SUN 1/17: Lit, Film, Rock, Jazz

They say it may rain/snow later, but we own umbrellas and jackets, right?

If you have MLK Jr Day off, then today is like Saturday...

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SUN 1/17

1:30pm
Author Talk: George Saunders & Ha Jin
at Abbey Room, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

Mentioned mainly for people that already like at least one of these two acclaimed essayists with new collections out. Saunders pieces in "The Braindead Megaphone" are generally humorous, while Ha Jin's stories in "A Good Fall" deal with people that are having challenges in America.

SUN 1/17

3:30pm
"HomeGrown": Screening & Discussion
at Conference Auditorium (downstairs), George Sherman Union, 775 Comm Ave, Boston (BU campus)
$5 donation

Begin their 3rd Annual Winter Film Series, Slow Food Boston is presenting a 52-minute documentary about a family living off the grid just miles from downtown LA and producing 3 tons of food per year on their 1/4 acre property. Did I mention that they live mostly off the grid. (I don't care if you use a solar-powered computer to maintain your website, the Internet is "the grid".) Still, these folks could inspirational to the urban-dweller who'd like to do a little more. (As someone who's familiar with Pasadena, there are some parts that are about as urban as Newton...)

The panel discussion afterward will include Lisa Gross (founder, Urban Homesteaders' League) and Jess Liborio (Urban Grower, the Food Project).

SUN 1/17

Larcenist (10:20pm), Coyote Kolb (9:25pm), Lonesome Republic (8:30pm), We Were Ghosts (7:35pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8

Wow, even though it's a three-day weekend for many, the bands are starting a bit early. Larcenist is bound to touch on lots of influences when there are 4 songwriters (and 5 singers) in one band. There's still an earnestly rockin' continuity though. I think of them as "heavy Americana". Coyote Kolb fall on the 'city' side of alt-country to me; it's rock that dabbles with the fuzzed-out dirges that I loved from Neil Young. They do they're own thing to make it modern. We Were Ghosts have a synth-heavy vibe that doesn't jibe that well, but should be pleasant if you don't mind the robo-vocals. Lonesome Republic is the wild-card; some these guys play in this hardcore band, but you never know...

SUN 1/17

8pm to 11pm
Now Vs Now
at The Beehive, 541 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
FREE

Some of this progressive, funky electro-jazz is not necessarily my cup of tea, but keyboardist Jason Lindner has drawn accolades from respected jazz publication and fellow musicians. It's the NYC trio's first Boston gig, so you could say you were there from the beginning.

SUN 1/17

9pm
Treat Her Right
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

Jim Fitting and David Champagne, along with the great Mark Sandman, had a rocking outfit about 20 years ago called Treat Her Right. Billy Conway was the drummer, but he lives in Montana these days. They had a bluesy flair and solid songwriting.

It felt so good to play the old tunes at the Sandman tribute concert in September, they decided to do it again and a few more times. Tim Gearan, Billy Beard, and Steve Mayone will fill out the band for an evening of great fun.