MON 1/16: MLK, Art, Talk, Music, Trivia

Happy Dr. MLK Jr Day!

I hope most of you don't have to work today.

If not, you can pretend you're a fighter for social justice.

Hey, The White Owls and Andrea Gillis Band are at Toad (for free) tonight too.

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MON 1/16

10am to 4:45pm
MLK Jr Day -- Open House
at Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston (Fenway)
FREE

I have been to an Open House day in the expanded MFA, and there was a reasonable amount of room for me. Of course there are musical performances and art activities, or you could check out a couple exhibits then do something else with the rest of the day.

This is a good chance to see "Degas and the Nude" that is closing next month and going to Musée d’Orsay in Paris. It could be described as a hundred naked ladies, but it's also a study by one of the pioneering Impressionists.

MON 1/16

1pm
"A Day of Service & Celebration In Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr."
at Faneuil Hall, 1 Faneuil Hall Market Pl, Boston
FREE

Feat: Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Alvin Poussaint, Steve Grossman, Lee Pelton, Tulaine Marshall, more

Above the souvenir booths, the City and the Museum of African American History present a program to honor the man whose dream has given some of us a day off.

Amid performances from the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, people like the state treasurer, Emerson College's President, and more will read passages by Dr. King.

Psychiatrist and educator Dr. Alvin Poussaint will deliver the keynote address.

MON 1/16

6pm to 9pm
Rock Shop #14: "The Need to Be Heard"
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
FREE

Feat: Audrey Ryan, Michael Creamer, Will Dailey, David Day

The Rock Shop series is geared towards the music realm, but maybe anyone in a creative endeavor might hear something beneficial.

Perhaps any kind of artist who does their thing very independently could benefit from "The Need to Be Heard", a book by Audrey Ryan that is the foundation of tonight's discussion with other musicians and music professionals.

Not only do you walk away with a bunch of tips, you also meet other local music people -- like the monthly Rock 'n' Roll Social at at the Model Cafe.

MON 1/16

7:30pm
"James Brown Get Down for MLK Day!"
at Arts at The Armory Cafe, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville (Spring Hill)
$3 Suggested Donation

If you don't recall why watching vintage concert footage of James Brown makes sense for a MLK Jr Day celebration, it was Soul Brother Number One who televised his concert at the Boston Garden on the night of King's assassination.

It's widely believed this prevented major rioting in Boston that plagued other cities across the country. There's a DVD about the concert, and I bet some of it will be shown tonight.

MON 1/16

8pm to 10pm
The Big Quiz Thing
at Club Oberon, 2 Arrow St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

Yes, Virginia, there is a free trivia night where there's a $200 1st-place prize.

It's very competitive, but it can be done. The Cheap Thrills Boston team tied for 2nd place in June. I think our team helped to make the night considered to be "The ideal live-trivia audience".

Your average pub trivia is alright, but this is probably the most entertaining trivia game I've played.

MON 1/16

9pm
The Sound of Growing Up, The Winter Sounds, Triggers
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

Attention powerpop lovers, there is gig that will warm your musical cockles as the temperature has become wintry. If you don't dig the keyboard-heavy, uptempo Sound Of Growing Up with bits of horns and ukulele, you might like The Winter Sounds from Nashville via Athens, GA. From what I heard The Winter Sounds sound more UK than Southern with precious melodies and sparkling guitars.

If not those two, Pittsburgh's Triggers should sink their big tasty hooks in your ears. (Too many cliches? Hope not.) Even if you don't go, take a listen and find some new mixtape tracks.