Weekly Rochester Events #219: First Train to Clarksville

Thursday, March 20, 2003

Next, I hate Milestones (170 East Ave.) I know I've said this a million times (i.e. something like 93 or so) before, but I thought I'd reinforce it. Last week I went to see The Blackouts and a couple other ska bands. I figured they were cool enough that it would offset the suckiness of Milestones. Well, I got there and the guy at the door said that one of the bands had played and that there were two others. He said he thought the Blackouts were playing right then, but it obviously wasn't. He didn't know who was playing at all. I guess the dipshits there thought I'd just give them five bucks and leave. Screw them ... I was out of there and went to Mex (295 Alexander St.) instead. I'll catch the Blackouts another time.

The other thing was the happy hour at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) I went there intending to take pictures of Earl Cram Revue but that ended up not happening. See, the guy who was running it (who I just decided I'd leave out by name because aside from what I'm about to say, he's a nice guy so I'll cut him a break) ... uhh ... the guy running it decided to set everyone up in the bar area with his own sound system. His idea was to force people to listen. Force people to listen? Maybe you have to because your band sucks, but why not put people on the Bug Jar stage, complete with high-power, calibrated sound system and complete lighting setup. Yeesh. Worse, though, was that he kept tweaking the sound, turning down the midrange until the vocals were completely inaudible.

I think the thing that pissed me off the most was that the whole crowd was a bunch of slacker supporters. I heard one guy tell him that the "sound was great." Great? Great!? Come on ... it fucking sucked. I was all set to take pictures of Earl Cram Revue on the stage, but it was way too dark in the bar area (f1.4, ISO 1600 film, and one second exposure times for you photo geeks.) I ended up leaving early and dropped off the camera at home. I actually rode my bike all the way to Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) and was still pretty pissed off.

In less bitter news, I thought a neat add-on to the anti-war effort was the Window Lights for Peace at MoveOn.org program. I'd recommend a low-wattage bulb or else it would just be a show of American waste. I'm not too keen on the whole "not business as usual" thing where we're supposed to walk out of work when the war starts ... it just rings of stoner-style get-out-of-work logic.

T H U R S D A Y

Great American Meatout The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Kiss Me, Stupid starting at 8. Ok, so Ray Walston plays a songwriter trying to get a singer (a self-parody played by Dean Martin) interested in his work so he gets him interested in his wife ... well, a local prostitute played by Kim Novak, actually. Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) tonight is Vixo Sound System, Soviet, Burning Star Core, Coffee, Monotract, Irene Moon, and the angry, angry metal of Hair Police (that begs for a massive mosh pit, so put your drink down) all starting around 8 then DJ's around 11. With all these bands, one would hope they get started on time. Tonight at The Club at Water Street (204 N. Water St.) is the awsome percussive groove-rock band The BuddhaHood with Groovenutt starting around 10. Over at Artisan Works (565 Blossom Rd.) tonight starting around 5:30 is a Wine Tasting and Silent Auction to benefit Alternatives for Battered Women. Hmm ... that reminds me ... I have to call them to get them some stuff around the house. Over at Nextstage at Geva (75 Woodbury Blvd.) is Lobby Hero, a hopefully clever urban play about lies and people tonight and tomorrow at 7:30, Saturday at 5 and 9:30, and Sunday at 3. Starting around 6:30 at St. Anne Church (1600 Mt. Hope Ave.), Wegmans and Upper Mount Hope Neighborhood Association will present their plans for their Mt. Hope store. 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.

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 Russian Ark twice--once at 5 and once at at 8. A filmmaker takes a magical journey through Russian history in a museum. The really fucking impressive part is that it was done as one shot ... one continuous piece of film for the whole 96 minutes. The Nuts and Bolts (see their site at ImprovAmerica too) improv troupe will be doing a show at German House (315 Gregory St.) tonight at 8. At The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) tonight is Wolf Colonel, David Dondero, and Joe Knapp all starting around 10:30. Over at Richmond's (21 Richmond St.) is a bunch of garage-style rock-and-roll with Thundergods, The Grinders, and Shackletons all starting around 10:30. If you dare, the really not-all-that-good surf-rock band Cousin Al and the New Generation will be at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) tonight starting around 10:30. I missed them last week, so now I get my chance ... Bad Fish will be at Acme Bar & Pizza (495 Monroe Ave.) tonight starting around 9:30. Over at The Club at Water Street (204 N. Water St.) is metal with Downdriven, Inherence and Ghost starting around 9:30. You can get more modern rock and covers again tonight at Slammer's Bar and Grill (4650 Dewey Ave.) with Perfect World.

S U N D A Y

Tonight before the open jam at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is Hilkka and Olympia, Washington's Intima starting around 8.

M O N D A Y

Over at Writers and Books (740 University Ave.) tonight at 7 is a discussion of this year's If All of Rochester Read the Same Book. Have you been reading Octavia Butler's Kindred? Even if I was, I'd be so far behind everyone else that it just wouldn't be worth it for me to go. Ok, I'll mention it ... tonight at Downstairs Cabaret (20 Windsor St.) is Funny Underground tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 with comics Benjamin Wachs, Mark Weidmann Dan Glanowski, and Rich Gagnier. It's a rare Monday show at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:30 with Drunk Horse (you should check out their website to see the album cover ... the inner sleve reveals what's beneath the censorship) and Nate Denvers Neck.

W E D N E S D A Y

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The Element of Crime starting at 8. A visually stimulating film about a cop in a post-apocalyptic world trying to solve some murders. Hey, cool ... Michael Moore will be giving a lecture over at Strong Auditorium at University of Rochester (River Campus Map) starting at 9. Call 275-5911 for more info. Tonight, the new-to-me Maria Muldaur will be at Montage Grille (50 Chestnut St.) starting around 8. 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. The Starving Artist Art Show will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 6 or so.