Thursday, July 25, 2002

JayceLand's Weekly Rochester Events #185: Years Since the Ditch-Loving Clinton Took Office

Now ... with all that Philly/NJ trip stuff last week, I missed a bunch of things that happened and that I meant to mention. First off, the new version of Apple's OS X, OS 10.2, is out. It looks kind-of cool, but has the standard (believe it or not) Microsoft problem of integrating everything into the OS only to have it all change next version and the "oops ... that feature is gone so we deleted all your data" problem. Also, it's $129 for the full version and there is no upgrade path. Come on ... 10.1.5 isn't really done yet since it still doesn't do every thing that OS9 did. I'll probably break down and buy it soon because I can't stand how slow the Sherlock search tool is now. D'oh!

The other thing was that on Tuesday last week I met the guys working on the movies with Matt Ehlers for the Chrysler Million Dollar Film Festival over at Mex (295 Alexander St.) They had some behind-the-scenes footage of their winning film Cannes Man at the Cannes Film Festival. They're currently in L.A. working on making a trailer for their movie ... they reluctantly gave me a bit of the plot, so I won't mention it here (kind-of an implied NDA) but it seemed like a plausible Hollywood movie that could turn out pretty good ... anyway, they get to make a trailer and a presentation for their movie using Universal Studios stuff until the beginning of September. Then it's off to the Toronto Film Festival to find out who gets a million bucks to make their movie.

Anyway, I ended up hanging out with them until about 1:30 when I thought I'd get home and get some sleep. Well, lo and behold, despite a bike ride back and being really really tired, when I got into bed ...

There would be no sleep to be found.

Ugh! This again ... last time I trudged into work around 4 in the morning and worked until about 1:30 in the afternoon, followed by a fall-asleep-at-the-wheel drive home (on a sunny day no less.) This time I opted to call in sick. It worked out okay although it really was a lot more like a sick day than it was like vacation. Oh well.

What else ... on Thursday, along with going to Johnny's Irish Pub (1382 Culver Rd., still smoke-free) to see the sketch comedy, we went up to Millennium (2235 Empire Blvd.) to check out the bands. They've got a pretty nice setup and the audience was very receptive. Admittedly, Falling 12 Stories is a really good modern rock band, but I still expected the crowd to be disinterested and annoyed. Millennium's setup is really quite good too. The sound was done right and the lighting was good. In all, not too bad a place to see music.

In other news, I was reading in Albany's Metroland (which is kinda like Freetime Magazine around here) and they mentioned Katie Haverly. Well, actually, they listed her as the Best Singer-Songwriter (Female). I've been saying for a long time that she's really quite good and saw her for the first time up here at Drinks by Mary Dawn (535 S. Clinton) way back at the beginning of 2001. I saw her again at The Larkin (199 Lark St., Albany) with my brother and he thought she was good too. Well, Metroland agrees. It's not Rolling Stone, but here's what they had to say:

Best Singer-Songwriter (Female)

Katie Haverly

Katie Haverly is blessed with copious talent as a vocalist, guitarist and songwriter, and we are lucky that she's willing to bless us with the same on a regular basis, seeing as how she's back in Albany after stints in Colorado, Arizona and Chicago. Their loss. Our gain.

Oh yeah, one last thing: on Friday night I busted the pedal right off my bike (broke the crank) heading to California Rollin' at Village Gate Square (274 N. Goodman St.) but the cool part is that I made it up South Avenue hill on the way home later that night on one pedal. I rock.

T H U R S D A Y

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Where the Green Ants Dream starting at 8. It's a German film about a dispute between an Australian mining company and an aboriginal tribe. Tonight for an early synth-pop styled show at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is Philly's Triangles and Pittsburgh's Lorelei probably starting around 9. Apparently they're doing a combo band/DJ thing which looks like it might become regular. At least I might get some sleep on Thursdays (or go see another show.) Tonight at Monty's Korner (363 East Ave.) is an Austin Powers in Goldmember Premier Party with QUiTTERS and proceeds going to the Open Door Mission It all gets started around 9. Meanwhile, over at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) is the rock-metal Snaggletooth with no Austin Powers affiliation whatsoever. There's an "alternative" (according to Freetime Magazine) band called Kinky playing over at Montage Grille (50 Chestnut St.) starting around 10, I guess. Maybe something to check out. Nuts and Bolts will again be at Johnny's Smoke Free Bar (1382 Culver Rd.) 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

After having missed it last year, tonight at the Downstairs Cabaret (172 West Main St.) for only one show at 8 is the one-man play Eye of the Storm which, according to the Downstairs Cabaret website (from last year) is: ... about the extraordinary Federal Judge Frank Johnson, whose 44-year career took on racial civil rights, penal and mental health institutions, and voter's rights. Over at Shipping Dock Theatre (151 St. Paul St.) starting around 7:30 is Interplay Festival Of New Plays which is essentially staged readings of two new plays: Months on End by Craig Pospisil and The Princess of President Street by Adam Kraar. The show runs today at 7:30, tomorrow at 8, Sunday at 2, then again next weekend for the Friday and Saturday shows. The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Blade Runner starting at 8. You know ... replicants, futuristic L.A. ... Tonight at the anti-everything Milestones (170 East Ave.) is the excellent groove-funk of Mountain Mojo Authority with the okay groove-rock-jams of Milkhouse starting around 10. If you're nearby, it might be worth it to stop in at The California Brew Haus (402 West Ridge Rd.) to see the solid rock of Willie Shutter (although they'll get better with refinement and tightening up the songs, I think anyway) with the new-to-me Honkiss starting around 10. Over at Montage Grille (50 Chestnut St.) is the new-to-me southwest influenced acoustic rock of Alejandro Escovedo with some ... how about "bluesy-big-band-rock" from The Lost Trailers from New York starting around 10. In case you're shut in tonight (or tomorrow), check out I'm going to make a drug with my mind on cable public access (channel 15 on Time Warner) at 11:30 p.m. featuring Pisspot the Bunny interviewing local and out-of-town bands. In case you're curious, it's Alla Turca at Lola Bistro and Bar (630 Monroe Ave.) tonight and every Friday from 10:30 to 2.

S A T U R D A Y

National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day (half-staff until sunset) Classy Cookie and Deli (111 Park Ave.) at noon. Not O'Bagelo's. Be there. During the day from about 11:30 am to 8 pm is the Ten Ugly Men Event (north side of Ellison Park). This year they'll probably have over 5,000 people and last year they raised $86,000 for The Sisters of St Joseph charities for the homeless. It's $25 at the door to get in (cheaper with advance tickets, all goes to charity, etc.) and features a bunch of outdoor stuff and bands including Uncle Plum , Perfect World, Boys Lie, and Prime Time Funk. The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The Sleepy Time Gal starting at 8. A former radio D.J. struggles with her life when she is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Writer/director Christopher Munich will be on hand to introduce the film and answer questions. Around 10 way out at Curley's Saloon (511 E. Ridge Rd.) is Burning Snella with Dutch Elm. Catch it if you can. Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is some stoner rock with New York's Sofa King Killer , Slow Horse with Rochester's Mid-Air Collision starting around 10:45. Over at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) tonight is the pop-rock band Colossus with the punk-rock band VMcollision starting around 10:30. Neither band lists this show, so I might have the wrong bands entirely ... although it seems to be right up Kim's alley so I could be right too. The groove-rock band Mr. Burns will be over at Acme Bar & Pizza (495 Monroe Ave.) tonight starting around 9:30 ... I didn't see them last time and I'll probably miss them again. If you're out really late and want to catch a good band up on the Roof Deck of The Centers at High Falls (60 Brown's Race) John Akers' band The Taint will be there. They're supposedly pretty good. (Actually, they start at 10 or so but what fun is that?)

S U N D A Y

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan starting at 8. Everyone elses favorite Star Trek movie is back. 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.)

T U E S D A Y

I can't believe I actually want to go to Milestones (170 East Ave.) but tonight is another of Freetime Magazine's Rochester's Most Popular Band Contest with the (still) new to me Isotopes versus Speakeasy starting around 9:30. The doors open at 9 and and close around 12:30. The blues-punk-rock of Bob Long III with the more rock-styled Juan Prophet Organization will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:45. 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. Dan Liberto (of the The Comedy Company) is back with another Open Mic Comedy up at Penny Arcade (4785 Lake Ave.) starting probably around 10:30

W E D N E S D A Y

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The Purple Rose of Cairo starting at 8. Woody Allen's homage to cinema itself. Tonight at Mercury Star Lounge (171 St. Paul, formerly Red) is Muler Reunion (whatever the heck that is and/or they are) starting around 10:30. 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. The Starving Artist Art Show will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 6 or so.