SAT 1/9: Moby Dick, Art, Film, Rock

Better late then never? Had you already decide what you're doing tonight? I have an idea, but you never know...

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SAT 1/9 & SUN 1/10

Noon to ???
14th Annual Moby Dick Marathon
at New Bedford Whaling Museum, 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford
FREE

More than a hundred readers will take turns to recite Melville's classic for about 25 hours. Food and drink will be available, but you don't have to stay for the whole whale tale. It's free, so come and go as you please.

More than 100 people get about 10 minutes each, and two podiums (podia?) are set up for continuous reading under whale skeletons and around other artifacts. Last year, the readers included a great-grandson of Herman Melville and the Mayor of New Bedford, and I don't see why you might find them reading again.

SAT 1/9

Noon to 7pm
FlexiB, "Drawing Disappearance"
at MEME Gallery, 55 Norfolk St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

It's your last chance to see FlexiB in action. As mentioned on Monday, the wall is sanded every night to start with new art on top of the 'ghosts of art past'.

Swing by if you're in Central Square.

SAT 1/9

7pm, 9:30pm
"Trust Us, This Is All Made Up": Screening and Q&A
at Somerville Theatre Screening Room, 55 Davis Square, Somerville
$5

A 50-minute improv comedy performance becomes an 83-minute concert film with some context.

Some people will laugh their heads off, and some will scratch their heads and wonder why two guys go to such a marathon effort of improvisation. Others will laugh a few times and marvel that these two create nearly an hour of new material every show.

The performers are not going for cheap laughs, they're pushing the boundaries of their craft. Maybe a multi-show compilation might have packed in the "primo stuff", but this is closer to the actual experience. (Yes, the shorter guy has been in Sonic Drive-In commercials. And the other guy has been in a bunch of films.)

I assume director Alex Karpovsky will participate in Q& A sessions at both screenings, since he might still live around here.

SAT 1/9

8pm
Mary Lou Lord and Guests
at Arts at The Armory Cafe, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville (Spring Hill)
$10

I wonder if buskers on the Red Line ever think about Mary Lou Lord, the woman whose sweet voice was heard far beyond Alewife and Ashmont. Mainly known as an interpreter of songs (and for Courtney Love's dislike of her -- haha, Courtney, who is well-adjusted natural-looking artist now?).

There's not much more I can say about the show besides the little blurb. The gig is not on her MySpace, but I believe the folks at the Armory:

Singer-songwriter Mary Lou Lord will give an acoustic indie folk performance, along with special guests

.Googling didn't dig up the 'special guests', which might mean the guests really are special...

SAT 1/9

9:30pm
The Fatal Flaw, Arletta, Technoir MA
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$9 / 21+

Take a listen, and you'll know this is going to be a kick-ass night of indie-rock. The fun will be that the bands all sound good, but there's little similarity. My favorite is The Fatal Flaw that's led by Joel Reader who's played in a bunch of cool bands (Pansy Division, Mr T Experience, Avengers). The music rocks with enough grit to carry those beautiful melodies and wry lyrics to plane where all flavors of music fans can coexist. Gotta love a band that writes songs referencing Journey ("Don't Start Believing") and Guns 'n Roses ("Where's Izzy?") as well as doing an unrecognizable Daft Punk cover ("Digital Love").

It's hard not to like Arletta who make an honest brand of folky rock that really doesn't get too folky. Maybe that earthy sound just comes from their South Carolina and Texas roots. Then you have Technoir MA, two guys and some electronics that whip up some electro-pop bliss.

SAT 1/9

10pm
The Motion Sick, The Downbeat 5
at Rosebud Bar & Grill, 381 Summer St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$5 / 21+

Two of my favorite bands are playing at the same place on the same night? I don't know if they've ever been on the same bill before. This must be like the first time someone put chocolate and peanut butter together! Maybe The Downbeat 5 is garage-rock peanut butter -- it tastes great when you keep it simple and pure. It can be creamy and crunchy. When you add soulful or punky flavors, you can still taste the peanuts.

The Motion Sick are chocolatey rock goodness to me. Like the wide variety of bitter/sweet delights, their sound is versatile from song to song, and it's always delicious.

I'm surprised the buzz isn't louder about the Rosebud. It's a really good spot that's hiding in plain sight behind the diner.