THUR 6/21: Party, Talk, Music

I just want to thank the CTB readers for being pretty darn awesome. Yesterday I asked for a scientific study on the cooling properties of soul music due to the Chicken Slacks gig -- and someone found one!

Cheapness through Sunday is on the calendar.

I haven't checked since yesterday, but there might be some cheap tix for "Roller Disco the Musical!" (WED 6/27 & THUR 6/28).

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THUR 6/21

6pm to 11pm
Jose's Summer Kick-off Block Party
behind Jose McIntyre's, about 74 Central St, Boston (Financial District)
$10

Feat: In Like Lions, Joshua Tree

On a day like this, it might be more enjoyable to be inside a bar with the A/C on. Still this is a benefit event for the Men with Heart Organization, a group of husbands and sons who raise money for various breast cancer prevention/treatment non-profits.

Think about sun protection (beyond downing Coronas), hang out, and listen to some modern arena rock and Boston's premiere U2 tribute band.

To give you some idea, the 'hosts' are Miss Massachusetts 2011 and the Boston guy from "Real World: San Diego".

THUR 6/21

7pm
Alex Stone, "Fooling Houdini: Magicians, Mentalists, Math Geeks, and the Hidden Powers of the Mind": Reading
at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

A lot of these readings I list is because it seems like you're going to hear something interesting -- or someone interesting saying it.

As well as writing about his childhood love of magic and the many colorful characters that he's met over the years, Alex Stone also goes into the psychology of how magic tricks work on the observer. I watched a clip of the author doing what might be his basic book tour spiel, and it's good conversation material.

THUR 6/21

9:15pm
Love in Stockholm, Dan Mills
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$8 advance / $10 door

Since I've mention the Tuesday and Wednesday June residencies at Lizard Lounge, I'd be remiss not to mention that Thursday nights belong to soul-rockers Love in Stockholm and their horn section. (The Lizard Lounge is a great basement to see a show on any night, really.)

They're one of our local groups who go out there and make fans outside 128 and still do these great little shows. Every week has a different opener, and Brooklyn's jazzy/acoustic-soul dude Dan Mills got me to watch 4 YouTube videos in a row.

THUR 6/21

10pm
"Mondo Thursdays"
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5 / 21+

Feat: Keith Pierce, Drew Indingaro, Swamp Bear

Speaking of playing smaller rooms, it would be slightly ridiculous for hard-rock/metal bands like Mellow Bravo or Cradle to the Grave banging heads in the tiny corner of the Plough. On the other hand, their singers Keith Pierce and Drew Indingaro could do something stripped down.

Then you have Swamp Bear who sound like their name; if such an animal exists, it might be prowl around with a modern, bluesy noir soundtrack playing. These are the cool performer combos that you can find on "Mondo Thursdays".

THUR 6/21

10pm
The Brighton Beat
at Milky Way Lounge / Bella Luna, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain (The Brewery Complex)
FREE / 21+

Believe it or not, it's hotter in Boston than Nigeria today. These guys who got together in Brighton might have been looking to the origins of Afro-beat for inspiration, and they might draw some inspiration and perspiration from their hometown.

It's going to be cool at the Milky Way tonight while the tunes will be jazzy, funky and free.