THUR 4/15: Talks, Art, Music

It's tax day, and I don't feel too good myself...

There are some tax-day deals around town.

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THUR 4/15

4pm
Elizabeth Strout: Q&A Session
FREE

6pm
Elizabeth Strout: Reading
FREE w/ RSVP

at Paramount Theatre, Bright Family Screening Room, 559 Washington St, Boston (Downtown Crossing)


Elizabeth Strout's accomplishments are long, but last year's Pulitzer Prize for her collection of short stories "Olive Kitteridge" tied together by the characters who live in Maine. She has edited the Spring '10 issue of Ploughshares. You could go for the earlier session, or RSVP for the reading which seemed to be open when I last checked.

THUR 4/15

6pm
Gallery Talk: Dr. Lakra
at Institute for Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave, Boston (South Boston/Seaport)
FREE

Anyone can visit the ICA for free on Thursdays from 5pm to 9pm. Why not join tattooist/tattoo-inspired artist Dr Lakra and curator of his exhibit Pedro Alonzo for a talk in the gallery.

Based on an interview I recently read, I'm guessing there will an interpreter.


THUR 4/15

7pm
Burning Oak, Coyote Kolb, Jeff Rowe, Matt Murphy, Steve Terry, Jonathan Schoeck
at Lily Pad, 1353 Cambridge St, Cambridge (Inman Sq)
FREE / All Ages

Friends for Family Records presents a night of good ole rocking' folkiness and alt-country. Some of the guys from Larcenist are doing their own thing, and I'd wager these friends will sit in together over the night.

THUR 4/15

7pm
Yann Martel, "Beatrice and Virgil": Reading
at First Parish Church, 3 Church St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5

If you liked "Life of Pi", the authors next novel seems ready to play with your imagination again.

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

THUR 4/15

9pm
Jim's Big Ego: "The Ego & The Oracle"
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$10 / 21+

I've seen this show several times over the years, and the beauty of "The Ego & The Oracle" is that the format is the same yet the performance never is...

It's a humorous mix of music, audience participation, and prognostication. The band is "The (Jim's Big) Ego", and the Wheel of Song is "The Oracle" which answers your question from dozens of ditties by the fantastic Jim's Big Ego -- like the rock 'n roll version of I Ching.

At the beginning of the show, everyone writes down a question about the future. It could be something serious or a goofball question normally reserved for a Magic 8-Ball. The "magic" begins when a question is chosen from the box and the wheel is spun to pick the soothsaying song.

"The Interpreter" sits with the audience member to analyze the meaning that may or may not be hidden. It's amazing how a random song can respond to a random question in such relevant and/or funny ways.

THUR 4/15

9:30pm
"Rock the Village": Rock City Music & Style Show
at Harpers Ferry, 158 Brighton Ave, Allston
$10

Feat: The Organ Beats, Build A Machine, Planetoid, Matalon

Every year the folks in Allston raise fund to improve their town by mixing bands with local merchants displaying their clothes & wares. Music and fashion are two of the things that Allstonians do best -- and it never hurts to beautify the neighborhood.

It's pretty much a hard-rockin' night with some of the best in town. I shouldn't even mention Damone anymore when talking about The Organ Beats. Noelle seems to have completely come into her own, and it's more great vocals over killer songs. Build A Machine doest the funk/rock/reggae thing, and guys like Stephen Perkins (Jane's Addiction) and Angelo Moore (Fishbone) have sat in with them. Even if Planetoid didn't dress like fashionable aliens and robots, they'd still have the top-notch music going for them.

Proceeds benefit Allston Village Main Streets.

THUR 4/15

9:30pm
Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents (11:15pm), Bill Janovitz & Crown Victoria (10:15pm), The Phil Aiken Army (9:30pm)
at Precinct, 70 Union Sq, Somerville (Union Sq)
$8

Do I really need to do anything more than tell you that Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents are playing (as well as the the next two Thursdays)? Her most sensational soul spectacularness should be enough. Her special guests kick ass too. The tremendous Bill Janovitz (of Buffalo Tom) brings the Crown Victoria band so don't start trouble.