TUES 3/17: Movies and Music

What to do on St Patrick's Day in Boston? It's a bit like New Year's Eve when all the yahoos come out of the woodwork to drink green beer.

I say drink local. If there's a line at the closest Irish-style pub, there may be a reason. The closer you are to your home, the easier your stumble back will be.

For those looking for more Irishness, I defer to Bostonist. Erin go bragh!

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TUES 3/17

7pm
"The Pillow Book"
at Harvard Film Archive, Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

The HFA is good at ignoring holidays, and that's great when it's a Tuesday or Wednesday for a free movie screening. This was one of those art-house films that's so visually stimulating that I don't really remember the plot. Ewan McGregor is living in Japan, and his lover is a calligrapher who writes all over him. Sometimes multiple boxes of action slide over the main screen and there's an overflow of information -- at least it felt that way ten years ago.

If you ever wondered what young Obi-Wan Kenobi looks like naked, this is the film for you.

TUES 3/17

9pm
Kiss My Ass
at P.J. Ryan's, 239-241 Holland St, Somerville (Teele Sq)
FREE

For those speak Gaelic or love The Pogues, you probably already know that "Pogue Mahone" (sp?) means "Kiss My Ass". You may think there are other Pogues tribute bands around town, but these guys are supposedly the best we've got. Save that $50 you'd pay to see them this week, and put it towards booze. They're playing The Independent around 6pm, but there may be a cover...

TUES 3/17

9:30pm
Shepherdess, The Woodrow Wilsons, Babe in the Woods
at Milky Way Lounge, 403 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
FREE / 21+

When most bars are charging a cover for no better reason than the date, Milky Way brings in three indie-rock bands for free. Shepherdess rocks. The Woodrow Wilsons are mellow quirkiness. Babe in the Woods is led by one of the guys from Mittens, which always brought a smile to my face with their jangly pop goodness.

TUES 3/17

9:30pm
The Swaggerin' Growlers, The Episodes, Faulty Conscience, Jake & the Infernal Machine, The Old Edison
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8 / 18+

For those that want to get into the Celtic spirit with music instead of basketball. The Swaggering Growlers punk it up with some musical roots embedded in the Emerald Isle. They're celebrating the release of their second CD tonight -- oh, and everything Irish. Jake & the Infernal Machine and The Old Edison kick off with full-on acoustic attitude. Then it's loud(er) and fast the rest of the way through. The Episodes are teenagers from Cleveland with a really young singer; it might be a novelty, but they seem as good as most other bands.

TUES 3/17

10pm
"Leprechaun"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$9.50

Now this is what I call good cheesy St. Paddy's fun -- maybe the next best thing to a shamrock shake at that fine Irish eatery, McDonald's.

The Irish aren't so keen about the world joking about their diminutive, eccentric uncles who keep their 401k plans in a pot; so it's understandable they would embark on a murder spree to regain their hard-earned investment and find the closest rainbow's end.

Every now and then, an actor gets their early break in a low-budget horror flick and eventually builds a respectable career. On the other hand there's Jennifer Aniston who appears here, and you know the rest.

If you haven't had enough yet, "special treats and beer" will be available.