THUR 4/16: Talks & Rock

I'm kind of in a funk thinking about the "Tea Parties" from yesterday. I got incomplete info and missed the speakers at Christopher Columbus Park. I probably wasn't going to agree with them, but I wanted to hear what exactly is this purpose of these events.

I was also hoping I'd get material for a stinging criticism, but it basically seems to be a co-opting of a historical event by libertarians who've been co-opted by republicans to express their unhappiness.

From my observation, the bottom line is that few people actually want big government, but they'll stay quiet if their guy is in the White House...

On the bright side, I saw that ArtsBoston has become a rather good site to see what's going on around town.

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THUR 4/16

6:30pm to 8pm
Juan Enriquez, "Financial Crises, Technology, and Why Boston Might Just be the Center of the Universe (at least for now)": Lecture
at Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

Venture capitalist Juan Enriquez thinks Boston is ready to thrive. I've met a bunch of VC guys, and they're very bright people. (It's irritating...) His specialty is life sciences, so that will probably be the focus of his presentation.

THUR 4/16

7:30pm
Patrick Slane, "Because the World is Round": Lecture & Observatory Night
at Phillips Auditorium, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden St, Cambridge (between Porter Sq and Fresh Pond)
FREE

Is it geeky to be intrigued by a lecture titled after the first line of awesome psychedelic choral piece from The Beatles? "Because" from "Abbey Road" has always been one of my faves, but I didn't realize it was based on "Moonlight Sonata" played backwards. (I did know that John, Paul, and George tripling their vocal parts for a total of nine. Listen to the song and remember they had no software to correct the pitch!)

So the lecture is blending music into science and using the lyrics as inspiration to explain why the Earth is round, the wind is high, and why the sky is blue. I wonder if Prof. Slane will blow my mind? I think he could...

"Observing through telescopes follows the presentation, weather permitting."

THUR 4/16

Gene Dante & the Future Starlets (12:30pm), The Lights Out (11:30pm), Sarah RabDAU & the Self-Employed Assassins (10:30pm), Have Nots (9:30pm)
at Middle East - Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

Rock 'n Roll Rumble Semi-finals Night #1

Okay, folks this is where everything gets kicked up a notch. Take 3 preliminary-round winners and a "wild card" band (high score from the judges, but didn't win), and one will climb a bit further up the rock ladder to meet tomorrow night's winner in the finals. (Umm, and one band from from this round will be a "wild card in the finals...)

The word on the street (discussion boards) is that Gene Dante & the Future Starlets have been really impressive and could be Rumble champs. I wouldn't count out any of the four bands; I like all of them, and they all have a different sound. The only way this show would be better is if I didn't have to work tomorrow.

THUR 4/16

10:30pm
Movers & Shakers, Tommy Allen, Coyote Kolb
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass. Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

You could go to the Rumble, or you could walk a few blocks down Mass Ave, and check the free Movers & Shakers residency. When I throw the "roots-rock" term around, I think there's more "roots" than "rock". That's not the case with this band; M&S make a tasty rock stew, and they throw in a lot rootsy ingredients. Tommy Allen from Drug Rug is also performing. They're a kick-ass band that should be huge. (I'm enjoy it more when Sarah sings, but Tommy isn't bad...)