SAT 7/3: Rock, Pops, Rock

Thankfully, the weather is expected to cooperate with weekend of cookouts, fireworks, and all-around outdoor fun. Happy Independence Day weekend!

It's also the weekend of Harborfest & Boston Navy Week. A lot of stuff don't cost anything like taking a tour of Fort Independence or a functional Navy ship anchored by the Constitution.

If you looked at the calendar and saw "Tango by Moonlight", they changed the date to 7/24 since the last time I checked.

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SAT 7/3

1pm to 8pm
Starlab Benefit Show
at Starlab, 32 Prospect St, Somerville (Union Sq)
$10 suggested donation

Feat: Drug Rug, Movers & Shakers, Doomstar!, Sleepy Very Sleepy

If Starlab was just any rehearsal/show space that had flood damage and was having a show to raise money to offset the repair costs, this would already be a worthwhile show.

It just happens that some, if not all, of these bands rehearse there -- and this would be an incredible show anywhere at anytime. Any Drug Rug gig is a definite must-see, and I feel a similar way about Movers & Shakers. Doomstar! and Sleepy Very Sleepy are also quite good.

For your $10, food (burgers, dogs, etc) and drink (Narraganett) are included. The BBQ and flea market start at 1pm. The music should happen between 4pm and 8pm.

Yes, there will likely be lots of young hipsters in the crowd. Music lovers of all ages and walks of life will surely be accepted for their good taste and philanthropy.

SAT 7/3

8:30pm to 10pm
Boston Pops Pre-Concert
at Hatch Shell, Charles River Esplanade, Storrow Dr, Boston
FREE

You don't have to get there at 4pm to get into the "Oval" seating in front of the stage to have a good evening, but you should get there before 8:30pm if you want to find a decent space in the area. It'll be much like tomorrow's gig minus the fireworks and '1812' cannons. You'll still get Craig Ferguson's shtick and hear Toby Keith croon a couple with the Pops.

Like I said yesterday, you read the details and rules before you go.

SAT 7/3

9:30pm
McAlister Drive, The Wandas, El Fuego, The Highway
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

If you're in the mood for nighttime music inside a bar, you've helluva rocking gig in your sights where might hear what others will be listening to next year. The music of McAlister Drive is full of ringing chugging guitars and gutsy vocals. I even like that the band is named after the street where the singer lived while studying at Tulane. The Weekly Dig had an article about the band going through major changes in the last year, and it sounds like for the better (also based on the newest song on MySpace).

The article also talks about the friendship between McAlister Drive and The Wandas who cook up some wonderfully taut, melodic, sonic power-pop dumplings. They've got their act together, and it looks like they have the drive to really go somewhere. Ambition doesn't equate to good songs, but these guys have both.

El Fuego brings a blast of rough-and-tumble, no-BS rock from Philly. The Highway reminds me of classic '60s-style power-trio rock.