FRI 7/6: Music, Art, Comedy, Film

Whoops! At least the CTB calendar is populated through Wednesday...

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FRI 7/6 (thru FRI 8/24)

6pm
Greenway Session Series: Insigniya
at Kennedy Greenway, about 241 Milk St, Boston (Wharf District / near Aquarium)
FREE

Two months of free music Fridays is not a bad way to end the week especially if you work nearby or simply meeting friends for drinks near the waterfront. It usually isn't a good sign for when I hear a band described as "jazz-rock", but Insigniya is not so jazzy to bore people who want something easy to digest.

The mix of bands should offer something appealing to most before the end of August.

FRI 7/6

7pm to 10pm
"Fuck Yeah America II: With A Vengeance": Reception
at Lincoln Arts Project Gallery, 289 Moody St, Waltham
FREE

Feat: Adam O’Day & KDONZ, Amanda Lachapelle, Andrew Fish, Bill Dunlap, Bradford Rusick, Brian Glaser, Caitlin Duennebier, Caleb Neelon, Clint Baclawski, Dave Tolmie, Fish McGill, Jamaal Eversley, Liz Linder, Rachel Kain, Tak Toyoshima, Union Press, Wilding, Davis, & Co. Books

Like the flag has different meanings for people, about 20 artists have made different statements based on America in one way or another. I found some photos from last year's reception for 'Part 1'.

The reception is sponsored by Narragansett, can you say "Free beer"? I hope the answer is, "Fuck, yeah."

If not tonight, the exhibit is on view through SAT 8/4.

FRI 7/6

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

Feat: Charla Lauriston, Sharkee Katz, Brendan Thomas Crowley, Tim Vargulish

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 doing anything else.

The price is right for a bunch of laughs and a few beers -- although some are funnier than others. And there's nothing wrong with staying at Great Scott and dancing (or standing around) with "The Pill" at 10pm.

Not a bad beginning to the weekend...

FRI 7/6 (and SAT 7/7)

8pm
"Exclamation Point! 10": FILMSTOCK
at Fort Point Theatre Channel, 10 Channel Center St, Boston (Fort Point)
FREE

Maybe you want to see the 'promo video' to get you interested. There will be about 10 short films to see, and I imagine that many of the filmmakers live in Fort Point. It should be kinda cool to hang out in some space in a Fort Point alley.

Even if you don't go, you might enjoy knowing that a play called "It Always Rains When John Cusack Is in Anguish" that will be performed as well.

FRI 7/6

9pm
Watts, Mary Lou Lord, Robin Lane
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$10 / 21+

Tonight's and tomorrow's show was initially going to be a 2-night 'hootenanny' featuring Johnny Angel making a rare visit back to Boston where he made his mark in several bands.

He had to cancel at the last minute due to illness, but the show goes on with all the other bands scheduled to appear.

Since her classic band The Chartbusters, there's a good chance that Robin Lane is playing a solo set of folk-rock nuggets. (Did you know she had the 11th video ever shown on MTV?) When the world was grunge-y, Mary Lou Lord was a MBTA troubadour that reached the across the alt-rock world.

I think it would be cool if Watts and Robin Lane did a song together, because her sweet voice could tame their garage-rock just enough for a cool hard-soft juxtaposition.

FRI 7/6

9pm
Ten Foot Polecats, Throwdown Blues Band
at Rosebud Bar & Grill (behind Diner), 381 Summer St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$5-ish

Hey, it would be nice to know everything ahead of time. I think a $5 cover for a couple blues bands sounds about right. You may have a different opinion. There are other bars in Davis Square to hang out if you don't like the estimated price of admission.

If you sneak past the diner, the Ten Foot Polecats will deliver the raw/raunchy, harmonica-laden blues like it was smuggled in from North Mississippi. The Throwdown Blues Band reminds me of a bar band that would be in a movie where the bouncer can beat up bikers and still be sensitive enough to get the gal with a heart of gold.

FRI 7/6

10pm
"The Pill" w/ Team Spirit
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$5

Some might recommend this gig because Team Spirit is a side project by one of the dudes from Passion Pit. I listened to a couple tracks, and they sound great. It rocks more than Passion Pit yet people will still dance. That's the whole point of The Pill -- to play rock/brit-pop that inspires people to jump around and dance.

It's one of the few dance nights I could handle. (I also found someone's photos from a random night at The Pill.)

FRI 7/6 (and SAT 7/7)

11:30pm
The Nightcap
at ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

One Friday or Saturday night in Central Square, you may impress those in your company by suggesting the free half-hour comedy show. It could be stand-ups or improv or a combination of the two.

I assume wine and beer will be on sale, so why not get a change of atmosphere. There is plenty of time to go somewhere else before last call...