THUR 7/2: Films, Country, Rock

Interesting that Harvard and MIT have film events tonight. One is a sneak preview, and one is free...

Yes, the weather sucks. It was the worst June that anyone can remember. We can't change the past, and sunny days are supposed to be on the way.

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THUR 7/2

6pm to 8pm
"Examined Life": Screening & Discussion
at Room 120, Bldg 6, 182 Memorial Drive (Rear), Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

I've read positive and negative reviews about this movie, but the content is bound stimulate thought and discussion. It's a set of vignettes with great contemporary minds like Slavoj Zizek and Cornel West examining various topics in juxtaposed or ironic settings.

The cool part is that there will be dinner and discussion afterward moderated by Professor Sally Haslanger (philosopy, MIT). Anyone can attend, and I've seen pretty good (but not fancy) spreads at free MIT events like this in the past.

THUR 7/2

7pm
"The Hurt Locker"
at Harvard Film Archive, Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
$10

I was a little shocked to find this out, but the director of "Point Break" is highly regarded for her oeuvre. Kathryn Bigelow is apparently known for bringing a twist to the various action movies as well as exploring the nature of individualism versus society in general.

Her latest film (currently in NY & LA) follows an Army bomb disposal unit under extreme pressure in Iraq.

Kathryn Bigelow will be in attendance at tonight's screening. This is part of a Bigelow film series that began yesterday.

THUR 7/2

9:30pm
Butcher Holler: "A Tribute to Loretta Lynn"
Feat: The Eilen Jewell Band w/ Miller & Brewer
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$7 advance / $8 door / 21+

For some reason, some of the greatest musical moments happen at this little basement of awesomeness. Wherever Eilen Jewell experiences a moment of musical awesomeness when you hear her strong, sultry timbre and crack band. It's a bit more fun when the band does one of their occasional gigs as Butcher Holler, a Loretta Lynn tribute band.

Some people have no idea who Lynn is, some people know her as the "coalminer's daughter", and some people obviously know that Lynn is too far if you were looking for fried clams at Kelly's...

Eilen on Loretta Lynn:

Her songwriting is quirky but poetic in a way that only she could pull off. I’ve heard it said that she has had more of her songs banned than any other country music artist, which I think is pretty awesome. With songs like "Dear Uncle Sam," one of the few anti-war country songs in existence, and "Rated X" and "The Pill" which came right out and talked about divorce and birth control while they were still very taboo–man, she’s gutsy! I wish more people up there on the country music charts were keeping their listeners on their toes, rather than simply conforming to and confirming their flag-waving, bigoted stereotypes. Don’t get me stahhted.

Most of the Jewell Band play instrumental country/jazz in Miller & Brewer with guitarist Lyle Brewer.

THUR 7/2

9:30pm
The Wandas, 28 Degrees Taurus, Static Of The Gods, Where The Land Meets The Sea
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$8 / 18+

It's an interesting show. There are 3 bands that have female vocalists that traffic in textured modern rock that I've used all my usual adjectives to describe in the past -- from fuzzy to melodic to riff-tastic. All good stuff.

Then you have The Wandas (or "the WANDAS", I'm not digging alternate lower-case/upper-case thing). None are named Wanda or are women. They do play some excellent power-pop. People should get in on the bottom floor, just in case they become the next Boston band to blow up the blogosphere a la Passion Pit. Or fade in obscurity...