FRI 5/21: Art, Tango, Comedy, Rock

Lots of options this weekend. Darn, I hope I can get more posted soon.

Have a good Friday night - whatever you do!

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FRI 5/21

6pm to 9pm
Caleb Neelon, "Imagination Wall": Reception
at Fourth Wall Gallery, 132 Brookline Ave, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
FREE

Caleb Neelon became involved with an art-therapy program at Children's Hospital Boston and created two large murals that can be seen at the gallery as well as other works.

I'm not sure if he gets tired of people saying how good he is for bringing art to young people when they're suffering, but he should be there tonight.

FRI 5/21

7:30pm to 11pm
Tango By Moonlight
at Weeks Memorial Footbridge, Memorial Dr & DeWolfe St, Harvard Sq
FREE

I'm surprised there haven't been other mentions of the season debut of moonlight dancing on the bridge. I wish I had been more ahead of it, but they'll be out there every time the moon is full, at least, through September

As usual, they'll start with brief tango lesson for the first 15 minutes or so, then you can try for as long as you like until the tango stymies you and dancing and sway in your own style.

It's a fun time with and without a partner, since you can usually find a partner or two. Perhaps the spirit will move you. I've gone several times over the years, and it's always a good time.

Date material? Yeah, I think so.

If you think the nerdy-romantic approach will work, you could start at the Harvard Book Store for a reading from the book "The Art of the Sonnet" (7pm) then walk over to the river.

FRI 5/21

7:30pm to 9:30pm
Anderson Comedy: "The Gas"
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
FREE / 18+

Feat: Andrew Mayer, Blake Wexler, Janet McNamara, Nate Johnson, Niraj Shah, Benny Bosh, Tim Vargulish, Sarah Heggan, Scott McLaughlin, Rob Crean

There's another comedy show tonight (below), but I can't guarantee that you'll be able to get a drink. Not that you'll need it with the plentiful roster of comedians, but a few pops do make it easier to laugh, no?

For you "American Idol" fans, you might remember Janet McNamara from her humorous audition...

FRI 5/21

8pm
BLVD Comedy
at blvd, 251 Newbury St, Boston (Back Bay)
$5 Suggested Donation

Feat: Ben Kronberg, Sameer Naseem, Dan Boulger, Sharkee Katz, Matt Kona, more

I'm not sure how this is going to work, but having a comedy show in a skater-fashion store on Newbury Street is intriguing. The suggested donation is meant to support the out-of-town comics like Ben Kronberg (who's done a couple of the late-night talk shows). And there are several very funny folks performing.

FRI 5/21

9pm
The Gondoliers Prom, w/ Big Digits, The Secret Sea
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$10 / 21+

The Gondoliers have thrown a "prom" gig for the past three years, and it looks like it's becoming a tradition for people who either didn't go or hated it the first time around. They actually do a good job of decorating the club, and people do get gussied up in semi-cheesy attire. You can see photos from 2008 and 2009 to get an idea.

Besides their own guitar-and-drums noise rock, The Secret Sea brings the synthy new-wave/indie-rock, and it's always a party when Big Digits are in the house. (Did I just say, "In the house"? Yes, I did.)

FRI 5/21

9pm
Paul & The Strings, The Marvels, The Allstonians, Burning Streets
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

After playing in hardcore bands like The Unseen and Pinkerton Thugs, Paul (with The Strings) is still a punk at heart while adding a folkier/bluesier element.

The Marvels returned last year after a long break, and they may be my fave in the line-up for the way they rip it up and bash it out in near-perfect amount to my punk-lovin' ears. If you want to hear good ska, The Allstonians are where it's at. And Burning Streets may get it started with a set of Boston punk.

FRI 5/21

Hurricane Bells (Midnight), The Fatal Flaw (11pm), Reverse (10pm), Thick As Thieves (9:05pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

Do you like the band Longwave? Well, we've got one of them tonight. Singer-guitarist Steve Schiltz is taking his solo project Hurricane Bells on the road, and it doesn't stray too far from his previous stuff other than seeming to be a bit mellower.

I wholeheartedly give two thumbs up to The Fatal Flaw led by Joel Reader (Pansy Division, Mr T Experience, Avengers). The tunes are rocking with great melodies and clever lyrics occasionally referring to other bands. There's going to be some high-quality, heavy riffing with Reverse and Thick As Thieves that doesn't insult your intelligence.

FRI 5/21

10pm
Hands & Knees, Girlfriends
at Rosebud Bar & Grill (behind Diner), 381 Summer St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$5 / 21+

Two sweet bands at my new favorite bar in Davis Square. I like that Hands and Knees give their relatively straightforward songs a punky spirit with a dash of twang. It's like a rock equivalent of a killer barbecue sauce -- you recognize some of the ingredients, but the secret is in the preparation. The might be said about Girlfriends who simply classifying them like "garage-rock" doesn't do justice blissfully fuzzy approach takes them up a notch.