The Weekend: Some non-Sex(and the City)y Alternatives?
Look, I got no beef with the ladies of "Sex and the City." I don't. They may be somewhat responsible for the term "cougar" becoming socially acceptable. And I know there are plenty of women out there (my lady included) who are probably two cosmos to the wind just waiting to see the movie.
But what about the dudes? Or for that matter, everyone else who did not get on the bandwagon? Sure, I know, I know, many will say that the overwhelming, mind-numbing majority of films produced are for guys. But, with this weekend it seemed like there was an opportunity to do something guy-centric. After all, there are going to be droves of husbands, boyfriends and unattached hetero buddies (UHB's if you will) who will have some time to kill this weekend.
Gonna be a lot of poker, side bets on the Celts/Pistons and grilling this weekend.
Time to send your thoughts and a few dollars a world away tonight with the Mission for Burma relief concert at SPACE Gallery. Just weeks ago cyclone Nargis ripped through Myanmar (formerly Burma), taking lives and leaving devastation in its path. By now most of us have heard the reports that the disaster is quickly becoming a humanitarian crisis, largely because of the slow pace of aid to the country, slowed largely because of the government. That has not stopped groups around the globe from fundraising and donating goods. Peace Action Maine along with the SPACE Gallery and the U.S. Campaign for Burma put together tonight's benefit, which features a killer local line-up: Phantom Buffalo, Josh Loring of Cult Maze, Dave Noyes of Rustic Overtones, Chriss Sutherland of Fire on Fire, Christopher Teret, Doug Cowan of Bullyclub, Sara Cox, Samuel James, Micah Blue Smaldone and Okbari just to name a few. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with an 8 p.m. start. It's a suggested donation for entry, anything from $5 - $20.
Portland's own Man of Funk is at it again as Sam Kininger and his band play the Asylum. If you did not get enough of Sam with Soulive a few months back, or during his stints with Lettuce, here's an opportunity to hear the man do his best work front and center. Kenya Hall and the Soul Movement are opening, show starts at 10 p.m. and tickets are $7.
Meanwhile over at the White Heart it's a group hug thing, literally. Group Hug Productions is setting up shop for another night of live funk/soul and MCing. These cats put together official shows only so often, but its worth a drop-in to see all the rings in this circus. The Duke, Mello the Verbal Wonder, R. Tex and Sayid make up just a part of the hug. Show starts at 9 p.m. and as always at the White Heart, it's free.
SATURDAY
By Blood Alone is ready to start terrorizing stages in the greater Portland area once more starting tonight with Geno's! What makes this so special is it's the return of blood's frontwoman Cruella, also known as Melynda Amann. It was last summer when Amann was diagnosed with breast cancer. Until their release of "Sea of Blood" last Halloween, the band had been on hiatus during Amann's treatment. Now that she's in the clear they're back in the game, playing shows and possibly working on new stuff. Along for the carnage tonight is Man-Witch starting at 9 p.m. It's a $5 entry
It's a high-octane ticket tonight over at The Big Easy with Lost on Liftoff and Highway Jackson playing together. These two outfits have slightly different takes on rock - LOL more towards the pop end, highway more towards the heavy rock side, but their musicianship and energy put them among the best the local music scene has to offer, and needless to say there is plenty out there. Sorry kids, but this is a 21 plus show. Curtain's up at 9 p.m. and it's a $5 entry.
As Craig Kilborn used to say before he disappeared into the vortex of self-imposed obscurity, "Sometimes all I want to do is dance, Dance, DANCE!" That was a long way to go for that punch line, but it was worth it. (Seriously, whatever happened to that guy?) ANYWAY, if dancing is what you seek, it might be worthwhile to check out Empire Dine and Dance tonight for the afro-cuban-jazzy-middle eastern-electronic dance explosion that is Loopin'. I have heard good things, and if they are anything similar to Grupo Esperanza, the Latin dance explosion that captured Portland's heart, than it should be a good time. Show starts at 9 p.m., it's a $10 ticket.
Finally here's the weekend video. I know I'm probably a week behind in Internet time on the new Weezer video, but here it is in all of its interweb mocking glory. You may notice that Maine's own Diet Coke and Mentos guys end up in the 15 minutes of internet glory/"megameme" mix.
Justin is a former newspaper intern and has the scar tissue to prove
it. Justin has been a staff writer for the Portland Press Herald/Maine
Sunday Telegram since 2003, and in 2004 began writing a weekly column in the
Monday Magazine.
If he had to pick a label, the column would fall under "youth culture,"
covering everything from high school dance etiquette, dealing with college
debt, the resurgence of Roller Derby and Portland's one-of-a-kind music
scene. This of course has not stopped him from answering letters to Santa
Claus or writing about his experience riding shotgun in a drift car.
Justin is an export from the Midwest. He is a graduate of the University of
Missouri and is originally from Minnesota. He enjoys bacon, cheap beer,
redheads, Burt Reynolds jokes and wondering what the soundtrack to his life
would sound like.
When he grows up he wants to be an international art thief. Or Captain
America.
Until then he'll be bringing you dispatches about "the young people" and
what they do.
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