Still plenty of time to enjoy the day -- like I'm about to do.
Future cheapness is on the calendar.
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SAT 6/16 (and SUN 6/17)
Various Times
4th Annual Waltham Riverfest
at Various Locations near Waltham Common
FREE
Saturday -- 10am to 9pmThe same body of water that runs past the Cambridge River Fest also passes through Waltham. Over 3 days, the Waltham Common/Moody Street area will be teeming with music, dance, arts, culture, vendors, etc.
Sunday -- 11am to 4pm
As a former resident, it's not so bad to grab a meal, stroll along the Moody storefronts, then grab an ice cream at Lizzy's. All the other diversions of the weekend make it more interesting if you're in the area.
Some of the bands playing on Saturday include Rick Berlin (2:15pm), Andy Pratt (3:30pm), and Peter Parcek (5pm), which is just one of 3 stages. [PDF program/schedule]
Keep an eye out for people selling wristbands ($5). They grant you discounts to a bunch of restaurants/stores (such as Margaritas, Tempo, Watch City Brewery, Tom Can Cook, Gourmet Pottery, Stadium Bar) where you can save more than $5.
SAT 6/16 (and SUN 6/17)
Noon to 6pm
4th Annual Chelsea Art Walk
around Chelsea [PDF map]
FREE
Some of my few Chelsea experiences are watching "Cyrano" in a park and talking to an artist who claiming how vibrant the art scene is in Chelsea yet no one ventures over there.
Why not venture? This is 'off the beaten path' just like the Common Boston folks above.
Several buses take you over as well as a parking location on their map, and it is an easy walk that doesn't stray too much from Broadway to 9 locations including the historic Bellingham-Cary House. You might see some dedicated shuttle buses too.
SAT 6/16
2pm to 10pm
Make Music Festival, Volume 5
around Harvard Sq, Cambridge
FREE
Based on "Fete de la Musique" that started in Paris, it's just a loose, outdoor celebration of music in all sorts of genres. After 30 years, it's spread to hundreds of cities and enhances the mood from my experience.
With 8 hours, it wouldn't hurt to walk around before, during or after whatever else you wanted to do in Harvard Square. A Quebecois duo Isabelle Cyr & Yves Marchand are at Winthrop Park from 3pm to 5pm while other acts are rotating on an hourly basis.
More than 75 acts are disbursed over 11 locations, I will let you know that these are the bands I recognize and would be happy to listen to:
2pm -- One Happy Island (Dado Tea)All of these spots are on the Google map. Viva la Cambridge!
3pm -- Man Alive! (Forbes Plaza), McAlister Drive (Deguglielmo Plaza), Cold Chocolate (Dado Tea)
4pm -- OldJack (Deguglielmo Plaza), The Big Lonesome (The Pit)
5pm -- The Rationales (Deguglielmo Plaza)
7pm -- Peter Buzzelle (Forbes Plaza), Ruby Rose Fox (Harvard COOP), Plumerai (Winthrop Park)
8pm -- Sultans of Sax (The Pit)
9pm -- The Field Effect (Deguglielmo Plaza)
SAT 6/16
7pm
Starship Feat: Mickey Thomas
at Hatch Shell, Storrow Dr, Boston (Charles River Esplanade)
FREE
It's almost summer time, so a few oldies acts are visiting the Hatch Shell. If you close your eyes (and have ingested something intoxicating), you might think that Jefferson Starship is rocking out by the Charles -- and one of them is!
SAT 6/16
6:30pm
These United States
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+
It's the CTB maximum for one band when we usually get three or four, but These United States probably could be playing in larger club for more than $10. Fans of their boisterous Americana don't have to wait, and the early show means you can go to that party (or whatever else you want to do).
SAT 6/16
7:30pm
The Sweet & Low Down
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE
The Sweet and Low Down features Miss Tess who doesn't live in town anymore and Rachael Price (of Lake Street Dive who have their new EP of mostly covers), who are quite swinging gals in their main projects. In the S&LD, it seems they've delved back into the old songbooks for the jazz/blues/jump tunes that inform their music.
They're also playing Upstairs on the Square (?) tomorrow, however the drinks are cheaper and the ambience more relaxed at Toad.
SAT 6/16
8:30pm
Jonathan Richman Tribute Night
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$8 / 21+
Feat: Whistle Jacket (8:30pm), Hot Molasses (9pm), ACLU Benefit (9:20pm), Young & Old (9:40pm), Ghost Symposium (10pm), Asa Brebner (10:20pm), Chris North (10:50pm), The Double-Stops (11:10pm), Adam & Eve (11:30pm), Streight Angular (11:50pm)
9pm
Paul McCartney Birthday Tribute
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$8 advance / $10 door / 21+
Feat: "The Lennonheads", Will Dailey, The Daily Pravda, Will Davies, more
Some people scoff with a Lennonesque tone when people profess genuine affection for Sir Paul. Both seem like affable guys, but my scale is tipped to local hero Jonathan Richman. Both musicians are worthy of a tribute show and have giant catalogues of songs to choose from, so it's a matter of where and how you want to listen.
A slew of bands are doing about 15 minutes of Jonathan Richman material by alternating on an electric stage in the front of the room and an acoustic stage in the back. The downtime will be minimal, and one of the cool things is former Modern Lover Asa Brebner is tipping the musical hat to his former bandleader. Another cool aspect is that the proceeds benefit the Somerville Arts Council.
On the eve's eve of Paul McCartney's 70th birthday, there are 4 main groups who'll likely have special guests jumping in and out (half the crowd being listeners and half being musicians) for quality over quantity. Members of The Click Five, Oranjuly and Spirit Kid have joined forces as The Lennonheads with the fantastic Ducky Carlisle on drums. I suspect the McCartney geeks will pull out some obscure songs, although half of his stuff hit the top-40.
SAT 6/16
Midnight
"Women's Prison Massacre": Screening
at Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline
FREE
The previously scheduled midnight movie didn't arrive, so the Coolidge looked around their basement and found a 35mm print of a cheesy mid-'80s sexploitation movie with bad acting. Sounds like fun!
The plot doesn't need to be explained more than it takes place in a women's prison, right? Hey, it's free and they serve beer…
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