Boston Bands This Week…

The New Collisions, John Powhida (and The International Airport), What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? (photo by Katrine Wheeler) and Goli (photo by Karen Clunes).

For this edition, we’re starting the week on Sunday (today), since I forgot to mention tonight’s Bent Wit Cabaret show last time. Their theme is “Mystery,” and the performance will feature spoken word artist Jha D, magician Dezrah the Strange, burlesque by Penny Candy and Abby Normal, The System of Soothing (a 7 minute opera by Frank Pesci based on a story by Edgar Allen Poe), and much more. There’s The Boston Waterfront Performing Arts Festival at Christopher Columbus Park (in the North End) on Tuesday (8/10), featuring Sarah Borges and The Broken Singles and the New Collisions. On Thursday, Club D’Elf are playing at the Lizard Lounge. On Friday, there’s three things of note: Agent Bishop Presents The Lucky 13 Bash at Church of Boston; Goli Going East (members of Fluttr Effect) and Cabiria‘s CD release party; and Jo-Jo’s (who’s Jo-Jo?) Birthday Roast featuring John Powhida’s International Airport. On Saturday, Otis Grove plays a free show at the Middle East Corner, and “Boudoir Noir” – billed as “an intimate carnival of delight and revolt” – promises to be quite cool, what with The Slomski Brothers, What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? and HUMANWINE.

Bent Wit Cabaret: Mystery (Sunday)

Mr. Reusch (photo by Jess Swayze)

Bent Wit Cabaret: Mystery ~ OBERON Theater, Harvard Square, Cambridge. Sun, Aug 8. Tickets: $20 advance; $25 at door; 8pm show, 7:30 pre-show

(from their press release): “We’ve been mad scientists in the lab, checking our chemical cookbooks, cross-breeding strange creatures, and searching for the alchemy to bring you a show of gold! Please join us this August for Bent Wit Cabaret’s “MYSTERY” show – surprises brewing, and we can’t wait to see you there… Hosted by: Mary Dolan and UnAmerika’s Sweetheart Karin Webb. House Band: Elephant Tango Ensemble (including members of Goli and HUMANWINE). Featuring the Mysterious inner workings of: spoken word artist Jha D, magician Dezrah the Strange, burlesque by Penny Candy and Abby Normal, The System of Soothing (a 7 minute opera by Frank Pesci based on a story by Edgar Allen Poe), art installation by Gina Hereen, the incredible Sugar Dish, Lainey SchoolTree, and Femme Brulee, with video by Samantha Olschan and Bill Domonkos curated by the undeniable Boston Underground Film Festival, Poetry, Dance, and so much more…”

Boston Waterfront Performing Arts Series – Sarah Borges and The Broken Singles, New Collisions (Tuesday)

The New Collisions

Sarah Borges and The Broken SinglesThe New Collisions, Christopher Columbus Park, Atlantic Avenue & Richmond Street (North End), Boston, Tuesday, Aug 10, 6-8pm, FREE.

The New Collisions are cool and poppy with an 80s New Wave vibe (and they’ve even toured with Blondie and the B-52s). Their debut album (due out October 5) was recorded at Boston’s legendary Fort Apache Studios with Sean Slade and Paul Kolderie. It doesn’t get more hometown than that!

New Collisions: “Dying Alone”

Fellow Bostonians Sarah Borges and The Broken Singles are in the rootsy-rock/alt-country vein, with Sarah’s vocals sometimes sassy, sometimes smooth and sweet. Their third album, The Stars Are Out, was released last year.

Club D’Elf @ the Lizard Lounge (Thursday)

photo by mark wilson, wall by peter barrett

The “Moroccan-dosed psychedelic-dub–jazz collective from Boston!” Lots of fun, serious jamming, and ever-revolving special guests sitting in. Not sure who it’ll be Thurs. night.

Agent Bishop Presents: Lucky 13 Bash @ Church of Boston (Friday)

Liptease (9pm), Gene Dante and the Future Starlets (10pm), Sidewalk Driver (11pm), Planetoid (12am) @ the Church of Boston – Friday Aug. 13, doors 8pm, 21+, $10 advance tix, $13 @ door.

Here’s one for you closet glam-rockers and ’80s dance party people out there. Liptease, if they were a little older, would have played at Studio 54. Gene Dante of Gene Dante and the Future Starlets is an actor as well as a songwriter and singer who has toured in productions such as “The Rocky Horror Show,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” and “Beauty and the Beast.” With his theatrical musical theatre vocals, he was nominated as Best Male Vocalist in the 2009 Boston Best Music Poll, and names Bowie and Neil Diamond as influences (I’d say more Neil than Bowie in his singing style).

The Boston Herald said of Sidewalk Driver: “think Bowie painting the Kinks’ sound with sparkles”. And Planetoid has a retro ’70s metal sound with some psychedelic and grunge influences, and as New England Performer pointed out, “catch ’em before their return to whatever stoner-rock planet they came from.”

Goli Going East, Cabiria (CD Release), Plumerai, Molly Zenobia @ the Middle East Upstairs (Friday)

the lovely ladies of Goli - photo by Karen Clunes

Goli Going East (with members of Fluttr Effect), Cabiria (CD Release Party), Plumerai and Molly Zenobia @ the Middle East Upstairs – Friday, Aug 13.

This should be a very interesting evening of mostly Boston bands. Goli Going East is, I believe, Vessela Stoyanova (marimba) and Valerie Thompson (cello, vocals) of the renown Goli (and Fluttr Effect). Cabiria (from NYC – operatic vocals, trip-hop groove and Spanish Flamenco) is celebrating the release of their 6-song EP, A Product of Humankind. And Molly Zenobia performs dreamlike, drifting, very experimental music – keyboards/piano and samples, with some extremely pretty vocals. Spacey, gauzy, guitar-driven Plumerai complete this stellar lineup.

Jo-Jo’s 40th Birthday Roast @ the Middle East Downstairs (Friday)

John Powhida

John Powhida & the International Airport, The Marvels, roast and party @ the Middle East Downstairs – Friday, Aug 13, 7:30pm doors, 18+.

I’m not sure who “Jo-Jo” is, but she/he is having a cool party at the Middle East. It features the inimitable John Powhida & the International Airport and punk rockers The Marvels. The listing says “semi-formal dress code encouraged.”

Otis Grove @ the Middle East Corner – FREE! (Saturday)

The seriously funky Otis Grove will be doing some tight jamming – and it’ll be interesting to see if they can squeeze any sort of organ onto the tiny stage in the Middle East Corner. A very nice cozy space, and a free show.

“Budoir Noir” @ Club Passim (Saturday)

What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? - photo by Katrine Wheeler

What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? and HUMANWINE @ Passim – Saturday Aug 14, 8pm, all ages.

What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? are purveyors of “macabre musical theatre” that, as Jason Roush of Bay Windows once said, “strikes the perfect balance of gloom and glam.” Powerful and expressive vocals from Brian King and music that’s folky, jazzy cabaret.

HUMANWINE – or more accurately H.U.M.A.N.W.I.N.E. (Humans Underground Making Anagrams Nightly While Imperial Not-Mes Enslave), bring their message of social truth with gothic elegance.

As Brian King of What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? explains, “We have always been rabid mutual fans of each other’s music, and I think it’s because we have such complementary perspectives. It’s like in early times when the Goddess of Love was also the Goddess of War. Both issues are about relationships and social power structures, whether between a couple in the bedroom or between two countries or classes. It’s all about living together and fighting for equality. We sing about struggle and liberation.”

“Feisty pranksters” The Slomski Brothers (from New Jersey) open the night with their wacky vaudevillian schtick.