Stuff to do this weekend

Charlie Everywhere

Phantogram (Formerly Charlie Everywhere) tonight at Red Square.

Hey, if you like parades, Albany's St. Patrick's day parade starts this Saturday at Central and Quail and goes to the bottom of State Street. And if you don't like parades, stay the heck away from the area between Central and Quail and State Street. We're just sayin' -- people tend to have strong feelings about their parades.

If you're looking for a parade alternative (or addition) for your pre-St. Patrick's Day weekend, after the jump are a few things that looked interesting to us.

Other thoughts? Share with the group please. And have a great weekend, whether you like parades or not.

Dunbarfest
The gang from Sgt. Dunbar and the Hobo Banned is off on a tour that will take them to SXSW! But before they head out, they're playing Valentines with Margan and The Red Lions, We are Jeneric and Salon Style. The whole night is only $7! Yep you read it right.

Hitchcock!
The week long Hitchcockfest at Proctors is going out with a bang tonight. It starts this afternoon at 3 with Topaz. At 5:30 it's Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly in Rear Window and at 8:00 it's Psycho. $6 per flick

3.14159265358979323846...
Saturday is Pi Day! Celebrate with-- what else-- pie!

James Joyce the musical?
Capital Rep's new show is in previews this weekend. It's James Joyce's best-known short story "The Dead," complete with traditional Irish music. Tonight at 8, Saturday at 4 & 8:30, Sunday at 2:30. During preview week tickets are $21-$36. As of Wednesday prices jump to the $28-$46 range.

Assassin's
This is the last weekend to catch Stephen Sondheim's Assassin's at SLOC in Schenectady. On the outside it's about what may have gone on in the minds of the folks like Booth, Oswald, and other presidential assassins. But go a little deeper and it looks at things like everyone's search for their "15 minutes of fame" and the life of the outsider. Yeah, we know, It doesn't sound funny, but at times it really is. The music is terrific and this company does a really respectable job. Tonight and Saturday at 8, Sunday at 2. $22

Do you wanna dance?
If you feel like dancing, we found a couple of events that might be for you.

Tonight The Crooked Lake House in Averill Park is holding another Ballroom, Swing and Latin Dance Party. There's a free lesson at 7:15, then it's $10 to dance the rest of the night away.

On Saturday night The Arts Center of the Capital Region is holding an Almost Spring Latin Dance Party. There's a free lesson at 7 PM followed by dance party featuring Sensemaya. There'll be Beer, wine and refreshments. $10-$12.

Keep looking up
OK, so last weekend wasn't so clear, but tomorrow night you might actually be able to see the stars from RPI's Hirsch Observatory. Star gazing starts at 8, and it's free.

Ballroom, Swing and Latin Dance Party, Learntadance, Crooked Lake House, 2339 Route 43, Averill Park. 3/13, 7:15-10:30 PM. Free lesson at 7:15 PM. $10. 674-3894

Katie Haverly
Don't let her soft, sweet speaking voice fool you. Tonight singer/songwriter Katie Haverly will blow the roof off The Jonesville Store with her amazing singing voice.

Phantogram
Remember Charlie Everywhere? Well, they're just as awesome, only now they're called Phantogram. And tonight they're at Red Square

Little Caughnawaga
Filmmaker Reaghan Tarbell will be at The Sanctuary for Independent Media with the documentary Little Caughnawaga. It's a look at the Kahnawake Mohawk ironworkers who helped to build the famed bridges and skyscrapers of New York City and the 10 square blocks in Brooklyn where they lived with their families--a neighborhood known as Little Caughnawaga. Tarbell traces her own family roots to create a portrait of this vibrant community and the women who sustained it. 7PM . Donation.

Ozomatli!
We've hear the hot latin alternative band Ozomatli puts on a great show. Our friends at WEXT are big fans. They'll be at Revolution Hall on Sunday night. Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 on Sunday.

HMT Playreading Series
Home Made Theater continues it's series of free staged readings this Sunday at the Little Theater in Spa State Park. This week they're reading Anton in Show Business. It starts at 3, and like we said--it's free.

Comics on the park
Let out your inner stand-up comedian, or watch someone else's at the Lark Tavern's
comedy open mic nigh
t. Sign up is at 7:30 and the show starts at 8. Free.

Comments

Thanks for the mention guys!

Trying not to be offensive here, but I saw Phantogram open for The New Deal at Rev Hall not too long ago, and I really didn't understand the hype. Is there something I missed? Off night perhaps?

Side note: I own the same Bose headphones he has on there, and they are awesome.

Tonight (friday) at 7:00pm will be a benefit for Assistant Fire Chief Eddie DiMartino from the East Greenbush Fire Department. The show features 3 comedians including John Mulrooney from the 104.9 The Edge Morning Show. $25.00 at the door donation includes a light Buffet. Cash Bar.

Directions and information: http://www.eastgreenbushfire.com

"Eddie D" was injured in an automobile accident on 2/18/09 while responding to a fire call. At this point he is unable to work or continue volunteering at EGFD.

Crazy Head Mazie @ Ziggy's in Latham, Saturday

They are a TON of fun cover band. The lead singer should do stand up! I saw them a while back at Troy Brew Pub err - I think it's called Brown's now?

They've got some videos on the website:

http://www.crazyheadmazie.com

Open question: is St Patrick Day (the parade day, that is) Albany's drunkest day? The only other two competitors for this honor as I see it would be Tulip Fest or Lark Fest.

There is a great, FREE show at UAG tonight on Lark St. Bands playing are:
severe severe:
http://www.myspace.com/severesevere
coma:
http://www.myspace.com/wetnightmareinalbany
Ghoul Poon
http://www.myspace.com/ghoulpoon
Human Host
http://www.myspace.com/humanhost
Grab Ass Cowboys
http://www.myspace.com/grabasscowboys

Jefferson James @ Valentines!!!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=40063345&id=12321391#/event.php?eid=53255612827

@Alex: I've seen them about 3 times, I think it was pretty representative of their style, though I don't think they played their sweet Radiohead cover that night, and I feel they weren't doing as many "live loops" as usual. The band is new, we shall see, but they have a pretty "large" sound for a duo. I recorded a bit of the concert at the Rev Hall that night, you can catch it here in HD, and there at Circus Cafe a few months earlier, and finally here at Rev Hall back in 08.

@Alex: To me, Phantogram has the following elements that make up an amazing formula:

1. Unique beats: even their "straightest" of beats still have one or two surprise turnarounds that please this set of ears. Considering the piles and piles of boring, bad beat-based music, this is a breath of fresh air.

2. Swirly guitars: I mean, who doesn't love a swirly guitar?

3. Hooks: See, but they are _subtle_ hooks... like, maybe the melody in the verse? Maybe it's the bass-line? Maybe the way the hi-hat only plays on the offbeat of the one? Regardless, they are hooks that dig in and do not let go once they catch you.

4. Looks: They're BOTH hot... right?

5. Outside-ness; While catchy and poppy, they still inject an element of dissonance and darkness without stooping too far into mope-land. It's just enough chaos to be appealing, just "out" enough to be "in".

The main thing that I've seen since I witnessed their first show is that their music crosses a lot of genre-lines gracefully in a way that allows them to be appealing to many different people who would not necessarily dig the individual elements of their formula. And it's magnetic... I mean... they had one or two songs up on MySpace and the word just spread and spread without much nudging. It's kind of a rad thing to watch as it's growing... to me, at least...

Anyway -- thanks for taking the time to read this love prose... take it how you will...

Does anyone know what the open container policy is for the parade?

Ozomatli is phenomenal! I'm from So Cal, same as Ozo, and have seen them several times. Their show is high-energy and really unique. Sometimes their shows include a DJ scratching records, trombones, a rapper, latin string instruments...it's always really fun and energetic! Capital Region, check 'em out!

Sébastien B.- thanks so much for posting those videos! I checked them out this weekend, in part due to your video, and LOVED Phantogram. I am now an avid fan and follower as is my friend who came with me. Thanks again!!

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