Bradley’s Almanac

Thursday Sundry

Posted on October 6, 2005 at 3:37 pm | No Comments

Right on schedule, this week’s post o’ randomness, with some Boston-centric stuff first…

Tickets for Sarah Silverman’s November 3rd appearance at the Brookline’s Coolidge Corner Theatre went on sale earlier this week, so get clickin’. She’ll be hosting a screening of her live stand-up comedy film, ‘Jesus Is Magic‘, as part of the Boston Jewish Film Festival.

The full lineup for the fest has been posted, and it includes an appearance by Peter Falk on November 7th. Yeah, most people know him as Columbo, but to me he’ll always be an ex-angel walking the earth in one of my favorite films.

Speaking of quality cinema, it saddens me greatly to learn that The Brattle Theatre in Cambridge is in financial trouble. That place is one of the many reasons I love the Boston area, and I can’t even imagine its absence. To save themselves, the non-profit Brattle Film Foundation has started an unprecedented fundraising drive called ‘The Legacy Campaign‘, and it has a seemingly lofty goal of raising $400,000 by the end of 2005, in just three short months. And I quote: “If BFF is not successful at meeting [the $400,000 goal], BFF will be forced to cease operations at the Brattle Theatre, effectively ending the 52-year legacy of repertory film programming at the Brattle.

Painful to read, harder to imagine. Do yourself and The Brattle a favor and check out the donations page. If you want some immediate payback for your buck, go ahead and become a member, or even sponsor a seat. Whatever you do, give ’em some cash, even if it’s just by checking out an extra movie or two this month. Here’s the current schedule.

A great show was just announced, and it’s happening at the relatively small Middle East Upstairs. On Wednesday, November 23rd, Belgian electronica genius/master remixer Styrofoam will be here, along with the also-excellent Ester Drang from Oklahoma. Check out Styrofoam’s myspace page for some songs, and pick up some $10 tickets when they go on sale this Saturday. I predict a quick sellout, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if it got moved to a larger venue.

The “Glowlab : Open Lab” kicks off on Friday, October 14th, and runs through December 11th. But what the hell is is, you might ask? Well, it’s billed asan eight-week psychogeography festival and exhibition” at the Art Interactive Gallery in Cambridge’s Central Square. And still you’re asking, um, what is it? Well, each weekend during the run, several Glowlab artists will be “in-residence” at the gallery, and they’ll lead interactive public events in the neighborhood. Things like a wearable trash workshop, a laughing bike tour, a lesson in text-messaging the sky, and an informal conversation with a suitcase. More details and links can be found in the official press release.

Ears up: There’s a new Crashing Dream podcast with a lot of great new (and older) music. Oh, and congrats to one of my favorite music sites, donewaiting, for getting their very fine podcast plugged in Spin Magazine.

Thanks to Chromewaves for posting some details of the upcoming Slowdive re-releases. Those are must-owns, people. Glad that’s finally going to happen, although my original edition of ‘Pygmalion‘ will feel just a bit less special when it does.

If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look at the beautiful looking (and sounding, of course) new Sigur R�s video for ‘Glosoli‘ ( wmv / rm ). via warren ellis

I’m getting so, so sick of hearing this, but Arrested Development is still in trouble. I need to find some people with Nielsen boxes and throat-punch ’em ’til they watch it. Does anyone out there actually know a Nielsen family? And no, I won’t actually hurt them if you do.

Obviously I’m a big fan of Dennis Lehane, as I’ve mentioned him a bunch here… and I’m doing it again. He’s got a new short story out in “A New Omnibus of Crime“, and here’s what the New York Sun had to say about it…

“… American authors more wholly reflect the concept of the modern mystery, in which “who” or “how” ride in the back of the bus driven by “why.” In no story is this better illustrated than in Dennis Lehane’s compelling “Running Out of Dog.” How a young man born and raised in a blue-collar part of Boston can write a story so convincingly Southern is beyond my understanding or imagination, so it’s best to simply allow oneself to be captivated by the voices and rhythms of his sad tale.”

Sounds great, put me down for a copy.

I saw artist Dave McKean’s directorial debut Mirrormask the other night, as I needed some some serious escapism after the harsh reality of that first Sox-on-Sox playoff game. It’s a remarkable film, and having been a fan of McKean’s gorgeously freakish artwork for many years, it was a real thrill to see it come to life on the screen. The story, written by McKean and Neil Gaiman, took a back seat to the visuals, which is a very good thing. When the tale lagged, you could just sit back and get lost in the beauty of the thing. At times it was almost hypnotic, I often felt myself getting lost in lead character Helena’s dreamworld. I was in the perfect mental space for it, and I ate it up.

Speaking of the Sox, Red that is, you’ll notice that I haven’t said much about them this year here on the ‘Nac. After the craziness of last year, I’d sorta burned out on ’em. While I had a lot of fun at the few games I was able to go see, and did watch a bunch on tv, I just haven’t been able to get as excited as past seasons. I suffered from information overload during last years post-party, and the early media storm during the spring (books, articles, late night tv, Queer Eye, etc) had me learning far more than I’d like about the guys behind the skills (or lack thereof, Mr. Millar).

In the end, I found myself getting more excited about the possibility of the Yanks not making the playoffs than I did about us actually making them, which is just plain wrong. I’m just not a Yankee hater, and I’m a little bit less of a Red Sox lover. Yeah, I wanted ol’ George to learn again that more money doesn’t make a difference, but in the end, it did.

So when our season officially ends this weekend (and it will, kids… we’re just not up to it), we can always say “Oh well, there’s always last year…”.

A personal blast from the past: My friend Eric forwarded me a link to this picture from a 1991 show by his band Jazzin’ Hell (which also included artist James Kochalka and studio/Zamboni guy Peter Katis, among others). Yes, my glasses were way too big back then, but that show sure had me smilin’, didn’t it? And look at how cutting edge goth I was… I’m sporting a homemade Crow t-shirt, three years before the film came out. No early-90s flannel for this boy, thank you very much.

And now, I’ll do something I rarely do, and take part in a little musical internet meme, found over at Brian Wood’s place.

The Task: Choose a band/artist and answer ONLY IN SONG TITLES by that band:

Artist/Band: Afghan Whigs
Are you male or female: Gentlemen
Describe yourself: My Enemy
How do some people feel about you: Retarded
How do you feel about yourself: Crazy
Describe what you want to be: I Want To Go To Sleep
Describe how you live: Bulletproof
Describe how you love: I’m Her Slave
Share a few words of wisdom: If There’s Hell Below (We’re All Going To Go)

Hey, what can I say… it’s the Whigs. You weren’t going to get sunshine and rainbows outta their titles. I’d have used ‘Debonair‘ in there, but nobody would buy it. Besides, that’s totally Kevin. Tag: Hey Matt, it’s your turn.

I’ll end with an actual comment overheard in the comic shop yesterday.

A college kid, flipping through a new book, says to his friend: “Y’know, I love comics that have really good art.”

Do you have any idea how tough it was to resist saying “Personally, I prefer it when the art SUCKS.”?

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  • BOSTON-AREA LIVE SHOW ACTION
    Sunday, Monday, & Tuesday
    January 19th, 20th, & 21st
    Robert Glasper
    two shows each day
    @ City Winery

    Tuesday, January 21st
    This Is Lorelei
    Youbet
    @ the Rockwell

    Thursday, January 23rd
    Copilot (EP release)
    Steve Rondo
    @ the Rockwell

    Friday, January 24th
    The Shallows
    XO
    The Dreamtoday
    Still Life Sounds
    @ O'Brien's

    Saturday, January 25th
    The Meteors
    @ the Middle East

    Saturday, January 25th
    Stereo MC's
    @ the Sinclair

    Sunday, January 26th
    Porridge Radio
    Sluice
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Wednesday, January 29th
    "Born Innocent:
    The Redd Kross Story"
    movie screening with a
    post-film Q&A between biographer
    Dan Epstein & Sox organist Josh Kantor
    @ the Regent Theatre

    Wednesday, January 29th
    Matt Pond PA
    Anya Marina
    Bathtub Cig
    @ the Rockwell

    Thursday, January 30th
    American Ocelot
    Fredette, Fredette, & Bellino
    @ the Village Social Club

    Friday, January 31st
    Sunshine [at Night]
    Violet Nox
    This Bliss
    this.xor.that
    @ Cloud & Spirits, Cambridge

    Friday, January 31st
    Half Waif
    See You At The Maypole
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Friday, January 31st
    Jamie XX
    @ Roadrunner

    Friday, January 31st
    Fiddlehead
    Linda Claire
    Glare
    Prize Horse
    Pet Fox
    @ the Sinclair

    Friday, January 31st
    Frank Black & his band
    play "Teenager of the Year"
    @ the House of Blues

    Saturday, February 1st
    Sandy Clams
    Black Helicopter
    Bad//Vrb
    Ghosts & Shadows
    @ O'Brien's

    Saturday, February 1st
    Crown Victoria reunited
    (featuring Bill Janovitz
    from Buffalo Tom)
    a benefit for the Trevor Project
    @ the Burren back room

    Saturday, February 1st
    Drop Nineteens
    Horse Jumper of Love
    Wishy
    @ the Sinclair

    Saturday, February 1st
    Stuart Murdoch
    (Belle & Sebastian)
    "Nobody's Empire" book tour
    @ the Rockwell

    Saturday & Sunday
    February 1st & 2nd
    The Bowery Presents &
    Run For Cover Records
    present "Something In The Way"
    with
    Slowdive, Balance & Composure,
    Soccer Mommy, American Football,
    Fiddlehead, Mannequin Pussy,
    Militarie Gun, Sweet Pill, Anxious,
    One Step Closer, Ovlov, Glare,
    Enumclaw, Sadurn, Gouge Away,
    Mini Trees, Great Grandpa, Dazy,
    Wishy, My Fictions, Women in Peril,
    & more TBA
    @ Roadrunner

    Tuesday, February 4th
    EARFULL
    Writers reading. Songwriters performing.
    with writers James Wood & John Sayles
    & musicians Elsa Kennedy & Peter Mulvey
    @ the Burren Back Room

    Tuesday, February 4th
    Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)
    Filter
    @ the House of Blues

    Friday, February 7th
    Thalia Zedek Band
    Field Day
    Arto Vaun
    @ the Lizard Lounge

    Friday, February 7th
    Rubblebucket
    Hannah Mohan
    @ Big Night Live

    Saturday, February 8th
    Beeef
    Clifford
    Hey I'm Outside
    @ the Rockwell

    Saturday, February 8th
    J Mascis
    Hilken Mancini
    @ the Sinclair

    Monday, February 10th
    Phantogram
    @ House of Blues

    Monday, February 10th
    Tim Heidecker
    DJ Douggpound
    @ the Royale

    Tuesday, February 11th
    Lauren Mayberry (Chvrches)
    @ the Royale

    Wednesday, February 12th
    Tobin Sprout & Bevel Web
    with the Moles/Richard Davies
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Thursday, February 13th
    Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
    @ the Cabot, Beverly

    Thursday, February 13th
    Lunar Vacation
    Tasha
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Thursday, February 13th
    J Mascis
    @ the Sinclair

    Friday, February 14th
    Jilted Lovers:
    A Valentine's Day Cover Show

    with
    10,000 Spoons as Alanis Morissette,
    Super Graphic Ultra Modern TIFFY
    & Friends as Chappell Roan, and
    69 Fireflies as The Magnetic Fields
    @ Deep Cuts

    Saturday, February 15th
    Freezepop
    @ the Middle East Down

    Saturday, February 15th
    Travis
    @ the Royale

    Monday & Tuesday
    February 17th & 18th
    Jack White
    @ Roadrunner

    Thursday, February 20th
    Babe Corner
    Heaven For Real
    Mingko
    Lane
    @ Deep Cuts

    Friday, February 21st
    Chris Lee-Rodriguez
    The Michael Character
    Puppy Problems
    canteenkilla
    @ O'Brien's

    Saturday, February 22nd
    10 years of WORSHIPPER
    with Roadsaw & Summoner
    @ Widowmaker, Braintree

    Saturday, February 22nd
    Father John Misty
    Destroyer
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Sunday, February 23rd
    Jenny Owens Young
    @ Club Passim

    Tuesday, February 25th
    Howard Jones
    ABC
    @ the Shubert Theatre

    Thursday, February 27th
    Pom Pom Squad
    Caroline Kingsbury
    @ the Sinclair

    Friday, February 28th
    The Bevis Frond
    @ the Crystal Ballroom

    Saturday, March 1st
    Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve
    @ the Cabot, Beverly

    Thursday, March 6th
    Avengers
    Lupo Citta
    @ the Middle East

    Friday, March 7th
    Michael Shannon, Jason Narducy,
    & friends mark the 40th anniversary of
    R.E.M.'s "Fables of the Reconstruction"
    (and more) with opener Dave Hill
    @ the Royale

    Sunday, March 9th
    an acoustic evening with
    Trey Anastasio
    @ the Wang

    Monday, March 10th
    Kim Deal
    @ the Wilbur

    Tuesday, March 11th
    Kraftwerk
    @ the Wang

    Tuesday, March 11th
    Peter Wolf (J Geils Band)
    presents his new memoir
    "Waiting on the Moon"
    @ Cambridge Public Library

    Wednesday, March 12th
    The MC Taylor Goldsmith Show
    MC Taylor (Hiss Golden Messenger)
    and Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes)
    @ the Cut, Gloucester

    Friday & Saturday
    March 14th & 15th
    Dropkick Murphys
    Menzingers
    Teenage Bottlerocket

    Saturday, March 15th
    Hovvdy
    Video Age
    @ the Middle East Downstairs

    Saturday, March 15th
    Dream Theater
    40th Anniversary Tour
    @ the Wang

    Saturday, March 15th
    Dropkick Murphys
    Menzingers
    Teenage Bottlerocket
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Sunday, March 16th
    Dropkick Murphys
    Bouncing Souls
    Hot Water Music
    Rebuilder
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Monday, March 17th
    Dropkick Murphys
    Bouncing Souls
    Hot Water Music
    Cody Nilson
    @ House of Blues

    Wednesday, March 19th
    Quicksand
    @ the Paradise

    Thursday, March 20th
    Derv Gordon (of the Equals)
    backed by So What
    with
    Children of the Flaming Wheel
    @ Deep Cuts

    Thursday, March 20th
    Neil Degrasse Tyson
    @ the Wilbur

    Sunday, March 23rd
    Ida & Tsunami!
    the Coin-Flip tour!
    @ Crystal Ballroom

    Tuesday, March 25th
    Of Montreal
    cumgirl8
    @ the Royale

    Thursday, March 27th
    Horsegirl
    Free Range
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Thursday, March 27th
    José González
    @ the Cabot in Beverly

    Friday, March 28th
    Dead Kennedys
    H.R. (of Bad Brains)
    Raging Nathans
    @ the Paradise

    Friday, March 28th
    The Weather Station
    @ the Sinclair

    Saturday, March 29th
    Robin Lane
    @ Club Passim

    Saturday, March 29th
    Maya Hawke
    Katy Kirby
    @ Roadrunner

    Sunday, March 30th
    The Hard Quartet
    Sharp Pins
    @ the Paradise

    Thursday, April 3rd
    Alan Sparhawk (Low)
    Circuit des Yeux
    @ the Sinclair

    Friday, April 4th
    Beth Gibbons (Portishead)
    Bill Ryder-Jones
    @ the Orpheum

    Saturday, April 5th
    Snow Patrol
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Saturday, April 5th
    Franz Ferdinand
    @ the Orpheum

    Sunday, April 6th
    The War & Treaty
    @ the Sinclair

    Tuesday, April 8th
    Deftones
    The Mars Volta
    Fleshwater
    @ TD Garden

    Wednesday, April 9th
    Yardbirds
    @ City Winery Boston

    Wednesday, April 9th
    Kylie Minogue
    @ the Garden

    Thursday, April 10th
    FACS
    @ Deep Cuts

    Friday, April 11th
    Mogwai
    @ the Paradise

    Saturday, April 12th
    Franz Ferdinand
    @ the Orpheum

    Sunday, April 13th
    EXTC
    (Terry Chambers & friends)
    @ City Winery

    Sunday, April 13th
    Heart
    @ Agganis Arena

    Tuesday, April 15th
    Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
    St. Vincent
    @ Agganis Arena

    Thursday, April 17th
    Dead Boys
    Richard Lloyd Group
    (of Television)
    @ Deep Cuts

    Thursday, April 17th
    Mercury Rev
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Friday, April 18th
    Mount Eerie
    Hana Stretton
    @ the Sinclair

    Friday, April 18th
    Bright Eyes
    Cursive
    @ House of Blues

    Saturday, Sunday, & Tuesday
    April 19th, 20th, & 21st
    Ani DiFranco
    @ the Somerville Theatre

    Sunday, April 20th
    Gang of Four
    "The Long Goodbye" farewell tour
    playing "Entertainment!" & more
    @ the Crystal Ballroom

    Monday, April 21st
    Lucy Dacus
    Katie Gavin
    Jamine.4.t.
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Wednesday, April 23rd
    Dweezil Zappa
    @ the Cabot, Beverly, MA

    Wednesday, April 23rd
    The Linda Lindas
    Pinkshift
    @ the Paradise

    Thursday, April 24th
    Christian Death
    @ Deep Cuts

    Friday & Saturday
    April 25th & 26th
    The Town and the City Festival!
    @ various venues in Lowell

    Saturday, April 26th
    Poison the Well
    Glassjaw
    Better Lovers
    Teenage Wrist
    @ Roadrunner

    Sunday, April 27th
    Indigo Girls
    Melissa Etheridge
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Thursday, May 1st
    Deep Sea Diver
    Byland
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Thursday, May 1st
    Sharon Van Etten
    & the Attachment Theory
    Love Spells
    @ Roadrunner

    Friday, May 2nd
    Bob Mould & his band
    J. Robbins & his band
    @ the Paradise

    Saturday, May 3th
    Cheekface
    @ The Sinclair

    Sunday, May 4th
    The Queers
    @ the Middle East Upstairs

    Sunday, May 4th
    AC/DC
    @ Gillette Stadium

    Wednesday, May 7th
    Japanese Breakfast
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Thursday, May 8th
    Melvins
    Napalm Death
    @ the Paradise

    Thursday, May 8th
    Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
    @ the Crystal Ballroom

    Monday, May 12th
    Kendrick Lamar
    SZA
    @ Gillette Stadium

    Saturday, May 17th
    Amyl & the Sniffers
    Sheer Mag
    @ Roadrunner

    Saturday, May 24th
    The Wedding Present
    "Bizarro" 35th Anniversary Tour
    with The Tubs
    @ the Sinclair

    Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
    May 23rd, 24th, & 25th
    Boston Calling Music Festival
    @ the Harvard Athletic Complex

    Wednesday, May 28th
    Barry Manilow
    "the last Boston concert"
    @ the Garden

    Thursday, May 29th
    Annie Dirusso
    Squirrel Flower
    @ the Paradise

    Friday, May 30th
    Teddy Swims
    @ Suffolk Downs

    Saturday, May 31st
    Jet
    Band of Skulls
    @ Roadrunner

    Friday, June 6th
    The Ocean Blue
    playing their self-titled LP
    and their "Cerulean" LP
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Wednesday, June 11th
    Turnover
    "Peripheral Vision" tour
    with Balance & Composure
    & Citizen
    @ the House of Blues

    Tuesday & Wednesday
    June 10th & 11th
    Queens of the Stone Age
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Thursday, June 19th
    Blondshell
    Daffo
    @ the Sinclair

    Friday, June 27th
    Khruangbin
    John Carroll Kirby
    @ Suffolk Downs

    Saturday, June 28th
    Tree
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Monday, July 7th
    OMD
    @ House of Blues

    Tuesday, July 15th
    Weird Al Yankovic
    @ the Wang

    Wednesday, July 16th
    Mekons
    Johnny Dowd
    @ City Winery

    Friday, July 18th
    Samantha Crain
    @ Warehouse XI

    Friday & Saturday
    July 18th & 19th
    PIXIES
    performing "Bossanova"
    & "Trompe Le Monde" (18th)
    and a set of classics (19th)
    with Kurt Vile & the Violators
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Monday, July 21st
    Ghost
    @ TD Garden

    Saturday, July 26th
    Toto
    Christopher Cross
    Men At Work
    @ Leader Bank Pavilion

    Saturday, July 26th
    Rod Stewart
    Cheap Trick
    @ the Xfinity Center

    Tuesday, July 29th
    Goo Goo Dolls
    Dashboard Confessional
    @ the Pavilion

    Wednesday, July 30th
    The "Happy Together" Tour
    featuring The Turtles,
    Jay & the Americans,
    Little Anthony, Mark Lindsay
    (of Paul Revere & the Raiders),
    The Vogues, & the Cowsills
    @ Lynn Auditorium

    Friday, August 1st
    LOST 80's LIVE
    with A Flock of Seagulls,
    Big Country, General Public,
    The Vapors, Belouis Some,
    The Icicle Works, China Crisis,
    Josie Cotton, Polecats,
    and more
    @ the Wang

    Saturday, August 30th
    Coheed & Cambria
    Taking Back Sunday
    Foxing
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Sunday, September 7th
    My Chemical Romance
    Idles
    @ Fenway Park

    Wednesday, September 17th
    Alison Krauss & Union Station
    Willie Watson
    @ the Pavilion

    Tuesday, September 23rd
    Viagra Boys
    @ Roadrunner

    Saturday, October 4th
    An Inconceivable Evening
    with Cary Elwes
    & a screening of
    The Princess Bride
    @ the Wilbur