Thursday, January 31, 2002

JayceLand's Weekly Rochester Events #160: Square Rods in a Round Acre

In some sad news ... well, kinda sad ... Freepolls decided to delete all their old data so all those polls I made up are mostly useless. The new ones from Dream-Tools are still there but who knows for how long.

Hmm ... what else ... I fell off my bike on Saturday. I was going north on the sidewalk on Mt. Hope and heading toward Elmwood. I was keeping an eye on the cars turning through the intersection to make sure they saw me but I hit the refuse bin there with the handlebar and went right over. I landed on my knees and left hand. Everything hurt right away so I figured I didn't get seriously hurt. My wrist was acting up and I had to wear a bandage around for a couple days, but it got better so I figure it wasn't quite sprained. The last time I fell was on Monroe Avenue by The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) last August. Both times I hadn't had anything to drink--this time it's even been a couple weeks--so I guess I can stay on the wagon but not on my bike. [rim shot]

Last Friday was the unexpected treat. Anne and I got to see a really good ska band called Straighter Than Pete who opened the show over at Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) Next up was the silly punk band The Sluts who unfortunately made ska sound slow, which tainted my already only slightly positive view of The Blackouts . We headed around the corner to Mercury (171 St. Paul, formerly Red) to catch the fun punk band The Purrs followed by the serious punk band Dead Blue Hand and the hard working punk band QUiTTERS . I hung out with Amy, a friend of mine from Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) [who's dating Carl, the bass player from Dead Blue Hand] and her friends Tina and Maria. After Anne headed home, we went out to Gitsis Texas Hots (600 Monroe Ave.) to get some food. Hey, at that point I was still riding my bike ... there's nothing like that 3:30 a.m. ride home in windy 40 degree weather.

Saturday, on the other hand, wasn't such the big deal I thought it would be. I ended up going to Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) but left before Krypton 88 started. I went over to Acme Bar & Pizza (495 Monroe Ave.) to see Astronomical Unit . While there I again ran into Tina and Maria who stopped by because they heard the music on their way elsewhere. I hung out there for a while then moved on to The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) around midnight. I got there in the middle of Johnny Dowd's act. He's technically a country musician but has drifted on that lonely path toward experimental music. I guess you've really got to hear it ... think country themes and melody with chaotic rhythm guitar and '80's techno-pop synthesizers. He did make a bit of a mistake when he returned to the stage after visiting the middle of the floor and handed me his guitar. I thought, "umm ... ok ..." and then he told me to play it. I said I didn't know how and he said he didn't care so I did. I figured open-fret was a valid chord so I just strummed it a bit and picked a little. He took it back after a minute or so. That was odd. Anyway, I picked up his [their?] album Temporary Shelter which is the most recent.

Speaking of cool things to buy, I bought a Leatherman Mini-Tool which is like a Leatherman Micra but instead of stupid scissors it has needle-nosed pliers. It's pretty small and the only thing I'd like is if it had a phillips driver.

T H U R S D A Y

Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is Buffalo's Bobo and Meghan Taylor's other new band Bee Eater starting around 10:45. Tonight at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) is Seven Head Division starting around 10:30. 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.

F R I D A Y

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Best of the Fest from the 2001 Movies on a Shoestring starting at 8. The local modern rock band Junction Five will be over at Java's (16 Gibb St.) tonight starting probably around 9. Over at Mercury (171 St. Paul, formerly Red) is Nod with The Global Village Idiots starting around 11. Tonight at the Strong Auditorium at University of Rochester (River Campus Map) is Bobcat Golthwait starting at 9. It's free to U of R students and possibly open to the public.

S A T U R D A Y

Groundhog Day O'Bagelo's, 165 State Street, noon. The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing John Waters' bizarre (of course) Pink Flamingos starting at 8. Over at Mercury (171 St. Paul, formerly Red) is Gregory Paul with Junction Five (again) starting around 11. Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is The Runarounds with Girlush Figure starting around 10:45. Tonight at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) is the brooding punk of The Priests , the fun punk of The Purrs, and the punk punk The Flour City Knuckleheads starting around 10:30. The groove rock sounds of The Niche will be at Acme Bar & Pizza (495 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10 or so.

S U N D A Y

Superbowl XXXVI today -- New England Patriots versus St. Louis Rams. The pregame show starts at 3 and the game starts at 6. 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. Karaoke with Sugar Bear is back at The Blue Room (293 Alexander St.)

M O N D A Y

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.

T U E S D A Y

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Nightmare Alley starting at 8. A carnival worker doesn't appreciate his clientele and decides to rip them off. As of a few months ago, Java's (16 Gibb Street) still has open mic poetry downstairs starting around 9:30. Tonight from 8 to 10 is an interesting "new-material-only" Open-Mic Comedy Night at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) I think they're making it into a workshop type of environment.

W E D N E S D A Y

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing this 1964 Russian telling of Hamlet starting at 8. Over at Mercury (171 St. Paul, formerly Red) is the jazz band Brady Miller and The Millerettes starting around 10:30. Over at Beale Street Cafe (689 South Ave.) is Zydeco Vacation which, I presume is a zydeco band ... starting around 9. 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.