THUR 1/13: Music & Talk

I went to work yesterday, and they announced the office closure while I was on my way. I didn't have to take 9 hours to return home, but it was a beautiful snowy day.

The fresh snow looks wonderful and tamps down the city noise. I don't think I was in a friendlier-than-usual mood, yet I had two extended conversations with strangers.

Yes, I intend to have some kind of weekend post up later tonight.

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THUR 1/13

6pm
Cage The Elephant: Performance & Signing
at Newbury Comics, 332 Newbury Street, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

On their new album, Cage The Elephant injects more "indie" into their rock. It's probably still recommended to listen to the band when they're really loud.

In a potentially semi-acoustic setting, I suspect you'll enjoy the 30 or so minutes if you don't have to wait outside in the cold for too long.

THUR 1/13

6pm
"Lowell Lecture": Keith Lockhart
at Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

The conductor of the Boston Pops for the last 15 years will likely discuss his favorite subject: Keith Lockhart and and various achievements during his tenure.

THUR 1/13

6pm to 7pm
Amy Vedder & Bill Weber, "Gorillas to Grizzlies: Conservation in Action from Africa to the US": Lecture & Booksigning
at Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

Husband-and-wife conservationists will discuss their years in Rwanda studying mountain gorillas and how the lessons learned could be used to preserve America's natural wonders.

(If you saw "Gorillas in the Mist", their time in the mountains of Rwanda overlapped with Dian Fossey.)

THUR 1/13

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

Any night is a good night to hear free live music at Toad. This is one of the better nights with the breezy, old-time acoustic swing of Melvern Taylor's ukulele and the Meltones chugging along.

THUR 1/13

7:30pm
Karen Armstrong, "Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life": Reading & Booksigning
at Congregation Kehillath Israel, 384 Harvard St., Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
$5

Tickets available at Brookline Booksmith or by phone: 617-566-6660.

Hey, it might nice to hear a few tips on compassion...

THUR 1/13

9pm
"Rearview 2010"
at River Gods, 125 River St. Cambridge (near Central Sq)
FREE

Ashley from Boston Band Crush and Brad from Bradleys Almanac are going to play some of their faves from the last year.

They're also going to give away tickets to various shows at the Brighton Music Hall (fka Harpers Ferry) on a loosely hourly basis, so show up at anytime, hang out, and enjoy the sounds of 2010.

THUR 1/13

9pm
Jeremy Lyons w/ "Washtub" Robbie Phillips & Sean Mannion
at Smoken' Joe's BBQ, 351 Washington St, Brighton (Brighton Center)
$5-ish

I've gone by Smoken Joe's a couple times (across the street from Porter Belly's) but haven't actually visited. On most nights, there is some high-quality live blues going on.

Maybe you've been there before, or maybe you'd want to take a chance to hear ex-NOLA slide guitarist with his washtub-bassist and drummer buddies.

THUR 1/13

9pm
Born of Fire presents: Ashers, Razormaze
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$5 / 21+

On a monthly basis, Born of Fire plays a bunch metal & hardcore records, and bands play a couple sets to mix it up. Tonight's performers sound like they're on the punk/thrash range on the metal spectrum.