WED 11/3: Talk, Pop, Soul, Rock

Remember how I suggested walking along the Charles to enjoy the foliage? It's past the peak but still quite colorful. I'm guessing today might be the last good chance since it's supposed to rain for the next two days.

If you're a fan of Barry Hannah, a bunch of writers are celebrating the release of the recently departed author's last(?) collection at Newtonville Books at 7pm.

Oh, a half-off Halloween sale at Newbury Comics is ending today.

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WED 11/3

6:30pm
J.L. Bell, "Lost Holiday: How Bostonians Celebrated the Fifth of November"
at Orientation Room, 1st Fl, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

Did you see "V for Vendetta"? Apparently Guy Fawkes Day, which is still celebrated in England, was known as "Pope Night" in the colonies. It was a big deal in Boston until the Revolutionary War.

The guy behind the excellent history site, Boston 1775, will likely not tell all -- because he knows too much for one lecture.

WED 11/3

7pm
Mark Kurlansky, "Edible Stories": Reading
at Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard St, Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
FREE

Mark Kurlansky has written several good books about what seem to be mundane topics like salt and cod and oysters. Hmm, quite a few food-related topics -- and he's got more (16 in this book).

WED 11/3 (thru SUN 11/7)

7:30pm
International Pop Overthrow: Night #2
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$10 / 21+

7:30pm -- Natalie Smith
8:15pm -- June Millington
9pm -- Eddie Japan
9:45pm -- The Buckners
10:30pm -- Powderhouse
11:15pm -- Lemonpeeler

It's difficult to say that Boston's IPO is starting off with a bang when the first act is a singer-songwriter type. Overall, this is a really sweet lineup that includes June Millington who led the all-female band Fanny
that had some hits in the '70s way before bands like the Go-Go's.

After the sophisticated lounge & soul-flavored rock of the awesome Eddie Japan with Eric Brosius (ex-Tribe) on guitar, it's a trio of powerpop bands that should deliver the goods. Stick around for Lemonpeeler, because they came all the way from Martha's Vineyard to rock you.

I listed the full International Pop Overthrow schedule below.

WED 11/3

9pm
Jordan Valentine & the Sunday Saints
at Milky Way Lounge/Bella Luna, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain (The Brewery Complex)
FREE / 21+

It's the first Wednesday of the month, so you can find a big horn-heavy band with a powerhouse singer giving you two scoops of Memphis/New Orleans-style soul and R&B. Good times!

WED 11/3

9:30pm
Pray For Polanski, Streight Angular, A Cat Whisker Radio, Big East, Whores At the Door
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$5 / 18+

Most of the time, Sleepover Shows is a site that features their quirky videos of exclusive performances by bands.

Tonight they're 'presenting' this gig full of really cool indie-rock bands who get a little rockabilly here or glammy there or bluesy here or noisy there. For good measure, Whores At the Door (who formed for a Halloween this past Saturday) will give a brief reprisal of their Pixies set.