SAT 8/1: "Yard Sale", Rock, Rap, Beer & Chocolate

Well, this day didn't turn out the way I planned... Remember there's Shakespeare in the Common too!

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SAT 8/1

3pm to 7pm
Somerville Rock & Roll Yard Sale
at Union Sq Plaza, 90 Union Sq, Somerville
FREE

Feat: Cotton Candy (4pm?), The 'Mericans (5pm?), Somerville Speakout, The Blind King, Chrisy Gavin

The Yard Sale is back for the third year. What makes this different from other DIY fairs? It's the attitude, maaaan... It's going to be a fun vibe. It's free to walk around and listen to the tunes, but there's going to be all sorts of cool stuff for sale like t-shirts, records, handmade stuff -- everything very rock 'n roll.

Someone might even have one of Slash's old nipple rings!

Rain date: SUN 8/2

SAT 8/1

3pm to 6pm
Beer & Taza Chocolate Tasting
at Wine Gallery, 375 Boylston St, Brookline
FREE

Maybe "beer and chocolate" doesn't sound like the perfect match, but they've done it before with splendid results.

If you live nearby or going in that direction, you should stop because:
1) Free beer samples are better than nothing, and you might taste your new favorite.
2) Taza chocolate is awesome, and even sample bites will knock you out.
3) DrinkCraftBeer guys are good people who've chosen some interesting brews. Very cool guys who might just give you a second taste of a beer if you're not quite sure about buying a six-pack yet.

SAT 8/1

4pm
Annual Peace Hip-Hop Festival
at Strand Theatre, 543 Columbia Rd, Dorchester (Uphams Corner)
FREE

Feat: Whodini, Breje, Blues, Moe Pope, M. Dot, Boston Tap Company, more

You don't get much more "old school" than Whodini! Gotta admire the organizers for keeping this annual concert going, even though they had to move indoors.

You can pick up tix on Saturday beginning at 10am. Tickets guarantee entrance up to 3:30pm. If not full, anyone can go in.

SAT 8/1

4:30pm
Boston Phoenix/WFNX Best Music Poll 2009 Concert
at City Hall Plaza, Boston (Govt Center)
FREE

Feat: Passion Pit, Metric, Gaslight Anthem, Ra Ra Riot, The Bravery, The Airborne Toxic Event

Yes, this is really a free show! Metric must still be awesome in the daylight. Gaslight Anthem sounds really good. Ra Ra Riot get a big thumbs up. The Bravery have some good stuff. The Airborne Toxic Event might be surprisingly good... What better way to listen to Passion Pit than at a free concert?

SAT 8/1

8pm
Alasdair Roberts
at Lorem Ipsum Books, 157 Hampshire Street, Cambridge (Inman Sq)
$5 to $10 suggested donation / All ages

This singer-songwriter from Scotland plays some lovely folk, and I like the idea of concerts in unorthodox locations.

SAT 8/1

The Coffin Lids (Midnight), The Lyres (11pm), Muck & the Mires (10pm), Triple Thick (9pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10

An orgasmic explosion of Boston garage-rock. The Lyres are a crapshoot, but they're a classic. On the plus side, Muck & the Mires are consistently awesome. Coffin Lids and Triple Thick will start you off in a good mood and have you leaving the club with a big, boozy smile.

SAT 8/1

9:30pm
Wheat, Bon Savants, The XYZ Affair
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$10 / 21+

Wheat isn't the same band that I fell in love with about 7 or 8 years ago, but they still make tasty, inimitable modern-pop. Bon Savants and The XYZ Affair will warm up your ears pretty well/

DJ sets by MR. F