MUSIC
Psychedelic Cinema Orchestra
Thursday, 8 pm.
MIT List Visual Arts Center
20 Ames St., Bldg. E15, Cambridge
$5, 617-253-4680
listart.mit.edu/events-programs/ampersand-concert-series-psychedelic-cinema-orchestra
Comprised of Alloy Orchestra’s Ken Winokur, Cul de Sac’s Jonathan LaMaster and Either/Orchestra’s Russ Gershon, this avant-garde musical ensemble will accompany a series of psychedelic Super 8 visuals created by Ken Brown for the Boston Tea Party, a famous local rock club in the 1960’s. You’ll also get to see a live liquid live show and live video DJ scratching. Feed your head! The Robin Nolan Trio
Friday, 8:30 p.m.
Magnolia Loft
128 Brookside St., Jamaica Plain
$13-$18, 617-276-4536
fridaynightjazzmanouche.eventbrite.com
Gypsy jazz has an upbeat flavor all its own, played entirely on string instruments and marked indelibly by the genius of guitarist Django Reinhardt, widely regarded as one of the greatest-ever guitarists in any genre. The celebrated, Amsterdam-based Robin Nolan trio, a popular act Reinhardt tribute festivals, ought to give you a more-than-ample taste of the style. Hallelujah the Hills
Thursday, 9 p.m.
Great Scott
1222 Comm. Ave., Allston
$10, 18+, 800-745-3000
This is the album release show for long-running local act Hallelujah the Hills’ latest record, “A Band is Something to Figure Out,” a must-listen for fans of classic, cathartic American indie rock. These 11 songs, loaded with gritty determination, dramatic dynamic swells and gang vocal shouts, might just make you believe again in whatever it was you stopped believing in. Grass Stains
Saturday, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Davis Square
Somerville
Free, all ages, bostonhassle@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/events/595034810671980/
Why see a show indoors when you could see a show outdoors, and get to bed at a decent hour — or just go to another, indoor show that night? Questions to ponder. Presented by Boston Hassle and Somerville Community Access Television, this mini-fest includes performances from Transpiler, Ten Dollar Mistake, Kirk Windsor, Neil Patrick Bryant, Nomad Stones, Blew, Walter Wright and more. The Kills
Sunday, 7 p.m.
The Paradise
967 Comm. Ave., Boston
$30, 18+, 800-745-3000
Minimal punk duo the Kills never quite attained the visibility of their early 00’s “return to rock” peers like the Strokes, the White Stripes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. This was partially due to their distrust of the hype machine: early in their career, the band rarely allowed interviews. But they continued to thrive anyway. Their latest album, “Ash and Ice,” drops June 3rd. THEATER
Eyes Shut. Door Open.
Thursday through May 26
Warehouse XI
11 Sanborn Ct., Somerville
$15-$25, 800-838-3006
eyesshutdooropen.bpt.me
Wax Wings Productions and playwright Cassie M. Seinuk co-presents this drama, which they describe as “a modern Cain and Able story set in the SoHo art scene of New York City.” Artist Turner Street’s paintings of eyes have become the next big thing on the scene, but it’s not long before the inspiration behind them comes back to haunt him. Mud Blue Sky
Sunday through June 5
Calderwood Pavilion
527 Tremont St., Boston
$12-$32, 617-933-8600
This comedy, Bridge Repertory’s final offering of the season, zooms in on three veteran flight attendants at a hotel during a layover. Presumably for the sake of randomness, at some point, they encounter a local pot-dealing high school kid who just bounced on his prom date. What mysterious providence has brought them together? More importantly, is the kid’s bud dank? FOOD
Bieber Brunch
Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Back Bay Harry’s
142 Berkeley St., Boston
$48, 21+, 617-424-6711
beiberbrunch.eventbrite.com
Justin Bieber superfans can enjoy a full-on Bieber-themed three-course brunch this Sunday at Back Bay Harry’s, with such offerings as “Belieber’s Breakfast Poutine” — in celebration of Bieber’s French-Canadian ethnicity — and “Selena Gomez’s Warm Oatmeal Cookies.” We’ll let that sink in. TV’s will be blasting Bieber music and vids. Hell for many, no doubt, but heaven for true Beliebers. MOVIES
She’s All That
Thursday, 7 p.m.
Coolidge Corner Theater
290 Harvard St., Brookline
$9-$12, 617-734-2500
Coolidge Corner Theater screens this 90’s teen comedy, a classic “take the eyeglasses off a nerdy girl and suddenly she’s a hot girl” tale starring Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Rachael Leigh CooK. Theatergoers are encouraged to wear prom attire—the best will be crowned king and queen, which may just be more embarrassing than your actual prom — just kidding, probably not. Belladonna of Sadness
Friday through Monday
Brattle Theater
40 Brattle St., Cambridge
$9-$11, 617-876-6837
This 1973 Japanese masterpiece, shown here in a new restoration, is a psychedelic whirlwind fantasy with a spiritual kinship to trippy Western 70’s peers like “Fantastic Planet” and “Wizards.” Our minds were thoroughly boggled just watching the trailer. If your idea of Japanese animation is limited to Miyazakian whimsy or giant robot dramas, you especially need to check this out. COMEDY
Owen Benjamin
Friday and Saturday
Laugh Boston
425 Summer St. Boston
$29-$39, 617-725-2844
“Women vs. men” is one of the timeless categories of stand-up material. It’s difficult to break new ground there, but to Owen Benjamin’s credit, we’ve never heard someone use economic metaphors: women are socialists, and men are capitalists, he asserts. Benjamin’s also a classically-trained pianist, and integrates that into his act—in one bit, he imagines Beethoven taking a cue from Timbaland. OUTDOORS
Revere Beach Kite Festival
Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Revere Beach
410 Revere Beach Blvd., Revere
Free, 781-902-9742
www.reverebeachpartnetship.com/events/
The 60’s folk-pop vocal group the Free Design titled one of their albums “Kites are Fun”— a random observation, perhaps, but a true one. At the Revere Beach Kite Festival, kids can make their own kites — free for the first 300 — and die-hard adult kite enthusiasts will be flying their own impressive rigs, which can get quite elaborate. BOOKS
Nathaniel Philbrick
Sunday, 7 p.m.
First Parish Church
1446 Mass. Ave., Cambridge
$5, 617-661-1515
Historian Nathaniel Philbrick will discuss his latest book, “Valiant Ambition,” which tells the well-known story of Revolutionary turncoat Benedict Arnold through an examination of his relationship with George Washington. It’s as much a story of what made Washington our most iconic hero as of what made Arnold our most iconic villain, one whose very name is still synonymous with “traitor.” TOURS
Crime and Punishment in Early Boston
Saturday, 10 a.m.
Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon St., Boston
Free/donation, 781-540-8147
www.eventbrite.com/e/crime-and-punishment-in-early-boston-tickets-251078…
While it may be one of America’s most irreligious, politically progressive cities today, Boston has never quite shed its zipped-up, puritanical character. Still, you won’t find anyone in the stocks today, or suffering any of the other forms of public punishment you’ll learn about on this historical tour. If you find it sold out, worry not — they’ll be running it again on August 13. FESTIVALS
Eating Olympics
Saturday, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Chinatown Gate
Beach Street, Boston
Free, 617-903-8538
www.eventbrite.com/e/cluckers-calling-4th-annual-cnrguys-eating-olympics…
All animals eat, but humans, as far as we know, are the only animals who have eating contests. Local restaurant/food cart Chicken and Rice Guys hosts their 4th annual Eating Olympics this weekend. Those who wish to compete have to pay to sign up, but it’s free for those who wish only to witness the deliciously grotesque spectacle.
Visit the Belladonna of Sadness
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