Friday Calendar

I'm stinking as a blogger, but there is cheap fun to be had tonight.

From art and photography receptions (both with live music)... To a reading and performance art... To just good tunes... And Fridays are always a good place to laugh and/or dance at Great Scott...

MON 1/21: MLK Jr Day, Art, Words, Tunes

Here's the quick 'n dirty listings for today...

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MON 1/21

10am to 4:45pm
MLK Jr Day -- Open House
at Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston
FREE

One never knows how many people will crowd around the Mario Testino photograph of Tom Brady. It's certainly one reason to enjoy a free visit to the MFA. I might go to stare into the bone & glass eyes of an ancient Roman bronze bust that's on view through May 1.

There will of course be activities and performances; the Inauguration ceremony will also be shown in one of the auditoriums from 11am to 2pm.

MON 1/21

1pm
11th Annual Day of Service & Celebration in Honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
at Faneuil Hall, 1 Faneuil Hall Market Pl, Boston
FREE

Speakers: Ernest G. Green, Marvin Gilmore, Rev. Gloria White Hammond MD, Regie Gibson

Feat: Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras

In honor of Dr. King, several people will read some of his most memorable passages, and young people get classical. The keynote speaker Ernest G. Green is one of the Little Rock Nine that were the first children to desegregate schools in Arkansas in 1954. (So that's pretty cool.)

MON 1/21

2pm to 5pm
Cambridge MLK Day of Service
at City Hall, 795 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
at Citywide Senior Center, 806 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE / ** Your time and effort **

I think Martin Luther King Jr Day is intended to be a day of national/community service. It's not too late to volunteer for a couple hours -- like making blankets for the less fortunate or donating canned goods.

Or you could sit on the couch... Whatever you want.

MON 1/21

6pm to 8pm
"The Possibilitarians" and "Dead Man Rises": Opening Reception
at Cyclorama, Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
FREE

The Bread & Puppet bus is back in Boston for a week as they perform two programs at the Cyclorama ($12 or $10 for students, seniors, & groups) as well as displaying some artwork.

Expect to hear a story from B&P founder and mad genius Peter Schumann at the reception, and I recall one or two local bands playing at a previous receptions.

There will be cheap art for sale (small pieces for $10 or less).

There's even info about being part of the show if you can rehearse on 1/22 & 1/23.

MON 1/21

7pm
Literary Firsts
at Middlesex Lounge, 315 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

Feat: Anthony D'Aries, Danielle Jones-Pruett, Sarah Sweeney, Michael Thurston

Usually a group reading makes me a little nervous. When it's at a bar, there is a guaranteed source of booze and one doesn't feel as trapped.

There's also a variety since each "Literary First" includes a poet, essayist, fiction writer, and someone who tells a story about an early sexual experience.

MON 1/21

7pm
Massmouth Story Slam: "Bankrupt"
at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$10 / $5 students

If you feel like telling a story, ten people will do more than listen at the story slam. Tonight's tales must give their spin on the theme of "bankrupt" -- can you think of other types besides financial and moral?

If you like, sit back and listen as people tell their true stories.

MON 1/21

9pm
The White Owls
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

Dennis Brennan captains a kick-ass team of players through blues classics and hidden gems.

MON 1/21

9:30pm
Gringo Star, Boy On South
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$9 / 18+

Some punny names are better than others, so Gringo Star starts in the positive column of my ledger. Then the Atlanta quartet goes up another notch for their bouncy garage-pop and a supposedly excellent live show.

For a little contrast, Boy on South mainly sounds like low-key indie-folk stuff. Maybe there will be a third band?

MON 1/21

10pm
The Space Bums, The New Complainers
at ZuZu!, 474 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE / 21+

For the late Monday crowd, it's a mix of Velvet Underground influences and swingy rock and roll.

For the even later Monday crowd, the awesome Will Dailey & drummer Dave Brophy are probably playing at the Plough & Stars at 10:30pm.

SUN 1/20: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

While the Pats win, non-football fans can enjoy Elliott Smith hang out with Jon Brion and Brad Mehldau in 2000. I wish this would've been a long-running TV show.



The HuffPo post had the song list:

1. Son of Sam
2. Independence Day (also accompanied by jazz pianist Brad Mehldau)
3. Bottle Up And Explode (also accompanied by percussionist Dan McCarroll)
4. Everything Means Nothing to Me
5. Waterloo Sunset (a cover of a song by The Kinks)
6. Jealous Guy (a cover of a song by John Lennon)
7. Trouble (Jon Brion performs his own song, and Elliott Smith accompanies him on guitar)
8. Nightime (a cover of a song by Big Star)
9. Happiness

SUN 1/20: Alt-Wedding, Rock, Country, Dance

Okay, so here's today's fun. Monday cheapness is on the calendar if you're wondering.

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SUN 1/20

11am to 3pm
Lovesick Expo 2013: Boston
at EpiCenter/Artists for Humanity, 100 W 2nd St, Boston (Southie)
$8 advance / $10 door

If you're planning to get married, it could be worth $16 or $20 to check out some options to make your nuptials way cooler than a DJ who makes people limbo and do the 'electric slide'.

SUN 1/20

4pm
Red Line Rebels, Tenebrae, Empty Vessels, The Loud Ones, The McGunks, F.O.A.C.
at The Midway Cafe, 3496 Washington St, Jamaica Plain
$7 / All Ages

Will there be all-ages punk matinees in the year 2113? I hope so, but we still have them now.

SUN 1/20

4:30pm
Roy Sludge Trio
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE

The music twangs like country tunes should sound like without trying to be Top-40 pop, and the lyrics are wry. Roy Sludge and friends don't play every Sunday, but it seems like a good post-brunch stop in the Union Square area.

SUN 1/20

7pm to 11pm
"Make Noise to Save a Life" 2013
at House of Blues, 15 Lansdowne St, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
Donations Accepted

Feat: Joe Bermudez, Davis Ballard

As one who doesn't like to dance in 'dance club' situations, I believe the experience should create some feeling of euphoria or joyful abandonment for a little while. If dancing could save a life, then it has exceeded my hopes.

The Samaritans work on suicide prevention, and they're throwing a dance party to raise awareness.

SUN 1/20

9pm
"Treat Yo Self": Music & Art
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$8

Feat: PeachPit, Fantastic Liars, Man Alive!, The Sun Parade

Art by: Marissa Goldman, Sean Mullins, Kye Christensen-Knowles, Dave Melnick, Andrew Jerz

Listening to some folk/rock and checking out art is a good, little Sunday night by itself -- but wait, there's more. These people are also bringing foosball, air hockey, and other games to play. And there is always edible treats at "Treat Yo' Self" nights.

SUN 1/20

8:30pm
"For The Sake Of The Song": Tribute to Hank Williams
at Johnny D's, 17 Holland St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$10

Feat: Susan Cattaneo, The Grownup Noise, Sam Otis Hill & Co

It's great to see the legs on "For The Sake Of The Song" that has been celebrating various songwriters for a few years at different venues.

I love when I hear one of Hank's original recordings or virtually any cover from different approaches. The country-oriented Susan Cattaneo and Sam Otis Hill & Co may be expected to interpret Hank more directly in their tribute sections. I would curious to hear how The Grownup Noise do Hank, because they're one of the best, thoughtful rock bands in town.

SUN 1/20

9pm
For Sleeping or Jumping, Das Muerte, Go For Launch, Something About Horses
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

When I see a wall-to-wall metal show like this, I want to say, "Olaf, metal!"

SUN 1/20

9:30pm
The Honors
at Green Dragon Tavern, 11 Marshall St, Boston (Haymarket)
FREE / 21+

Tonight could be wall-to-wall uber-catchy indie-rock that bounces and jangles and swoons in wonderful ways. Although the band may not think it's a benefit, I'm guessing the place isn't packed like a Friday night.

You don't have to wait until a 3-day weekend to catch the uber-catchy indie-rockers that bounce and jangle and swoon in somewhat Brit-pop style. The Honors put on the show every Sunday, so they're saving you a spot in not-quite-Revolutionary historical space whenever you want to go.

A Bad Week in CTB Updates

Okay, here's the situation.

I didn't even do the calendar updates this week, and it's a 3-day weekend for some of us. When I get home tonight the Saturday through Monday calendar will be filled, then some quick 'n dirty details will be fleshed out.

The plan is to get the calendar updated after that -- with the intent to get back to 'normal' (or better) by next Friday.

Thanks!

SUN 1/13: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

This may be for Hitchcock fans only. (Or maybe you'll want to see "Rear Window" now?)

Rear Window Timelapse from Jeff Desom on Vimeo.

1/12: Saturday Calendar

In case you're looking for spur-of-the-moment fun...

Maybe there will be more tomorrow morning. (I can't forget my Sunday pantless T-riding friends who have never been as subversive as I would like, but they're having fun.)

1/11: Friday Briefly

Hey, I feel like I'm almost back after recuperating this week.

If you feel like getting a free flu shot on Saturday, Boston on Budget posted some info along with the usual Boston deals that is close to my heart.

More weekend cheapness, like Sunday's No Pants Subway Ride, is coming later.

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Here are Friday's highlights.

It's a good night for art: You could go to the opening reception of NYC graffiti artist Anthony Vasquez/AVone in Downtown Boston...

There's a video art thing going on at the JP gallery at Green Street T (Free) -- and a photography 'slide show' just a couple blocks away ($5 suggested donation)...

And the MIT museum is always free on the 2nd Friday evening of the month...

And Fridays are almost always funny with "The Gas" at Great Scott ($5)...

In Union Square, it's a loud, rockin' show at Radio with Township, Muck & the Mires, and The Connection ($10)... Asa Brebner has been way more than a Modern Lover, and he's holding a "Music Extravaganza" at Sally O'Brien's (Free)...

There will be plenty of garage/punk at the Middle East with Lyres, Triple Thick, and Radio Control ($10)...

And, of course, Allston is punking out with The Drunk Nuns, Jason Bennett, and Mercy Music at O'Brien's ($8)...

SUN 1/6: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

Does it matter whether 'having a soulmate' is an actual phenomenon if you feel it? Of course not.


http://vimeo.com/43457382

1/4 to 1/6: Weekend Briefly

Okay, our relaunch will have to wait until next week since I'm on my way out of town for a couple more days. (It's amazing that I can blog on a bus in CT.) I collected some weekend cheap highlights that you might like:

Friday 1/4

It's like a monthly open studios at SoWa's First Fridays...

The rock is good and loud at Radio with Cult 45, Chelsea on Fire, White Dynomite, Slim Lizzy ($10)...

It's funky/jazzy/jammy at Church with The Macrotones, Akashic Record, and All of the Animals ($10)...

I like when you can mix garage/punk like White Pages and peculiar underground hip-hop like Cathy Cathodic along with other bands at the Middle East -- Upstairs ($9)...

Saturday 1/5

If you ever wanted to get involved in editing Wikipedia, there's a morning session in Davis Square (Free)...

The Moby Dick Marathon was really damn cool when I went, and I didn't even try to stay for the whole reading at the New Bedford Whaling Museum (Free)...

There's no better place to have a "Citizen Kane" screening than the Rosebud. Kudos to the Weekly Dig to putting the whole shindig together (Free)...

If you feel like sweating to the oldies, it might as well be great soul music with New York Night Train Soul Clap & Dance-Off at Great Scott ($10)...

Sunday 1/6

Enjoy some free country with your day-drinking at Radio with the Roy Sludge Trio (Free)...

One should expect something akin to a modern take on gypsy music from The New Babushkas at The Armory Cafe (Free)...