THUR 9/4: Rock, Queen Party, Kung Fu, History, Art

Can you believe it's already Thursday? It feels like yesterday that I was sleeping at my desk after Labor Day weekend!

But I realize it was the day before yesterday...

Too much cheap stuff to do tonight! I didn't even mention the party at the Middle East, but it might not even be too late to RSVP as you read this. ("I should be on the list!") I know I will rock out tonight (within reason to finish my writings)...

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

THUR 9/4

Leon Rich (11pm), Driveby Trio (10pm), The Retro’politans (9pm), Dave Kitchen (8pm)
at Cantab Underground / Club Bohemia, 738 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5

I saw Driveby Trio when they were called something else, and they rocked with the kind of abandon that gets me on their side right away. On top of that they're strong players with catchy, musical songs. Bonus! I sense this is going to be a great night for rock 'n roll and its lovers. Rock will never die as long as someone decide to start making a racket for the love of it. Damn music lessons or big messages! (Although lessons do help, and it would help to eventually put together some decent lyrics.)

Leon Rich sounds pretty interesting (even though is clearly a music-lesson-and-message guy). From what I can tell, he loves variety in song styles (Is that some whiteboy funk, Leon?) and has a good anti-establishment bent. I wonder if you have to be a stoner to receive a best song nomination from MassCann/NORML?

Hothead Dave Kitchen opens up with some solo, soulful rock which I can support. I recall liking his old band, The Hyphens. Details are sketchy about The Retro'politans; my understanding is that they play rockabilly. I've searching with variations of the name and some keywords that should be relevant with little luck besides some '80s tribute bands from Chicago and Utica. (No, I'm not providing links. I felt slightly nauseated afterwards.)

THUR 9/4

9pm
"Queen for a Day II"
Feat: Big Moves, Gunpowder Gelatine, Babes in Boinkland, Johnny Blazes
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

Hey, Freddie Mercury would've been 62 on Friday. I think we can all agree that Freddie loved to party! Big Moves – undeniably Boston's best "plus-sized" dance troupe -- have organized a soiree for the second year in a row. Our town also happens to be blessed with an all-female Queen tribute band, Gunpowder Gelatine, so we can hear a slew of their classics with slightly more estrogen than usual. Lotsa ladies of various shapes and sizes will shake their booties (and other parts) besides Big Moves in various configurations (including Caravan of Curves, their belly-dancing squad). I may be going out on a limb, but Johnny Blazes is a woman. The festivities will be emcee'd by Becca D'Bus, a "woman" after Freddie's heart.

Our dearly departed, flamboyant friend will be there in spirit, and he'll be singing "Fat Bottomed Girls"...

"Birthday cake will be served at midnight."

THUR 9/4

7:30pm
"Police Story"
Films at the Gate 2008
at Vacant Lot near Chinatown Gate, about 10 Hudson St, Boston (Chinatown)
FREE

If you haven't seen any of Jackie Chan's Chinese films, you've only seen a small sliver of his greatness. This will give you a new appreciation for Jackie Chan, who also directed it. This is considered one of his best movies.

This is Night #2 of 5 in the Films at the Gate series of kung-fu movies, and I wrote about it below. All movies are presented with the original Chinese audio (including English subtitles), which must improve all of the screenings. There are some folding chairs, but you're encouraged to bring your own seat if you really want it. And you don't need to bring enough crab rangoon to share with everyone...


Other stuff from the Weekly List:


THUR 9/4

7pm to 8pm
"In the Time Before Now: Stories of the Massachuset People"
at Abbey Room, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

Feather-on-the-Moon, Gill Solomon, Sachem of the Massachuset-Ponkapoag Tribal Council, will tell stories of the creation of the earth, the Native people's relationship with nature and their traditional ways of life.

If you get there early, there's a reception in the Boston Room at 5:30pm for the new exhibit, "Native Americans in the Time Before Now: Perceptions from Boston and Beyond".

Part of the multi-day celebration of "Boston Charter Day".

THUR 9/4

6pm
Manami Morita
at Institute for Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave, Boston (South Boston/Seaport)
FREE

Berklee students/faculty/etc have been playing concerts every free Thursday night when it's free to get in. Free jazz outside + free art inside = cultural experience that's worth way more than you paid. Japanese-born Manami Morita leads her jazz quartet behind the keyboard. If you don't like the music, go in and check out the Anish Kapoor exhibit. This is your last free chance to see it before closing on Sunday, 9/7. If you don't like the wild sculpture, you still walked around the harborfront on a summer night.