Thursday, November 28, 2002

JayceLand's Weekly Rochester Events #203: It's All Greek and Egyptian to Me

Anyway, I was talking with Sondra the other day and she and I talked about getting this page back to its roots. I just got done updating some of the hidden technology behind the scenes so now it's faster for me to get all the events done. Theoretically, I can now take time to make the writing better. I'm sure any regular readers have noticed how much things have gone downhill ... just kidding. They left long ago because the writing has become so bland and lifeless.

So, I tried to get back to my roots, at least as far as the page is concerned. One of the things I guess I'm trying to accomplish is to get people to go out and enjoy the city. Over the last couple years I've gone out like mad and feel like I've seen it all -- there's no big stones left to overturn as best I can tell ... I'm still looking. What I'm getting at is that I have become rather jaded because all the newness of going out and doing entirely new things has kind of come to an end. It used to be that every week was something new and I need to remember what it was like to get started going out. I mean, noise bands aren't for everyone, and they weren't for me in 1999 -- I was still on cover bands and movies. So to get other people to want to go out -- duh -- I need to provide that kind of opening for them.

In other words, I should be making some improvements to make the page more interesting. (Now, why didn't I say just that?)

For those who know, today is my Thanksgiving Aftermath Party which won't be so much of an aftermath as just simply afterward. I've been working up to staying awake for a long time. I'll need to get up pretty early, drive back to Schenectady, see family, eat, drive back to Rochester ... all in time for the 7:30 party. At least I moved it 2 and a half hours later then I originally had it. Of course, I'll probably get stuck in a Syracuse snow squall and get in really late ... but who knows. Maybe the snow is all done.

T H U R S D A Y

Thanksgiving There's an early show at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) with heavy rock-and-roll of Spacetrucker, Torsos from Space and LoHi starting around 9:30. Tonight it's Karaoke with the original 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 Glengarry Glen Ross starting at 8. The world of 1980's greed brought to life in the form of competing real estate agents. In another early show at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is V for Vendetta, The Get Hustle, and possibly more bands all starting around 8. Tonight at Johnny's Irish Pub (1382 Culver Rd., still smoke-free) is some unknown (to me) band Four 20. I'd bet they start around 9. Over at the ever pretty Karma (East Ave. near Alexander) is the fun modern rock/cover band Better Days probably starting around 9. 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.

S A T U R D A Y

The Rochester Children's Theatre at School of the Arts (45 Prince St.) will be presenting Hansel And Gretel starting around 2. There will be tons of candy--and none of that weird German süßigkeit either. Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) tonight is the modern edged 70's-style jam-rock of Sofa King Killer, the awsome modern rock of Low Ton, Heatseeker and The Wilkes Project starting around 10:30. Lunch today at Cobbs Hill Pizza (630 Park Ave.) at high noon. Tonight at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) starting around 6 is Monty Aid 4 to benefit Open Door Mission (156 North Plymouth Ave.) with punk rock from Thundergods, The Grinders, El Destructo, and Purrs; more music from bands I don't know like Defenbombed, Tyrones, Whatever Mary, and Static Cling; groove-rock from Ned Pepper and decent old-guy rock from The Rat Kings. If you always wanted to go see local live music but were overwhelmed by all the choices, one of the easiest things to do is go see a cover band. One of the best who do a lot of stuff from the 1960's through today is United Booty Foundation and they'll be at Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) starting around 10:27 ... doors at 9.

S U N D A Y

The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) has Portland's synth-punk band The Epoxies tonight starting around 8. Open Jar Jam at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) tonight and every Sunday.

T U E S D A Y

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Blackmail starting at 8. Hitchcock's first sound film. Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) tonight is a couple New York City bands: the cross-dressing Temptress and the non-cross-dressing Soviet starting around ... uhh ... maybe 8 or 10:30 or 11:30. 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, it's now more-or-less a regular open mic ... by default it's still a place to try out new stuff. Wine tasting at Tapas One Seventy Seven (177 Saint Paul St.) from 6 to 8 (since this is a first Tuesday.)

W E D N E S D A Y

Let's say you're out in the middle of Greece and you're thinking you want to see some good old fashioned sexual exploitation. Well, look no further than Spenders (1600 Lyell Ave.) because they've got Lady Oil Wrestlers probably starting around 7 or so. Weekly karaoke contest with someone from the Sugar Bear franchise at Comix Cafe (3450 Winton Pl.) Open Mic Night (for music) from 7 to 10 at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) The great acoustic cover soloist John Akers will be at Moonshine Barbeque (125 White Spruce Blvd., across from MCC) from 8 to midnight.