Weekly Rochester Events #393: End of an Olympic Era

Thursday, July 20, 2006

I think this is a new record: since last Thursday, I have seen zero live bands. None. I don't think I've done that since 1998 or so. How odd.

Most of the reason has to do with having lots of stuff to do to get prepped to go to Burning Man (The Man, Black Rock City, NV) along with lots of other things to do to. For instance, I've been needing to have a garage sale so I'm having one this weekend. I decided to do it as the "Hyperbole-Free Average-Sized Garage Sale." Without disobeying the title, I can say there will be an odd assortment of stuff out there, that's for sure.

Among the things I didn't need to have happen, on Friday I found that once again my car wouldn't start in the heat. I still have that 1994 Honda Civic, and there are generally two causes: a plugged air filter, or a broken master relay. Having read on the Internet that the solder comes loose on the relay circuit, I figured I'd give it a go. I took the thing apart but the soldering seemed fine. I pulled it apart further (breaking the circuit board in half in the process) but still couldn't see anything wrong. I patched it up and reflowed all the solder joints anyway. After an hour I got it back in and it worked fine and still does, even in scorching heat. I more strongly suspect the connector — that the process of unplugging and plugging it was what really did the trick. If I ever meet someone who has the same problem in an older Honda, I'll just tell them to look under the dash right by the fuse box (at least in the Civic) and find a 1/2-inch by 3-inch orange connector that goes to a gray box, push in the release clip, unplug it, and plug it back in again ... it might just work.

That afternoon I walked to The South East Area Coalition (SEAC) (1045 South Clinton Ave.) to see the ARTWalk (University Ave. at Atlantic Ave.) Art In Transit artistic bus shelter project entries. I thought they were all quite good and innovative, and the finalists are as good a choice as any — presumably preferred because of other hidden reasons like the ability of the artist to actually complete the work.

From there I went to The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) to see the triple-feature. First was Spook Louder about the Three Stooges working as unsuccessful door-to-door salesmen and coming upon a "haunted" house ... it was okay, and interestingly had harsh words against the Japanese as it was made during World War II. Next was Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, which was pretty funny even if their whole routine seems a bit stale these days. It held up (as Jim Healy mentioned) largely because the monsters play it straight and scary while Bud and Lou are left to be funny. The final film was Ghostbusters. Jim felt it was the definitive 1980's movie — guys in a stuffy, liberal college get kicked out, become successful in private business based on risky investments, and are almost destroyed by the nosy EPA. The movie is still great but is somewhat dated by the pop-music soundtrack and the magazine cover montage.

Saturday night I was again back at the Dryden. This time, I was there to see Jim Finn's films. He was there to introduce them and give some background which helped quite a bit. His short called Wüstenspringmaus was a sort-of the history of the gerbil/Capitalism done as a strange musical montage. El Güero was an experimental film of motion and actions also done as a strange musical montage. His feature film, Interkosmos was an hour-long faux-documentary about a fictional space program in East Germany to colonize other planets during the 1980's. He said it was sort-of based film musicals in its construction, although it's also so nearly surreal, that aspect is easy to miss. I found that the promised love-story was revealed slowly and subtly, also making it easy to miss. In a way it reminded me of the time I tried blintzes: I know there's people who love them, but I wasn't enthralled by the taste right away and have never had a craving for them since.

On Sunday I did a ton of work outside in the heat in long pants and long sleeves — mostly because of the kind of yard work. Anyway, I drank tons of water but was getting overheated in the afternoon so I drank even more. I got in to cool off but I figured I must have sweat all of it out because I was still thirsty. I kept drinking more and more. Ali suggested that I should stop because I probably had too much. I finally looked up "overhydration" on the Internet and found that my symptoms matched. I figured a good test would be to check my weight: despite eating only a little bit, I gained 10 pounds. Yikes. I actually got that "water inebriation" effect ... I was dizzy and clumsy and couldn't think straight (although it was easier to gain focus than when drunk); but otherwise it was pretty similar to drunkenness. I eventually got my body to start pumping out the water and by morning my weight had returned to normal and I wasn't so puffy.

Monday night I was back to the Dryden once more. This time for Surprise Cinema as selected by Michael Neault. First was a short called Lark's Rhapsody which was quite clever and evenly paced: a couple old ladies on "Lark" scooters zip around while three guys lethargically lounge in a donut shop. The feature was In the Soup with a young Steve Buscemi and Seymour Cassel. According to Mike, it was the winner at Sundance in 1992. It had strong hype, but major studios wouldn't have anything to do with it since it's a black comedy in black and white and Steve Buscemi wasn't such a big draw yet. By the time they got to the original interested distributors, they were no longer interested and the phrase, "don't soup it" was born. The movie itself is quite good. It's about a guy (Buscemi) shopping a movie script around that nobody wants so he puts an ad in the paper and meets up with a charming con man (Cassel) who gives him a whole new perspective on life by turning it over and shaking the hell out of it.

T H U R S D A Y

Tonight at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) is The Jarring Bell Poetry Night starting at 7 p.m. [source: Boulder Coffee website] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Amok Time at 7 p.m., an episode from the original Star Trek followed by Star Trek III: The Search for Spock at 8 p.m. in which Spock dies and his mind is inside Dr. McCoy. Note also that the Garden Vibes concert is today as well, so parking will be hell. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Tonight at Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) is Kev Rowe starting around 8 p.m. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages] Over at A|V Art Sound Space (N. Union St. at Trinidad St., #8 in the Public Market, formerly the All-Purpose Room) starting around 9 p.m. is Pumice, Joe+n, and a peculiar variety of rock from Nod. [source: A|V Space website] The Rock City Morgue, and classic-styled punk from The Teenage Junkies will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting The Helms, technical and elaborate rock from Knife Crazy, and complex, hard-hitting, mid-tempo, slightly off-balance rock from Kill Myself on Monday (for what's apparently their last show) starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: band e-mail] [21+] Pure Kona Poetry Open Mic Night is at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) tonight starting at 7:30. [source: Daily Perks calendar] Drinking Liberally meets at 8 p.m. tonight at Monty's Korner (355 East Ave.) [source: RocWiki calendar]

F R I D A Y

Tonight from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Image City Photography Gallery (722 University Ave.) is the opening reception of the new exhibit Feathered Fascination by Christopher Cove, MD. The show runs through August 13. [source: Image City Photography Gallery e-mail] The Rochester Public Market (280 Union St. N.) will be hosting another Bands on the Bricks with Joe Beard, and Chris Beard starting around 6 p.m. [source: Up All Night website] Updated: The photo shoot/performance art with Kerry Skarbakka at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) has been canceled due to weather concerns. This evening from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Genesee Pottery at The Genesee Center for the Arts (713 Monroe Ave.) is the opening reception for the new exhibit Soda, Salt and Celadon by Jeremy Fineman and will be on display until August 6. [source: Genesee Center for the Arts calendar] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing the rare Japanese release of Gojira (Godzilla) starting at 8. starting at 7 p.m. followed by Kaijûtô no kessen: Gojira no musuko (Son of Godzilla) which follows more in the monster-movie formula that the lizard is known for. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Just for something a bit different, tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Kilbourn Hall at Eastman Theatre (60 Gibbs St.) is an installment of Eastman Summer Sing featuring Mendelssohn's "Elijah". [source: Eastman School of Music calendar] [all ages] Pete Miserendino will be at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) starting around 8 p.m. [source: Daily Perks calendar] [all ages] Tonight at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) is Moniker starting around 8 p.m. [source: Boulder Coffee website] [all ages] The Flipside Bar and Grill (2001 E. Main St.) will be hosting clever, charismatic singer/songwriter Connie Deming starting around 9 p.m. [source: Flipside website] Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) will be hosting Al Biles, and his computerized accompaniment GenJam starting around 9 p.m. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages] A|V Art Sound Space (N. Union St. at Trinidad St., #8 in the Public Market, formerly the All-Purpose Room) will be hosting low-tempo acoustic soloist Carbonic, light, bright, and airy vocals along with as much as a full band from A Wonderful, and Snowbank starting around 9 p.m. [source: A|V Space website] Spy Bar (139 State St.) will be hosting gospel satire band The Lobster Quadrille, and chaotic jazz-rock where the saxophone provides the melody and the drums and guitar share rhythm duty from Deadly Pillowfight Accident starting around 10 p.m. [source: band e-mail] [21+]

S A T U R D A Y

Today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or so at Jayce's House (45 Whiteford Rd.) is his Hyperbole-Free Average-Sized Garage Sale. [source: Jayce] Today from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. is The Ten Ugly Men Event (500 East River Rd., east side of Genesee Valley Park) whose proceeds go to The Bright Eyes Fund at The Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong (601 Elmwood Ave.) and The St. Joseph's Neighborhood Center (417 South Ave.) Note that this year's event has limited tickets sold in advance. [source: Ten Ugly Men website] Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 3 p.m. is the "all-ages" CD release party for great punk-rock/hard-rock band The UV Rays, The Runnamucks, Bad Taste, The Hounds of Hell, and Radagast. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Sophie Scholl — Die letzten Tage (Sophie School — The Final Days) starting at 7 p.m. and again at 10 p.m. It's based on the true story of the leaders of an anti-Nazi movement in Germany in World War II who are caught. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Over at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) starting around 8 p.m. is Meg Gehman, and Connie Deming [source: Daily Perks calendar] [all ages] Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) will be hosting Lucid Logic starting around 8 p.m. [source: Boulder Coffee website] [all ages] Over at Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) starting around 9 p.m. is Mike Strobel. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages] The Minus Four will be at Spy Bar (139 State St.) starting around 10 p.m. [source: Rochester Music Coalition calendar] [21+] Tonight at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) is Nemo starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Monty's Krown MySpace page] [21+] The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting the "geezers'" CD release show for The UV Rays with The Runnamucks, awesome rock-and-roll band with rockabilly flavoring and the ghost of synth-pop/power-pop from The Teenage Harlets, and The Secretions starting around 10:45 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [21+] Tonight's another Betty's Sing-a-Long at Betty Meyer's Bullwinkle Café (622 Lake Ave., a.k.a. "Bullwinkle's") starting around 10.

S U N D A Y

Today starting at 12 p.m. is the The Arts and Cultural Council for Greater Rochester (277 N. Goodman St.) Art-a-que at the Magnolia Shelter of Durand-Eastman Park (Lake Shore Blvd.) Please RSVP the Arts and Cultural Council and for more information. [source: Arts and Cultural Council e-mail] [all ages] Today at 1 p.m. is one of the Corn Hill Strolls by, and starting at The Landmark Society of Western New York (133 S. Fitzhugh St.) [source: Landmark Society calendar] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is Jens Lekman, Frida Hyvønen, and good, mellow, down-tempo soloist Little Yellow Bird starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+]

M O N D A Y

Today at 7:30 p.m. at Kilbourn Hall at Eastman Theatre (60 Gibbs St.) is the Filigree Ensemble featuring Jan Angus on flute and Grace Wong on harp. [source: Eastman School of Music calendar] [all ages] The Sundresses will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 9:30 p.m. HermanTheBartender recommends this show. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Bored? Why not check out 1980's DJ night at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 11 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar]

T U E S D A Y

This morning at 7:30 a.m. in the cafeteria overlooking the arboretum in Bausch and Lomb (140 Stone St.) is the Artists Breakfast Group meeting ... anyone interested in art or creativity is invited. Tonight at City Hall (30 Church St.) is another Mayor's Night In with Mayor Robert J. Duffy from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. [source: City Hall press release] Tonight from 6:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. is the another of the Tuesday Nature Nights Guided Bike Ride this time in the Charlotte Neighborhood starting at Turning Point Park (260 Boxart St.) and along the Genesee Riverway Trail [source: City Hall press release] This evening at 6:30 p.m. at Highland Bowl (South Ave. at Robinson Dr.) is The Fantasticks by The Brighton Summer Performing Arts. [source: Freetime] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing A Walk With Love And Death starting at 8 p.m. about a couple lovers on a road trip through the countryside of the Hundred Years War. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 9:30 p.m. is Now It's Overhead, Monotonix, and very tight modern rock band Veluxe. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) is hosting an Acoustic Open Mic from 8 to 10. [source: Daily Perks calendar] [all ages]

W E D N E S D A Y

Tonight at Jimmy Mac's (104 Platt St., at the Pont De Rennes Bridge) is fun ska/cover band Mrs. Skannotto, and rock-ska band Room 30 starting around 6 p.m. [source: JamBase calendar for Rochester] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing El espíritu de la colmena (The Spirit of the Beehive) starting at 8 p.m. about an 8-year-old girl growing up shortly after the Spanish Civil War. It caught my eye because the Eastman calendar notes, "one of the best films ever made about childhood." [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] The High Falls Festival Site (Browns Race and Commercial St.) will be hosting Of a Revolution (O.A.R.) starting around 8 p.m. I think ... [source: JamBase calendar for Rochester] The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting Hangin' Tuff, No Goal (a.k.a. NOxGOAL), Pyramid Scheme, and Black SS starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Poor People United meets tonight and every Wednesday at 7 at St. Joseph's House of Hospitality (402 South Ave.) [source: the proverbial grapevine] There's an Open Mic for Acoustic Music at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) tonight around 8. [source: the proverbial grapevine]

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