Sneak Peek: SAT 11/21

It seems unnaturally warm, so you might as well enjoy it. More to come, I hope...

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SAT 11/21 & SUN 11/22

Noon to 6pm
Annual Open Studios
at Brickbottom Studios, 1 Fitchburg St, Somerville (near Lechmere)
at Joy Street Studios, 86 Joy St, Somerville (near Union Sq)
FREE

See art, talk about art, walk to more art, maybe buy some art... About 110 artists in various media are participating between the 2 locations that are quite close to each other.

Slim Jim & The Mad Cows are playing at Brickbottom at 6:30pm.

SAT 11/21

5:30pm
Jason Crigler
at Atwood's Tavern, 877 Cambridge St , Cambridge
FREE

The early evening can be pleasantly spent in an East Cambridge bar with many beers on tap and folky rock on stage from a man who's living inspirational story (and documentary).

SAT 11/21

8pm
Jeff Huckleberry, "A Very Beautiful Art Show For You"
at Meme Gallery, 55 Norfolk St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

Could be interesting; I think the exhibit will many be a video of performances that have occurred during the show. It's probably be something weird. I walked by the gallery last week, and the artist has a wild look in his eyes.

SAT 11/21

8pm
International Pop Overthrow: Night #3
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

8pm: Cliff Hillis
8:30pm: Carlene Barous
9pm: Popfilter
9:30pm: Golden Bloom
10pm: The Motion Sick
10:30pm: The Montgomerys
11pm: Topheavy
11:30pm: The Lights Out

I said earlier this week to pick any night and enjoy, but this is the best night of this year's IPO from beginning to end.

SAT 11/21

9:30mp
El-P (Midnight), Bodega Girls (10:50pm), Faces On Film (9:45pm)
at Johnny D's, 17 Holland St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$10

Alias "The Echo Nestival", it's the performance portion of a music-app building get-together -- with rapper El-P, funky dance-rockers Bodega Girls, and folky Faces On Film.

Looks like you can get in as a listener for an eclectic line-up.

SAT 11/21

9:30pm
"The Cover Up" does "The Last Waltz"
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$9 advance / $10 / 21+

Feat: The Rationales, The Phil Aiken Army, The Teenage Prayers, The Beau Roland Band

Special guests: Ad Frank, Andy Cambria, Brendan Boogie, John Powhida, Mike Verge, Pip, more

Did you ever see the movie about The Band's farewell concert? Some of the biggest rock stars joined them, and there were more hits than misses.

(I would wager this group of musicians will ingest a much, much smaller amount of drugs and alcohol.)

SAT 11/21

9:30pm
B.L.O.W.W., Guillermo Sexo, Young Tremors
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$8 -- 21+ / $11 -- 18+

Boston League of Women Wrestlers is fun and campy. Yes, girls rock. Live bands will rock you too.

SAT 11/21

10pm
Eddie Japan, Kingsley Flood
at Rosebud Bar & Grill (behind Diner), 381 Summer St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$5 / 21+

Kickass rootsy rock and some really cool, classy pop-rock at my new favorite secret bar in Davis Sq.

11/20 to 11/22: Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo

Various Times
Ski & Snowboard Expo
at Bayside Expo, 200 Mount Vernon St, Boston (Columbia Point)
$10 online or with coupon / FREE 12 and under

Friday: 4pm to 10pm
Saturday: 10am to 8pm
Sunday: 10am to 6pm

Do I have to mention the Ski Expo? I saw a buddy of mine on the way to this thing last night.

If you're going to ski or snowboard this season, there's a good chance you're going to save more than $10 by going...

There are discounts and packages to dozens of ski locations in New England -- including popular ones -- and around the country.

People tell me there are good deals on equipment (at least on the first night, haha).

You can print out this page for $2 off the $12 admission or give them your email address if that page isn't working.

(There's a coupon near the back of this week's Phoenix. Take the T to JFK/UMass and grab one out of the kiosk if you must.)

FRI 11/20: Film, Russian, Nightmare, Pop, Rock

Oh-me, oh-my! Things did not go quite as planned, but I'll to recover. There is a chance of a soft re-launch of the weekly email this week. Stay tuned. We now present another sub-par post...

Hey, I think I found cheapness that's spread around the area...

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FRI 11/20

7pm
An Evening with Paul Schrader
at Room 102, Sargent College, 635 Comm Ave, Boston (BU campus)
FREE

This is a pretty big guy to get for BU (and with relatively little fanfare as far as I know). If I wasn't already busy, I'd love to hear Paul Schrader talk about filmmaking.

If Schrader's name doesn't sound familiar, he wrote the screenplay for a bunch of Scorsese films such as "Taxi Driver", "Raging Bull", "The Last Temptation of Christ", and "Bringing Out the Dead".

He's also a fine director in his own right of movies like "American Gigolo", "Light Sleeper", "Affliction", and the movie that will be screened tonight: "Auto Focus".

FRI 11/20

8pm to 10pm
Russian Guitar Night & Blinchiki
at Room 491, Stratton Student Center, 84 Mass Ave, Cambridge (MIT campus)
$5 suggested donation

This sounds like a pretty casual time. I do know that Russians know how to party. Guys with guitars singing songs and eating filled pancakes? This is a good time. I bet people won't even be angry if someone was enjoying a little vodka...?

FRI 11/20

8pm to 10pm
Museum of Toys & Pop Culture, "The Nightmare Before Christmas": Opening
at Comicazi - West, 1305 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington
$10

I recently said I wasn't going list any "Christmas" stuff before Thanksgiving, but I consider this more of a Halloween film than Xmas.

It was easy to forget that there's a Museum of Toys & Pop Culture in Arlington, because it's in Arlington -- and I've never been there. I've taken the bus past the store a few time, but it must have a lot of space to house separate exhibits from the regular merch.

There's going to be a screening of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" on their big screen to along with the movie-themed toys, etc. Tim Burton is the man in my opinion, so this could be really cool. Expect some spooky food treats, and there will be a raffle to win a event-specific shirt.

Admission is limited to 50 and includes a free 'Nightmare' button.

FRI 11/20

8pm
International Pop Overthrow
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

8pm: Bittersweets
8:30pm: Pastiche
9pm: Fox Pass
9:30pm: Fireking
10pm: 1.4.5.
10:30pm: Big City Rockers
11pm: The Stompers
11:30pm: The Varmints

There is nothing wrong with this lineup. There is classic powerpop from Fox Pass. Vintage upstate NY powerpop is represented by 1.4.5. (from the ashes of The Flashcubes). Big City Rockers include members of classic Boston band The Atlantics, and they're doing an all-Atlantics set tonight.

FRI 11/20

Township (Midnight), The Dirty Truckers (11pm), The Long Time Darlings (10pm), 66 Breakout (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

There is no screwing around here. You get 4 no-nonsense, down 'n dirty, bluesy, rootsy rock bands. Whether it's Township's classic 70's-rock squeezed through a modern strainer, the Stonesy rock of The Dirty Truckers, the blues explosion of 66 Breakout, or straight-up ballsy rock of Pittsburgh's Long Time Darlings -- it's a good time. And there may be Narragansett shwag to be had...

FRI 11/20

9:30pm
Thalia Zedek, Shepherdess, Audrey Ryan
at Milky Way Lounge / Bella Luna, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain (The Brewery Complex)
$7

Previously Thalia Zedek reminded me of a female Leonard Cohen, but I listened to her 7-minute version of "House of the Rising Sun" the other night. I think Zedek's could better be compared to latter-day Marianne Faithfull, but her songwriter has the intensity of Cohen or Nick Cave.

Shepherdess makes delightfully askew, catchy indie-rock that I really like whenever I listen. Any Audrey Ryan should be on your radar, because this so damn awesome stuff.

FRI 11/20

Drago (11:45pm), 007Hundred Club (11pm), The Spoilers (10:15pm), The Doll Eyes (9:30pm)
at Midway Cafe, 3496 Washington St, Jamaica Plain
$10ish / 21+

This is going to be a killer hardcore punk show. This is the real thing, folks. Like they played it in my youth...

It turns out that Drago and 007Hundred Club have put out a split album, and both bands have two former Darkbuster members. Talk about friendly rivalry.

Follow this link, if you're interested in getting a discounted Narragansett tallboy tonight.

It's hard to get an exact cover charge at the Midway in advance. I'm guessing $8 or $10.

FRI 11/20 & SAT 11/21

10pm
The Beatle Butchers
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

I love The Beatles. You probably love The Beatles. These guys do a damn good job at playing the songs. One of the guys moved away about 6 months ago, but it's time for a couple reunion gigs around Thanksgiving.

Friday: 1963 to 1966
Saturday: 1967 to 1970

I assume they won't exclusively play stuff from the 'Red' and 'Blue' albums...

THUR 11/19: Talk, Rock, Comedy, Film, Jazz, Pop

I don't know why everything is starting early tonight. I hope I'm not going to miss something important later...

And again there is too much good stuff happening on one night. The International Pop Overthrow lasts 4 nights, but each show is really good.

For the record, I'm not going to list any event related to Christmas/Chanukah/Kwaanza before Thanksgiving. Starting the holiday crap beforehand is ridiculous.

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THUR 11/19

6pm
"American Cities At A Crossroads"
at JFK Forum, Belfer Center, 79 JFK St, Cambridge (Kennedy School of Govt)
FREE

Mumbles will have a 'conversation' with Greg Nickels (Mayor, Seattle) and Michael Nutter (Mayor, Philadelphia) to be moderated by Bill Purcell (former Mayor, Nashville).

About 20 new mayors from around the country are attending a 3-day seminar at Harvard's Institute of Politics, and this forum is open to the public.

Newly elected mayors include Brockton, Fall River, Worcester, and Newton. Hello, Boston! Wouldn't it have been nice to be able to say "former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino"?

Update: Hey, I just thought that Menino will probably cancel due to his injury.

THUR 11/19

7:15pm to 9pm
Super Time Pilot, Ken Reid, Chris Coxen, Mehran, Sarah Heggan
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$6 / 18+

I met Robbie Roadsteamer last month at the New Alliance Open House last month. He has changed his professional image a few times since I became aware of him, but I was still taken aback by the friendly yet shy fellow that night. I didn't know if he was on something or putting me on, so I decided not to engage into a longer conversation. (Later someone accused me of being an undercover cop...)

In Super Time Pilot, there's a raw earnestness with collaborator Nikki (C4RT, WtLMtS) that still is full of humor. Watch the web series "Quiet Desperation", and you get an idea about this project (along with a general skewering of the Boston music scene).

I assume the comedians will be followed by the Super Time Pilot set. I never thought a song called "Creepy Dickhead Eyes" would be so catchy!

THUR 11/19

7:30pm to 9:30pm
Fellini's "Roma": Screening
at Bartos Theater, Wiesner Bldg, 20 Ames St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

For two hours, you can take a surreal, occasionally meta-cinematic tour of Rome. Some scenes are autobiographical tales from Fellini's life; some are just footage of the Eternal City.

LVAC Film Night is presented in conjunction with the exhibit "Tobias Putrih & MOS: Without Out" (thru SUN 1/3).

THUR 11/19

7:30pm
The Dred Scott Trio
at The Lily Pad, 1353 Cambridge St, Cambridge (Inman Sq)
$10 / All Ages

The New York City jazz experience returns to Cambridge. The Dred Scott Trio are the real deal -- hard-swinging, bebop-y piano trio with outside flourishes. There's a cheeky playfulness that that elevates rather than distract even thought they've been known to play covers from Black Sabbath or Blue Oyster Cult.

THUR 11/19

7:30pm
Chandler Travis Philharmonic, Tripping Lily
at Johnny D's, 17 Holland St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$10

The mad musical genius of the Cape, Chandler Travis has a new solo album "After She Left" where he mellows out a bit for a collection described as "ballads, or near-ballads". I think he still might wear some crazy pajamas tonight... Tripping Lily opens with some ukulele-based folk-rock.

THUR 11/19

8pm
International Pop Overthrow: Night #1
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$8 / 21+

Tonight's opener is a mixed assortment of pure pop (Corin Ashley), powerpop (The Buckners, Lemonpeeler), twangy pop (Jeff Byrd & Dirty Finch, Satch Kerans), loud garage-pop (The Doom Buggies), and folk-pop (Heath Street).

8pm: Corin Ashley **
8:30pm: Jeff Byrd & Dirty Finch
9pm: The Buckners **
9:30pm: Satch Kerans **
10pm: The Doom Buggies **
10:30pm: Lemonpeeler
11pm: Heath Street

Should be a good time. The wonderful Corin Ashley is the perfect guy to kick off the IPO.

THUR 11/19

9:30pm
Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents, Jordan Valentine & The Sunday Saints, The Swinedells, Triple Thick
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$8 / 21+

Super soul band with powerhouse singer Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents has invited another super soul band with powerhouse singer Jordan Valentine & The Sunday Saints to get the joint really jumping with the early-R&B revivalists with a punk spirit The Swinedells and the buzzing garage-rock ruckus of Triple Thick.

I guess Jenny Dee's Thursday-night residency finishes early this month because of Turkey Day...

THUR 11/19

9:30pm
"Self Helpless"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$8

Have you and your friends ever think about making your own movie? This is low-low-budget comedy filmed in Vermont is probably better than what your first couple attempts would produce.

If you can get past the slightly wooden acting and inelegant editing, there's some sparks in this film. It's full of sex-, drug-, and other sophomoric humor as a group of friends try to improve their lives via self-help books. -- I actually laughed out loud at one point in the trailer

WED 11/18: Art, Film, Opera, Comedy, Music

Well, there's a lot of high-quality cheapness tonight: Wild opera in a bar... Bawdy bar drawing in a school... Aggressive comedy... A free German art film... Good rock and free singer-songwriter types... Heck, I wonder if any Leonids could be seen at BU's observatory night? It's making me think Wednesday may be the "new Thursday". If you go to MassArt tonight and are ambitious, you can catch two events.

If you want a laugh, this must be the best Craigslist ad of the day: "Gravy Ladler (Saturday Evening)"

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WED 11/18

5pm to 9pm
"Leaving the River": Opening Reception
at Arnheim Gallery, South Bldg, 621 Huntington Ave, Boston (MassArt campus)
FREE

There is still a sign downtown (maybe on New Chardon St?) that welcomes you to the West End, but there's little left of the neighborhood that was razed about 50 years ago. (I love that one building standing alone near the Garden.)

Evelyn Berde's multi-media installation is based on her childhood in the West End including traumatic events in her life and the loss of the neighborhood, which still lives on in the memories of the former residents who still attend reunions.

Exhibit on display through THUR 12/3.

WED 11/18

7pm
"Wings of Desire"
at Harvard Film Archive, Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

This movie blew me away when I first saw it, and it was unabated when my friends didn't feel as strongly after I'd force them to watch it.

Yes, there are a lot of angels walking around Berlin. Yes, it's mostly in black and white. Yes, it's in German (with subtitles). Yes, with open mind and open hear you will feel more alive after watching this movie. Beautiful film.

WED 11/18

7:30pm
"Operatic Acrobatics: Opera Without a Net"
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
FREE / 21+

Since we're in the middle of National Opera Week, Opera Boston celebrates with a free show of their Underground series.

Every Underground session has had a theme, and Operatic Acrobatics is comprised "difficult, high-wire" pieces -- -- that make opera geeks giddy.

About a dozen young singers (including Sol Kim Bentley, Brenna Wells, and Julia Mintzer) will tackle these high-flying arias without a net. There may be some danger, but let's hope no one is injured or embarrassed.

Hosted by Opera Boston music director Gil Rose.

Doors open at 7pm, and there's a good chance that people will be lined up before then to get into the tiny basement club.

WED 11/18

7:30pm
Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School Cabaret -- goes to MassArt
at Pozen Center, 621 Huntington Ave, Boston (MassArt, enter on Evans Way)
$5 / FREE w/ MassArt ID / All Ages

Feat: Molly Crabapple, Miss Southern Comfort & Dame Cuchifrita of Brown Girls Burlesque, Mr. Reusch, Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band

Dr. Sketchy is taking a break from the bars to visit one of our local art schools. You won't be able to order a drink, but it should still be a fun session to draw as casually as you like. Don't let the art majors intimidate you.

Molly Crabapple (Dr. Sketchy's founder) is on the road promoting her graphic novel "Scarlett Takes Manhattan" by visiting branches like Boston.

I think I have a general idea about the program. There's going to be more models than usual: artist Mister Reusch is going kick it off as a musical monster model. The duo from NYC's Brown Girls Burlesque are probably going to pose similar to scenes in "Scarlett Takes Manhattan", and Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band will provide the lurid horns and rhythms to make you draw something awesome -- in your own way.

I bet the MassArt kids don't see life models like these...

Update: Maybe 8pm? I don't know.

WED 11/18

9pm
"Improv CageMatch"
at Castlebar, 575 Washington St, Brighton (Oak Sq)
$1 / 21+

This is when comedy gets serious. In a way... But still, y'know, funny... The Castlebar improv team will be facing Bastards Inc in a comedy battle.

I don't know what's going on exactly, but this looks funny. Two stand-up acts will perform as well.

It's only a buck to get in, and there will be $2 High Life Specials and $7 Pitchers. Drinking in a bar doesn't get much cheaper than this. Drink, laugh, repeat.

WED 11/18

9pm
Cub Country, The Big Big Bucks, Yoni Gordon & the Goods, Borrowed Eyes
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 / 18+

On top of everything else happening under $10, there's a pretty killer rock show. The two touring bands include former bassists of cool bands that are now taking a looser, bluesier, folksier approach to rock. (The Cub Country guy was in Jets to Brazil; the dude behind Borrowed Eyes is formerly of ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead.) Neither is a quiet and soft band, but both might fall under the "rootsy" umbrella. I hear more rock than twang, and it's something worthwhile to check out.

To spice things up, Yoni Gordon & the Goods and The Big Big Bucks get in your face and rock it out. Thumbs up for all.

WED 11/18

Audrey Ryan (10pm), Sarah Blacker (7pm)
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

Anytime you have a chance to see Audrey Ryan, you should seriously consider it. I'm genuinely flummoxed that she isn't already adored by millions of music lovers. The multi-instrumentalist dispatches thoughtful lyrics that dance in and around your ears on the inventive melodies. There's a lovably catchy quirkiness to it. Her new album sounds damn good too...

The early show with Sarah Blacker isn't shabby either.