WED 7/15: A**holes, Classical, Film, Folk

I'm back. Feeling rested and relaxed. The sun even shone in Maine for much of the time, so my mosquito bites blend with my mild tan.

Hopefully, I'll get this site up-to-date soon...

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WED 7/15

6pm
Open Call: "America's Biggest A**Hole"
at Red Sky, 16 North Street, Boston (Faneuil Hall)
FREE / Your Dignity

You know someone from Boston is going to be a contender. For years, this town has provided some of reality TV's biggest jerks. (My chances would be good -- if only I didn't hate reality television...)

Even though some people think you are hysterical, do you happen to piss a lot of people off?

Can you irritate a perfect stranger? Are you quick on your feet? Can you handle a very strong personality? Are you a practical joker?

Bring a photo and bio.

You can pick up today's Metro for some first-hand quotes from Monday's session. (Couldn't find the online version.)

WED 7/15

7pm
Boston Landmarks Orchestra, "Intensely Italian"
at Hatch Shell, Charles River Esplanade, Storrow Dr, Boston
FREE

Free orchestral music on the Esplanade isn't over, it's just beginning. The Boston Landmarks Orchestra is performing at the Hatch Shell on Wednesdays -- as well as other concerts -- through September.

If the composer isn't Italian, the music is meant to celebrate how awesome Italy is. Tonight's program:

- Giuseppe Verdi, "Overture to La Forza del Destino"
- Felix Mendelssohn, "Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90"
- Giuseppe Domenico Scarlatti & Vincenzo Tommasini, "The Good-Humored Ladies"
- Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, "Capriccio Italien, Op. 92"

Hey, it's going to be nice night to be outside.

WED 7/15

7:30pm
"Paper Heart": Screening
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville
FREE w/ Flyer [PDF]

It's tough to gauge whether this is a chance to see one of the stand-out films of the year before your friends and family. Or it may be a cutesy, overly clever hipster mockumentary about love. It might even be both.

The premise is that actress Charlyne Yi doesn't believe in love and decides to interview friends and strangers about how people fall in love when... she interviews dork superstar Michael Cera. There's chemistry, and their relationship becomes integral to the "documentary". It's actually a scripted film, and the actors seem to be dating in real life.

Charlyne Yi and Jake Johnson (who plays "Nick", the director) will appear for a Q&A session.

Print the PDF flyer and arrive early. "Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and is not guaranteed."

WED 7/15

8pm
New York Songwriters Circle
Feat: Mieka Pauley, Seth Glier, Caleb Hawley, Will Knox, Liz Longley, Jesse Ruben
at Cafe 939, 939 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
$10

The New York Songwriters Circle started a couple decades ago as a regular gathering at NYC's Bitter End, and they started a competition about 5 years ago. As much as we can hate their baseball teams, New York is a place where good musicians often go to find "success".

Tonight isn't a part of the contest, but the wonderful Mieka Pauley won the grand prize competition last year -- so even if it's rigged in some way, they have good taste! Almost all of the other performers are Songwriters Circle contest finalists in the past couple years.

Several of tonight's performers are former or current Boston residents, and almost all of the other performers are Songwriters Circle contest finalists in the past couple years.

All of these singer-songwriters have got seriously good songs and chops. I liked that Caleb Hawley has already written a song about Michael Jackson's death (comparing him to Elvis). Will Knox and Liz Longley sound really good.

Each will probably perform a few songs in the round, which is hosted by Tina Shafer artistic director of the NYSC. FYI: This is a great room to hear music.