FRI 6/4: Art, Comedy, Dance, Music, Film

Technically not within our price range at CTB, Harpoon Summer Session is happening tonight and tomorrow doesn't seem like a bad deal at $20 (includes souvenir Pint Cup & a drink ticket). There lots of good bands, and additional pints are $5. It's like a really big bar, except I might wait in line with my buddies to get into this party. (Join the "Friends of Harpoon" for next time; I think they have a shorter line.)

If you love Greek food, you should think about going to the St. Athanasius Greek Festival in Arlington (6/4 to 6/6). Again you might spend more than $10 on food and drink, but you can soak in the sounds and smells and so on for free.

There are other Greek festivals over the summer. This is the one that's famous for serving open spit-roasted pig and lamb (after 5pm).

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FRI 6/4

5pm to 9pm
First Friday Open Studios
at SoWa Arts Bldg, 450 Harrison Ave, Boston (South End)
FREE

Unless you actually spend a full 4 hours, it's doubtful that you'd get to all of the approx. 50 artist studios. Don't fret, because this happens on the first Friday of every month.

I've gone a couple times (since you don't go to every studio in one visit), and I always see a bunch of cool stuff. You can feel a little cultured, but not too much...

FRI 6/4

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

Feat: Phoebe Robinson, Alex Grubard, Erika Kreutziger, Benny Bosh, Sarah Heggan, Nick Palm, Jimmy Anicet, Alana Eisner

For the second week in a row, a couple New York comedians are taking the trip up to one the funniest, cheapest ways that you can start the weekend. (Go laugh and drink PBR tall boys. I bet you'll have a damn good time for a total of $20...)

I think Phoebe Robinson and Alex Grubard might be joined by another NYC comedian, Rogelio Rojo Perez, basen on his Facebook event page comments. There are plenty of local funny people scheduled as well and Rob Crean hosts.

You can go do something else by 9:30 or even get home early... You could even stay for "The Pill" at no extra cost to dance. (Or watch people dance, you creep.)

FRI 6/4

8pm to Midnight
"Party Like It's a Verb" Dance Party: Film Fundraiser
at VFW George Dilboy Post, 371 Summer St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$10

Some people raised enough money to make an indie-comedy called "Party Like It's a Verb", but they need more to finish it. They're returning to the scene of a previous fundraising party.

It should be a low-pressure dance situation unlike going to a dance club. To give you an idea, there's going to be a dance contest to determine what moves will ofiicially be "The Angry Platypus" (related to the movie's story). So be creative, folks!

The stars of the film, Giulia Rozzi and Jeff Stern, will also do some stand-up -- probably separately -- and a sneak preview will be shown.

FRI 6/4

The Coffin Lids (Midnight), Lyres (11pm), Mal Thursday & the Cheetahs (10pm), The Immolators (9pm), The Satin Kittens (8pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

The Lyres and The Coffin Lids are already going to make a worthwhile night of garage-rock goodness. If not for the wild antics of Lyre's Monoman, they're also one of the classic bands on the scene. And the Lids are super-solid with a fun horror angle to many of the tunes.

This gig also features two 'vintage' bands from Western Mass. Mal Thursday has moved south and is in radio or something like that. For some reason, he's decided to reunite the Cheetahs for a handful of shows, and the old stuff sounds pretty damn good. There's not much to find on The Immolators, but the name and their rep is promising.

I'm unsure of The Satin Kittens. If you go, don't worry about showing up late...

FRI 6/4

Dexateens (11:30pm), The Howlies (10:30pm), Arletta (9:30pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

It's like a night of Southern Rock, but probably not in the Skynyrd-confederate-flag-behind-drum-kit kind of way. Dexateens might be the first band that I've known were from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Since they caught the attention of Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers), their sound has expanded from the classic 70's style to something that's more song-oriented while still throwing in the "twang and crunch."

It looks they're traveling with The Howlies, a band of poppy garage-rockers from Atlanta. Even the members of the bill's local band, Arletta, brought their folk-rockage to Boston from South Carolina.

FRI 6/4

10pm
The Klezwoods
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE / 21+

I have a soft spot for klezmer music, and The Klezwoods do a great job of adding other elements for a more developed sound that's wonderfully festive. Sadly, there's little room to dance so you'll just have to sway and drink and whoop it up.

FRI 6/4

10pm
Guerilla Queer Bar - Pride Edition
at Felt, 533 Washington St, Boston (Downtown Crossing)
No Cover

For the next 10 days, there are all sorts of events to enjoy "Pride Week". (This year's theme: "From Riots to Rights".)

Since you probably didn't make it to City Hall Plaza's Pride Flag raising, you can kick off the celebration of GLBT by turning this multi-level club into a giant gay bar.

FRI 6/4 (and SAT 6/5)

Midnight
"Wet Hot American Summer"
at Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline
$9.75

Even better than a cheesy 80's summer-camp comedy is a satire of the genre with a boatload of very funny people (Janeane Garofalo, Amy Poehler Paul Rudd, Molly Shannon, Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, David Hyde Pierce -- even Bradley Cooper and Christopher Meloni)

It's the Coolidge Corner Theatre, so "80's Summer Camp inspired" costumes are encouraged and may win you a prize. The line usually forms towards the back of the theatre where you might find s'mores and kiddie-pool fun.

If you haven't seen it, watch until the end of the credits...