FRI 4/13: Science, Slams, Comedy, Dance, Film, Theatre, Music

Whoops! I guess this is an unlucky day for me...

Weekend cheapness is on the CTB Calendar.

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FRI 4/13

5pm to 8pm
Second Fridays
at MIT Museum, 265 Mass Ave, Cambridge (near Central Sq)
FREE

Tonight's monthly open house is also the opening of a new exhibit "Rivers of Ice: Vanishing Glaciers of the Greater Himalaya". Guides will give tours beginning at 5:30pm, and a discussion will follow at 6pm.

Honestly, there are lots of cool stuff at the MIT Museum that's worth the price of admission, but it's even better when you can get in for free.

If you really want to see the best exhibit in the building, go upstairs and spend some time with the kinetic sculptures of Arthur Ganson. They look cool, and many embody scientific/philosophical ideas.

FRI 4/13

7pm to 10pm
"Louder Than A Bomb": Youth Poetry Slam Finals
at Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, 85 W Newton St, Boston (South End)
$10 / FREE for high school students with a valid school ID

"We would like to make this event accessible to everyone and will offer reduced/ sliding scale ticket pricing at the door."

If you're not necessarily a fan of slam poetry, you can walk away feeling the next generation has many thoughtful and impressive members.

The statewide competition started with 16 teams and have been narrowed down to representatives of Peabody, Worcester, Newburyport, and a Somerville/Boston group.

Along with 5 rounds of verbal kung-fu, guest poet Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo who was runner-up in the 2009 Individual World Poetry Slam will also share her work.

FRI 4/13

7pm
"Festival of Narratives": StorySlam Night
at Pozen Center, about 621 Huntington Ave, Boston (MassArt, enter on Evans Way)
$5

Chapter I of the Festival of Narratives sold out rather quickly, but each week in April brings a different event to showcase artistic forms of the human need for storytelling.

In conjunction with MassMouth, some students (and the general public) are invited to share true stories on the theme of "Mystery and Misfortune".

Even on Friday the 13th, some will even win prizes...

FRI 4/13

7:30pm to 9:30pm
Anderson Comedy: "The Gas: Friday the 13th"
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$5 / 18+

Feat: Ryan Shaner, Lillian DeVane, Laura Crawford, Ethan Marsh, Danny Richardson, Andrew Durso, Rob Potylo

Hosted by Rob Crean

Think about it this way: You're paying about 62 cents per funny person. Is that even enough to feed a kid in Africa for a day? I don't think so.

With no drink minimum (or drink maximum), this is a pretty damn good deal to start your weekend with a bunch of laughs.

I'm probably not looking in the right places, but I haven't noticed Rob Potylo (fka Roadsteamer) doing stand-up lately. He could rip your face off -- in a comedic way.

FRI 4/13 (and SAT 4/14)

8pm
"Spring Works"
at Boston Conservatory Theater, 31 Hemenway St, Boston (The Fens)
FREE

Students in the Conservatory's dance program have put about a year into these 8 original choreographies as well as 2 pieces by local choreographers, Lorraine Chapman and Anna Myer.

Most of the music is original as well to accompany the kinetic poems and stories. (See the slams listed above.)

FRI 4/13

8pm to 11pm
"A Double Barreled Night Of Exploitation Films"
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville
$8 online / $10 door (cash only)

Feat: "Dear God No!" & "Nun of That"

Neither of tonight's features are quite what you normally get from the "All Things Horror" guys, but the indie-spirit is there. They're resuming what I like to call Boston's monthly indie-horror festival in a few weeks.

Instead we have a couple of modern grindhouse at its low-budget best. On one hand, there are bikers and seminude women going crazy. On the other hand, there are sexy, badass nuns cleaning up the streets with way more firepower than a sharp ruler.

FRI 4/13 (and SAT 4/14)

8pm
"In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play)"
at Student Theater at Agganis Arena, 925 Comm Ave, Boston (BU campus)
$6

Yes, it's a play that takes place during the late 19th-century when electricity was a new technology. Inevitably someone applies it to human sexuality -- with the most honorable of purposes in this case as a cure for "female hysteria".

If you didn't see this comedy about sex, love, and soulful experiences when it was first produced in town a couple years ago, this is the next chance.

FRI 4/13

9pm
The Spampinato Brothers
at The Midway Cafe, 3496 Washington St, Jamaica Plain
$10 / 21+

It's weird to think that NRBQ is still out on the road with only one original member. On the other hand, they're probably playing superb rock 'n roll much like former bassist Joey Spampinato and guitarist-brother Johnny (who played with the 'Q for a while) in their band. This is real good-time music.

Tickets are being sold in advance, but I'd like to think a few walk-ups can squeeze in.

The inimitable DJ Easy Ed will probably play a lot of old-time rock and rockabilly after the live music finishes around 11:30pm.

FRI 4/13

9:30pm
Semi Final Night #2
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

Feat: Garvy J (11:45pm), The Rationales (11pm), Ghosts Of Jupiter (10:15pm), Sherman Burns (9:30pm)

The Finals are going to be $12 next week, so it technically won't qualify for CTB but might still make the list.

I give up on trying to pick the winners. All of the Prelim winners and wild-card Sherman Burns moved to the next round because they were the best bands that played on their respective nights.

In theory you're going to hear 4 of the currently best local bands give you their very different take on what's rocking at this moment.

FRI 4/13

10pm
Hands and Knees, Summer Cult, Fashion Snake, Jim Heffernan
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$7 / 21+

Whenever Hands and Knees are on the bill, there's not much more required to give a big thumbs-up to that gig. Gotta love their jangly, twangy rock with a bunch of satisfying songs that still have a little rough 'n tumble swagger.

Add a wry indie-folk band from upstate NY and a solo dude from Brooklyn. Fashion Snake is a bit of a mystery, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's one guy or a full-on/minimalist art-rock ensemble.