SAT 5/8: Art & Music

Whoops. I guess it was too early for me to click the correct button and publish. The rain has even stopped since this morning...

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SAT 5/8 (and SUN 5/9)

Noon to 5pm
Annual Fort Point Art Walk
around Fort Point, South Boston
FREE

Noon to 6pm
Cambridge Open Studios: East
around Lechmere - Inman - Kendall Squares, Cambridge [PDF]
FREE

Noon to 5pm
West Medford Open Studios
North of the Mystic River, Medford
FREE

Oh, boy. I love how we can go from beach weather to hours of thunderstorms.

I'm listing the open studios, because there is a new invention called the umbrella -- and the weather should be better tomorrow. My guess is that Fort Point may be the most interesting.

If you're looking for a gift, MassArt and the SMFA are having student sales today.

SAT 5/8

2pm
"Lee-Churchill Concert of Piano Music"
at Seully Hall, 4th Fl, Boston Conservatory, 8 The Fenway, Boston (The Fens)
FREE

Two Piano Department students who happen the recipients of the "Lee" and "Churchill" scholarships tickle the ivories.

Program:

Liszt, "Polonaise in E Major"
Wagner, "Tannhauser" Overture
Schumann, "Carnaval", Op. 9

It seems they'll also perform a couple two-piano pieces by Brahms and Rachmaninoff.

"Reception (open to the public) to follow in the Opera Studio."

SAT 5/8

8pm
Natti Vogel
at Lily Pad, 1353 Cambridge St, Cambridge (Inman Sq)
$10 suggested donation

Cantabrigian turned New Yorker Natti Vogel writes literate songs and plays the piano.

SAT 5/8

9:30pm
Static Of The Gods, The Honors, Vary Lumar, De Osos
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

This is a really impressive line-up of rock bands who create some fresh sounds out of familiar roots. Keep an eye/ear out for Vary Lumar. That's some great stuff.

SAT 5/8

9:30pm
The IOA, First Child, Van Walton
at House of Blues Restaurant, 15 Lansdowne St, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
FREE / 21+

It's a day game at Fenway, although it might be delayed if it keeps raining. Wouldn't it be great to see some baseball fans hit the House of Blues restaurant for some beers and nachos (or whatever) and they get a big whopping taste of some killer psychedelic/experimental rock? Then they get really into it?

I would. It's great to see a place that could get a lame covers-singer actually presenting free rock bands. Don't pay attention to the May flyer; this is the lineup tonight.

I will let John McGuigan & Adam Aslan guest blog for a minute:

First Child - Space race finalists in plot to blaze phases.

Van Walton - Satanic sounds, purple sax, known to get rowdy.

The I.O.A. - Mysterious meditations on moonlight.

You should buy The IOA singer a drink, because he's been helping people in Myanmar (Burma) for months!


SAT 5/8

10pm
The Vivs, I Pistol
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

Toad is shaking off the rootsiness for a couple charges of electricity. The Vivs are the modern take of 90's indie-rock band Edith who (after a break) are making spanking, zesty rock with a winning pop formula.

After The Vivs, I Pistol turn up the distortion a bit more, and they've got the formula dialed in. The tunes are powerpopping, the guitars are crunchy, and the rhythm section bumping like beast.

Don't worry about getting there early. Tim Gearan & Steve Mayone are giving good folky, bluesy drinking music at 7:30pm. Tim played every Monday at Toad for more than 10 years, and Steve plays around town quite a bit.

SAT 5/8

10pm
David Bowie/Mick Jagger Party
at The Savant Project, 1625 Tremont St, Boston (Mission Hill)
FREE

The great thing about a Bowie-Jagger party is that men and women can be equally comfortable when dressed like either one. Lotsa glam-rock and attitude.

SAT 5/8

10:30pm
Barrence Whitfield & The Monkey Hips
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5 / 21+

On nights like this, the Plough is like a movie with a killer bar band.

It's amazing that Barrence Whitfield deigns to play these tiny gigs when he plays local gigs. He is something like a missing musical link that skipped from Little Richard directly to the Boston rock scene of the '80s. With his mighty soulful singing, he should be in the pantheon of rock/r&b singers. The Monkey Hips are a squad of rockin' dudes including a sax player.