FRI 6/19: Comedy & Folk/Roots

So it's like "Freaky Friday" except folky... You could try to see The Blackjacks at TT's for $12 tonight or see if they have any more $10 advance tix for tomorrow.

Cheap stuff is going on this weekend. Maybe you won't feel like heading to an outdoor festival -- or the like -- but I hope to tell you about it soon.

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FRI 6/19

7:30pm
The Gas w/ Rob Cantrell, Chris Coxen, Bigg Nez, Ronald Reagan, Josh Gondleman, Mike Pincus
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$5 / 18+

Rob Cantrell is pretty funny guy, and he's got a very likable pot-guy disposition. Cantrell has appeared on "Marijuana-logues" and "Last Comic Standing", so he could've booked a gig at one of the typical comedy clubs. As usual, a load of our local comics will make you laugh, even if it includes playing cheesy '80s covers like saxophone duo like Ronald Reagan.

You can even stick around and dance at The Pill for no extra charge. The New Collisions are going to do a live set too.

FRI 6/19

8pm
Brendan Hogan, Frank Morey, Dietrich Strause
at Newton History Museum, 527 Washington St, Newton (Newton Corner/Newtonville)
$10 suggested minimum donation

The performance space in the Jackson Homestead kitchen holds about 30 people, so this is going to be an intimate show.

With a deep, raspy Tom waits growl, Frank Morey seems more of a bluesy troubadour than a singer-songwriter. As a bluesman out from the Charles River delta, Brendan Hogan nails the "down-home Cambridge blues" sound, which is to say it's somewhat folky, but Hogan sings and fingerpicks quite well. He reminds me of Ellis Paul a bit. Dogwalker by day and singer/songwriter by night, Dietrich Strause has a way with words and with melody.

Kudos to the notloB group for organizing so many special, small-scale folk concerts over the past few years. Keep an eye on them, if you're interested; they do other shows that are over $10.

FRI 6/19

9:30pm
Josh Lederman & the CSARS, Kay McKinstry & the Good Poor, The Klezwoods
at Precinct, 70 Union Sq, Somerville (Union Sq)
$5-ish

Once upon a time, we had Josh Lederman playing around town all the time. He was gathered some of the finest roots players to mix his potent blend of folk/world frenzy, but that's no longer the case. Lederman has moved to Pennsylvania, because he thinks it's more important to further his education instead of serenading barflies. He's back in town for a CD release show by the "Cambridge-Somerville All Stars".

The good news is that some of the CSARs have permuted into The Good Pour led by Lederman's back-up vocalist Kay McKinstry. I happened to be at their debut last week and was blown away that sweet voice in full effect over chilled alt-country/Americana. The Klezwoods gets the party started; they call themselves as "Jew-Jazz", and it fits. Good stuff!

FRI 6/19 (thru FRI 8/28)

Sunset (about 8pm)
Friday Flicks: "Tales of Despereaux"
at Hatch Shell, Charles River Esplanade, Storrow Dr, Boston
FREE

It probably won't be a "kick back on the lawn and watch a cartoon" kind of night, but the "Free Friday Flicks" pick up again on July 10. Some of the movies are even good!