TUES 6/8: Ice Cream, Music, Talk

These are one of those days where I wish I still worked downtown. I could have too much ice cream for lunch, then catch some free rock before I headed home.

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TUES 6/8 (to THUR 6/10)

Noon to 8pm
Scooper Bowl
at City Hall Plaza, Boston (Govt Center)
$8 / $4 for children ages 3 to 9

Do I need to more than "all-you-can-eat ice cream"?

More than 30 flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt, and/or sorbet from 9 different companies including Ben & Jerry's, Häagen-Dazs, and Breyer's.

Proceeds benefit the Jimmy Fund/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, so you're overindulging is for a good cause.

FYI: This is a rain or shine event.

TUES 6/8 (to THUR 6/10)

5pm to 8pm
"Best Music Week" Concert Series
on Summer Street, Boston (Downtown Crossing)
FREE

Feat: The Needy Visions, Hands & Knees, Thick Shakes
(aka "Garage Night")

One doesn't really need a good explanation 3 nights of free, al fresco music. It's somehow related to the Phoenix's Best Music Poll. My guess is that's supposed to raise awareness that this year's winners are going to announced on FRI 6/11. (The day after their publish date? C'est la vie.)

There's a theme to each night, which seem to generally apply. For instance, I don't really think of Hands & Knees as "garage-rock"; they sound more like punky, twangy indie-pop. Let's not quibble, because there three good bands.

Thick Shakes scream garage-rock to me, and it wouldn't be hard to believe that The Needy Visions still practiced in garage. Good times! The Needy Visions say they're going to start at 5:15pm, so no need to rush.

WED 6/9

John Shade, Kingsley Flood, Magic Magic
aka "Blog Night"

(TeaParty Boston, Boston Band Crush, and bradley's almanac each picked a band.)

Update: You can RSVP for a Wednesday afterparty at the Woodward (near Old State House).

THUR 6/10

Mystery Roar, Bearstronaut, Mean Creek
aka "New Night"

Much like the House of Blues hosting free local music in their frontroom, this is one of those positive signs when people walking around Downtown Crossing are exposed to some really good local bands. It would be good if we supported this stuff when it's basically laid in front of us.

This is basically the same place where the Thursday Block Parties are held, so I assume the 'beer garden' will be available.

TUES 6/8

7pm
Christopher Klein, "Discovering the Boston Harbor Islands": Lecture & Book Signing
at Harborside Learning Lab, New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston (Waterfront)
FREE w/ RSVP

I've perused Christopher Klein's book on the Boston Harbor Islands, and it would be a worthy addition to anyone's collection for local information. It's very informative for exploring the Harbor and balanced with plenty of historical background.

You can pick up a copy tonight (cover price: $17.95) after Klein gives a talk and takes questions from the crowd.

The "learning lab" is located in the parking garage, and this is where free lectures are taking place on many Mondays and Tuesdays over the next couple months.

The program should last about an hour with a reception afterwards. Registration is required.

TUES 6/8

8pm
Americana Night
at The Lansdowne Pub, 9 Lansdowne St, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
FREE / 21+

Feat: Comanchero, Kingsley Flood, Autumn Hollow, Three Day Threshold, Big East, That Old Feelin

It's not that I completely ignore what's happening at the Lansdowne Pub, but I don't really notice much that's noteworthy. (If you want to watch the World Cup at a faux-Irish place near Kenmore Square, this could be you place.)

Tonight's gig is like a recap of the New England Americana Festival from a couple months ago-- almost all of the bands on one of the nights.

The term "Americana" is a big tent. There are a few that seem to fit close to middle of the tent with a rockin' alt-country sound (Kingsley Flood, Three Day Threshold, Autumn Hollow, Coyote Kolb), although they're not exactly rubbing elbows either.

Comanchero's sound is a bit more varied as if a Southern-rock band decided to get jammy and funky; I doubt most Americana bands have a conga player. Big East and That Old Feelin' veer towards the bluesy end of the tent. The former being louder and rockier than the latter.

TUES 6/8

Pocahaunted (11pm), Quilt (10pm), WALLcreeper (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8

Pocahaunted is a group from LA who I think is famous for a certain set of people in the world. I guess the dual frontwomen have been called "The Olsen Twins of Drone". Their fuzzed-out stuff is complemented by the psych-folk of Quilt and the shoegazey rock of WALLcreeper.