MON 7/14 to FRI 7/18: Fave 5 of the Week

Just like the waiter that says, "Everything's good," I don't list things that I don't have some merit that might be interesting to someone. Here are my five best bets for the upcoming "school nights".

Also, Woody Guthrie was born July 14 in 1912. If I had my druthers, our national anthem would be "This Land Is Your Land".

If you're looking for Monday stuff to do, the Weekly List is below... Happy Bastille Day!

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MON 7/14

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin (10:40pm), Ha Ha Tonka (9:45pm), The Motion Sick (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

This is crazy, but you can still catch S.S.L.Y.B.Y. for $10. These guys are awesome in their toned-down Weezerish way, but I figured they'd charge a higher cover like other "national bands". They're bringing Ha Ha Tonka, another Missouri band; and you get the very fine nerdy pop-rock of The Motion Sick.

TUES 7/15

8pm
Bluegrass Pickin' Party
Feat: Uncle Monk (8pm), Boston Perfect 10's (10pm)
at Cantab Lounge, 738 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5 Voluntary Donation

Dude, it's Tommy from The Ramones! The original drummer of one of the most influential bands in rock now sings and plays mandolin in alt-country/bluegrass duo, Uncle Monk. You gotta give the $5 to support a Ramone... The Boston Perfect 10's are group of local hotshots that play in other bands.

WED 7/16

8pm to 1am
"Free Vicente Lebron!" Benefit Concert
at Ryles Jazz Club, 212 Hampshire St, Cambridge (Inman Sq)
$10

Vicente Lebron is one of the percussionists for jazz ensemble Either/Orchestra, and something went terribly wrong when they returned from their last international tour. Dominican-born Lebron has been in Homeland Security detention for over a month, and there really isn't much available information about his case. This show is a benefit for the legal defense fund of a fine musician, family man, and US resident for more than 35 years. (They will accept more than $10, if you desire.)

Many excellent bands and singers to perform:

8pm:
Orchestra Morphine, Gypsy Schaeffer, Manguito

9pm:
Gabrielle Agachiko, Leo Blanco Group, I-Level

10 pm:
3Play, Jorge Perez w/ Juan "Cotito" Medrano, latin-ethiopian-jazz w/ singers: Ruthie Ristich, Christian McNeill, Willie "Loco" Alexander

11 pm:
Rhumbafrica, Charlie Kohlhase's Explorer's Club, Club D'Elf

Midnight:
Russ Gershon's Mood Elevator

This is the first article I read about the case.

WED 7/16 and THUR 7/17 (and FRI 7/18 thru SUN 7/20)

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

Maybe fewer people will know about the dress rehearsals? 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. It looks like the sets might be reinterpreted in a 1930's/40's style.

THUR 7/17

6pm to 9pm
10th Annual Lantern Festival
at Lake Hibiscus, Forest Hills Cemetery, 95 Forest Hills Ave, Jamaica Plain
FREE ($10 suggested donation per lantern)

This is based on the Japanese midsummer Bon Festival, a Buddhist ritual in memory of loved ones in which lanterns represent the souls of the dead are floated out to sea and prayers are offered so that they might rest in peace. You can write some thoughts about your departed on the shades of the lantern, then watch it float about Lake Hibiscus. Flickr is full of beautiful scenes from previous years.

From 6pm to 8pm, the evening starts with performances from gospel singer Ron Murphy, the Samurai drummers of Tsuji Daiko, and dance performances from the Chu Ling Dance Academy & Showa Boston Institute.

It's okay to bring picnic. A flashlight is suggested (but you'd be okay without one).

(Rain date: THUR 7/24)