WED 4/9 & THUR 4/10: Talk, Film, Rock, Art, Dance

I wouldn't be surprised if I eventually update this with stuff for Thursday...

--------------------------------------------------------------

WED 4/9

5pm to 6:30pm
Devra Davis, "The Wrong War -- The Secret History of the War on Cancer", Lecture
at Room 270, Bldg 3, 33 Mass Ave (Rear), Cambridge (MIT Campus)
FREE

The title caught my attention. Dr. Davis's book points out that we spend so much effort on fighting cancer and not nearly enough effort on the causes of cancer such as our lifestyles and environment.

WED 4/9

7pm
"The Visitor"
at Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline
FREE and open to the public

If you enjoyed writer/director Thomas McCarthy's previous film "The Station Agent", you already know his talent for easygoing yet tender storytelling. The main actor is a guy you recognize from dozens of movies (also the dead dad on "Six Feet Under"), and this is supposed to be a tremendous performance after he finds two strangers living in his NYC apartment.

It's not on their site, but the email sent by the Coolidge Corner theatre said:

Tickets will be available first-come, first-served a half-hour before showtime.

WED 4/9

7:30pm to 9:30pm
Ian MacKaye: Speaking Engagement and Q&A
at Schwartz Auditorium, 415 South Street, Waltham (Brandeis campus)
FREE

As the leader of Minor Threat and Fugazi, Ian MacKaye has had a major influence on rock and on how rock bands should behave & treat their fans fairly. I'm sure he'll have plenty of interesting things to say.

WED 4/9

The Duke Spirit (11:05pm), Wonderful Spells (10:05pm), Viva Viva (9:10pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

I don't know if The Duke Spirit will make major waves in the music world, but they whip out a bluesy, alternative rock with a charismatic frontwoman. They've already opened for REM and Queens of the Stone Age, and they're going on tour with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Two excellent local rock outfits that incidentally both include a set of brothers will open tonight: Viva Viva and Wonderful Spells. (Think Oasis & The Kinks, not Hansen...)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

THUR 4/10

12:30pm
Nada Surf - Live Performance & Signing
at Newbury Comics, 1 Washington Mall, Boston (Govt Center)
FREE

If you haven't heard Nada Surf since their sarcastic hit "Popular", then you'll be shocked that they actually sound better than the mid-90's. If you've never heard of them, welcome to Nada Surf's bright rock melodicism that would make Rivers Cuomo proud.

Get out of the office; it's beautiful outside!

THUR 4/10

5pm to 8pm
SMFA Fifth Year Exhibition: Opening Reception
at Grossman Gallery & Anderson Auditorium, 230 The Fenway, Boston (School of the Museum of Fine Arts / The Fens)
FREE

The Fifth Year students are prepped to take the art world by storm after an intense extra year. These are five artists in the program: Lizi Brown, Evan Crankshaw, Wendy Jean Hyde, Rob Pettit, Lori Schouela. Instead of a group exhibit, this is more like 5 tandem solo shows spread about SMFA.

I've corresponded with Rob Pettit, who does some pretty cool work with cell phones, and he can always use your unused phones. You can add them to one of the sculptures if you go to the exhibit (thru May 3)...

There's also an artists' talk on THUR 4/17 at 12:30pm.

THUR 4/10

5:30pm (Part 1), 6:30pm (Part 2)
"The Land of the Settlers": Screening
at Room 103, Sever Hall, Cambridge (Harvard Yard)
FREE

Everyone wants peace in the Middle East, they just their peace! This 5-part documentary was made by a well-respected Israeli journalist over a period of several years. In his attempt at a fair examination of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it has apparently upset people on every side of the issue in one way or another. Part 1 covers the West Bank, and Part 2 is on hot-spot Hebron. The next two segments will probably screen next week.

THUR 4/10

Stephen Brodsky (7:30pm), Dave Alpert (8:30pm), Jon Hutchens (10pm), John Powhida Int'l Airport (11pm)
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

It's typical for Toad to host a 'night of song', but there are four good artists. Steve Brodsky would probably make good music if he fell down the stairs. Jon Hutchens of The Globs will likely deliver some intelligently weird lyrics. I've been a fan of John Powhida for a while; he's a great singer with tremendous stage presence. He should be a star.

I'm not suggesting that you sit there for 4+ hours, but you can do whatever you want...

THUR 4/10

10pm
Prince Paul, DJ Tommee, DJ Knife
at Good Life, 28 Kingston St, Boston (Downtown Crossing)
$10 / 21+

Okay, Prince Paul will probably start spinning sometime after midnight -- if you're lucky -- but I still want to go. I won't pretend that I'm familiar with his early Stetsasonic work; but I know some Gravediggaz and I really like Handsome Boy Modeling School (w/ Dan the Automator). Prince Paul has always brought fresh sounds to hip-hop, so I know it will be a bumping DJ set. He's produced Big Daddy Kane, 3rd Bass, and "3 Feet High and Rising" by De La Soul.

DJs Tommee & Knife do the Marinate night at Milky Way Lounge, and I notice they get the support call when heavyweight DJs are in town.

Since I went to the Zebbler party last month, I know the Good Life isn't such a bad place to hear good house etc. If I ever really wanted to dance, I know they don't have a dress code (which is cool).