Cheap Thrills: 7/26 to 8/1

Dang, is it midsummer already? Last night there was "A Midsummer Night's Wet Dream" at Midway Cafe... There's Midsummer Nights' Science Lecture on Wednesday... Shakespeare's free in the Common... I know the days are technically getting shorter, but I hope the summer really isn't half over.

I must go outside and frolic now. Some of my weekly email is below...

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SAT 7/26
* "The Fight 'N Fright Superhero Smackdown": Movie Marathon
* Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Cowsills
* Take You Higher
* The Mystix
* "As You Like It": Shakespeare in the Park -- and SUN 7/27
* Lowell Folk Festival -- and SUN 7/27

SUN 7/27
* Davis Square Community Yard Sale
* Death Vessel, The Needy Visions, Meanings
* Icy Demons, Pretty & Nice, Paparazzi

MON 7/28
* Cocked 'N Loaded, The Throwaways, Mantra
* "Ice Cream Art Project": Opening Party
* "Pray The Devil Back To Hell": Roxbury Film Festival -- thru SUN 8/3

TUES 7/29
* "Sting 2"
* Bootie Boston

WED 7/30
* Midsummer Nights' Science Lecture: "A Race Against Resistance"
* Preacher Jack

THUR 7/31
* King Khan and the Shrines, Live Fast Die, Colour Revolt

FRI 8/1
* Tracy Bonham: Free Performance
* "Rock Band" Competition
* Nerd Nite w/ Wounded by Lazors, Cityscapes
* "Shakespeare in Harvard Sq" -- to SUN 8/3

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SAT 7/26

10am to Midnight
Papercut Zine Library Movie Marathon Benefit
"The Fight 'N Fright Superhero Smackdown"
at The Democracy Center, 45 Mount Auburn St, Cambridge
$5-ish

That is not a typo -- it's 14 hours of "Superheroes vs. Monsters and Monster-Heroes". It's probably going to be sunny tomorrow, but you can pretend it's a rainy day and watch day and night of campy action movies and cartoons. I haven't researched each flick yet, but here's the info from the P.Z.L.

10am: The Hulk (Rare '60s & '80s cartoons)
11am: The Herculoids (Rare '60s monster action cartoons)
Noon: Sentai "Smackdown" Collection (Japanese Superheroes)
2pm: Superargo vs. The Faceless Giants
3:30pm: Supersonic Man
5pm: Super Inframan

Rock'em, Sock'em '60s Sci-Fi Frankensteins

6:30pm: Frankenstein Jr. (Forgotten 60s Robot Superhero)
7:30pm: Frankenstein Meets The Space Monster
9pm: Frankenstein Conquers The World ("Ultimate Uncut" version)
10:30pm: War Of The Gargantuas / Frankenstein's Monster: Sanda Vs. Guira (direct sequel of "Frankenstein C.T.W.")

Papercut Zine Library is a free lending library of 'zines and other independent media. I think it's the "free" aspect that necessitates the occasional benefit to offset expenses. The free sharing of information and culture is something we can all support, so burn out your retinas for worthy cause. I bet there will be "free-trade popcorn" -- or stuff like that -- for sale.

(Remember to just go in next time you're passing by.)

SAT 7/26

7pm to 9:30pm
Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, The Cowsills
at the Hatch Shell, Storrow Dr, Boston (Charles River Esplanade)
FREE

With songs like "Good Lovin'" and "Groovin'", it's clear that Felix Cavaliere can't pronounce the "ing" sound! I imagine you'll also recognize a few by The Cowsills.

SAT 7/26

10pm
Take You Higher
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

Normally tribute bands don't make the list, since most tend to copy their musical source. This is simply a bunch of killer musicians banded together to celebrate the awesome funk 'n soul of Sly and The Family Stone. Some of the The Family Stone have even jammed with Take You Higher...

SAT 7/26

9:30pm
The Mystix
at Precinct, 70 Union Sq, Somerville
FREE

A kickass band of music vets playing bluesy-soulful-rootsy rock. And rock-y rock.

(Toast Lounge changed their name to Precinct, if you didn't know.)

SAT 7/26 and SUN 7/27

8pm (SUN: 7pm)
"As You Like It": Shakespeare in the Park
at Parkman Bandstand, about 165 Tremont St, Boson (Boston Common)
FREE

The annual Free Shakespeare performances are really one of the best gifts to the city, so we should appreciate it and take in a performance.

It's one of the Bard's sylvan love stories, which the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company will twist it in their way as they usually do each year. From what I can tell, it looks like the sets will be reinterpreted in a 40's style.

Free Shakespeare doesn't last forever -- the final shows are next week, Tuesday through Sunday...

FRI 7/25 to SUN 7/27

Various Times
Annual Lowell Folk Festival
at Various Spots in Downtown Lowell
FREE

FRI: 7pm to 10pm
SAT: Noon to 10pm
SUN: Noon to 10pm

There's more "folks from around the world" than "folk me, I'm a sensitive singer-songwriter"... This is a kaleidoscope of music played by various folks from around the country and the globe. There are performance areas throughout downtown Lowell where over 20 musical groups serve up dozens of musical flavors as well as other street entertainment.

As usual, there will be loads of food vendors with a wide variety of ethnic goodies; take a stroll around the festival to see & smell what you'll like. (I've heard that some people go mainly for the food.) Of course a 'family activities area' will be setup.

And the Revolving Museum will have workshops/activities for all ages.

The must-see is The Skatalites! They play each day, usually more than once. Bluesman Mighty Sam McClain is darn good too.

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SUN 7/27

11am to 3pm
Davis Square Community Yard Sale
at Hodgkins Park, about 100 Holland St, Somerville (near Teele Sq)
FREE-ish

UPDATE: POSTPONED 'TIL SUN 8/3

If you buy stuff, it will benefit the Somerville Homeless Coalition.

All are encouraged to bring stuff for fun in the park. Info is available on LiveJournal and Facebook.

SUN 7/27

9:30pm
Death Vessel, The Needy Visions, Meanings
at Milky Way Lounge, 403 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
FREE

Exciting music in a mostly acoustic vein. Before Joel Thibodeau of Death Vessel was moved to Brooklyn, signed to Sub Pop or was a music blog darling, he grew up in Maine and Boston. He's going to do a solo set, but it should be really amazing. Apparently the high feminine vocals on the recordings are Joel. The Needy Visions have a joyfully ramshackle quality to them; I think it would be fun see them live. The fellow in Meanings sounds a bit like some other artist I love. I want to say Mark Eitzel/American Music Club, but there's plenty to enjoy without making a comparison.

SUN 7/27

9:30pm
Icy Demons, Pretty & Nice, Paparazzi
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$9 / 18+

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MON 7/28

10pm
Cocked 'N Loaded, The Throwaways, Mantra
at Charlie's Kitchen, 10 Eliot St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5

Charlie's Kitchen is pretty damn cool bar with a great jukebox, but they might be close to jumping the shark after being mentioned in Esquire and opening a beer garden. Nah, I still love it there! Not aware of Mantra, but Cocked 'N Loaded rawk out just as you'd suppose a band with that name would. The Throwaways did the "fast and loud" quite well when I saw them, although I think they've changed singers since then.

MON 7/28

9pm
"Ice Cream Art Project": Party
at Milky Way Lounge, 403 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
FREE

Gotta love Milky Way Lounge. Bowling and pool are already free on Mondays. Still they have fun things going on like a party that celebrates anthropomorphic ice cream art. The premise these are
depictions of actual living things. Hey, I don't believe in Santa Claus either.

Look at the pictures... Draw your own... Watch others draw... Imbibe... Repeat... There's manic synth-rock from Thunderhole and ambient washes from Main Fader.

MON 7/28 (to SUN 8/3)

7pm
Roxbury Film Festival Presents: "Pray The Devil Back To Hell"
at Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline
$10 / $8 students

This documentary about how a women's movement brought change to Liberia is supposed to be quite powerful. Many other films you might not see are screening at various locations of the next week as part of the Roxbury Film Festival. Most programs are $10 or under except for screenings at the MFA ($12). Some of the guests at the festival include: Robert Townsend, Charles Burnett, Ruby Dee, Sheryl Lee Ralph.

The pre-festival screening of the RFF takes place in Brookline, but don't dwell on that. It's one of those things that might make your head explode...

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TUES 7/29

7pm to 10pm
"Sting 2"
at The Beehive, 541 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
FREE

I'm pretty sure the first event in this series was called "Beehive-Art-Scope 1", but "Sting" has a more thematic ring. Kudos, Beehive. Since they are nestled into the Boston Center for the Arts,
it's good to see this place get more cultural than just interesting decor, good food, and expensive drinks. Artwork will be displayed by many artists as well as some live artist performances by Sarah Slifer and Jessica Gath. Some live reggae (thought I found a link for "Island Allstars" before, but...) and jazz by Phil Grenadier & Jerry Bergonzi will keep things in the mood for artsy socializing.

TUES 7/29

9pm to 1am
Bootie Boston #5
at Middlesex Lounge, 315 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Central Sq & MIT)
FREE / 21+

Yes, take two cool songs and put them together in a crazy-techno-techie marriage. Hell, why settle for two songs? Make it 3 or 4... There's a chance that dj BC & Lenlow might play "Break Teen Spirit" (Britney Spears vs. Nirvana vs. Madonna vs. Justin Timberlake vs. Usher)! It might even be on the free CD that is given to the first 50 people. You will want to dance, I promise you.

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WED 7/30

6pm to 7pm
Midsummer Nights' Science Lecture: "A Race Against Resistance"
at Broad Institute, Room 1154, 7 Cambridge Center, Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
FREE w/ RSVP

It seems like bacteria is getting smarter and tougher to treat. But it doesn't just seem that way, it's really happening! There is hope, and you can hear about it without a lot of scientific know-how that you slept through. Dr. Deb Hung, MD, PhD will talk about research they are doing right there in Cambridge, Mass.

You do have to register to attend.

WED 7/ 30

9:30pm, 10:30pm, 11:30pm
Preacher Jack
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
FREE (but drop a little something in the basket) / 21+

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THUR 7/31

9:30pm
King Khan and the Shrines, Live Fast Die, Colour Revolt
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 advance / $10 day of show / 18+

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FRI 8/1

1pm
Tracy Bonham
at First Act Guitar Studio, 745 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

FRI 8/1

Midnight
"Rock Band" Competition
at Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
$7.75 advance / $9.75/door

Special offer: If you signup your complete band (four players) in advance for the Battle of the Bands on the Big Screen you can receive a 50% discount. To reserve a space for the special offer, email with the name of your band and its members. You will receive confirmation of entry.

FRI 8/1

9pm
Nerd Nite w/ Wounded by Lazors, Cityscapes
at Midway Cafe, 3496 Washington St, Jamaica Plain
$3

Josh Cook, "How To Read Ulysses" (9:15pm); John Fennel, "Can Psychologists Pick out the Pervert? Inherent Overreaching in Sexually Dangerous Person Hearings" (10pm); Brian Cawrse, "A Trip Through North America's Hallucinogenic Houseplants" (10:45pm); Wounded by Lazors (11:30pm); Cityscapes (12:30pm)

FRI 8/1 to SUN 8/3

Various Times
Shakespeare in the Square Festival
at Winthrop Park, corner of JFK St & Mount Auburn St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

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Links of the Week:

See the winner of the Annual New England Sand Sculpting Festival at Revere Beach, because there's no chance the storms didn't wash them away

The Major Labels are Bleu, Mike Viola (Candy Butchers), and Ducky Carlisle. You can download the whole album for free (refer 3 friends, it was pretty innocuous) or pay-what-you-like. Pure awesomeness for your ears!

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Quote of the Week:

"There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for."

-- Mohandas Gandhi

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th-th-that's all, folks.

~r