THUR 7/22: Blues-Art, Jazz, Party, Rock

Yes, the Downeaster has free wi-fi! Although it's been a bit bumpy...

As usual, not all the calendar items made the list, like free "Cyrano de Bergerac" in Chelsea tonight "en Espanol"...

For a few bucks more (specifically five more) than our CTB limit, Jim's Big Ego and friends present a night of music and metaphysical advice as "The Ego & The Oracle" at The Burren (7:30pm). I've seen it several times and loved it. (Also performed next month on 8/26.)

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THUR 7/22

6pm to 8:30pm
Pinchback Blues
at Institute for Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave, Boston (South Boston/Seaport)
FREE

The core of Pinchback Blues is piano and guitar playing the more sophisticated blues originating from the '20s and '30s that back the sultry vocals of Minden Jones who nails the classic tone without falling into an impersonation.

On Thursdays in summer, music on the waterfront is free. Admission to the museum is free on any Thursday evening.

THUR 7/22

7pm
Bitches Brew Band
at Oak Square Common, about 370 Faneuil St, Brighton (Oak Sq)
FREE

For those who love when Miles Davis electrified jazz in the late-60s/early-70's, Bitches Brew recreates the tunes the reinvented the genre. It won't sound the same as the record, because it's jazz, man...

THUR 7/22

9:15pm
Supertonic: "Boston Does It Best"
at Enormous Room, 567 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE w/ RSVP / $5

Tea Party Boston is one of the websites out there fighting the good fight by spotlighting what's going on musically around town. They're in the midst of inexplicably changing their name to Supertonic, but I assume the content will still be good. They're throwing a party tonight with some free Heineken if you get there early enough, and there's nothing wrong with that...

Members from Bodega Girls, The Wandas, Gentlemen Hall, Leisure are going to take turns as the DJ's while The Dirty Dishes will play a live set of shoegazey rock goodness. They've got some really nice stuff going on!

You will want to get there early (before 9:15pm), because the party hosts, DJ's, and band will practically fill the place -- and free beer doesn't last long. And RSVP doesn't guarantee entry, but you don't have to pay.

THUR 7/22

9pm
I Pistol, The Timberfakes, Red Summer Sun, Jamie Kent & the Options
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

Bad news: I've received word that I Pistol refuses to share the stage with a Timberlake tribute band.

This show is a bit of a mixed bag, but I prefer the party can of assorted nuts if it's the same price as a jar of peanuts. My favorite nut in this can is I Pistol who churn out the hooky rock like crunchy, powerpopping cashews. Red Summer Sun is on a similar yet slicker pop path, and they bugged me especially when they were called Quarterlifecrisis -- so they're like those bigger nuts that seem to have a similar flesh as the cashew but doesn't taste as good.

Who put honey-roasted peanuts in the bowl? They don't need the sweet coating, but I'll eat them anyway. Yeah, I didn't ask for a Justin Timberlake tribute band, but I'm amused by the idea. I have to assume Jamie Kent & the Options are opening, because they do the kind of acoustic-based pop that one might hear from laid-back guys on the radio. I think that little round one is a hazelnut, and it doesn't taste bad at all -- except there are other kinds of nuts you would've preferred.