Club Notes, Thursday, June 25, 2009

Join Arsenault on Thursday, June 25, in a chat with Vinnie Pendleton, Scott Brown and Jamie Briere of the band Orange Diesel at noon on WCUW 91.3 FM. The band debuts Saturday night with a show at the Lucky Dog Music Hall.

On Thursday, the acoustic duo Animal Crackers is at 55 Pearl; poet Cowboy Matt opens for Sweet Hollow Drive and more at Ralph's; Brooks Milgate and Jeff Burch is with Duncan Arsenault at the Dive; Same Mistake Twice opens for the mighty Flock at the Lucky Dog; Chet Williamson's calling his band Organ Eyes at Nick's; and Intermission headlines Tammany Hall.

On Friday, Andy Cummings is with Johnny Moore at PJ's; Lisa and Brett sing at Oxford's; Stop is the New Go, Your Favorite Ex and more rock QVCC; Duke Robillard is the act at the Jazz at Sunset series at the EcoTarium; Will Roos hits the back room at London Billiards; Propain and Sworn Enemy headline the Palladium; Guerrero's back – briefly – for a show at the Middle East; Bullethead is with Tool tribute Mantra at The Raven; The Chicken Slacks make Friday funky at Ralph's; the Delta Generators crank out the rock-flavored blues at The Dive Bar; the Guns of Navarone headline Tammany Hall; Skullfunked returns to the Irish Times; speaking of Irish, Black Sheep is down at the Fiddler's Green; The Cosby Sweaters sing '80s pop stuff at Biagio's; Jason James tears up the Blue Plate; the mighty Clutch Grabwell blasts Gilreins; the Joshua Tree pays tribute to U2 at Boston Billiards; Moonshine joins Rusty Crow at Chaser's; and DPR is with the funky Fear Nuttin' Band at the Lucky Dog.

On Saturday, Uncle Billy's Smokehouse packs the Galway Bay; Tuesdays with Morrie, Half Hearted, Comeback and more join the lineup at QVCC; Bill McCarthy's singing at Junior's Pizza; the Silverbacks return to Greendale's; Reach the Sky is with Loss for Words at the Palladium; Rose Colored Glasses tries out the Emerald Isle; Vulgarrity joins Gold Star Campaign at Ralph's; Still Aggravated rocks PJ's; Go Gadget Go! is down at The Nines; Clamdigger's down in Southbridge at the Pump House; and Rugged Road debuts at the Blue Plate.

Sunday, of course Jon Short's at Vincent's; and this week, Jason James is at Nick's.

Other events:

On Friday, Mechanics Hall is home to Gala en Verano 2009 Latin Dance Party, a tribute to Caribbean music with the Eduardo Ortiz Orchestra and many more. It starts at 8 p.m. Also, enjoy ballroom dancing with Elliot Lockwood at the Worcester Hibernian Cultural Center. Changes in Latitude pays tribute to Jimmy Buffet with a show that includes members of Jimmy's Coral Reefer Band at Indian Ranch in Webster.

On Saturday, Higgins Armory hosts a Celtic Arms and Armor Show at 3 p.m.

On Sunday, the Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary hosts an early morning nature program called “Skull Detectives.” And Our Lady of Mount Carmel hosts the annual Asian Festival all day.

Club Notes, Thursday, June 18, 2009

Pictured: Herra Terra

Thursday, All Shook Up headlines Nick's; and DJ Nathan's in the Boiler Room.

Friday, Rose Colored Glasses rocks the Kaz Bar; Bill McCarthy's strumming his guitar early evening at Greendale's; Common Coz is at Chasers; One Lane Bridge returns to London Billiards; Necktie Party helps open for the Wandas at Ralph's; Five Hole's rocking PJ's in West Boylston; Lil' Stevie and the Westsiders make their Gilrein's debut; Rugged Road does covers at Williker's in Shrewsbury; The Johnny Press Mess gives it a go at the Cannery; Last Call does covers at Trumbull's in Spencer; The Brew's in the lineup at Tammany; Gutta joins One Lane Bridge at London Billiards; and Jason James is ripping it up at Vincent's.



Saturday, Uncle Billy's Smokehouse is officially helping to open up Beatnik's on Park Ave; Stuart Ferguson returns to Tom's Gourmet Marketplace; Over Aggression joins Worth the Weight, Lions, Tigers and Bears, and Malice for an all-ages show at QVCC; Lisa and Brett (from She's Busy) sing acoustic stuff at Brian's in Northboro; Herra Terra's headlining a show with Makeup Breakup, Superbug and Young Leaves at Ralph's; Wreckoning welcomes its new rhythm guitarist with a show at London Billiards; Bill McCarthy sings at Al Fresco; Critical Condition rocks the Oxford Tavern; Usually Normal packs JJ's; Alive and Kickin tries out Chasers; Gilmour's Breakfast pays tribute to Floyd at the Lucky Dog; Whalebone Farmhouse returns to Vincent's; DJ Reckless is spinning at the Amsterdam Lounge; Fourth Gear steers into The Nines; Clamdigger's at the Emerald Isle; the Jennifer Lee Band celebrates the release of “The Bridge” at the Polish American Citizens Club; Nite People, Nokside, AV, Serious and more band together for Hip-Hop Power Part Four down at Creegan's Pub; Miss Tess and the Bon Ton Parade are in from Boston to play Nick's; Michael Vincent is with Double Shot at Gilrein's; and Force Driven joins Bob Bourque at Tammany Hall along with Backseat Lover, the area's premier Pearl Jam tribute.

The Matt Schwachman Band takes the weekend at Sakura.

On Sunday, Jon Short does his weekly blues at Vincent's; Cathy's Clown plays the Dance2Swing night at the Elks in Leominster; and Johnny B. Morbid is with Mogrel, Scarecrow Hill and End of an Era at Tammany Hall.

Other events:
Garden Goddesses – sculptures by Ginny Gillen is on display at the Hanover Theatre.
On Saturday, the 6th annual Molly Bish Kid Expo takes place from 9 to 1 at Mount Wachusett Community College. It features activities to raise awareness of child health and safety issues by providing hands-on learning activities. Includes free bike helmets, a Teddy Bear Clinic, Smokey the Bear, dances, music, raffles, arts and crafts and much more. Also Saturday, Beyond Belief – the Curious Collection of Rufus Excaliber Bell opens at Higgins Armory Museum.



Sunday, there is a classic car show at Indian Ranch; the Massachusetts Audubon Society hosts the program “The Life of Insects” at Moore State Park in Paxton from 1-3 p.m.; and All Creatures Great and Small – Watercolors by Sarah Lynn Richards opens at Tower Hill Botanic Garden.

Video From the Dive's 100th Thursday Anniversary

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlenearsenault/3620474112/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlenearsenault/3620494102/in/photostream/

Video Clips - The Dive's 100th Thursday Anniversary

Pictured: a Red Riders Medley O' Pics

Thursday, And Then There Were None joins Drop Dead Gorgeous and He Is Legend at the Palladium; Pako helps open for The Flock at the Lucky Dog; Crishendo's at Gilrein's; the Dive Bar celebrates its 100th Thursday of music; and DJ Reckless is in the Boiler Room.

Friday, Annie Souza, the one and only “Little Red” is up from Texas, joining her old band the Red Riders for a show at Gilrein's; Jubilee Connolly does a solo show at 55 Pearl; Johnny Walker's band is at the Sahara; Prying Eyes helps open for the Dave Rivers Group at the Lucky Dog; Sean Ryan's back singing at Greendale's; Five on Friday rocks Cancun's in Grafton; Jim Walsh sings with Merrick Section at Nick's along with Hat On, Drinking Wine, which celebrates its debut release; Beast Over Boston pays tribute to Iron Maiden, Badmajik does Godsmack and Rosetta Stoned runs through Tool – all for the big tribute night at Ralph's; Doctors of Flight joins the lineup, along with DPR, at Tammany Hall; Still Aggravated is annoyed at The Raven; funny man Howie Newman combines comedy and music at Tom's Gourmet Marketplace; The Town Pants joins Jug O Punch at the Worcester Irish Festival at Worcester Hibernian Center; the Jeff Mason Band is out at JJ's in Northboro; and Ledfoot rocks London Billiards.

On Saturday, the Ed Melikian Ensemble tears up the Sahara before taking a summer break; The Luxury and Castine share the night with Huck at the Lucky Dog; Joint Damage and Crimson Bile put on an all ages show at the Palladium; the Summoned, Underlying Truth, I Hate Your Girlfriend and many more put on a benefit show at the QVCC; The Joey Velluci Band headlines at Spiritual Haze; Bill McCarthy sings at the Old Post Office Pub; The Bad Bads, Kindergarten and more headline Ralph's; 8 Amp Fuse hits the Blue Plate; Barefoot Bob and the Monkey Fish debut at the Emerald Isle; the Mike Crandall Band rocks Greendale's; Beatles for Sale do exactly what you'd think they'd do...at JJ's; and the Doctors Fox makes its Vincent's debut.
Sunday, The Weight of Gravity joins Holmes and Jabooda for a benefit for the Center of Hope in the afternoon at the Hyland Brewery; and of course at night it's Danny Dark and the Black Souls at the Lucky Dog.

And remember, Tuesdays, Bill McCarthy hosts his long-running open mic at Greendale's.
Other events:

Calligraphy & Photography by Yvonne Elizabeth Ashworth will be on display at Booklovers' Gourmet in Webster throughout the month of June.

This Thursday, the Post Road Art Center has an opening reception in the evening for Budding Artists.

Friday, the Love Dogs start off the Jazz at Sunset series at the EcoTarium; comedian Brian Regan headlines the Hanover Theatre.

Saturday, there is a family festival to raise funds for Socks for Siberia at the Hyland Brewery, starting at noon and happening all day. It includes live music, food, raffles and a lot more. The Worcester Library shows “A River Runs Through It” for free at 2 p.m. The Paxton Summer Jam showcases young bands from the area at Paxton Center Sports Field from 4:30-10:30 p.m.
Sunday is the 10th Firefighters Memorial Run or Walk, taking place at Institute Park. The event includes food, a deejay and prizes. There is also canoing offered at Institute Park on Sundays starting at 1 p.m.

On Wednesdays, the Seven Hills Wheelmen host weekly bike rides that leave from Old Stone Church in West Boylston at 6 p.m.

Next Thursday, the 18th, the world premier of the Documentary Razing Faith shows at the Jacob Edwards Library in Southbridge.

ArtsWorcester just opened Journeys...Steps Along the Way, which features two works each from these members – one from the early days, and one that was recently finished.

learning to care about animals

Activists come in many packages.

Some are quiet, perhaps writing letters to senators or even sneaking into labs at night and letting monkeys free. Others help organize events. And others are just great at talking, and put their beliefs where their mouth is – and vice versa.

One such mouthy sort is Jamie Kordack, who, as an activist lists the environment and animals as two of her passions. Both, she says, are so tightly fused that it is senseless not to care about both. Animals, she argues intently, have rights, too, and many people need to learn how and why. She’s hoping to reach these people through the New England Animal Rights Workshop, which will be held for the second time Saturday, June 13, at Worcester State College. Last year's event was canceled due to scheduling complications.

For Kordack, this workshop is her way to cast a wider net.

“I tried for three semesters to teach humane education at adult continuing education classroom situations,” she says, “and never quite got the numbers that I wanted. I tried to get in through the colleges, but have yet to find a professor to host me. So, I decided on my own to put together a workshop. I’m all about education. I thought, rather than dribs and drabs, how about a conference and we’ll see what we can get.“

The New England Animal Rights Workshop is an educational forum and networking event that includes special guest speakers, exhibits, a cruelty-free shopping area, literature, after hours wine and un-cheese tasting and more.

A federal park ranger by trade, Kordack has been concerned with “saving” the animals since she was a youngster growing up in Mississippi (she moved here 18 years ago). As she describes it, while lots of parents shoo away the kid who brings a snake into the house, her mom never did. Even though her mom would stay six feet away, she never “went crazy” about things like that. “I was dragging home everything I find to help,” says Kordack. “Instead of scaring me and thinking they should be dead, she encouraged me to learn all about them. I learned respect for all beings that way. “

Always outspoken, she got into being an activist in high school, and even more so in college, where she really found her niche. “I went through a time period where all I did was write letters to companies and newspapers,” she says, “and I’ve done the protests. I’ve done the peaceful and not so peaceful demos. But the thing I’ve found I’m best at is speaking and teaching. I have friends who think this is a waste of time, teaching to the uneducated, but they are more radical. I cannot be that way in my current state of life.”

In her continuing ed classes, Kordack says she’d have a room full of students ranging in high school age to 60s. The younger folks, she said, were more challenging. “They aren’t so wise to stay quiet,” she laughs. “The teens have to talk. Everything I would bring up, this young man would ask me where I got my figures and everything. I don’t think I ever quite convinced him on most subjects until the very last night of class. He was skeptical about factory farming and how I could it be that bad and everything else. He is now one of my leading advocates for animal rights.

He’s in college and quite active.”

With a degree in conservation and wildlife management and an avid recycler and conservationist, her love of the outdoors is a close second to her love of animals. As with all animal advocates, she’s pleased with the progress we’ve made, but is frustrated with how much further there is to go. Comparing other areas, Massachusetts is more progressive than other states, but we still have our fair share of issues. “We live in the best part of the country for companion animal issues for the most part,” says Kordack. “We have pretty good welfare laws on the books for animals overall, but it can always be better.”

DETAILS:
What: New England Animal Rights Workshop: An Educational Forum for Sharing Knowledge and Networking
When: Saturday, June 13, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Town Hall, West Brookfield, Second Floor Grand Ballroom
Cost: $15 workshop, $10 after-hours social
Visit http://www.nearw.org/ for more event information and updates.