FRI 4/30: Dance, Talk, Blues, Jacko, Rock, Comedy

I saw it's Willie Nelson's birthday today, and he is "77 years young." I wish I could party with Willie today -- not just for the sweet cheeba he'd have.

What living musical treasure he is! And he seems like a generally cool guy to hang out with.


So here's to you, Willie! I'm sure he would love a Red Sox victory tonight and/or maybe LeBron James' arm could fall off at the elbow... Woo-hoo.

Two things that will be crowded and have no space left: "The Science of Cheese": talk & tasting as part of the Cambridge Science Festival - and - the opening reception of the art exhibit called "Get Your Freak On! Celebrating Circus Folk, Carnies & Sideshow Freaks". The art exhibit is having another party next Friday, so I'd suggest going then.

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

FRI 4/30

6pm, 7:30pm
"Movement at the Mills"
at Mills Gallery, Boston Center for the Arts, 551 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
FREE

Feat: Weber Dance, Sun Ho Kim & Dancers, Kendra Heithoff

I don't think there's an exhibit in the gallery, so you should pay attention to the 3 modern dance performances that should happen simultaneously in different spaces of the gallery.

FRI 4/30

6pm
Bill McKibben, "Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5

Tickets available at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass Ave -- or by phone: 617-661-1515.

Whe I've seen interviews of Bill McKibben, he comes across as extremely informative, concise, and clearheaded. I always feel like I better understand the dangers to the planet. Speaking of the planet, his new book posits that we can't fix how we've screwed up Earth so we just have to adapt to the new reality.

FRI 4/30

6pm to 8pm
Dennis Brennan & Mike Dinallo Duo
at Sally O'Brien's, 335 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE

If you're grabbing a drink in Union Square tonight, you might as well hear some "blues and ballads" from the amazing Dennis Brennan and his buddy and excellent guitarist/producer Michael Dinallo.

FRI 4/30 (and SAT 5/1)

7:30pm
"The Michael Jackson Case"
at Berklee Performance Center, 136 Mass Ave, Boston (Back Bay)
$10

I wouldn't recommend this musical if they weren't going to perform Michael Jackson songs. It's fine to have a story about a detective investigating his death, but don't give me cheesy Broadway knock-offs about where his doctor is hiding.

Two of the guest artists will be singer Siedah Garrett (who wrote "Man in the Mirror") and Michael Bearden (MJ's musical director).

You could pay many times more than $10 to see "Young Frankenstein", and the songs won't be better.

FRI 4/30

9pm to 11pm
Idea Night: Silent LED Rave
at The Laboratory, Northwest Bldg, 52 Oxford St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

9pm
SSSS Presents: Silent Disco
at Milky Way Lounge / Bella Luna, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain (The Brewery Complex)
$5

Silent raves may have worn out their welcome with me after the second one I noticed. I love enjoy being noisy; let others who want to party quietly do so, which seems courteous...

There are two if you're in the mood. Harvard is doing the 'old-fashioned' way where you download the mp3's then you bring your player and watch the trippy projections. More than 200 people have RSVP'ed on the Facebook page.

The Milky Way has 4 DJ's (Voltran, DJ Domonique, Edukation, L.E.D.Fut) transmitting the beats into your head via wireless headphones that they provide while different trippy visuals are projected.

FRI 4/30

The Everyday Visuals (Midnight), The Lights Out (11pm), Flying Machines (10pm), Aloud (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

Just think about the power-pop awesomeness that is The Everyday Visuals: Not only are their own songs full of rocking' melody and harmony, they sometimes perform The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" from beginning to end. Add the punchy hook-laden guitar-rock of The Lights Out. Add the anthemic rock gloriousness of Aloud. (Hey, world. What's taking you so long t make this band gigantic stars?) Add the polished pop of Flying Machines. This equals to giant gobs of good music from boot to bonnet.

(I liked the flyer even though it made me feel a little dizzy.)

FRI 4/30

9:30pm
Union Square Round Table: "Insufficient Funds"
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$10 / 21+

The theme "Insufficient Funds" is not funny. I imagine there will still be funny, amusing performances. This might be the last time Patrick Bryant brings the complaint letters of Somerville Speakout to the Round Table for a while.

The musical guests are one half of Mr Airplane Man's new raw, bluesy project Sister Spaceman and the curious song stylings of Jonny Cohen.

Some of the expected performers: Chris Braiotta, TD Sidell, Ben Dryer, Keira Horowitz, Nick Branigan, Caitlin Roy, Erik P. Kraft, Gretchen Gavett, Katie McCarthy

FRI 4/30

9:30pm
Milquetoast & Co, Jeddo Stars, Vulgarrity
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$8 / 21+

I've said it before: Sometimes three bands are the right amount. (Maybe most of the time.) If someone consciously put these bands together, they've curated a cool mix of twangy, sardonic chill-rock with strings; garagey indie-pop, and ballsy rock from a brother-sister duo of multi-instrumentalists.

If not, they've had a happy accident.