TUES 1/6: Iran Talk, Bluegrass, Bang Camaro TV

Not the most exciting night of the week, but here are a few things to do. I was thinking about listing a performance art lecture in JP, but it felt a bit too esoteric. I don't usually include a television show, but Bang Camaro is rocking the nation later tonight...

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TUES 1/6

4:30pm to 6:30pm
Hamid Dabashi, "Obama's Iranian Problem"
at: Room 105, Bldg 2, 182 Memorial Dr, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

This lecture might start a little early, but it's the first event in a series of lectures and films titled, "Iran Through the Lens of History" that continues tomorrow, Thursday, and over the next couple weeks ending with a concert on FRI 1/23.

Professor Hamid Dabashi (Iranian Studies, Columbia) begins with an examination of the challenges that lay ahead of the Obama administration. Dabashi may be able to elaborate for 2 hours about how screwed we are, but I have a feeling there will be quite a bit of insight on the issues tonight. Won't it feel good to understand what's going on when Iran announces they have nuclear weapons?

TUES 1/6

8pm
Bluegrass Pickin' Party
Feat: 3 Tall Pines (9pm), Alan Kaufman & the Joint Chiefs of RetroGrass (10pm)
at Cantab Lounge, 738 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5 Voluntary Donation

Bluegrass? Yeah, sure... Why not? There's more bluegrass players in the area than you think. This weekly session has been going on for more than 15 years. Perhaps YOU need to get your mandolin or banjo out of the closet and tell your loved ones that you'd like to go to a pickin' party...

All are invited to play at the beginning and after the featured band(s). If you don't play, it should be a relatively high-quality "jam".

The donation is voluntary; the hat comes around, and you drop something in.

TUES 1/6

After 12:30am
Bang Camaro
on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien", Your Local NBC Channel
FREE

If you go out tonight, don't forget to watch Conan. Our local retro-metal rock choir may be approaching critical mass with what seems to be their national TV debut. Shake your heads and remember the first time you saw them -- or finally see what the fuss is about from the safety of your home.

For you Facebook people...