Sure, it's supposed to be really hot this weekend; but I heard there might be isolated thunderstorms... You might want to do something inside -- or out. I have some outdoor stuff.
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FRI 6/6
* Preacher Jack, Thunderpants Johnson's Hillbilly Orchestra, Gilded Splinters, Birdwatchers of America, Dearborn Valley
* Mieka Pauley Band, Bronze Radio Return, Phil DaRosa
* Reed KD and the Armchair Aviators
* St. Athanasius the Great Greek Festival -- to SUN 6/8
* Boston Pride Week -- to SUN 6/15
* Boston International Film Festival -- to SAT 6/14
SAT 6/7
* "Jaws": Free Screening
* The Distillery Open Studios & Art Sale
* Field Trip #1: Boy Without God & The Gilded Moons, Seth Moore, Kids Are Goats, Shai Erlichman
* A Conversation with Dr. Muhammad Yunus
* Lewis Black, "Me of Little Faith": Reading
* Pela, Static of the Gods, The Motion Sick, Shawn Fogel
* The Field, Andre Obin, Coral Cola
* Ballet Skillshare
* Santa Maria di Anzano Feast -- and SUN 6/8
SUN 6/8
* Annual Dragon Boat Festival
* Corvette Day
* Annual Bike-A-Thon/Green Roots Festival
* Jason Bennett, Sam Wheeler, Brian Carroll, Ward Hayden, John Haydon, Matt Caldeira
* Nate Gibson & The Gashouse Gang
MON 6/9
* Capoeira Gerais Open House
* Ten Foot Polecats
* Keys to the Streets of Fear, DJ Nick Sinista, History & Math
TUES 6/10
* Scooper Bowl -- to THUR 6/12
* The Brooklyns, John Cremona & Friends, The Freeways, Black Fortress Of Opium
* GuitarFest 2008 -- thru SUN 6/15
WED 6/11
* "The Three Dumas": Free Screening & Discussion
* The Rob Crean Show: "50th Birthday Celebration"
* An Evening With Preacher Jack
THUR 6/12
* Annual Taste of the Fort Point Channel
* Chris Wilhelm
* Ryan Fitzsimmons Band, Kill The Alarm, Joel Ackerson
FRI 6/13
* Varsity Drag, The Divorced, The Perennials, Jeffrey Simmons
* Kurt Vile & The Violators, MMOSS, Reports, Ganja
* Boston Dyke March
SAT 6/14
* O'Death, Wonderful Spells, Age Rings Pretty & Nice
* Cambridge River Festival
* America, Marty Balin
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FRI 6/6
7pm
Preacher Jack
8:30pm
Thunderpants Johnson's Hillbilly Orchestra, Gilded Splinters, Birdwatchers of America, Dearborn Valley
at Sally O'Brien's, 335 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE / 21+
I'm a fan of Preacher Jack, and how can you not like a band called Thunderpants Johnson's Hillbilly Orchestra? Free rootsy, rockin' fun.
FRI 6/6
10pm
Mieka Pauley Band, Bronze Radio Return, Phil DaRosa
at Johnny D's, 17 Holland St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$10
Mieka Pauley is an awesome songwriter, and she's a genuine talent with a unique voice. The guys from Harriet Street will be backing her up tonight.
FRI 6/6
10pm
Reed KD and the Armchair Aviators
at Middle East - Corner, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE
I don't know why this band is playing for free in the Corner, because I thought there were loads of people that ate this music up. Definitely the kind of fare that fans of Elliott Smith, Paul Simon, The Shins, and Sufjan Stevens would enjoy. They might lack the uber-melodicism of Sufjan, but it's still quite good.
FRI 6/6 to SUN 6/8
11am to 10pm (8pm on SUN)
St. Athanasius the Great Greek Festival
at 4 Appleton Street, Arlington
FREE admission
You don't have to spend more than $10, but there's a good chance you will want to. Everything is freshly prepared by the ladies of the congregation. You'll find the usual gyros, spanakopita, moussaka, souvlaki, etc. -- along with a variety of Greek desserts -- but the special you won't find at most restaurants is the open spit-roasted pig and lamb. Go with a couple friends and share the pig plate, which has been raved about. (It probably won't be done before 6pm or so, when the crowd is at its peak.) Thankfully, they're also serving beer and wine. Plenty of music and dancing to enjoy throughout the weekend.
Rain or shine, there is a big tent to keep all of the baklava dry.
There are other Greek festivals in the next couple weeks (Central Sq and South End).
FRI 6/6 to SUN 6/15
Various Times
Boston International Film Festival
at Loews Boston Common, 175 Tremont St, Boston (Boston Common)
Most $10
Take a look at the schedule and surprise yourself.
These are my bets: Who's Got the Power?, Live Earth Movies (6/7); Escape From the Fire, Dalai Llama Renaissance (6/8); Yoga Slaves, Eternally Yours, An Islamic Conscience (6/8), Nothing Happened, Walls Have Ears (6/8); The Stag Hunt, Ablution, The Art of Travel (6/11); This Beautiful City (6/11); PB, Paper Tiger (6/12); Flashover, Sweet Thing (6/13); Remarkable Power (6/14).
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SAT 6/7
11am
"Jaws"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE
A Cape Cod classic! Shown as part of the Brattle's "Elements of Cinema" series. Prof. J.D. Connor (Film, Harvard) will lead a discussion afterwards.
SAT 6/7
Noon-7pm
The Distillery Open Studios
at 516 East Second St, Boston (Southie)
FREE
How often to do you get to walk around an old rum distillery and look at art while the artists are there to talk with you?
Woodwork, metalwork, jewelry, stationery, painting, drawing, printing, sculpture, photography, installation, and much more will be represented.
A free reception and preview will take place in the gallery on Friday from 6pm to 9pm.
SAT 6/7
2pm to 4:30ish
Field Trip: Number One
Feat: Boy Without God & The Gilded Moons, Seth Moore, Kids Are Goats, Shai Erlichman
by the fountain, 206 Clarendon St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE
This should be pretty cool. It's a mobile concert that starts with a 30-minute acoustic set in Copley Sq, then the whole group takes a short walk to the next performance and so on and so on... Seth Moore and Kids Are Goats are in town from Murfreesboro, TN.
Rain Date: SUN 6/8, Noon
SAT 6/7
2:30pm to 4:30pm
A Conversation with Dr. Muhammad Yunus
at JFK Presidential Library & Museum, Columbia Point, Boston
FREE w/ RSVP
Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus, is the father of micro-lending. If you ever wonder how poor people around the world might find some stability and self-sufficincy, then this should be a fascinating talk. Moderated by Dr. Lincoln Chen, founder of Harvard University's Global Equity Initative.
When I last checked, you could still register to attend.
SAT 6/7
7pm
Lewis Black, "Me of Little Faith": Reading
at First Parish Church, 3 Church St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5 (tix available at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass Ave -- or by phone: 617-661-1515)
He probably won't be as agitated, but it's cheaper than his Orpheum gig... Tickets may still be available...
SAT 6/7
9:30pm
Pela, Static of the Gods, The Motion Sick, Shawn Fogel
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 advance / $10 day of show / 18+
Lots of most excellent rock music and songsmanship -- including one of my local faves, The Motion Sick (their 100th show). All four bands are so darn good! Oh, and brilliantly folky power-popster Shawn Fogel's drummer? If you've ever read a book on Nirvana, he probably wrote it.
SAT 6/7
9:30pm
The Field, Andre Obin, Coral Cola
at Great Scott, 1222 Commonwealth Avenue, Allston
$10 / 21+
I'm not a huge techno fan, but I sympathize with artists who'd like to perform in the US but have visa difficulties. After missing a bunch of big shows, Swedish -- are there any dangerous Swedes? -- act The Field (with a band) has been allowed to visit, and they're doing 3 shows in 3 days. It's interesting stuff; I have to be in the mood (i.e. intoxicated) to dance in public, but I'd feel alright to sway to this sparse, atmospheric techno. I honestly don't know if Andre Obin and Coral Cola will put themselves behind keyboards or turntables, but does it matter?
SAT 6/7
11am to 4pm
Ballet Skillshare
at Democracy Center, 45 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE
I only saw this on the Lemmingtrail board. Supposed to be a "...body-positive, fun-filled space to stretch, move, dance and have shit tons of fun." Sessions may include: "ballet basics", "barre", "center/across the floor/combinations", "improv", "choreography".
SAT 6/7 and SUN 6/8
Noon to 10pm (8pm on SUN)
Santa Maria di Anzano Feast and Procession
by Hanover St & Prince St, Boston (North End)
FREE
This should be the first North End feast of the season. The North End and Santa Maria di Anzano websites don't have matching information. The times are also approximate / from memory.
I mainly go because I like street food, but there's usually some entertainment in the evening and carnival-style games (overpaying for a stuffed animal or a Playboy mirror).
Religious processions will occur almost every weekend, but the 'feast' (street party) is the weekend of July 25 for St. Joseph.
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SUN 6/8
9am to 5pm
Annual Dragon Boat Festival
along Charles River, Memorial Dr, Cambridge
FREE
The first Dragon Boat festival in America supposedly took place in Boston over 25 years ago, and it's said to be the largest Asian American celebration in New England. I like to think of it as Head of the Charles with cooler looking boats...
More than two millennia ago Chinese poet Qu Yuan drowned himself in a river, and the villagers raced out in boats to save him. No such luck... Dragon boat races evolved as a tribute to Qu Yuan -- and there was an opening in the ancient festival calendar...
Music, food, and entertainment will line the Cambridge side of the river.
SUN 6/8
10am to 2pm
Corvette Day
at Larz Anderson Auto Museum, 15 Newton St, Brookline
$10
There are months of lawn events ahead of us at the Larz Anderson Museum, but a field full of vintage Corvettes on a sunny day sounds special. I don't own a car and try not to drive anywhere, but I still enjoy looking...
SUN 6/8
Noon to 5:30pm
Annual Bike-A-Thon/Green Roots Festival
at Southwest Corridor Park, 100 Boylston St, Jamaica Plain (outside Stony Brook T Station)
FREE
Bikes Not Bombs have the downright crazy idea of promoting investment and participation in pedal-power transportation. In the morning they're having a bike-a-thon fundraiser, and a open festival in the afternoon.
After a "junk percussion" youth ensemble performance at noon, there are various discussions & workshops from 12:45pm to 4:30pm on various topics dealing with environmental issues, sustainable living, 'green' education and jobs, etc. Or you could listen to music from singer-songwriter Rachel Vanslyke who's on a 3,200-mile bike tour (12:45pm), hip-hop from Judah's Lion Den (1:30pm), and Bloco AfroBrazil (2:15pm)
There will be an hour of 4 speakers beginning at 3pm: City Councilor Chuck Turner (ask him to shovel his sidewalk this winter), Khalida Smalls, Kim Foltz (Bikes Not Bombs Director), and major environmental author/activist Bill McKibben as keynote speaker.
At 4pm, the Branches Pan-Groove Steel Drum Band will lay down the Caribbean sound for 90 minutes of dancing (and listening) pleasure.
Of course, there's plenty of activities for kids.
SUN 6/8
Jason Bennett (11:20pm), Sam Wheeler (10:40pm), Brian Carroll (10pm), Ward Hayden (9:20pm), John Haydon (8:40pm), Matt Caldeira (8pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$7 / 21+
This might be one of the quietest spots in town on Sunday night. Besides an evening of acoustic singer-songwriter-ness. I can only assume that the crowd will mainly consist of people who don't enjoy basketball -- and people gathered around the TVs.
SUN 6/8
10pm
Nate Gibson & The Gashouse Gang
at Alchemist Lounge, 435 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain
FREE
Two guitars and a stand-up bass will sling out 2 sets of old-time honky-tonk/country/rockabilly. (I could be wrong, but I think I heard a Spinal Tap cover on their MySpace?)
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MON 6/9
7:30pm to 8:30pm
Capoeira Gerais Open House
at Boston Ultimate Fitness / Nam Pai Academy, 7th Fl, 33 Harrison Ave, Boston (Chinatown)
FREE
Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art whose fluid movements look like a graceful, acrobatic dance. Those people gathered as circle in the park? That might be a capoeira practice... Martial arts + dance = good exercise. You can give it a try for an hour, and see if you have what it takes! (I'm guessing IT = time + money + effort.)
NOTE: "Make sure to wear or bring comfortable clothing and sneakers. A TOWEL and WATER strongly recommended, because you are going to sweat! (If you forget the water, there are vending machines and a water fountain at the gym.)"
MON 6/9
9pm
Ten Foot Polecats
at Abbey Lounge, 3 Beacon St, Somerville (Inman Sq)
FREE
Gritty, minimalist, electrified North Mississippi Blues in the vein of R.L. Burnside and the Fat Possum collective. Pretty good for some guys from Boston.
MON 6/9
10pm
Keys to the Streets of Fear, DJ Nick Sinista, History & Math
at ZuZu!, 474 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE / 21+
I assume my quiet disappointment about the end of live performances at ZuZu sounded like a mighty roar to them, because bands have been playing again regularly on Mondays. Keys to the Streets of Fear are bringing their bluesy psych-rock weirdness and some friends to this cool little room every Monday in June.
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TUES 6/10 to THUR 6/12
11am to 7pm (8pm on WED)
Scooper Bowl
at City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Plaza, Boston (Govt Center)
$8
All-you-can-eat ice cream, 'nuff said! There are 11 companies who each usually have 2 to 4 flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt, and/or sorbet. I've seen people seemingly satisfied at 7 or 8 scoops, but you really should try as many flavors as possible -- at least multiple cups of your favorite...
Proceeds benefit the Jimmy Fund / Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
TUES 6/10
The Brooklyns (11:45pm), John Cremona & Friends (10:45pm), The Freeways (9:45pm), Black Fortress Of Opium (9pm)
at Abbey Lounge, 3 Beacon St, Somerville (Inman Sq)
$7
TUES 6/10 thru SUN 6/15
Various Times
GuitarFest 2008
at Various Locations, mainly at New England Conservatory
Most $10 and under
The festival's artistic director, Eliot Fisk, has long been considered one of the classical guitarists. He will perform at workshops and concerts. The best concert may be his performance with Spanish master Angel Romero on SAT 6/14.
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WED 6/11
6pm
"The Three Dumas": Screening & Discussion
at Massachusetts Historical Society, 1154 Boylston St, Boston (Fenway)
FREE w/ RSVP
This documentary on the life of Alexandre Dumas touches on his genealogy. It was unknown to me that the author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo was the grandson of a Haitian slave. The historical society is screening the Boston premiere, because it's the Atlantic slave trade was abolished 200 years ago. Writers/directors/producers, Esther Anderson and Gian Godoy, will the film and his life after the film. Arrive early (5:30pm) for refreshments.
Register:call 617-646-0560.
WED 6/11
9pm
The Rob Crean Show: "50th Birthday Celebration"
w/ Shane Mauss, Josh Gondleman, The Big Big Bucks
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$8 / 21+
It's a comedy show in the format of variety/talk show. Every presentation of the Rob Crean Show seems to have a theme, and this month's premise is Rob's "50th" birthday (not true). Imagine a late-night talk show with various segments, interviews, and performances. Now imagine it being funny... When I saw Shane Mauss perform, my buddy and I thought he was hilarious with great timing. The Big Big Bucks slightly irritate me -- I think it's their name mainly -- but they're a decent-sounding rock band. Members of the Anderson comedy troupe will perform as well.
WED 6/11
9:30pm, 10:30pm, 11:30pm
Preacher Jack
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
FREE (but drop a little something in the basket) / 21+
As I said before: It is my firm belief that your life will feel more complete after you experience Preacher Jack in person. It's fitting that the Preacher will douse the faithful in 3 sets of his gospel-charged boogie-woogie/rockabilly at Church...
He's also playing at Dodge St Grill (Salem) on THUR 6/12.
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THUR 6/12
Noon to 1:30pm
Annual Taste of the Fort Point Channel
at Children’s Wharf Park, 300 Congress St, Boston (Waterfront/Seaport)
FREE
If you work or live around Fort Point, you may already know this -- but anyone can head over to try samples from the neighborhood's restaurants. There are quite a few nice ones participating. I'd ask why, but I don't care.
Rain date: FRI 6/13, Noon to 1:30pm
THUR 6/12
10pm
Chris Wilhelm
at Alchemist Lounge, 435 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain
FREE
Boston folk singer has a clean, earnest style that is very compelling. You get the feeling that his catchy songs have a meaning that begins somewhere in his torso -- and not simply on a piece of paper.
THUR 6/12
9pm
Ryan Fitzsimmons Band, Kill The Alarm, Joel Ackerson
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$8 / 21+
Three killer folk/pop/rock artists at one of the best darkish, intimate clubs in town.
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FRI 6/13
Varsity Drag (Midnight), The Divorced (11pm), The Perennials (10pm), Jeffrey Simmons (9pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$8 / 21+
FRI 6/13
9:30pm
Kurt Vile & The Violators, MMOSS, Reports, Ganja
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$8 -- 21+ / $11 -- 18+
FRI 6/13
6pm
Boston Dyke March
at Parkman Bandstand, Boston Common, Boston (Tremont St Side)
FREE
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SAT 6/14
9:30pm
O'Death, Wonderful Spells, Age Rings, Pretty & Nice
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$10 / 21+
SAT 6/14
Noon to 6pm
Cambridge River Festival
along Charles River, Memorial Dr, Cambridge (near Harvard Sq)
FREE
SAT 6/14
7pm
America, Marty Balin
at Hatch Shell, Charles River Esplanade, Storrow Dr, Boston
FREE
"WODS Oldies in Concert"
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Links of the Week:
A friend of mine sent me an invite to join Plurk. It's not my cup of tea -- I have other ways to waste my time -- but it's supposed to be a more stable version of Twitter with a better interface.
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Quote of the Week:
"There is wisdom in turning as often as possible from the familiar to the unfamiliar: it keeps the mind nimble, it kills prejudice, and it fosters humor."
--George Santayana
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th-th-that's all, folks.
~r
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