SUN 8/23: Art, Music, & August Moon Fest

Oh, boy. If you weren't one of the 400 or so people at the yesterday's Ice Cream Party in Union Square, you missed out on a great deal. It really was $2 for all the delicious locally-made ice you could eat! The organizers are going to do other food events, so I'll hopefully keep you posted...

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SUN 8/23

11am to 5pm
Annual Quincy August Moon Festival
around 1400 to 1600 Hancock St, Quincy (Quincy Center)
FREE

If you were interested in going to Chinatown's August Moon festival last week, here's another chance. This usually has a good crowd as well.

I go to these things for the variety of authentic food that's available, which seems appropriate for what is apparently the equivalent to Chinese Thanksgiving. I also walk around and absorb some of the music, dance, and other cultural elements.

Look for the mooncakes.

SUN 8/23

Noon to 8pm
Exposure Arts Boston
at DeFilippo Playground, about 115 Prince St, Boston (North End)
FREE

I think the name must be a bit of a joke. I found out about this event from a band's MySpace that didn't even mention the name, then I saw a flyer at a pizza shop. They have one site and a blog, and neither mentions the current show.

Artists are going to display their work, and bands will play throughout the day. There's no festa in North End this weekend, so if you're walking through, could swing by. Some of the musicians scheduled to play: Pierce Cailan, Kellee Webb, and The Devil and a Penny.

SUN 8/23

These United States (11pm), Sleepyhead (10pm), Phonograph (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

I found These United States somewhere between triptastic, down-homey rootsiness and clanging indie-pop, and I nodded my head and hope they spread the good feelings for these United States.

It's a nice treat to also have Sleepyhead on the bill. If I was aware of them previously, it seems like I've forgotten. As soon as the song started playing, I was bowled over by the catchy, angular indie-pop. They're actually an established NYC band that hip people would know about; they moved to Boston for some family life, but they still rock!

One might guess Phonograph is on the alt-country tip because they all have flannel shirts, but there's some cool musical twists that happen quite splendidly throughout their songs. Those little bits of noise and/or electronics might otherwise seem forced, but it really works in a edgy yet comfortable manner. Space cowboys in the best possible way!

SUN 8/23

9pm
Manners, The Points North, tiny mtns, Dreamtigers
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 / 18+

It's another Grinding Tapes showcase as they curate some of the most interesting (mostly) acoustic acts around.

It's a stretch to simply call Manners a "folk act", when it's more like ambient, melodic tone-poems. On the other hand, listening to The Points North gives you the impression that these are age-old songs that were only recently dug out of the ground. Maybe it's the acoustic guitars, accordions, flutes, etc; but it's beautiful stuff that would sound great electric as well.

tiny mtns is the new project from Elijah Wyman who must be enjoying New England as he's spending quite a bit of time away from North Carolina. Of the four artists, his lyrics hit me most immediately. There's strong emotions and ideas in his musical tales. I'm beginning there really may be something in the water or the air in that state that gave us James Taylor, Ryan Adams, and many others.

Although there's a hint of synth in Wyman's new songs, Dreamtigers seems all-out electric. It's probably feels like mellow music to the band who used to be in various hardcore bands.