Editor’s Note: Welcome to V3 Weekend, Vanyaland‘s guide to help you sort out your weekend entertainment with curated selections and recommendations across our three pillars of Music, Comedy, and Film/TV. It’s what you should know about, where you need to be, and where you’ll be going, with us riding shotgun along the way.
Music: Harris at Crystal Ballroom
We’re all feeling pretty nostalgic lately, so here’s a trip down memory lane: Back in 2006, Boston indie rock hopefuls Harris played the Rock And Roll Rumble, making it to the semi-final round at The Middle East (where the “World Series of Boston rock has since returned). The special guest of the final that year was Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, and Campaign For Real Time ended up winning the whole thing (the Noise Board was probably pissed). None of that has anything to do with the fact that Harris have now reunited for their first show in seven years, this Saturday at Crystal Ballroom in Somerville; it’s a spirited lineup with Sidewalk Driver, Stars Like Ours, and Aaron and the Lord, and, for one night at least, the dream of aughts indie — which was a lot better than we gave it credit for at the time — is alive and well.
HARRIS + SIDEWALK DRIVER + STARS LIKE OURS + AARON AND THE LORD :: Saturday, April 15 at Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square in Somerville, MA :: 7 p.m., all ages, $15 in advance and $18 at the door :: Event info :: Advance tickets
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Comedy: Donnell Rawlings at The Wilbur
We’re going from ashy to classy at The Wilbur on Friday night (April 14). That’s because Donnell Rawlings is back in town as the legendary comedian and actor levels up up to hold court on Tremont Street. From his iconic contributions on Chappelle’s Show and The Wire to some of the funniest standup in recent memory, Rawlings never fails to deliver the goods (or give us quotable material that’s lasted decades). We chatted at length with him this week about his career, and he’s very excited to head back our way. “It’s been awhile since I’ve been to Boston, and the last time I was there, it was in a club, so I’m excited to see how people turn out for a theater gig,” Rawlings tells Vanyaland. “I’ve got a lot of great fans in the Boston area, and that Cape Verdean crew comes out strong, so I’m just excited to be getting back to rip the stage.” Just remember, it’s a thin line between fries and shakes.
DONNELL RAWLINGS :: Friday, April 14 at The Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston, MA :: 6 p.m., $30 to $35 :: Event Page :: Advance Tickets
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Film/TV: ‘Legally Blonde’ at Cinema Salem
We’re still a week away from Salem Horror Fest taking over the spring calendar at Cinema Salem, but we’re headed up north early as Miz Diamond Wigfall and Queer Videography team up for another “night of games, drag, and murder” all in the name of Legally Blonde. Reese Witherspoon’s 2001 comedy — or is is Jennifer Coolidge’s now?!?! — is usually its own brand of fun, but as we learned last fall, watching it with a group of drag queens is another level of enjoyment entirely. So dust off those Pradas, grab those dollars, and protect drag anywhere and everywhere. We know y’all don’t need this, but here’s that Legally Blonde blurb in case you just woke up for a 25-year nap: “Elle Woods, a fashionable sorority queen is dumped by her boyfriend. She decides to follow him to law school, while she is there she figures out that there is more to her than just looks.”
‘LEGALLY BLONDE’ :: Friday, April 14 at Cinema Salem, 1 E India Square Mall in Salem, MA :: 9:30 p.m., $20 :: Event info