SUN 1/15: Comedy, Music

Oh, jeez. I hope other people went out and did more than lay on the couch and watch the Pats. There were some good gigs last night.

Before it gets later, something for tonight.

Am planning to get back in the saddle.

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SUN 1/15

8:30pm
"Comedy With Wings"
at Milky Way Lounge / Bella Luna, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain (The Brewery Complex)
$8

Feat: Robin Maxfield, Marcy Goldberg Sacks, Shari Vanderwerf, more

As someone with a Y chromosome, the idea of more than a handful of female comedians in "an all female comedy lab" may seem a bit daunting. It can be stand-up or humorous spoken-word, and I have to believe there will be more than female-centric issues.

SUN 1/15

Madi Diaz (10:45pm), Lucy Schwartz (9:45pm), Micah (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

When Madi Diaz was at Berklee a few years ago, she would play around town and being in the documentary that inspired Jack Black comedy "School of Rock" was one thing I noticed besides the great songs and vocals. She lives in Nashville now and still sounds great.

It turns out that Lucy Schwartz has had some cinematic success having written songs for several movies including one of the "Twilight" episodes. Micah lives here and does the singer-songwriter with aplomb.

SUN 1/15

9pm
David Champagne & Friends
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

With: Amy Correia, Treat Her Right, Kimon Kirk, Jess Baggia, more

Almost every night at Toad is a damn-good rootsy time. I get the feeling this is probably going to be a people-singing-with-people, having some laughs kind of gig.

SUN 1/15

9:30pm
Bon Savants, Marconi, Eldridge Rodriguez
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$9 / 18+

It seems like the Bon Savants make appearances now and then, but their new stuff sounds fantastic. Marconi and Eldridge Rodriguez are not slouches either.

SUN 1/15

10pm
Trabants "Go Go Surf Party"
at ZuZu!, 474 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE / 21+

Yeah, we got some surf bands in town. The Trabants have a new album that they'll play along with some of their face surf records. They'll also do a live set.

They don't say it, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was some actual go-go dancing.

Friday Calendar

Ugh, not a good week at CTB HQ... There are good cheap options for tonight; more to come hopefully.

THUR 1/12: Art, Food, Music, Theatre, Science

Yes, there is cool, cheap stuff happening this weekend. I hope to have it up tonight...

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THUR 1/12

6pm
"Lighthouse": Installation Reception
at Boston Harbor Islands Pavilion, about 190 Atlantic Ave, Boston (Kennedy Greenway)
FREE

It looks crappy now, but it could be less crappy this evening. The "Lighthouse" is a video installation that launched on "First Night" that supposedly has an interactive element.

There's should be a short presentation by the artists and a dance performance followed by an after party at the Marriott across the street.

Hey -- if you're downtown anyway, why not?

THUR 1/12

6:30pm to 8:30pm
Eléonor Picciotto, "French Cuisine for the Young & Broke": Presentation
at French Cultural Center, 53 Marlborough St, Boston (Back Bay)
$5

Is this a case where you have to "spend money to save money"?

I can't speak to the efficacy of this cookbook, but it has a great title and has decent potential to provide easy, tasty (cheap, mais oui?) recipes.

The book will be for sale. If you used it once per month instead of having something delivered, you'll be in better shape before the end of the year.

RSVP Required: 617-912-0400

This event is presented in English.

THUR 1/12

Kevin Hearn & Thinbuckle (8pm), Leo Blais (7:15pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

Kevin Hearn took over for the keyboardist in Barenaked Ladies a little while before they got really annoying ("One Week"), but you have to add some cool credibility for playing with Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson. There's not much bite to his solo material, although melodic piano-pop doesn't have to bite you.

Even though I've noticed melancholy lyrics like some Leo Blais, the way he sings them can make little kids dance. I saw it with my own eyes...

THUR 1/12

8pm
"Copenhagen": Pay-what-you-can Night
at The Factory Theatre, 791 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
$5 minimum

I've been interested in seeing the play that imagines what two major scientists discussed when they met in Denmark at the beginning of WWII. What actually had been said that night may have prevented the Nazis from obtaining an atomic bomb -- or did it matter? No one knows.

It's worth paying full price, but you can attend for as little as $5. I think you have to purchase in advance to take advantage of the deal.

THUR 1/12

8pm
Dr. Steve Leman, "Searching for the Universe, from an Iron Mine": Lecture
at Phillips Auditorium, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden St, Cambridge (between Porter Sq and Fresh Pond)
FREE

For those of us who are curious what is out there beyond our little blue orb, it's been cool to see big strides in our understanding.

The problem is... I'm pretty sure that I don't understand dark matter and dark energy. I know Steve Leman understands way better than I do, and he intends to describe it for people with "no background knowledge in astro-particle physics".

And he'll discuss why looking in a Minnesota mine is a good idea.

THUR 1/12

9:30pm
Quilt, The New Highway Hymnal, Sand Reckoner, Creaturos
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$10 / 18+

Do you like the flyer above? It's not too far off from what you're going to hear tonight since there is a bit of psychedelic rock woven into these bands in one way or another. Dig the folky Quilt, the retro-modern fuzz of New Highway Hymnal, the shoegazey Sand Reckoner, and the trippy experimentation of Creaturos. Should be a good night (with or without chemicals).

Wednesday Calendar

In case I screw up the day's post (like yesterday), there is stuff on the calendar.

Even though it's not exactly $10 or less when you consider most entree prices at Legal Sea Foods, they are offering a discounted chowder today...

MON 1/9: Film & Music

Okay, here are a couple options for tonight. There's also some cool bands at Zuzu...

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MON 1/9

6pm
"Cabin in the Sky": Screening
at Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

It's nice to see that the BPL is spending a little more than 29 days on Black History Month with their film series that screens tonight through the end of February (except next Monday ironically) called "Black and Beautiful Celebrating African American Actresses".

The opener is a musical that was radical in 1943 for being a Faust update with an African-American cast. Lena Horne sings and Duke Ellington makes an appearance with his band.

MON 1/9

The White Owls (8pm), Andrea Gillis Band (10pm)
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

I'll say it again: You're getting two great bar bands that go great together. Dennis Brennan captains a kick-ass team of players through blues classics and hidden gems. Andrea Gillis is the big, soulful voice in front of her punky band.