THUR 8/12: Music & Othello

Tonight is supposed to be a really good time to see the Perseid meteor shower -- from a relatively dark viewing location if the sky is clear.

The Fishermen's Feast starts tonight in the North End. The spectacle peaks on Sunday with the "Flight of the Angel", but there is a "Cheese Tower Building Competition" tonight...

I was on the fence about listing this fantastical play about a woman searching for a job in Boston after watching the "promo video", but my new friends at WBUR profiled the production in a positive light. It plays through SAT 8/14 at the Boston Playwrights Theatre.

Wow, it's hard to believe that the Patriots already have their first exhibition game tonight...

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THUR 8/12

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

Originally Tubby Love's other band, Buffalo Soul, was scheduled to play tonight. If you haven't heard both groups, their names give a good idea about the different reggae approaches. Where Buffalo Soul aims at a deeper serious target, Tubby Love is geared for a good time. There's a YouTube clip of their gig outside of the ICA last year.

As you may know, you can go inside for free on Thursday nights all year long. There are only a few more free outdoor concerts in this series.

THUR 8/12

Melvern Taylor & His Fabulous Meltones (7pm), Three Day Threshold (10pm)
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

This is one of those days when it's handy to have two thumbs, so I point them up for both bands. Whether one wants to meet for an evening drink to the acoustic swing of Melvern Taylor's ukulele and the Meltones chugging along or you're staying late and tilting them back to the alt-country shindig brought by Three Day Threshold and whatever friends get on stage.

If not tonight, TDT is playing the next two Thursdays as well.

THUR 8/12 (to SUN 8/15)

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

Thru Saturday -- 8pm
Sunday -- 7pm

Shakespeare in the Common has only 4 more performances of free drama. Take advantage of one of the highlights of free/cheap Boston culture. Even if one doesn't make a donation, you're supporting by simply enjoying one of Shakespeare's best tragedies.

THUR 8/12

9pm
Aerosmith and J Geils Karaoke
at King's, 50 Dalton St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

For those who didn't get tickets for Saturday's Aerosmith/J Geils Band concert at Fenway, you could win a pair with an awesome karaoke performance tonight.

You best version of "Dream On" or "Centerfold" may be a winner, or maybe it's another song by either of the bands. (You should probably get there earlier to sign up.)

There might be a good turnout, because I've seen them do this for other sold-out shows like Lady Gaga.

And I can't get into the "Dude Looks Like a Lady" contest at Baseball Tavern.


THUR 8/12

9:30pm
The Dirty Dishes, The Shills, Ketman, Ann Driscoll
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$9 / 18+

This is the only rock show good (cheap) rock show to care about tonight. The Dirty Dishes have been showing up on my radar lately, and I'm drawn in further every time I hear that luscious, shoegazey rock. I'm also digging how Ketman melds their badass post-punk chugging with the horn section.

I'm mainly aware of Ann Driscoll through her work with Mrs Danvers, and it sounds like her own stuff focuses on the powerpop vibe that gets me going. It makes sense to see she into Jon Brion too. Still haven't connected to The Shills, but there is a lot of good stuff happening that might win me over in a live setting.