A few weeks ago we premiered Eddie Japan’s sensual cover of Morrissey’s modern classic “First of the Gang To Die,” and there were two proposed dates around which to hype it. The first was the Morrissey show at the Opera House, and the second was the Steve Katsos Show Fifth Anniversary Spectacular at the Regent Theatre in Arlington, which arrives this Sunday and features Eddie Japan as well as a host of other performers, including Ruby Rose Fox, the Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library, the Field Effect, and a collection of comedians, entertainers, and dance experts running about a dozen deep.
Well, we premiered the cover around the Morrissey show, appealing to the former Smiths singer’s fans who are a bit ravenous about these sort of things, but we still had our eye on the Katsos party. The event is more than a celebration of Katsos’ five-year run as an independent talk show host and curator based out of a small Arlington studio.
His show — broadcast around the world, including far off exotic places like Australia, Europe, and Worcester — has been a champion of the Boston music scene, inviting dozens and dozens of local bands to perform live on his stage over the past five seasons. Katsos is always positive, lively, and engaging. Now the stage is the Regent, and it’s a celebration of Boston arts, Katsos’ personal dream, and a fund-raiser for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
And much like his talk show (which he invited me on to talk about Vanyaland several weeks ago), all of the performers are donating their time to maximize the funds raised. “I’m once again amazed at the kindness of our volunteers and all the donations that continue to come in on behalf of the show,” Katsos tells Vanyaland. “It’s truly is a humbling experience.”
It’s also an excellent party, and if you can’t make it, it’ll be live streamed, as well. Here’s a preview of the performers, which includes many of our faves.
