THUR 11/18: Film, Art, Music

So I went to the Billy Ruane birthday party last night and heard a ton of good music. It sure would've been a much more jubilant affair if Billy had not been there in an urn.

There was plenty of good vibes. For example: an old friend of the Ruanes proposed to one of Billy's sisters, and she accepted.

After Chris Brokaw's mind-blowing symphony of feedback, the melancholy welled up and I decided I was ready to go. I know I missed some great acts, but that's how it goes.

I don't think many photos came out well, but I'll try to post them in the near future.

There is more Thursday cheapness on the calendar.

--------------------------------------------------------------

THUR 11/18

6:30pm
Food at 24fps: "The Secret Of The Grain / La Graine Et Le Mulet"
at Adams House Pool Theatre, about 23 Bow St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

This film is a long one (over 2 hours) that may start off a bit slowly, but the NY Times gave it a good review a couple years ago. It also won 4 of the top awards at the French Oscars including "Best Picture" of '08.

The story is realistic family drama centered around a Tunisian immigrant dock worker who has a seemingly impossible dream to open a restaurant. In French with subtitles. (The original title is closer to "The Grain and The Fish".)

Alia Meddeb of the delicious, authentic Baraka Cafe will introduce the film, and there is usually some related refreshments afterward. Although free, it wouldn't hurt to throw a buck or two in the jar.

As far as the address, I entered through this door last month.

THUR 11/18

7pm to 10pm
Walter Sickert Presents: The InkDrip Sessions
at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville (Spring Hill)
$7 / All Ages

7pm -- Artists' talk & reception; DJ Metal Tiger Music
8pm -- meff 'n jojo's Tiny Instrument Revue
8:40pm -- Titler
9:20pm -- True Vintage Duo

Of the three weeks of InkDrip Sessions, this one might be the most appealing to me. It's also the last night of this art & music residency curated by Walter Sickert who has the aura of mad genius but I can't say for sure.

Besides his mad-genius music, he makes mad-genius art. He created something everyday for a year, and a portion has been displayed each week along with performances from his musical friends.

Tonight's art theme is "Post Apocalyptic Lounge". Among the performers tonight is the shockingly hilarious Titler who I interviewed a couple years ago before I reviewed his show. The weak-hearted might find his piano-songs offensive, but I laughed a lot. On one side is the more traditional songs via piano & vocals by the True Vintage Duo, and the mirthful mandolin/ukulele tunes from meff 'n jojo.

THUR 11/18

Dennis Brennan Quatro (10pm), Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers (9pm)
at Atwoods Tavern, 877 Cambridge St, Cambridge (near Inman & Kendall Sq)
FREE

As far as I'm concerned you can't go wrong with Dennis Brennan or Erin Harpe, so imagine how damn good it will be to hear them back-to-back. As the "Quatro", Brennan takes his rootsy rock and gooses up the rock quotient. When Harpe is joined by The Delta Swingers, her acoustic early-blues styling is bumped a few decades further for something like the electric bands of Muddy Waters. Good stuff!

THUR 11/18

9:30pm
Jenny Owen Youngs, Paul Dempsey, Lauren Flaherty
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$10 / 18+

When I was looking at Great Scott's schedule a few days ago, I swear I didn't see this $10 show...

While Jenny Owen Youngs is the reason I give this gig a big thumbs-up, it should be a full night of kick-ass singer-songwriter types. Youngs (Owen Youngs?) caught my attention with her golden voice and and a lilting song whose chorus repeats "What the f--- was I thinking?" And the rest of her stuff delivers beyond the F-bombs.