TUES 5/11: Talk, Film, Music, Comedy

When we had the "aquapocalypse" last weekend, I knew I didn't drink a lot of water. I bought 3 half-liter bottles, and I barely used one -- until I decided to bring a bottle with me to work.

It couldn't have been better timing, because the Red Line experienced a 'disabled train' and a 'medical emergency' in front of me. I usually whine about bad luck, so being stuck in a dark tunnel was a good time to have a beverage.

Thanks, water emergency!

Does one notice a lot of "twos" on "Tuesdays"? There's a couple Australian mentions, a couple residency gigs, a couple of film events...

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TUES 5/11

7pm
Mark Moffett, "Life and Colony Size Among the Ants": Lecture
at Geological Lecture Hall, Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

The possibility that there are parallels between ant colonies and human societies is both fascinating and depressing at the same time. Mark Moffett is definitely one of the biggest voices in the world of insect research; he's been on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "The Colbert Report".

"A booksigning follows the lecture."

TUES 5/11

7pm to 9pm
"Australian Short Film Today"
at Room 100, Bldg 26, 60 Vassar St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

About 10 short films from Down Under will be shown for about 2 hours, and a NY-based Aussie will introduce each film that include the funny and dramatic, the live-action and animated. The program includes "Miracle Fish", which was an Oscar nominee last year.

There are also more "48 Hour Film Project" premieres at Kendall Square tonight (7pm, 9:30pm).

TUES 5/11

Caged Birds (10pm), The Wild Sea (7:30pm)
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

Go early or go late. Maybe even go next week.

The amazing vocalist Ruth Peterson and band, The Wild Sea, will be at Toad for the rest of Tuesdays in May. Caged Birds will be doing their thing where a bunch of local rootsy folks have decided to make a new band that none seem to acknowledge on their respective web pages (Christian McNeill, Jesse Ciamataro, Sarah Seminski, Cilla Bonnie, & Chris Anzalone).

TUES 5/11

9pm
Bitches Brew Band
at Ryles Jazz Club, 212 Hampshire St, Cambridge (Inman Sq)
$8

Some local jazz vets celebrate the "electric period" of the Miles Davis catalog that began in 1969 with "In a Silent Way" and pioneered jazz-fusion. In my opinion, jazz-fusion was often too noodly for me after Miles did it. This is funky yet swinging, and the electricity is in more than the amps.

In three albums, Miles and company set the foundation for Weather Report, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, countless others, including this top-shelf Miles tribute band.

TUES 5/11

9:30pm
Everybody Was In the French Resistance...Now, The Grates, The Okay Win
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$9 / 18+

If you like the humorous lyrics and generally British indie-pop of Art Brut, you'll enjoy the singer's new project, Everybody Was In the French Resistance...Now. All the songs are responses to pop songs of the past and present. For example, the rebuttal to Avril Lavigne's "I Wanna Be Your Girlfiend" is called "G.I.R.L.F.R.E.N." (in a tip of the hat to Jonathan Richman).

Australian trio The Grates play an exuberant, catchy rock. (Almost want to say, "Put a shrimp on the Barbie, and the CD in the stereo.") Although most folky indie-rock veers down a mellow road, The Okay Win driving erratically in heavy traffic.

TUES 5/11

9:30pm
The Rob Crean Show
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$6 / 18+

Feat: Josh Gondelman, Mehran, Bone Zone

Don't say I didn't tell you so. All good things usually come to an end, and now it's time for The Rob Crean Show finale. After more than two years of presenting the funniest live monthly variety/talk show, Rob and his many cohorts (Lucas Lewis, Adam Haut, Ryan Douglass and Brendan Thomas Crowley, etc) will likely pull out all the stops for with a special edition of various sketches, interviews, and performances, and a "humorous take on the news" segment.

The guests include hilarious stand-up from Mehran and Josh Gondelman as well as a blast of arty post-punk from Bone Zone, who sound like one brain spazzing out on three instruments -- in a good way.

Until they get rid of Jimmy Fallon or Carson Daly, this might be you'll see this talk show.

TUES 5/11

10:30pm
Naked On Roller Skates, Angeline
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

The beautiful harmonies of Angeline will be in residence every Tuesday in May with a different guest each week to accompany the folk-rock goodness.

There are a couple problems with jamming Starbursts in your ears.

The corners are sharp, and the shape isn't agreeable to the opening. Most importantly, you can't get that tangy, juicy flavor in your ear that way. Try the sweet rockin' sounds of Naked on Roller Skates instead.