FRI 9/23: Ideas, Stories, Jokes, Acrobatics, Songs

Wow, I guess the Autumnal Equinox is playng with my mind!

Saturday & Sunday cheapness is on the calendar -- including "One Night Band #3" tomorrow ($10 advance tix).

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FRI 9/23

6pm to 9pm
[LAB] Annual Fall Exhibition
at The Laboratory, Northwest Bldg, 52 Oxford St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

Feat: Whiskey Barons / Flavorheard

On display will be 11 student ideas that are aimed at providing various community-based and environmental solutions. It's interesting that several projects relate to water purification, which isn't a bad thing.

The first hour is a cocktail reception followed by panel discussion regarding 'experiential education' with a short film. You may not want to sneak out before the discussion, because there's more 'refreshments and music' afterwards for another hour.

FRI 9/23

7pm
Karl Marlantes, "What It Is Like to Go to War": Reading
at Porter Square Books, 25 White St, Cambridge (near Star Market)
FREE

What can be described as 'decades in the making', Rhodes Scholar and Vietnam vet Karl Marlantes has novelized his war experiences into what many have described as a powerful depiction its horrors.

This could bum you out at the beginning of the weekend or make you grateful that you didn't experience the war.

FRI 9/23

7:30pm
Anderson Comedy: "The Gas"
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$5 / 18+

Feat: Belinda Borrelli, John Staley, Peter Bowers, Sam Ike, Sanjay Salomon, Maria Ciampa, Tom Dunlap, Tim Vargulish

I stand by my belief that this weekly comedy show is worth the cover whether or not there is a 2-for-1 coupon available. Hang out at any bar on a Friday night for a while, and $5 will mysteriously disappear... You might as well laugh for those dollars.

Maria Ciampa is practically a guarantee you will laugh your ass off. I recall meeting Belinda Borrelli, the Brown professor, and she was quite witty. The evening is hosted by Lillian DeVane. (Yep, I only mentioned the ladies. Sometimes that happens.)

FRI 9/23

9pm
"The Autumnal FREAKquinox"
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10ish / 21+

Yeah, these folks have performed acrobatic feats in that tiny corner of the Plough on previous season changes.

There is usually some music & comedy acts as well. Be prepared for almost anything from people who think trapeze work I this cramped space is a good idea...

FRI 9/23 (and SAT 9/24)

8pm
"Crash Safely": A Benefit For Bike MS
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 advance / $12 day of show / 2-day pass for $18 / 18+

Friday Schedule:

11:30pm -- The Titanics
10:30pm -- John Powhida International Airport
9:45pm -- Pete Hayes' Rock Shop
8:45pm --The Russians
8pm -- The In Out

I hope all of you know that The Figgs are one of the great American rock 'n roll bands, period. What you probably don't know is that drummer Pete Hayes was diagnosed with MS about 3 years ago.

Pete and his team are participating in a fundraising bike ride next weekend. You can simply donate or rock out with minimal awareness of your philanthropy.

Tonight's show includes the excellent John Powhida International Airport and The Russians that leads up to a reunion set from classic Boston band, The Titanics. In the middle, Pete Hayes is going to debut a side project too!

Tomorrow's show is awesome enough to consider the 2-night discounted pass.

Saturday Schedule:

11:30pm -- Easy Action
10:30pm -- Triple Thick
9:45pm -- Gene Dante & The Future Starlets
8:45pm -- Kevin Stevenson
8pm -- Jason Bennett

Of course, there will be raffles, silent auctions, and probably a couple surprise appearances.

FRI 9/23

Emergency Music (Midnight), Soccer Mom (11pm), Autochrome (10pm), Marconi (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

There will be loads of cool sounds, but you really are waiting for Emergency Music to knock you out at the end something like Mike Tyson's old Nintendo game... I was digging their power-poppy goodness a few years ago, and they're back with new material.

FRI 9/23

9:15pm
Joan Jett Birthday Tribute Show
at Rosebud Bar & Grill (behind Diner), 381 Summer St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$10-ish / 21+

Feat: "Fit To Be Tied" (11:20pm), "Leather Snatch" (10:40pm), "Jett Streamer & The Neon Angels" (9:40pm), The Other Girls (9:15pm)

Movies are wonderful. After "Kick Ass", I had to drop "Bad Reputation" on my ipod. I watched "The Runaways" film this year, and it again reminded me that Joan Jett is a damn good rocker.

I doubt she spent her birthday in Somerville last night. It's still a good idea to throw her a party tonight with cake and party favors.

For the record, "Fit To Be Tied" includes members of The Dirty Truckers, Tijuana Sweetheart, Full Body Anchor, etc. "Leather Snatch" is basically The Acrobrats, and "Jett Streamer & The Neon Angels" contains the same number of syllables as Gene Dants & the Future Starlets. The Other Girls are an all-star team of women (Andrea Gillis and members of Muck & the Mires, The Marvels, Coffin Lids, etc) who do a bunch of rock/punk covers every now and then.

FRI 9/23 (and SAT 9/24)

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

There a few weekends throughout the year that Fredricks Brown comes to town for a couple shows, so I'll repeat what I recently wrote:

I like Fredricks Brown and Deva Mahal enough to suggest you go to The Beehive and drink slightly overpriced drinks. (There's no cover charge, so it evens out.)

This is the kind of soulful, funky music that could have wide appeal yet there's enough substance that you stand up proud to love it. And Deva Mahal possesses one of my favorite voices ever. It may be a good night get your groove on.