Thursday, November 7, 2002

JayceLand's Weekly Rochester Events #200: 2oo Phundred

Let's see ... the High Falls Film Festival was a ton of fun. I got to go to the opening ceremonies on the 14th floor of Midtown Plaza (S. Clinton and Broad St.) as you know, and I got to see Lift that night too. On Thursday I was the only non-filmmaker at the Q-and-A session at the Strathallan (550 East Ave.) and I got to see the excellent documentary (and runner-up documentary for the festival) Sister Helen. Afterward I went to see Nuts and Bolts over at Johnny's Irish Pub (1382 Culver Rd., still smoke-free)

On Friday I went to the Q-and-A, but this time with a bunch of other people. I met a couple people there including Rebecca Camissa, the director of Sister Helen.

Oh ... I rode my bike out and on the way back from lunch at Cobbs Hill Pizza (630 Park Ave.) , I got stuck riding through the snow. I didn't have my bike lights because it was daytime so I was having a hard time being seen. Well, this one guy did see me and was still an asshole. I was coming down the sidewalk on Mt. Hope and was clipping along at 15 MPH or so. I got to Latimore and this guy in a white car was pulling out onto Mt. Hope. I had the full-on walk sign (no blinking going on) and he looked at me, stopped at the crosswalk, then gunned it like he was going to get on the road, only to slam on the brakes right in front of me. I was halfway through the street and locked up the back wheel on the wet road and slid into him. I acutally only had to put my hand out to brace myself against the back window of the car and he gives me this indignant "what'd I do" look as I called him a fucking piece of shit. I should have dragged him out and beat some sense into him but I was trying to keep from falling as he sped away. So anyway, if you know the guy, punch him in the fucking head for me.

Ok, so anyway, later on I went out and saw Blue Vinyl. which is a really funny documentary (and winner of best documentary for the festival) about vinyl siding and the dangers of polyvinyl chloride manufacture and disposal. Unfortunately The Little (240 East Ave.) embarrassed our town by leaving a loud buzzing noise over the entire movie. Afterward at the Little Café I got to talk with Rebecca again for a little longer. After that I went over to The Club at Water Street (204 N. Water St.) and was happy to see The Blackouts and Mustard Plug.

On Saturday I got to O'Bagelo's (165 State Street) with those who made it then got to see the short films at the festival. The first one was really bad but the rest were at least okay. Afterward I went to Le Club Shock at Analog Shock (674 South Ave.) to see some noise bands-- Newton, Pengo and The French Flys then I went over to Acme Bar & Pizza (495 Monroe Ave.) and saw some bands including Bee Eater which really didn't fit there at all. Way too loud for the late night drunk crowd.

Sunday was a bit more subdued, only getting to the panel of critics which was four critics from around the country. I learned why reviews are so bad and got some more insight into why crappy movies keep getting made. After that I saw the last of the shorts programs and headed on home.

By the time Monday rolled around I welcomed the relatively relaxing time at work. Whew.

T H U R S D A Y

Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) tonight around 11 is the virtually orchestral Larval with Volcano, I'm Still Excited. The funnily named combination of Illuminatti and Dimb will be over at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) tonight starting around 10:30. Who knew they played out. NTID Performing Arts at on RIT (One Lomb Memorial Dr., campus map image) will be performing The Laramie Project tonight, tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30 and on Sunday at 2. It's a really good play but I don't know how the NTID folks will do it. 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. Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) is hosting an Acoustic Open Jam from 8 to 10. For this one, there's no microphones and it's designed to be more of a true jam.

F R I D A Y

Tonight, the fun modern rock and cover band Better Days will be over at Johnny's Irish Pub (1382 Culver Rd., still smoke-free) starting around 8 or so. The reggae band John Brown's Body will be at The Club at Water Street (204 N. Water St.) starting around 8:30. Over at Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) is the quite good groove-rock/funk band Junction 5 probably with someone else to-be-announced starting around 8. Tonight at 8 at the Auditorium Center (875 Main St E.) is Black Entertainment Television NY Comedy Showcase featuring Rob Stapleton, Mike Blackson, Bphlat, and host Wil. The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Office Space starting at 8. One of the best views of cubicle life is once again brought to the big screen. 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

O'Bagelo's, 165 State Street, noon. Updated: Tonight at 9 at 90 Canal St. (MapsOnUs link) is *Starstruck a night of experimental and short films from the 1960's through the present, presented by S.T.R.I.F.E.. Yah! Tonight is a night of fun punk with the Purrs CD Release Party featuring Boss Martians and The Flour City Knuckleheads over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) tonight starting around 10:30. Over at Monty's Korner (363 East Ave.) tonight is Erin Smith Band with Melissa McClelland and Janine Stoll. Down Monroe at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) is Ronley Teper with the groove-rock jam band (see the about page) Five Spiced Fingers. At Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) tonight is Lords of Acid with DJ Red Boy starting around 7:30 then DJ Dangler and Bitter Flesh Thing at the after party.

S U N D A Y

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Paris, Circa 1900 starting at 2 p.m. (note that it's not at 8.) This will include such silent classics as A Trip to the Moon and Impossible Voyage with live piano by Philip C. Carli. Over at Montage Grille (50 Chestnut St.) tonight is a Veteran's Day Salute with The Commander Cody Band starting around 9. 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

Veteran's Day Veteran's Day (observed) There's apparently a Spoken Word Open Mic Poetry Night at Pythodd Jazz Room at the Heritage House (130 Spring St.) from around 6 to around 10. It used to be on Thursdays but I guess they moved it.

T U E S D A Y

Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is the punk band Exercise! from Minneapolis starting around 10:30. Over at The Garden Restaurant (1600 East Ave., in the hi-rise apartment building) is the pianist Susan Power from 6 to 7. I want to just mention that the really good rock band FMGreen will be at the awful Milestones (170 East Ave.) to open for Royston Langdon of the now defunct Spacehog starting around 8. 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 Open-Mic Comedy Night at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) While once it was a workshop type of environment, the comics now have to force that behavior ... by default it's a place to try out new stuff.

W E D N E S D A Y

Tonight at the Vehicle Impound Auction Lot (330 Colfax St.) is the City of Rochester Impounded Vehicle Auction sponsored by Reynolds Auction Company starting at 12:30 p.m. The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing I Am Trying to Break Your Heart starting at 8. This ended up being a documentary about how Wilco's album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was rejected by Reprise Records as too uncommercial. 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. For something to do, the great acoustic cover soloist John Akers will be at Moonshine Barbeque (125 White Spruce Blvd., across from MCC) from 8 to midnight.