SAT 9/18: Fests, Rally, Fair, Film, Music

Get ready, pirates of America. Tomorrow is "Talk Like A Pirate Day".

BTW: I haven't seen "Catfish", but I suspected that it was misleading people in some way with the trailer, so I found a page with spoiler information. Sounds like a second-rate version of a "This American Life" segment to me...

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SAT 9/18

Noon
Annual Viva la Vinal Festival
at Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave, Somerville (near Union Sq)
FREE / Donations Welcome

If you didn't go to the film festival last night, there is a day full of awesome music in this beautiful setting off of Union Square. I was going to suggest when to go, but there is too much to enjoy.

Schedule:

Noon -- Mariana Iranzi (the "Children's Hour")
1:20pm -- International String Trio
2:05pm -- Audrey Ryan
2:45pm -- Emily Hope Price
3:30pm -- Kingsley Flood
4:15pm -- Justin Levinson
5pm -- The Autumn Hollow
5:45pm -- Bridget & the Squares
6:30pm -- Cactus Attack
7:15pm -- TheyWillHateUs
8pm -- Justin Shorey
8:45pm -- This Blue Heaven

I read that Mariana Iranzi was going to play some of her bilingual children's music, and it doesn't sound banal at all. I might not want to kill myself if I Had a brat that wanted to hear this 50 times in a row.

You can't help loving Audrey Ryan's music; this is something special and original that everyone in the solar system should listen and love. She is definitely my favorite one-person band this side of Jon Brion.

The thing is that the International String Trio is pretty damn fantastic as well, and there's not a bad performer to be heard, especially folks like rootsy rockers like Kingsley Flood and Autumn Hollow, and an acoustic duo performance by This Blue Heaven to cap it off.

Go earlier rather than later. Go and come back. Do whatever -- it's free. But donations are welcome (and deserved).
People are encouraged to bring blankets/chairs to increase comfort. I did sit on a stone step on a previous visit, but that was semi-lucky.

There will be a concession stand "with affordable and healthy snacks and beverages, with all proceeds going to the artists and the Growing Center."

SAT 9/18

"High Noon" to 6PM
Annual Boston Freedom Rally
at Boston Common, Boston
FREE

Feat: Tracy Bonham, Planetoid, Casey Desmond, SuperPower, Termanology, Rob Potylo, Matalon, more

What used to be known as HempFest is now the Boston Freedom Rally. I'm not sure if the actual festival has been instrumental in relaxing marijuana-related laws in MA, but the speakers have probably had a hand in the baby steps towards decriminalization.

Remember -- it's a fine if you have less than an ounce! (The cops have been fairly cool in the past if you're discreet, but maybe you should read the FAQ.)

I went last year and wrote a little post for Bostonist. It's a good time, there were some good bands, and I did get a contact high from walking around.

I couldn't find a schedule for the bands, so maybe you'll get lucky and hear something you like. They play on the main stage set up by Charles Street and at the Parkman Bandstand on the other side of the Common.

SAT 9/18 (thru THUR 9/23)

Various Times
Annual Boston Film Festival
at Stuart Street Playhouse, 200 Stuart Street, Boston (Theatre District)
Most $8

Of the various film festivals throughout the year, the BFF selections probably have the greatest likelihood of ending up in wider distribution. So this is a chance to see a film before most Bostonians, and some screenings will have the director and/or star in attendance.

The Globe gives a rather straightforward summary of the lineup, and The Phoenix offers more opinion to help you decide what might interest you this week. Besides the 24 features, there are a few shorts and animation programs.

Saturday Schedule:

Noon -- Shorts Program 1

2pm

"The Labyrinth"
Director Jason Schmidt will be in attendance.

3pm

"World Peace..and other 4th-grade achievements"
Director Chris Farina will be in attendance.

4:45pm

"The Two Escobars"
Directors Jeff and Michael Zimbalist will be in attendance.

7pm

"Miss Nobody"
Leslie Bibb and Director Tim Cox will be in attendance.

9:15pm

"Conviction"
Sam Rockwell [kewl...] will be in attendance.

And the festival has returned to Boston after years in Cambridge!

SAT 9/18

1pm
Jenny and Johnny: Performance
at Newbury Comics, 332 Newbury Street, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

Okay, it's Jenny Lewis from Rilo Kiley and quite the talented singer-songwriter Johnathan Rice who have collaborated before -- and are still making beautiful music together.

They're opening for Pavement tonight, but I don't have tix to that show. :-(

SAT 9/18

1pm to 4:30pm
50th Anniversary of "To Kill a Mockingbird": Talk & Movie
at Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

1pm -- Authors Katherine Hall Page and Brunonia Barry discuss the book
2pm -- Page and Barry sign copies of their books
2:30pm -- "To Kill a Mockingbird": Screening

I don't mind hearing two locally-based authors talk about this classic book on its 50th anniversary. I'm not so psyched about the book-signing intermission before the movie screens. On the other hand, it's a good chance to stretch the legs, get fresh air, have a drink, etc for 30 minutes...

SAT 9/18

3pm to 7pm
Urban Country Fair 2010
at Union Sq Plaza, Somerville (nexus of Somerville Ave, Washington St, Bow St)
FREE

Feat: The Pennies (3:30pm), Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling (5pm?), Comanchero (6pm)

Even before I moved to Somerville, I was impressed by all the action in Union Square. If you need a change of scene from Viva La Vinal, head back to the Square for more cool music, artsy/crafty vendors, free workshops, and maybe some dancing at the fair.

It's awesome to have the arty spy-rock of Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling between the easygoing country-gospel Pennies and country-rock of Comanchero.

SAT 9/18

8pm
Jeffrey Gaines
at Cafe 939, 939 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
$10

I remember really liking his version of "In your Eyes". Is it bad to suggest a gig when an artist's strongest song may be a Peter Gabriel cover?

SAT 9/18

Three Day Threshold (12:15am), The Motion Sick (11:20pm), Kev & Col (10:35pm), Thick As Thieves (9:45pm), Moons (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

It's the Annual Virgo-A-Go-Go Festival, and from the little I know, Virgos like to celebrate that their parents conceived them around the winter holidays. Maybe it was just a cold night or maybe the winter boots were a-knocking after many glasses of champagne or egg nog. Or maybe Papa put his dick in a box...

Whatever the case, it's going to be a big musical party with the rip-roaring rock and twang of Three Day Threshold and one of my favorite nerdy rockers The Motion Sick.

Sadly this is the last Motion Sick show, and that would be enough to recommend checking them out. I've always been partial to the early powerpoppy stuff, but I've dug it all as they expanded their sound.

Of course, Moons describe themselves as "space rock". The rock force is strong with them and Thick As Thieves in different ways. Kev & Col? They're supposed to be funny. And a second stage will have acoustic performer between the other sets.

Of course, there will be Virgo-A-Go-Go dancers and a pirate!

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SAT 9/18

10pm
Deva Mahal
at The Beehive, 541 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
FREE

Every now and then, The Beehive hosts an artist that is exceptional enough to pay for overpriced drinks in lieu of a cover charge. Deva Mahal could probably sing excerpts from case law, and I'd still give it a listen.

This is when soulful, jazzy, funky singing should be described as sublime. Enjoy it now before you're embarrassed that it's playing in Starbucks and the like.