Thursday, December 12, 2002

JayceLand's Weekly Rochester Events #205: My Sunny Frankenstein

What else ... a while back I got a radar detector. So far it's only been comforting. I've seen some cops with people pulled over and it stays silent, and I haven't had it yet go off then later found a cop. I don't really know if it works at all, I guess. Maybe it just beeps and blinks and says things like "X band" and "K A band" at random. Hmm ... Oh, also it's supposed to do this Safety Warning System (SWS) stuff and say things like "all traffic follow detour," "oversize vehicle in transit," and "help, I'm Steven Hawking and trapped in this little box." Unfortunately we don't have that in this area so it really doesn't do anything.

Oh, I should talk about stuff going on. Hmm ... I didn't get to do too much in the last week--busy with all the holiday stuff. I had fun going around to see bands on Saturday ... Earl Cram Revue was really good. Also, I got to see Trees Lounge which is Steve Buscemi's semi-autobiographical account of his time as a chronic alcoholic. Coming up, the Zone party on Friday, figuring out if it's Aster Aweke on Saturday at the Bug Jar (that would be interesting ... she's a musician originally from Ethiopia) and The Blackouts on Tuesday all should be fun fun shows.

F R I D A Y

The 94.1 The Zone Christmas Party with California's Finch, Maryland's SR-71, OK GO, and Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine (who apparently sings lounge-style covers of popular songs) starting around 7 over at Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) You may also have seen OK GO on Late Night with Conan O'Brien last month ... they play a high-powered power-pop/rock-and-roll. Over at Raging Burrito (1046B University Ave., inside Hot Shots) is the pleasant acoustic cover band The Earthtones starting around 9:30. Over at Montage Grille (50 Chestnut St.) tonight is the folk/blues artist Chris Smither. Updated: Oh yeah, and Bee Eater will be at Mr. Fluff (703 South Ave.) tonight starting around 11:30 or so. This is just about as underground as I've seen around here. 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. Holiday Laser Show at High Falls Gorge (Pont De Rennes Bridge) starting at 8 on Friday and Saturday.

S A T U R D A Y

O'Bagelo's, 165 State Street, noon. The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The Producers starting at 8. When I was in high school this was a pretty funny Mel Brooks film, mostly because they make a play called Springtime for Hitler which ends up being a comedy hit. Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is Aweke (is that Aster Aweke? ... seriously ... is it?) and Mates of State starting around 10:30. The Hirisers will be at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:30. Over at Richmond's (21 Richmond St.) it's Hinkley and the pretty good modern rock band Bird Circuit starting around 10 or so. Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) is having another Christmas Party, this time with United Booty Foundation starting around 9:30. If you're up for a bit of modern rock and modern rock covers, check out Uncle Plum at Fat Moe's (4419 Dewey Ave.) probably starting around 9:30. Similarly, more modern rock covers can be heard way out at Spenders (1600 Lyell Ave.) with Better Days probably starting around 10.

S U N D A Y

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

M O N D A Y

Funk band Karl Denson's Tiny Universe will be at Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) starting around 9:30 ... they'll be ditching Dave Matthew's Band after they play as the opening act at The War Memorial (Exchange Blvd and Broad St.) 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

Punk rock/modern rock band The Flashing Astonishers will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) tonight starting around 10:45. Although I hesitate to mention Milestones (170 East Ave.) they have another Freetime Magazine Most Popular Band Contest with Five O'Clock Charlie and the incredible modern ska band The Blackouts starting around 9:30. 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.

W E D N E S D A Y

Hey cool ... Joel Lindley with Dean Mink hosted by Tom Mule will be at Comix Cafe (3450 Winton Pl.) starting at 8:30 tonight. Over at Johnny's Irish Pub (1382 Culver Rd., still smoke-free) tonight is the earlier-than-usual (you know, earlier in the month) show of Nuts and Bolts starting at 8:30. 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.