FRI 3/5: Music & Film

I was a boy scout for about a year based on a technicality, but I want to raise my fingers and pledge that I won't screw up this weekend's posts like last week...

Yes, I mentioned the Harvard Divinity Buddhist presentation yesterday. I still wanted to let you know there's a Haitian "vodou" service tonight for those who passed on last month. The requested donation is $15 which benefits Partners in Health's Haiti relief, but I think you'll find it eye-opening yet still mysterious.

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FRI 3/5

7pm
Pretty & Nice, Title Tracks, Gary B & the Notions
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

It's rare to get this much outstanding powerpop at this hour of the night. I really believe it's going to start close to 7pm. I've been a fan of Pretty & Nice from the first time I heard that juiced-up powerpop, and they've expanded the sound while still keeping it awesome. Title Tracks pretty damn close to what I hear in my head when thinking about powerpop in the abstract -- the vocals just right, the guitars just right, the songs appropriately melodic but with some grit. There's a bit more grit in tunes of Gary B & the Notions, but I like it.

FRI 3/5

7:30pm
"The Age of Stupid": Screening
at First Parish Church, 3 Church St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5 suggested donation

Watch a different approach to the environmental documentary. The film is framed by actor Pete Postlethwaite portraying a lone surviving archivist in 2055 looking back at the inaction of "the past". The filmmakers spent 3 years filming different personal stories from around the world, which is buffered by other clips and interviews.

I imagine there will be a discussion as well, since the First Parish Climate Justice Task Force has organized the screening.

FRI 3/5

8pm
Barrence Whitfield & the Monkey Hips, Jenny Dee & the Dee-linquents, Jordan Valentine & the Sunday Sinners, Gene Dante & the Future Starlets, The Blizzard of 78, Jed Parish
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

Schedule:

12:10am -- Barrence Whitfield & the Monkey Hips
11:05pm -- Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents
10:30pm -- Jordan Valentine & the Sunday Saints
10pm -- Gene Dante & the Future Starlets
9:30pm -- The Blizzard of 78
9pm -- Jed Parish
8pm -- Eli Reed & Soul-Le-Lujah DJ's spin soul

When I was in high school, I remember watching concert films called the TAMI & TNT shows. They put on shows back in the '60s where The Rolling Stones and Beach Boys would play on the same bill as The Supremes and James Brown -- or The Lovin' Spoonful and The Byrds with The Ronettes and Ike & Tina Turner.

It's Soul and Rock explosion with too many damn good bands in one night. The night is capped by the amazing soul/R&B/ rock shouter Barrence Whitfield and one of his savage backing bands of local music ninjas The Monkey Hips. Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents are celebrating their CD release of 10 original, your-new-favorites of soul revival and a reimagining of "Shake Some Action" that songwriter Cyril Jordan called "fantastic" and gave him insight on his own song. It's a double-shot of big group soul thanks to the Memphis/NOLA vibe of Jordan Valentine & the Sunday Saints.

That could've been enough for mind-blowing show, but they had to include glamtastic Gene Dante and top-rocking Blizzard of '78. I don't know what Jed Parish (ex-Gravel Pit) will play, but it will be great. Get there early and get in the mood with DJ's Eli "Paperboy" Reed & Soul-Le-Lujah.

FRI 3/5

9:30pm
The Big Big Bucks, Babydriver, The Diamond Mines, Four Eyes
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$7 / 21+

I'd love to give this gig two big thumbs up; because I really dig The Diamond Mines, and The Big Big Bucks rock out too. Unfortunately I couldn't listen to Babydriver or Four Eyes due to technical issues. I'm pissed off at the internet and am taking it out on these guys. But I'm guessing their good... I wanted to offer some good cheap rock on the other side of the river.