Thursday, December 26, 2002

JayceLand's Weekly Rochester Events #207: Polk's Parallels

I don't know if you've noticed, but Time Warner is advertising their new "iControl" which lets you rewind, fast-forward, and record your favorite shows--or something like that. Anyway, I'm really amazed that they managed to spin the addition of a previously removed feature--that of using your VCR to record and watch shows while watching another--into something that was a good thing. Yeesh.

I heard that the open mic poetry at Java's (16 Gibb St.) doesn't happen in the winter. I'll have to stop by and chat with them to figure out the details.

Oh, and one other thing ... yet another political thing. The other week, Jack Doyle said, "if there was a mayor that looked like me, it would be a whole different landscape." Good grief, man, what the hell are you thinking? I wouldn't be surprised if he meant that if Mayor Johnson went along in tow to save the suburbs and fuck the city, we'd all be much better off. Thanks for yet another reason to think you're a weasel.

Oh, and in other news, I got the chance to see High Heels and Low Lifes. It's a really quite good subtle comedy. It's a British film about a couple women who stumble upon a plot to rob a bank then try to extort the robbers for some of the loot. The really remarkable thing is that none of the characters are stupid, yet the plot moves along nicely and it's actually pretty funny.

Oh yeah, and on the 20th, I saw Jerseyband and Thought at Milestones (170 East Ave.) As usual, Jerseyband was awsome, doing some of their eclectic reinterpretations of Christmas songs and some of their own songs. Thought was also really good with strong melodies ... they do jazz-rock, I guess. I ran into Seamus and Matt from Snmnmnm and they're back in town to tour in the east. I thought it was funny that Jerseyband was at The Larkin (199 Lark St., Albany) last week and that Snmnmnm would be playing regular gigs at Valentine's (17 New Scotland Ave., Albany) on Fridays starting in a few weeks. Both places are interesting places to see in Albany, not far from Schenectady where I'm originally from.

F R I D A Y

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The Terminator starting at 8. The original ... need I say more? Over at Shipping Dock Theatre (151 St. Paul St.) tonight is the first show of Fuddy Meers. It's about an amnesiac who tries to piece together his bizarre life. This is the last weekend, so it's tonight at 7:30, tomorrow at 8, Sundays at 2, and New Year's Eve at 6:30 and 9:30 on New Year's Eve. If you're looking for some really good modern rock, check out Uncle Plum at The Centers at High Falls (60 Brown's Race) starting around 9:30. 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

For anyone in town, lunch at O'Bagelo's (165 State Street) at noon. The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Casablanca starting at 8. The original ... need I say more? Punk-rock with The VEiNS, a reunion of Rochester's Girdle and the power rock of Low Ton will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) tonight starting around 10:30. Over at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) tonight is Hu-Nu starting around 10:30. Once again the shitty Milestones (170 East Ave.) makes my list with great funky groove rock of Junction Five, awsome beat-driven groove-rock of The BuddhaHood and Warrior Poets starting around 10. If you're up for a little modern rock cover-band action, Better Days will be up at Curley's Saloon (511 E. Ridge Rd.) probably starting around 9. If you're up for some modern rock ... er ... anyway, along the same lines as Better Days is Perfect World and they'll be over at Norton's Pub (1730 Goodman St.) probably starting around 9:30 as well. Excellent modern rock of Uncle Plum will be way out at Spenders (1600 Lyell Ave.) starting around 9:30.

S U N D A Y

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The Wizard of Oz starting at 8. The original ... need I say more? Open Jar Jam at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) tonight and every Sunday.

T U E S D A Y

New Year's Eve Kwanza Ends Remember that Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) is one of only about nine bars in Rochester that are grandfathered and allowed to stay open until 4 a.m. today (and on Christmas Eve.) The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World starting at 8. The original ... need I say more? Round out the year with Frantic Flattops and Purrs over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:30. Tonight at Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) is disco and rock covers with United Booty Foundation and bluesy rock with Smoking Section starting around 8:30. The League of Ratz and The Zombie Girls will be at Monty's Korner (363 East Ave.) tonight starting around 9. Over at The Centers at High Falls (60 Brown's Race) is a decent bet for a New Year's show with Better Days and The Taint starting around 9:30 or so. Another good bet would be Uncle Plum over at Jillian's (Corner of Commercial St. and Mill St.) starting around 10. Although Milestones (170 East Ave.) sucks, Mountain Mojo Authority is a really good groove-rock band ... they'll be playing with The Bomb Squad starting around 10:30 or so. If you like the dive-bar scene like I do, Richmond's (21 Richmond St.) would be a good pick with rockabilly from Krypton 88 starting around 10:30. If you like the really clean and pretty bar scene, Sheraton Four Points (120 East Main St.) would be a good bet because the tight funk-rock band Prime Time Funk will be there. Check with the hotel because I think there's a big party-and-room special deal they've got going on. Up at Betty Meyer's Bullwinkle Cafe (622 Lake Ave.), Downstairs Cabaret is hosting a cabaret and singalong night 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. Tonight is the New Year's Eve Laser Show at High Falls Gorge (Pont De Rennes Bridge) starting at 11:30.

W E D N E S D A Y

New Year's Day Tonight at Comix Cafe (3450 Winton Pl.) it's Jamie Lissow with Mike Glosek and Steve Burr 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.