THUR 4/5: Talk, Beats, Tunes

Wow, it's opening day! As tough as the season ended for the Sox, we begin with an optimistic clean slate today.

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THUR 4/5

7pm
"The Short American Century: A Postmortem": Reading/Discussion
at Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard St, Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
FREE

Feat: Andrew Bacevich, Jeffrey Frieden, Akira Iriye

BU and Harvard professors take a cold, objective look at the US accomplishments of the last 70+ years. (The title includes "Short".) Agree or disagree, these gentlemen can stimulate conversation without flaming rhetoric.

THUR 4/5

8pm to 9:30pm
Shea Rose, Lovewhip
at Arts at The Armory Cafe, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville (Spring Hill)
FREE / Donations accepted

This is another new monthly series known as "WAAF's Bay State Rock Bistro Busk" that makes a compelling reason to get on the bus (#88 or #90) through Somerville to Arts at The Armory.

Two acts that can get loud and funky get it going in a more intimate and not-the-same-kind-of-funky space.

It's a busk, so feel free to drop something in the guitar case.

THUR 4/5

9pm
Red Bull Thre3Style Competition
at Brighton Music Hall, 158 Brighton Ave, Allston
$5 / 18+

Feat: DJ Braun Draper, DJ LayzeeBoy, DJ Midas, DJ Reel Drama, DJ Frank White, DJ Durkin, DJ Joey-C, DJ Knife

Nine local DJ's get 15 minutes to get the dance floor bouncing by playing 3 different genres. The winner gets $1,000 and qualifies for the East Coast finals.

Local hip-hopper Akrobatik will host the event, and DJ Vice will keep spinning after the competitors.

THUR 4/5

9:30pm
2012 Rock 'n' Roll Rumble Preliminary Night #4
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8

Feat: The Fagettes (11:45pm), Parlour Bells (11pm), Never Got Caught (10:15pm), Cask Mouse (9:30pm)

With 3 preliminary nights down and 3 more to go, Boston Band Crush is a good spot for a mix of Rumble videos and recaps.

I suspect that Never Got Caught might have a good chance at winning tonight, because the judges haven't picked a hard/punk band to advance yet -- if they even think about that sort of thing. Any of these bands -- from the dramatic pop of Parlour Bells to Cask Mouse's Americana to ragged indie-party-rock of The Fagettes -- have the stuff to advance to the semi-finals.

THUR 4/5

9:30pm
Together Festival: "Ninja Tune Showcase"
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$10 / 21+

Feat: Starkey, FaltyDL , Percussion Lab (Nooka Jones & Nihal Ramchandani)

Think of this as a reminder that the Together Festival is in full swing. They've got lots of events happening through Sunday 4/8.

Although I listen to less electronica than I did about 10 years ago, Ninja Tune was consistently a stamp of interesting electronic/hip-hop sounds. And here is an in-person sampler.

THUR 4/5

9:30pm
Rocking Horse Rodeo, Annalise Emerick
at Milky Way Lounge / Bella Luna, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain (The Brewery Complex)
FREE / 21+

On one hand, there's Boston guys playing good. clean alt-country. On the other hand, there's a folk gypsy who recently landed here from Nashville.

THUR 4/5

10:30pm
Chris Warren
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE-ish / 21+

Besides currently playing in the awesome-rockin' Viva Viva, Chris Warren recorded a solo album last year where the songs' lyrical content feels more potent with the volume turned down.

It might be a $5 cover. He might be joined by a drummer. It will be worthwhile in both or neither cases.