TUES 5/19: Reading, Art, Rock

Photo by © SamSchwartz

Last minute thought: I feel I must let you know that Jeremy Lyons is playing at Atwoods Tavern with Dana Colley & Jerome Dupree (both ex-Morphine) tonight and next Tuesday.

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TUES 5/19

7pm
Daniel Asa Rose, "Larry's Kidney: (Being the Story of) How I Found Myself in China With My Black Sheep Cousin and His Mail-Order Bride, Skirting the Law to Get Him a Transplant -- and Save His Life"
at Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard St, Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
FREE

The story of "Larry's Kidney" is a good summary of the story to whet your appetite. It sounds like it could be a fictional, post-modern romp through the Far East; but essayist Daniel Asa Rose brings us a wacky, true-life story of his Chinese adventure with cousin Larry, Larry's new mail-order bride, and the titular organ.

TUES 5/19

7pm to 9pm
Upgrade! Boston w/ Lily & Honglei
at Center for Advanced Visual Studies, 265 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq / entrance next to MIT Museum on Front St)
FREE

It's easy for me to get confused when people start talking about "new media". One can start feeling intimidated by encountering some unknown technology. The bottom line: you have visual/multi-media arts experienced through a digital delivery system.

This is an informal monthly gather of artists and the public to interact regarding 'new media' that usually include one or two hour-long presentations with Q&A. If you go to this presentation, you'll probably have a greater grasp even if you hear/see something you don't understand yet.

Lily & Honglei are originally from Beijing who are now based in Boston. They created the "DSL Cyber Museum of Contemporary Art" in Second Life. I didn't bother to register but there are instructions and museum screen captures here.

FYI: There may be a chance to take home a free book on online art.

TUES 5/19

Plushgun (11pm), MeandJoanCollins (10pm), The Queen Killing Kings (9:05pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$7

From the couple times I've seen MeandJoanCollins, I'm beginning to think they might be the best band from Boston right now. There are other bands who I might actually like better, but M&JC has a compelling package of music and charisma that's hard to deny. Comparisons fly all around, but the real beauty is that they make smart, original, fresh, feral sounds without hiding their influences.

The front-duo of Bo Barringer and Jen Grygiel may remind you of other classic male/female fronted band; their collaboration feels balanced and challenging. MeandJoanCollins have already been showered with similar raves, and it's a great time to jump on the band's wagon...

Isn't nice to find shows worthy of a Friday night on Tuesdays? Plushgun plays a tasty brand of poppish, synthy rock. The Queen Killing Kings seem to have a bit too serious attitude, but the music sounded pretty good on cursory listen.