JayceLand's Weekly Rochester Events #142: The Origin of Species

Thursday, September 27, 2001

JayceLand's Weekly Rochester Events #142: The Origin of Species

Let's see ... in the entertainment realm last week, I got a chance to see David Byrne at Water Street. I have to say, it was neat to see him in person, but I wasn't blown away by his performance. As would be expected, he and his band played professionally perfect, but the whole performance was a bit too distant for me. I mean, the stuff I enjoy most is interaction with the audience which this didn't bring. The opening act, Si*Sé, was much the same ... they've got a Latin American sound. It didn't help any that night that a lot of the people were being really mean. It was only a week after the terrorist attacks and tempres were short. The people who first saw the Talking Heads when they were 30 were now 50 and demanding a couple square feet each--eight feet from the stage. Idiots. I had fun anyway ... when the audience broke out into continuous cheering mid-way through David Byrne's set and he had to stop for a few minutes and soak it all up.

Thursday was fun too. I saw Manplanet and The Shams at the Bug Jar. Manplanet is four guys in vinyl unitards--each of them is a color (white, red, green, and blue) and their hair and their equipment is color coded as well. They had pyrotechnics on stage that they used a couple times and play a retro-80's synth-rock, a little bit like Devo. They're kind of like the "teletubbies of rock." The Shams were really good too ... they play a sort-of "power blues" if there is such a thing. I didn't stay for too long on account of being too darn old to stay up so late.

On Friday I went to Red because there were some bands there. I really hate the atmosphere at Red ... well, the place is pretty cool, but the whole "never speak to anyone" DJ crap bugs the hell out of me. Anyway, The Lucy's were up first (Rob Filardo's new band) but their lead singer was missing so they had the guitar player fill in. He did pretty good. After that was Meghan's new band CandyDammit who sound a lot like White Cotton Panties but they've got this guy Cameron doing DJ scratching ... not very much of it, but just enough for punctuation Oh yeah, and I talked to Meghan a little and mentioned Manplanet--she said she saw them on the new Comedy Central show "Let's Bowl!."

Saturday I slept a bit ... a good thing, too because on Sunday I got up early to drive to Schenectady for a party then back again in the evening to catch David Lynch's Elephant Man at the Dryden. Then I played some pool at the Krown until late. When I got home I couldn't get to sleep until 3:30 in the morning. That sucked.

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Hearts in Atlantis - Mmm ... salty.
Don't Say a Word - Standard story ... guy kidnaps psychologist's daughter; demands that psychologist cures catatonic woman who knows where a diamond is hidden.
Zoolander - Daryl Zero is back ... er ... I mean, Ben Stiller is Derek Zoolander. Looks kinda funny.
Extreme Days - A bunch of guys get together for one last extreme sports romp.

The new-to-me bands Lamont and Thunderosa will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:45.

The modern rock band Milkhouse will be at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:30.

Tonight is another of Freetime Magazine's Rochester's Most Popular Band Contest with Edge of Jupiter versus Thought starting around 9:30 at the intolerable Milestones (170 East Ave.) The doors open at 9 and and close around 12:30.

If worse comes to worse you can always see, hear, and/or otherwise participate in Karaoke with Sugar Bear at Drinks by Mary Dawn (535 S. Clinton) starting around 10:30.

Tonight at Auditorium Center (875 Main St E.) is Stomp at 8 and also tomorrow at 5 and 9 and Sunday at 3 and 7.

Tonight at Johnny's Smoke Free Bar (1382 Culver Rd.)--the bar I really wish would be great--will be the jazz band Rick Wahlers Band starting around 9:30.

Tonight, the mighty Jerseyband will be way down at Nines (311 College Ave., Ithaca, N.Y.) starting at 10. Conveniently, I'll be at the Driftwood Inn (7401 Wyers Point Rd., Ovid, N.Y.) that night which is a mere 20 miles away!

If you've got nothing else to do and you think you've got what it takes, there's a fair but tough bunch of pool players over at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) anywhere from about 5 to close.

O'Bagelo's, 165 State Street, noon.

Today is the first day of the new installation, Abelardo Morell and the Camera Eye at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) Although I haven't seen Morell's work, the description offered by Eastman's flyer piqued my interest -- in particular, the use of subjects from everyday life displayed creatively -- which is somewhat close to what I think I'm trying to accomplish with my own photos. The exhibit runs until January 6, 2002.

A bunch of bands will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) for The Ramones Tribute Show starting around 10:45.

Tonight at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) will be Ned Pepper with April Laragy and the Raw Magillies starting around 10:30.

Tonight at the "we hate you" Milestones (170 East Ave.) is the groove rock band that gets glowing reviews in the rags, Zen Tricksters with Sim Redmond Band starting around 10:30.

O'er at the other Monty's, Monty's Korner (363 East Ave.) is the groove-rock band Into The Now starting around 9:30 or so.

Richmond's (21 Richmond St.) has the new-to-me rock band Multiple Stab Wounds with another band TBA starting around 10:45.

If anybody has returned already, the Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Duck Soup starting at 8. This is regarded by many as the Marx Brothers' finest film.

Open Jar Jam at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) tonight and every Sunday.

Just like on Thursdays, you can see/do/avoid Karaoke with Sugar Bear at Drinks by Mary Dawn (535 S. Clinton) starting around 9.

I talked with Seamus and Matt Kenny back on August 27 and they said they (Snmnmnm) would be at [the most ornery venue in the world] Milestones (170 East Ave.) tonight. The Orange will open for them starting around 9.

Trivia Quiz continues at The Old Toad (277 Alexander St.) My interest is waning, but I keep going and we still haven't won--whether we have a few people or a whole bunch.. We've been within a couple questions of winning, but so has everyone else. It all gets started a little after 9.

If you're interested, Johnny's Smoke Free Bar (1382 Culver Rd.) will have a DJ playing Barenaked Ladies tunes.

Tonight from 8 to 10 is an interesting "new-material-only" open-mic comedy night at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.)

As of a few months ago, Java's (16 Gibb Street) still has open mic poetry downstairs starting around 9:30.

Open Mic Comedy hosted by Dan Liberto (of the The Comedy Company) is tonight at Six Pockets (Ridge Hudson Plaza) starting around 10. The shows have been pretty good in the past.

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The Fearless Vampire Killers or: Pardon Me, but your Teeth are in my Neck starting at 8. I think you get the idea ... with the titular nod to the Kubrick classic.

Weekly karaoke contest with Sugar Bear, at Comix Cafe (3450 Winton Pl.)

Tonight at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) is Open Mic Night (for music) from 7 to 10.

JayceLand