FRI 8/21: GreenFest, Film, Much Rock

Umm, I don't know what happened with today's post. It's been a busy day, and I hadn't checked it... (I edited the GreenFest to be a bit more current.)

Oh, and... You have until 6pm to sign up for tomorrow's Revolutionary Water Gun Battle.

(FYI: I've got a surprise coming for e-list subscribers.)

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FRI 8/21 & SAT 8/22

10am to 10pm
Boston GreenFest 2009
at City Hall Plaza, Boston (Govt Center)
FREE

My favorite "green" word that I hear more and more is "sustainability". (I like it even better than "green".) It more aptly expresses efforts to live in a responsible manner with respect for limited resources.

These festivals and fairs are great places to gain some knowledge and practical tips. GreenFest looks like they've put a lot thought into making it fun with activities, etc.

Or you can ignore the environment and listen to the bands. A very cool part is the massive amount of music going on all day long today and tomorrow. There are two main stages and a family stage.

Here are links to bands I like or heard of. There's a great string of rock bands this afternoon, and a special rock treat from Memphis, Lucero, is playing tomorrow night.

FRI 8/21

Main Stage

3pm -- Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents
4pm -- The Lights Out
5pm -- The Gentlemen
6pm -- The Neighborhoods
6:50pm -- Bill Thomas of Eco Answers US talks about "Green Jobs" for 15 minutes
7pm -- Soulshot
8:10pm -- Incus
9:10pm -- Mamadou

SAT 8/22

Main Stage

1:15pm -- Michael & Marisa
3:15pm -- Mighty Mystic & The Strings Of Thunder
5pm -- The Dirty Truckers
6pm -- Midatlantic
7pm -- John Powhida International Airport
8pm -- *AM Stereo
9pm -- Lucero

Second Stage

3pm -- Auto Interiors
4pm -- Watts
4:45pm -- Cassavettes

FRI 8/21

Sunset (about 8pm)
Friday Flicks: "Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"
at Hatch Shell, Storrow Dr, Boston (Charles River Esplanade)
FREE

Did you wan to see the latest Indiana Jones movie but were afraid to be disappointed? You can chill by river and watch it.

FRI 8/21

9pm
The Marvels, The Dirty Truckers, Vagiant, Pulp 45
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

The highlight of this gig is the reunion of The Marvels who vigorously rocked the town for a few years, and they're returning from a 4-year hiatus. I think I was at one of their last shows at the Abbey Lounge (soon to reopen as a restaurant). I remember thinking what a shame to end the band, because it was just about the perfect recipe of propulsive punk-rock with cool songs to provide the frame. I have no doubt they'll pick up where they left off.

Every band on the bill is pretty damn awesome. A lot of bands say it, but I'd be shocked if this doesn't sell out.

FRI 8/21

MeandJoanCollins (Midnight), Thick As Thieves (11pm), A Wish For Fire (10pm), Oranjuly (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8

If you're looking for more of a twist in your rock experience, there's the MeandJoanCollins gig. I highly recommend seeing MandJC whenever you can. A couple months ago, I postulated that they may be the best Boston band of the year. I don't think they're my favorite band (yet), but I recognize MeandJoanCollins are doing the most stimulating music that I'm aware of.

Thick As Thieves and A Wish For Fire both make respectable, progressive, modern rock. I dig Oranjuly's powerpop vibe.

FRI 8/21

9:30pm
Frederick's Brown, The Nephrock Allstars
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$10 / 21+

This show probably has the biggest, under-the-radar surprise potential of the week. Frederick's Brown is soulful, bluesy, jazzy project that sounds so good, it's hard to believe they're playing at Lizard Lounge! It's not just about the vocals of Deva Mahal who happens to be the daughter of great bluesman Taj Mahal, but her singing is all there. It's a musical crime that this isn't on the radio and a million ipods.

it was hard to find info on The Nephrock Allstars. Earlier there was a tidbit on this bassist's MySpace that listed the players (Amy Bowles, Jeff Lockheart, Jack Deboe, Nephtalleum Mcrarrie, [himself]. Hellacious funkiness was promised...

FRI 8/21

9:30pm
The Needy Visions, Hilken Mancini
at New Milky Way Lounge / Bella Luna, 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain (The Brewery Complex)
$3 / 21+

Hey, JP folks. You probably already know that live rock is happening for the first time at the new Milky Way Lounge. Hilken Mancini radiates rockstar-cool, and I'm a fan of whatever she's doing. The Needy Visions make fun, joyously messy indie-rock.

The new place is really more of an expanded version of the upstairs restaurant with elements of the old downstairs club, but it's good to support local business people who've done a lot of good and who got screwed over which forced them to move.

On the bright side, the new place is closer to the T.

Members of Certainly Sir are going to DJ between sets, and I assume one of the Sirs will be Phoenix editor Michael Brodeur.