WED 9/3: Photos, Comedy, Rock, Theatre

I think everything listed below was on the weekly list, and they each would be a good time. I'll try to go to the Esteban Pastorino Diaz reception, and see where it goes from there...

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

6pm
Esteban Pastorino Diaz, "Shifting Perspectives": Reception & Artist's Talk
at Grossman Gallery, School of MFA, 230 The Fenway, Boston (The Fens)
FREE

There's more to Pastorino Diaz than his aerial photographs, but it's really mind-blowing stuff. You initially think you're looking really cool miniatures, but there's an excitement as you look more closely... This engineer-turned-photographer will be here from Argentina to give a talk at 7pm. I'm curious to hear him shed some light into the creative process by someone with Esteban's background.

Some free wine and cheese wouldn't hurt either...

WED 9/3

9pm
Laugh Track Comedy Show
Feat: Shane Mauss, Ken Reid, Renata Tutko, Nate Johnson, Tom E.
Morrello, Maria Ciampa, Matt Wilding, Rob Crean
at Milky Way Lounge, 403 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
$5

Most of these guys are very funny -- especially Ken Reid! You can tell him I said that. Ken has also performed with Renata Tutko and Nate Johnson in a sketch group, The Untrainables, so maybe they'll join forces at some point tonight -- or maybe there will be a hostile onstage confrontation. Either could be hilarious! Shane Mauss and Rob Crean are also very funny. As you might expect, I thought Shane was much funnier in person than when I saw his stand-up on a late-night talk show. (Conan O'Brien?)

WED 9/3

9:30pm
Justice of the Unicorns, Tigers and Monkeys, Spanish Armada, The Wild Business
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8 advance /$9 dos / 18+

Ryan's Smashing Life is one of the best music blogs I've stumbled across, and I thought that before I noticed it was based in Boston. Every now and then they put together some killer shows, and there's always a good band that I haven't heard before. I now love Justice of the Unicorns & Tigers and Monkeys, who share some band members! I start listening to Justice of the Unicorns, and this sweetly organic yet trippy rock starts pouring into my ears, then I find out that I like Tigers and Monkeys even more. They aren't that much different, but I like the songs and chemistry better. Big thumbs up for both. The Spanish Armada remind me of something between Nick Cave and Magnetic Fields, which is meant as a compliment. The Wild Business didn't grab from their MySpace. RSL likes them, then maybe they deliver in person...

WED 9/3 to SUN 9/7

8pm (SUN: 2pm)
"Cloud 9"
at Zack Box Theatre, Downstairs, 8 The Fenway, Boston (Boston Conservatory)
FREE

The students are coming back, and free theatre abounds. In this two-act play, one half of the action occurs in colonial Africa of the 19th century and concludes in present-day (relatively) London. Because theatre can be experimental, some characters seem to travel in time. I wouldn't get hung up on that, except perhaps to see it as comment on the issues of gender and sexuality over history.

WED 9/3 to SUN 9/7

All Day
Brimfield Antique Show
at Brimfield Fairgrounds, take Mass Pike West to Route 20 West (Exit 9), Brimfield
Most FREE, some $5

Every year this little Western MA town becomes engorged with antique sellers and hunters. Quite a spectacle, and you may spend a lot of money -- or find the deal of your life!