TUES 7/24: Talk, Film, Music

So the other tasks in my multitasking got the better of me today.

FYI: The CTB calendar is populated with most of my cheap suggestions through next Friday.

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TUES 7/24

6pm to 7pm
Gerald Chertavian, "A Year Up: How a Pioneering Program Teaches Young Adults Real Skills for Real Jobs with Real Success": Author Talk
at Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

Whatever programs that can successfully even the playing field in terms of education/career opportunities should be applauded.

Gerald Chertavian applied his Harvard Business School to create a program that annually provides training in real-world technical & professional skills to more than 1,000 disadvantaged young people. The next step is to place them in 6-month internships.

These are just the basics that will be expanded upon in tonight's discussion.

TUES 7/24

6pm to 7:30pm
“The Justice For Trayvon Martin NAACP Rally": Screening
at Mattapan Public Library, 1350 Blue Hill Ave, Mattapan
FREE

Filmmaker Paul Morgan appears to be the creative force behind the community TV program "Community Is Us". There was an NAACP rally for Trayvon Martin in April, and this is a chance to see Morgan's program and discuss the case.

It's interesting to see the reactions immediately after the tragic events and compare it to the current mood. I imagine that assumptions made at the rally may have different meaning as the case unfolds.

TUES 7/24

7pm
"Shellshocked": Screening
at Haller Hall, Room 102, 24 Oxford St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

It appears the space in front of the Natural History Museum is hosting a farmers' market on Tuesdays (Noon to 6pm) through the end of October. There are various food/green demonstrations and activities in conjunction with the market including tonight's screening.

Although the film focuses on the history of oysters in New York Harbor and the struggle to restore the oyster beds, it should remind us of the fragile existence of delicious bivalves along our shores.

TUES 7/24

Abbey Barrett & The Last Date (9:30pm), Frank Morey & Michael Tarbox (8pm)
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE / 21+

It appears that the performers are treating it as separate early and late shows. So one can enjoy a pair of bluesy guys or some folky indie-pop -- or both.

It's free entertainment while enjoying beverages in Union Square (like Bull McCabe's and Sally O'Brien's).

TUES 7/24 (and WED 7/25)

9pm
Boston Accents Funeral Parties
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$10 / 18+

Tonight:Mean Creek, Mellow Bravo, Soccer Mom, Dirty Virgins

Wednesday:
Gentlemen Hall, Black Light Dinner Party, Bearstronaut, Stereo Telescope

As of Friday, WFNX ceased to exist as we knew it. Until the new format begins, a zombie-style music station can still be heard. It's too bad that radio doesn't play the same role in discovering new music as it did years ago.

While radio doesn't break national bands anymore, FNX was tremendously supported to local bands via "Boston Accents" (and continued exposure via the Phoenix). New bands can get attention through other channels, but it sucks to see the options decrease.

Far from a morose affair, Boston Accents is going out with a bang over three nights that have been basically broken down into "...a bit of rowdy garage rock, a a slathering of pure rock and roll adrenaline, and the slickest electronic-pop beats..." that recent host Michael Marotta has been playing since he took the show's reins.

He said:

When I booked these shows 2 months ago I used the term "Funeral Party" because I was bummed out by the station being sold. Now I just feel more celebratory and grateful for Boston Accents ever existing in the first place so fuck it, it's a celebration. Let's do it up.

With one more rock night and a pop/electro night to go, there is a quick way to sample a smog from each of the participating bands on Bandcamp.

I wonder if Mean Creek will be playing rooms this small for much longer. Among their local music awards and high-profile gigs, they went on tour with Counting Crows a couple months ago. (It's not the same as the mid-'90s, but those were a lot of fresh ears for the band.) Their modern big-rock sound is joined by Mellow Bravo's nod to an earlier big-rock reminiscent of big hair. Good stuff!

Soccer Mom will get good 'n fuzzy, while Dirty Virgins will hopefully be messy and punky.

The word on the web is that Grillo's Pickles will be giving away spears tonight, and they're the best pickles I've ever eaten.

TUES 7/24

Turf War (10:30pm), Mighty Tiny (9:45pm), Northern Lands (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

We can assume that putting Turf War's drunken rock swagger together with Mighty Tiny's experimental cabaret-rock. One is a loose group of Georgia boys who look like they put equal effort into partying and performing, and the other have a sophisticated image highlighted by the Carnevale masks they wear onstage.

They both sound really good, so it could be a splendid happy accident that the crowd will enjoy. Providence rockers Northern Lands get the party started.