FRI 8/20: GreenFest, Film, Rock

If you want to do something for free during the day, the ICA is wide open thanks to "Free Fun Fridays".

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FRI 8/20 (and SAT 8/21)

10am to 10pm
Boston GreenFest 2010
at City Hall Plaza, Boston (Govt Center)
FREE

Get some info, see exhibits, and enjoy activities and workshops related to the environment and sustainable living. I went last year and wasn't blown away, but there was some cool stuff.

The exhibits, etc are open from 10am to 6pm today and 10am to 4pm on Saturday with stuff like a set of cars that can drive 100+ miles on 1 gallon of gas...

The music/entertainment continues throughout the day, except for a 90-minute "Gubernatorial Green Debate" begins at 4pm tomorrow. I assume most/all of the 4 candidates will appear.

If one gets a few tips to make a difference in a casual setting, it's worth it. Isn't it?

FRI 8/20

Sunset
"The Princess and the Frog"
at Hatch Shell, Storrow Dr, Boston (Charles River Esplanade)
FREE

WBZ Free Flicks ends next week with "Up". I wouldn't mind seeing either film for free on a summer night. Yeah... These are Disney/Pixar films, however I've heard good things.

Expect the screening to start around 8:30pm. Obviously, people bring chairs, blankets, picnics, etc.

FRI 8/20

The Organ Beats (Midnight), The Backup Factor (11pm), Herra Terra (10pm), Marc Pinansky (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

The Organ Beats get loud and fuzzy while keeping it lean and mean that ends up somewhere between powerpop and full-on rawk. Take, for example, their cover of one of my favorite AC/DC tunes "Shake A Leg" that is faithful in many ways, but the personality of the band is there along with Noelle's powerhouse vocals.
http://organbeats.com/?p=189

I haven't heard The Backup Factor yet, however it has to be a rockin' party with band members from Okay Thursday and The Motion Sick. Herra Terra meld electronics with live rhythm section that gets a little heavy in a progressive electro/rock way. Whenever Marc Pinansky is going play either solo or with Rumble-winning band Township, the stage is set for a night of top-notch music.

FRI 8/20

8:30pm
Jay Brannan, Plushgun
at Harpers Ferry, 158 Brighton Ave, Allston
$10 / 18+

For some reason, I think it's going to be a really young crowd. For singer-songwriter and pop-rock, the music is good but clean and mellow. From what I heard of Jay Brannan, he's a songwriter keenly focused on melody and lyrics while finding clever chords to match. Plushgun plays a tasty and somewhat minimalist brand of poppish, synthy rock.