[dropcap]W[/dropcap]elcome to the Vanyaland Weekend Six-Pack. Each Friday, we’ll be giving you six different ways to dig into the capital of the sixth state in of the Union. Music, comedy, film — nothing is off limits. Just like your plans.
Let’s have at it.
What: The Faint
Where: Royale, tonight @ 6 p.m.
Why: Ramped up paranoia and desolation always sounds a little better coming out of the Midwest. The Faint’s feisty and skittish new record, Doom Abuse, capture the feeling well. Bonus — the show is at Royale with its annoying early set-times, leaving a full night to go when it’s over.
What: The Afghan Whigs
Where: The Paradise, tonight @ 8 p.m.
Why: Supporting their first album in 16 years, the Whigs are that rare animal that manages to return just as – if not more – vital than then they parted. Plus, whether he is a hero or villain, frontman Greg Dulli is always the coolest motherfucker in the room.
What: Jim Jefferies
Where: The Wilbur, tonight @ 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. and Saturday @ 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.
Why: Standup comedy’s number one Atheist has a way of making the most basic elements of day to day life hilarious by observing with his irreverent wit. And that show Legit he does on FX is pretty damn funny too.
What: Michael Sweet
Where: Newbury Comics Harvard Square, Saturday @ 1 p.m.
Why: Sweet, the voice of Stryper, has a fantastic new book out called Honestly where he details the struggles of being a Christian metal band during the sleaze rock heyday of Poison, Warrant and the like. He’s also had to deal with the tragedy of losing his wife to cancer in 2009 and trying to step in front of the mic for Boston after frontman Brad Delp committed suicide in 2007. Coincidentally, his latest solo effort is called I’m Not Your Suicide. Sweet will be signing both at Newbury Comics.
What: Robocop (1987)
Where: The Brattle Theatre, tonight, Saturday and Sunday @ 10 p.m.
Why: In a sea of shitty remakes, there’s a reason why the original films stand out. Director Paul Verhoeven effortlessly captured the corporate greed and destruction of the American city; all the more perceptively uncanny given the collapse of Detroit, the city where Robocop takes place.
What: Harpoonfest 2014
Where: Harpoon Brewery, tonight 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Why: This could very well be the best Harpoonfest of the year what with most of the students in the region having already split for the summer or too busy loading up U-Hauls to stagger all over place Saturday. Yeah, the weather is slated to suck, but there will be massive tents and bands like Cask Mouse, Sidewalk Driver and last year’s Rock and Roll Rumble winner Eddie Japan providing the beer soaked soundtrack.