FRI 6/1: Art, Tom Brady, Comedy, Music

If you go to the annual Greek Festival in Arlington this weekend, you'll probably want to spend more than $10, but it reminds me that there are plenty of Greek festivals during the summertime that might be closer to you.

Yes, there is cheapness through Monday on the calendar.

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FRI 6/1

5pm to 9pm
First Friday Open Studios
at SoWa Arts Bldg, 450 Harrison Ave, Boston (South End)
FREE

Are you going to be in the South End? Why not wander around inside for a bit to enjoy some art and maybe you'll find wine and cheese in some rooms (or not)... You will find artists who'd love to discuss their work.

FRI 6/1

6pm
Tom Brady Football Challenge
at Harvard Stadium, 65 North Harvard St, Allston
FREE w/ Registration

The intensity level will be somewhere between a Patriots pre-season game and a bunch of guys playing touch football. It's really going to be much closer to the latter except Tom Brady brings along teammates and other famous folks such as Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Dan Koppen, Tedy Bruschi, etc.

As part of the Best Buddies Challenge bike ride, some of the people assisted by the program also play. If you register to attend, you enter for a chance to play and win a $9,000 watch.

What's the catch for seeing Patriots up close -- maybe getting an autograph or photo? Be ready for solicitations from Best Buddies (which is a good cause).

FRI 6/1

7:30pm to 9:30pm
Anderson Comedy: "The Gas"
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$5

Feat: Matt Kona, others

Anderson Comedy has The Gas every Friday, and I'm an advocate of the idea of early Friday fun so you can spend the rest of the night drinking yourself to oblivion -- or whatever you'd like to do.

There is nothing wrong with staying at Great Scott and dancing (or standing around) with "The Pill" at 10pm.

FRI 6/1

Emily Elbert & Eric Robertson (9:45pm), Cameron Galpin (9pm), Nadia Washington (8pm)
at Yes.Oui.Si Space, 19 Vancouver St, Boston (between MFA & MassArt)
$5

This little art space is moving out after this weekend, but it remains diversely active as usual with night of soulful/bluegrass-y singer-songwriters and a fantastic jazz singer -- and an art blowout on Sunday.

Eric Robertson (of the Boston Boys) will likely play with Cameron Galpin as well as Emily Elbert since they know each other from school. Besides their own songs, Emily and the Boston Boys contributed radically laid-back covers of Husker Du and Green Day to Berklee-based tribute album "Under the Influence".

FRI 6/1

9pm
Arto Vaun, The Field Effect, Soft Skull, Scout
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$5

On a lucky night, many moons ago, I lucked into catching a set by Mishima USA and fell in love with the guitar-drum power-pop. Alas they didn't last much longer, and it seemed like they fell down the memory hole.

Singer-guitarist Arto Vaun is back in town with a new band. It doesn't strike an arrow through my heart in the same way, but it's worth checking out. There are 3 other kick-ass bands in line-up too including ethereal female-vocal-powered of Scout.

FRI 6/1 (and SAT 6/2)

9pm
Tijuana Sweetheart's Last Blast
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$8 / 21+

Friday:

Midnight -- Tijuana Sweetheart
11pm -- Cocked N Loaded
10:15pm -- Cult 45
9:35pm -- Giant Target
9pm -- The Furiousity

Saturday:

11:30pm -- Tijuana Sweetheart
10:30pm -- Razors in the Night
9:45pm -- Tenafly Vipers
9pm -- Give Up!

Bad-ass punk-rock gals Tijuana Sweetheart are hanging up their collective hat with two hard-rocking nights. From the days known as Vagiant to the current incarnation, they have come up with ballsy anthems like "F--- The Kells" that should be considered as one of the reasons that bar closed.

Each night is stacked with punk/metal pals for the last slam dance.

FRI 6/1

The Luxury (11:45pm), The Lights Out (10:45pm), The Fatal Flaw (10pm), Dirty Virgins (9:15pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

One of our most reliable purveyors of catchy guitar-rock, The Lights Out, are celebrating the release of their latest album "On Fire". They should celebrate, because it's full of tunes that should be cranked up while driving a bitchin' car with the windows down.

Fans of The Luxury will celebrate the first live gig in almost a year. Rock fans in general will celebrate the clever, melodic rock of The Fatal Flaw and the ramshackle fuzz of Dirty Virgins.

Yes, this is an all-around celebration so raise your plastic cup of PBR.

FRI 6/1 (and SUN 6/2)

The Figgs -- "The Day Gravity Stopped" Record Release Party
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

Friday -- The Figgs (10:30pm), My Own Worst Enemy (9:30pm)
Saturday -- The Figgs (10:30pm), Gymnasium (9:30pm)

As far as I'm concerned The Figgs are one of the great American rock 'n roll bands, period.

I'll forever bounce along to my first Figgs CD, "Sucking in Stereo", but they've got hooked from the punky-pop to soul, roots, etc that weaves through subsequent albums and still sounds like The Figgs.

While not technically an anniversary show, they've been making high-octane roc for 25 years. Let's hope for many more to come, but live in the present and hear an amazing band blow the roof off of the place.

FRI 6/1

10pm
Black Box Comedy
at Davis Square Theatre, 255 Elm St, Somerville (beneath Foundry restaurant)
$8

Feat: Matt Aromando, Dan Crohn, Jono Zalay, Nick Chambers, The Bearcats, Laura Crawford

If you didn't feel like comedy in Allston, you have a chance for comedy and improv in Somerville.