FRI 10/9: Rap, Rock, Soul, Uke, Horror

Obviously you can make your own "good time" wherever you are, but sometimes I get a feeling about an event. For the "Material Girl" fans, you can go to a Madonna karaoke party at Limelight tonight. Sing a song to win prizes... A drag queen will host... [Facebook]

So... This is my list, and these are things that I'd be more willing to do than Madonna-oke. (Don't get me wrong, I was interested in something like this. But feel free to go, and tell me I was wrong.)

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FRI 10/9

6pm
Boycott Blues
at Underground Hip-Hop Headquarters, 234 Huntington Ave, Boston (South End-ish)
FREE / 15+

I like the way that Boycott Blues puts samples together (listen to Work'n On It). It's not quite as indie-rock-friendly as a Beck, but maybe closer to classic Kool Keith or Prince Paul. (Did I think of those artists because of the alliteration?)

Free bit of rap to start the long weekend. Let's hope for a Columbus Day screed...

FRI 10/9

7pm (doors open)
WFNX Disorientation
Feat: Black Joe Lewis, White Rabbits
at Lansdowne Pub, 9 Lansdowne St, Boston
FREE w/ RSVP / 21+

I entered my info last night for this show, but I haven't received a response. On other concerts this week, they've stopped accepting requests, so I think you can still try to RSVP.

It would be worth it just to catch Black Joe Lewis. He and his band are in the top tier of the retro-soul movement along with Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and a couple others. This is not polite reverence for the classics -- Black Joe Lewis gets nasty and bluesy for a modern Stax vibe.

White Rabbits are a really strong indie-rock band with some killer songs in the vein of The Walkmen, Delta Spirit, etc.

FRI 10/9

7:30 pm
"Tough Times Don't Last; Ukuleles Do"
at Spiegel Auditorium/Blacksmith House, 56 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$10

Feat: Danno Sullivan, Jumpin’ Jim Beloff & Liz Beloff, Joel "Ukulele Eck" Eckhaus, Davis Sweet

I didn't listen to any of these guys, because I already have a good idea of what these guys are doing (and the audio samples were readily available). It's billed as a "Night of Not-Depressing Songs", so expect a lot of classic tunes from the '20s and thereabouts.

I've been saying (now and then) that we're at the cusp of a ukulele renaissance. It's cheap, portable, easy-to-learn, and powerfully joy-inducing.

Tickets will be available at the door, but advance purchase is recommended via 617-547-6789 or online.

FRI 10/9

9pm
The Beatings, The Dirty Truckers, Muck & The Mires, Tori Pyne
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 / 18+

There is a lot of variety in this lineup. The meat in the sonic sandwich is comprised of the Stonesy, sometimes twangy, rip-roaring rock of The Dirty Truckers and the nonpareil fusion of early Mersey-like garage-rock 'n punk power of Muck & The Mires.

The Beatings started out at the beginning of the decade with deliciously fresh, noisy, fuzzy post-punk. I think they took a break for a while, but they're back together with a new CD that sounds stronger and more focused than before.

Tori Pyne starts off with some rock that has a swinging, jazzy twist.

FRI 10/9

9:30pm
The Upper Crust, Cortez, Cocked N' Loaded
at Harpers Ferry, 158 Brighton Ave, Allston
$10 / 18+

The Upper Crust is a cross between AC/DC, Aerosmith, and 18th-century aristocrats. These "fop-rockers" are actually veteran players from the Boston punk scene. The lyrics are funny and they dress in costumes and wigs, but the music rawks.

They are the dessert of a three-course meal of heavy, loud, punky, ballsy rock.

FRI 10/9

Midnight
The "Army Of Darkness" Quote-Along
at Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
$10

Probably only for "Evil Dead" fans, but I think this could be more fun than you-know-what. As someone who doesn't love horror films, I enjoy this series due to the humor and strong storytelling. (Director Sam Raimi may be one of the few horror directors that still made good movies when given bigger budgets.)

The third "Evil Dead" film presented by The Action Pack -- the folks behind the "R. Kelly's Trapped in the Closet" & "Ladies of the 80s" sing-alongs and "Labyrinth" & "Princess Bride" quote-alongs.

The midnight shows at Coolidge Corner are usually a really fun time, and the final entry in the "Evil Dead" trilogy is likely to meet or exceed expectations.