FRI 11/6: Art, Film, Comedy, Rock, TV

I know that the victims -- and their families -- of the Fort Hood attack are in all our thoughts and prayers today.

--------------------------------------------------------------

FRI 11/6

5pm to 9pm
First Friday Open Studios
at SoWa Arts Bldg, 450 Harrison Ave, Boston (South End)
FREE

There is usually a good crowd of people walking around and checking out the approximately 50 artist studios.

I've been, and you'll see some interesting and cool stuff. Meet some interesting artists (who might have some 'refreshments' for you).

FRI 11/6 & SUN 11/8

7pm, 10pm
"Stop Making Sense"
at Room 100, Bldg 26, 60 Vassar St, Cambridge (MIT Campus)
FREE

Sunday: 7pm only

This might be the best concert film ever made, which also captures a band near its artistic peak. I don't need to see "This is It" to know "Stop Making Sense" blows it away.

Though their not spoken of much these days, The Talking Heads were an amazing band who moved far beyond their early-CBGB, new wave origins.

And director Jonathan Demme knows how to film musical performances.

FRI 11/6

7:30pm
"The Gas"
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$10 / 18+

Feat: w/ Neil Hamburger, JP Inc (ex-Pleaseeasaur), Anderson Comedy Group

At the very least, Neil Hamburger *looks* funny (in a sad, gross way)... He is like the anti-Seinfeld in that his comedy is intentionally unfunny (to make you laugh or get upset or whatever turns you on).

After an anonymous poster called me "negative" because I didn't care for JP Inc a couple months ago, I spent a little more time watching some YouTube clips. I get it now; he's trying to be funny, and I laughed a little bit -- but not much.

If you're looking for atypical comedy, this is a pretty good time. (And early enough to hit that basement party...)

The Anderson Comedy folks will likely try to be funny.

FRI 11/6

8pm
Shoney Lamar & the Equal Rights, Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling, Mrs. Danvers, Justin Shorey
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 /21+

This is a tasty four-course musical meal, if they play in the anticipated order. Justin Shorey is a folky appetizer. Mrs. Danvers is a delightful primo like al dente, buttery powerpop pasta with juicy lyrics and plump musicianship. The secondo may have a long name, but Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling is a zingy, arty, lean plate of rockalicious meat. (Whoops, they're vegetarians! So pretend it's tofu...) Shoney Lamar & the Equal Rights are a bluesy, funky, freaky dessert -- like a purple tiramisu...

FRI 11/6 (to SUN 11/8)

9pm
Plough's 40th Anniversary Party
Feat: Family Jewels, Andrea Gillis, Mikey French Fries, Jeff Rowe
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass. Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

Dude, the Plough opened 40 years ago! I hope it lasts 40 more.

The weekend will be stacked with awesome musicians who have frequented that corner of the room and various stools around the bar...

Saturday:

4pm
Angeline, Monique Ortiz, Jimmy Ryan, Kaitlin Dibble, Josh Lederman, more

Sunday:

4pm
Michael Tarbox, The Raging Teens, The Konks, Triple Thick, Frank Drake, more

FRI 11/6

9:30pm
Found Footage Festival
at Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline
$10

The guys who brought us the online Found magazine are going around the country to show us a new set of funny found video-footage. I watched the preview, and this is definitely funny! Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher will present the offerings to make you laugh in between clips of awful Saturday morning cartoons, video dating profiles from the '80s, weird exercise videos, and more.

FRI 11/6 (& SUN 11/8)

9:30pm
"The Twilight Zone": TV on Big Screen
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$7 minimum donation

It's four episodes of old-time television, but these shows were better than most movies. Rod Serling was freaking people out on a weekly basis with wild twists in stories that often had a philosophical/intellectual angle.

There is one more Twilight Zone night on Sunday.

Tonight's episodes: "To Serve Man" (one of my faves!), "It's A Good Life", "Living Doll", "The Eye Of The Beholder"