritative writer on food history and a frequent speaker at the Culinary Historians of Boston, will talk about the subject of latest work. He is editor-in-chief of he Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink, and author of single dish studies of the tomato, ketchup, tomato soup, the turkey, and peanuts, as well as an encyclopedia of American junk food.

WED 3/18

6pm
"The Human Genome: Where is the Map Taking Us?"
at Martin Conference Center, New Research Bldg, 77 Ave Louis Pasteur, Boston (Longwood Medical Area)
FREE

The nation's top geneticists discuss questions and concerns about emerging issues regarding gene sequencing; featuring HMS's David Altshuler, George Church, Jeffrey Drazen, and Ting Wu. Moderated by Raju Kucherlapati.

Registration strongly recommended: 617-432-3038 or email.

TUES 3/17: Movies and Music

What to do on St Patrick's Day in Boston? It's a bit like New Year's Eve when all the yahoos come out of the woodwork to drink green beer.

I say drink local. If there's a line at the closest Irish-style pub, there may be a reason. The closer you are to your home, the easier your stumble back will be.

For those looking for more Irishness, I defer to Bostonist. Erin go bragh!

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TUES 3/17

7pm
"The Pillow Book"
at Harvard Film Archive, Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

The HFA is good at ignoring holidays, and that's great when it's a Tuesday or Wednesday for a free movie screening. This was one of those art-house films that's so visually stimulating that I don't really remember the plot. Ewan McGregor is living in Japan, and his lover is a calligrapher who writes all over him. Sometimes multiple boxes of action slide over the main screen and there's an overflow of information -- at least it felt that way ten years ago.

If you ever wondered what young Obi-Wan Kenobi looks like naked, this is the film for you.

TUES 3/17

9pm
Kiss My Ass
at P.J. Ryan's, 239-241 Holland St, Somerville (Teele Sq)
FREE

For those speak Gaelic or love The Pogues, you probably already know that "Pogue Mahone" (sp?) means "Kiss My Ass". You may think there are other Pogues tribute bands around town, but these guys are supposedly the best we've got. Save that $50 you'd pay to see them this week, and put it towards booze. They're playing The Independent around 6pm, but there may be a cover...

TUES 3/17

9:30pm
Shepherdess, The Woodrow Wilsons, Babe in the Woods
at Milky Way Lounge, 403 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
FREE / 21+

When most bars are charging a cover for no better reason than the date, Milky Way brings in three indie-rock bands for free. Shepherdess rocks. The Woodrow Wilsons are mellow quirkiness. Babe in the Woods is led by one of the guys from Mittens, which always brought a smile to my face with their jangly pop goodness.

TUES 3/17

9:30pm
The Swaggerin' Growlers, The Episodes, Faulty Conscience, Jake & the Infernal Machine, The Old Edison
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8 / 18+

For those that want to get into the Celtic spirit with music instead of basketball. The Swaggering Growlers punk it up with some musical roots embedded in the Emerald Isle. They're celebrating the release of their second CD tonight -- oh, and everything Irish. Jake & the Infernal Machine and The Old Edison kick off with full-on acoustic attitude. Then it's loud(er) and fast the rest of the way through. The Episodes are teenagers from Cleveland with a really young singer; it might be a novelty, but they seem as good as most other bands.

TUES 3/17

10pm
"Leprechaun"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$9.50

Now this is what I call good cheesy St. Paddy's fun -- maybe the next best thing to a shamrock shake at that fine Irish eatery, McDonald's.

The Irish aren't so keen about the world joking about their diminutive, eccentric uncles who keep their 401k plans in a pot; so it's understandable they would embark on a murder spree to regain their hard-earned investment and find the closest rainbow's end.

Every now and then, an actor gets their early break in a low-budget horror flick and eventually builds a respectable career. On the other hand there's Jennifer Aniston who appears here, and you know the rest.

If you haven't had enough yet, "special treats and beer" will be available.

MON 3/16: Film Talk, Rock

Yesterday I was reminded that running 5k isn't really worth 2 free beers and a pulled pork sandwich, but it was a beautiful day and a good time. (I recall pretending to be Irish for about 5 minutes...)

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MON 3/16

6pm
Lecture & Conversation with Agnes Varda
at Photonics Center, 9th Fl, 8 Saint Mary's St, Boston (BU campus)
FREE

If you missed the Varda lecture at Harvard last week, there's another chance to hear this French New Wave pioneer. The Boston Globe's Mark Feeney will ably moderate tonight's program.

The Harvard Film Archive has finished their series of her films, but there is an exhibit of her photos ("Les Veuves de Noirmoutier" / "The Widows of Noirmoutier")in the Carpenter Center gallery space through SUN 4/12.

MON 3/16

8pm
"Here's To You Jimmy" - Benefit & Memorial Concert for Jimmy Driver
at Middle East - Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 minimum donation / All Ages

Feat: Mr. Williams All-Star Super Soul Revue (members of The Men, Victory at Sea, Lost City Angels, Prime Movers), Drug Rug, Movers & Shakers, The New Collisions, Lamps & Amps, Hero(n) of Alexandria, Clay N. Ferno (spoken word), Noah Maltsberger, Mike Fiore, Ryan Lee Crosby, Jerry and Friends, Sue Bell & Jesse Gallagher, Matt Mello

Jimmy Driver was a bartender at The Middle East who died suddenly last week. This show has obviously been put together quickly, and still so many good bands are on the bill. That should give you an idea about what kind of guy he was. The proceeds of tonight's show will defray various costs for Jimmy's family.

You can also donate something via PayPal.

MON 3/16

10pm
Jambang, Greg Ginn & The Taylor Texas Corrugators
at Charlie's Kitchen, 10 Eliot St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$10 / 21+

I'm not usually a proponent of jam bands, but both of these bands are led by Black Flag guitarist & founder Greg Ginn. It's not totally accurate to call this jamband music, but it's the closest description for the amalgam of jazz/country/electronic/rock. From what I've read Jambang goes on first for more than an hour, then The Taylor Texas Corrugators will play the rest of the night.

Some might want to be in the same room as a punk great... Some might want to give their support for years of listening pleasure...

3/15: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

Whenever St. Paddy's Day rolls around, I wonder: Do they party like we do in Boston? This clips gives you a slice of the pie, and I like Boston better. Dublin looks like the friggin' Pasadena Rose Parade...



By the time you've read this, I have already ran 5k through the streets of Somerville. I rarely feel Irish -- mainly because I'm not not -- but I have a deep affinity for their ebullient quest for good times & alcohol.

Before the race, thousands of us will have sung "Danny Boy" for a deceased uncle of the race organizer. I love this song, and I was practicing on Saturday. I truly choked up on the last line. The way that they party through the sadness is fascinating to me. You may get into the collective Irish psyche with a song like this.

Let's not be so traditional, because I love Jackie Wilson and old-school R&B:

SUN 3/15: Things to do while Drinking(?)

If you didn't throw up on your Saturday pub crawl, there are some "green" things to do...

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SUN 3/15

1pm to 4:30pm
St. Patrick's Day Parade
starts at: Broadway T Station to Andrews T Station, South Boston
FREE

Haven't been lately? It should drunkenly wind its way through Southie, but the cops claim they are going to crack down on public drinking more than ever before. Maybe they're bluffing, but I think they might be serious. They union has asked parading firefighters to stay sober while they're on the route. So be more discreet than plastic red cups or sneak into a house party...

Even though I'm a curmudgeon, everyone should go at least once. I normally go to the end of the route at Andrew T when everyone's good and sauced, it is more interesting (and crowded) down Broadway.

SUN 3/15

2pm
"The Art and Landscapes of Frederick Law Olmsted"
at Franklin Park Golf Club House, 1 Circuit Dr, Boston
FREE

Frederick Law Olmsted was a badass. We'll see his name around town at one site or another, but it's incredible how many historic & notable sites were designed by him. Such as Boston's entire emerald Necklace, Central Park, and the list goes on and on. Olmsted National Historic Site Ranger Alan Banks is going to give a talk and slide show about the guy. It should be a beautiful day to walk around Franklin Park (designed by Olmstead).

SUN 3/15

8pm
The Saints Of Patronage, Jason Bennett
at Sligo Pub, 237 Elm St, Somerville
FREE

Guess what? You'll hear the strains of acoustic Irishness and acoustic Boston punk, if you're drinking at Sligo.