FRI 6/25: Film, Dance, Comedy, Art, Rock

With last night's race taking up several hours of quality CTB-writing time (with requisite post-race merriment), I humbly offer tonight's cheapness.

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FRI 6/25 (thru THUR 7/1)

Various Times
"The Cremaster Cycle" & "De Lama Lamina"
at Kendall Square Cinema, One Kendall Square, Cambridge
$10 / $8 matinee / $8 for 62+

The "Cremaster Cycle" may be the weirdest movie series ever. It is the result of art films getting really, really arty.

There is a connection between the films; I don't know if it's worth the time though. I've been curious to see it anyway, so maybe other people might like to know it's playing in three sections at various times through next Thursday.

I like how I organized the schedule (of course). Each program runs between 2 and 3 hours.

FRI 6/25

7pm to 11pm
Annual City of Cambridge Dance Party
in front of Cambridge City Hall, 795 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

This is just like that Martha & the Vandellas song, "Dancing in the Street"!

Cambridge stops the traffic to get down and boogie, and all are welcome. There’s dancing in the street for 4 hours, and it really is a party. For some reason, there's an uninhibited atmosphere that might come from the big crowd of all ages.

I'm guessing you'll hear a couple Michael Jackson tunes too...

There are bars in either direction, if you need a bit of liquid inspiration.

If you’re not getting your dance on, you obviously can’t drive down Mass Ave (between Inman & Bigelow) between 6pm and 11:30pm.

FRI 6/25

7:30pm to 9:30pm
Anderson Comedy: "The Gas"
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$5

Feat: Gary Petersen, Jono Zalay, Nate Johnson, Matt Kona, Ryan Douglass

Anderson Comedy has The Gas every Friday, and I'm an advocate of the idea of early Friday fun so you can spend the rest of the night drinking yourself to oblivion -- or whatever you'd like to do.

If you been to The Gas on another night you might've seen Gary Petersen; he's going to do 45 minutes tonight, and I expect it will be some good stuff since he knows how to get creative with his routine. There will obviously be fewer laugh-ologists performing, and it's still a great deal if you're looking at the comedian-to-dollar ratio.

As usual, you can stay and dance with "The Pill" at no extra cost.

FRI 6/25

8pm to 11:30pm
"Tattoo Circus": Art Show
at: Hourglass Tattoo Studio, 1680 A Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
FREE / 21+

From what I can tell, almost all of the artists also do skin-work (i.e. tattoos) besides inanimate media that will be on display tonight.

If you go, you should still try to send a RSVP email for the "PBR reception" from 8pm to 9pm.

I read there are monthly art shows here, so I'll try to keep an eye out...

Feat: Andy Regan, Suze Manzo, Johannes Black Stallion, Jamie Cassaboon, Dave Tree, ALONE, Joe Bastek, HELZ, Jimmy Johnson, Frede Cugno, Gerald Schiphone, Nate Dizzle, Ray Negron, Chris Torres, Guy Ursitti, Sarazah Deetz, Bryn Taylor

"All artwork will be for sale." (And maybe you'll want to talk to someone about a tattoo...)

DJ's Silent Partner and Texas Mike will spin (or "laptop"???)

FRI 6/25

9pm to 2am
Michael Jackson Tribute Party
at Red Sky, 16 North St, Boston (near Faneuil Hall)
$10 / 21+

Do you remember that the 'King of Pop' died one year ago today? I've been told it won't be entirely Michael Jackson music all night (courtesy of DJ Chris Roxx), but there will be contests like "Best Moonwalk", "Best Thriller Dance", and "Michael Jackson Look-A-Like".

Get a drink ticket for a free pint of a Wachusett brew, if you arrive between 9pm and 10pm -- so there's $5 right there!

You have to buy tickets in advance via the Social Boston Sports site, but registration doesn't take long and the potential emails aren't overwhelming. Tickets were still available when I last checked.

FRI 6/25

9pm
Static of the Gods, 28 Degrees Taurus, Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling, Banditas
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

In the past, Static of the Gods specialized in fuzzy, melodic, riff-tastic concoction. They released a new album recently, and it takes that focuses the sound into a pleasing, song-oriented direction. 28 Degrees Taurus are celebrating their new CD tonight. There are a couple new tracks on their MySpace which sound like they've also sharpened the dreamy, shoegazey, psychedelic fuzz in a pleasing progression.

Drawing inspiration from one of the coolest spy shows of the '60s, I get the sense that Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling has absorbed the quirky musical motifs from the soundtrack to surround the clever lyrics with arty-punky blasts of drums and fuzzed-out bass. Since I've last checked in with Banditas, they've gone electric and the female harmonies over laid-back rootsiness are still there. In a similar way to the bass-drums format of DNFMOMD, I like their streamlined approach with one guitar and a drummer; the music sounds great with the room to hear it.

All of the bands have female singers, and I'm supportive of women who rock (if that doesn't sound sexist...)

FRI 6/25

9:30pm
Young Mammals, The Big Big Bucks, Drummers, Cotton Candy
at House of Blues -- Front Room, 15 Lansdowne St, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
FREE / 21+

I think these free Friday nights have been especially strong over the last couple weeks. If I don't list these House of Blues shows, you should think about it anyway. It's going to be a fun night of rock starting with light, fluffy (and perhaps of pinkish hue?) indie-pop of Cotton Candy through to wild blast of noisy Houston kids, Young Mammals. There's not much to hear on Drummer's site, but what is there sounds promising. The Big Big Bucks shouldn't disappoint those who like the catchy tunes in loud and messy chunks.