TUES 12/7: Sweaters, Talk, Dance, Rock

There are some good, cheap reasons to be out and about. If you're going to be home, you can watch some live old-time bluegrass at Club Passim (8pm) for free on a site called Concert Window.

As I predicted, Kingsley Flood was a winner (New Artist) at the Boston Music Awards. There were many good bands nominated in all categories. Congrats to the bands and us who can hear around town! The Feast has a write-up & photo gallery of the BMA's.

I wish I could be at Redbones around 5pm tonight, because people who order a pint of Pretty Things' St. Botolph's Town will get a special Pretty Things pint glass. Have you seen their bottles? The artwork is as good as the beer! Maybe there might be a few pint glasses left by 7pm...

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TUES 12/7

6pm to 8:30pm
Ugly Christmas Sweater Party
at Atwoods Tavern, 877 Cambridge St, Cambridge (near Inman & Kendall Sq)
$10 / 21+

Some of you might enjoy an ugly sweater party. If you need some persuasion, the proceeds benefit Food For Free that works locally.

Prizes will also be awarded for the ugliest sweaters, and there will be raffles too.

It looks like there will be other fun along the way. People who stick around will enjoy the festive sound of The Klezwoods at 9pm (when anyone can get in for free).

TUES 12/7

6pm to 7:30pm
Alexandra Vacroux, "Russia & its Neighbors": Lecture
at Orientation Room, 1st Fl, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

As part of WorldBoston's Great Decisions 2010 lecture series, Alexandra Vacroux, Ph.D. (Russian & Eurasian Studies, Harvard) will talk about Russia as a regional and global player.

TUES 12/7

7pm & 9pm
"Aurora Borealis 9: A Laboratory of Light and Dance"
at BU Dance Theater, 915 Comm Ave (enter on Buick St), Boston (BU campus)
FREE

Theatre and dance groups at BU have collaborated on this annual show for an exploration of movement and how we see it. Students and faculty will perform dances and "movement pieces" with probably more emphasis on how to use lighting for maximum effect.

You can see a little Aurora Borealis sample from a couple years ago.

(Thanks, Allie!)

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TUES 12/7

8pm
A Naked Rock Christmas: A Benefit for the Santa Speedo Run
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

Feat: Naked On Roller Skates (11:05pm), Cheap Leather (10:15pm), St. Helena (9:25pm), Old Jack (8:40pm), Gene Dante (8pm)

If there were no reason, this would be a pretty sweet show.

Since it's the season for giving, this is the second charity event on our list. I'm not sure how many rockers are doing the Santa Speedo Run on Saturday (12/11), which supports different charities each year, but at least Leesa from Naked On Roller Skates is on this team. (I doubt roller skates will be allowed.)

Needless to say these bands rock. The only band that I didn't already know about was Cheap Leather (not an easy band to find via Google). I don't know if they will really start at 8pm, but you won't want to miss a solo set from the amazing voice of Gene Dante. There's even a rumor of some rock in speedos...

Of course, there will be raffles.

TUES 12/7

9:30pm
Fake Problems, Ninja Gun, Jeff Rowe
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$10 / 18+

On this gig, I might loosely lump the performers into an amorphous box with a small tag describing the hybrid of folk-punk. It's a bit inaccurate, since Fake Problems' new album has quite a catchy, hooky sound and Ninja Gun probably fall more towards Alt-country. But Fake Problems have been on the Warped Tour this year, and both bands appeal to punk fans.

Maybe it's because I see local guy Jeff Rowe as someone who is expressing his punk heart with an acoustic guitar these days. I see that as the sensibility that runs through all of the bands.