FRI 8/6: Art, Shakespeare, Music

Wow, it was fun and weird to be on the radio yesterday. But why did I sound so dorky? It may have been the microphone, although Geoff Edgers' mic looked the same and he sounded fine.

It wasn't bad for my first time, but I wish I had been more confident. C'est la vie.

So I'm Maine-bound again this weekend. (Hey, it's Vacationland...)

I'd rather provide less detail for more days, so it's going to be a little bare for a couple days. And I will try to get the whole weekend up by tonight.

There is also a strong chance that the weekly e-list will re-launch next week.

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FRI 8/6

6pm to 10pm
Rifrákt Presents "25 Emerging Boston Artists 2010": Book Launch/Art Reception
at The Temple (above City Feed), 670 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
FREE

6pm to 7:30pm

Book reception (Book available "at cost" tonight.)

7:30pm

Music: The Organ Beats, Huellas

The music is expected to start at 7:30, so maybe it wouldn't be bad to get there about 7pm to see some paintings then hear some music. I'm guessing Huellas will go on first since their classical-cello-meets-rock-guitar-and-drums seems to fit my image of art reception music. I'm wondering if the full-on, full-throated rock of The Organ Beats will happen, but it should be something good as long as Noelle is singing.

Umm, the book is about $70 (maybe $60ish tonight). It is an art book with decent dimensions and probably high-quality paper, but...

FRI 8/6 (to SUN 8/15)

8pm
"Othello"
at Parkman Bandstand, about 165 Tremont St, Boston (Boston Common)
FREE

Tuesdays to Saturdays -- 8pm
Sundays -- 7pm (2pm matinee on 8/8)

This tragedy is one of Shakespeare's best, and Iago is one of the best villains ever. The performances were solid and clear on Tuesday. I'd would've liked a more seasoned Iago, but the content is well-delivered.

The costumes were generally influenced by the World War II era with flourishes to suggest a somewhat feudal alternate reality.

I find it pleasant to sit in the Common on a summer night. Even if one doesn't make a donation, we shouldn't take for granted what is one of the highlights of free/cheap Boston culture. Take the time to go in the next two weeks.

If you want to get there early for a good spot and/or picnicking, there'll be some jazz courtesy of the Malcolm Campbell Quartet from 6:30pm to 7pm.

FRI 8/6

9pm
Muck & The Mires, The Sprained Ankles, Evil Streaks, The Opioids
at Precinct, 70 Union Sq, Somerville (Union Sq)
$10ish

When I was talking about garage-rock yesterday, I forgot that Muck & The Mires were playing tonight. Where The Lyres have the history and classic songs, M&tM are simply a much tighter, high-octane approach. The band started out as a goof, and it's become a seriously good band like a Mersey-Ramones cocktail that was deemed the best garage-band in the country a few years back.

There's a whole bunch of good garage and punk tonight. Don't ask me why; I've read that The Opioids are basically the Black Mosettes. Sometimes it's hard to nail down the cover at Precinct; it should be somewhere between $7 and $10 based on applicable gig history.

FRI 8/6

9:30pm
Lovewhip, The IOA, Whistlejacket
at House of Blues - Front Room, 15 Lansdowne St, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
FREE / 21+

It's a mixed bag, but I like the variety of the funky grooves of Lovewhip, the experimental world/rock of The IOA, and the quirky indie-rock of Whistlejacket. Lovewhip says they'll be on around 11pm.

I'm still not a fan of Whistlejacket's singer, but it's good to support original, local music at House of Blues Front Room. It's good to see free entertainment in Boston Proper. With our support, it can continue.

FRI 8/6

10pm
Holy Ghost Tent Revival
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

This Greensboro, NC group seems to pass through town about once a year. It's the kind of multi-genre, mainly acoustic sound with elements like banjo and trombone that should appeal to fans of the Honk Festival vibe.