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: KennyHoopla at Xfinity Center
Those headed to see 30 Seconds To Mars at the Xfinity Center this Sunday (August 18) are requested to brave early traffic and arrive shortly after doors to catch KennyHoopla. The multi-genre artist and Cleveland native, who we’ve been bumping since 2020’s fevered debut jam “How Will I Rest In Peace If I’m Buried By A Highway” and cited as a must-see artist at 2022’s Boston Calling, returned last month with a jangly, kinetic new indie rock single titled “ONE TULIP//”. The track, which gives some very sweet early New Order vibes, was written and produced by KennyHoopla, and it explores themes of self-sacrifice and his journey towards self-realization and self-care. “I didn’t realize while writing it but I think this song is about how when you’re trying so hard to make sure no one is let down at all but you forget about showing up for yourself,” he writes. “I’ve tried to be of help my whole life and exhausted myself to be enough for my family and friends through empathy, currency, and just simply being there physically but you’ll always be half the person they need you to be until you learn to be a friend to yourself and make yourself whole.”
30 SECONDS TO MARS + AFI + POPPY + KENNYHOOPLA :: Sunday, August 18 at XFinity Center, 885 South Main St. in Mansfield, MA :: 6 p.m., all ages, prices vary :: Advance tickets
Comedy: Jay Martin at Nick’s Comedy Stop
Swinging the ha-ha baton over to Mic’d Up, which serves up the goods on Jay Martin’s two-night stand down at Nick’s Comedy Stop tonight and Saturday (August 16 and 17): “With a homegrown attitude and a contagious relatability, Martin continues to works his way through the ranks of the local scene, and does so with what looks like ease, but is surely a painstaking attention to the details in his observational and autobiographical comedy. At times, his stories feel all too familiar, while claiming the stage as his own territory with a unique and upfront approach that makes him a true gem in the scene.”
JAY MARTIN :: Friday, August 16 and Saturday, August 17 at Nick’s Comedy Stop, 100 Warrenton St. in Boston, MA :: 7:15 p.m., $22 :: Advance tickets
Film/TV: CatVideoFest at Alamo Drafthouse
We’ll be honest, the summer movie slate has been pretty awesome so far, and as usual, Film Editor Nick Johnston has us covered with all the deep-dive reviews to get us to Labor Day. But we’re shifting gears from the blockbusters and the outdoor screenings to post up at Alamo Drafthouse in the Seaport this weekend (August 16 and 17) for CatVideoFest, a showcase of feline clips from your phone screen to the big screen, that raises money for local animal shelters and animal welfare organizations. Here’s the word: “CatVideoFest is a compilation reel of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses. CatVideoFest is a joyous communal experience, only available in theaters, and raises money for cats in need through partnerships with local cat charities, animal welfare organizations, and shelters to best serve cats in the area.” It’s a 75-minute reel that’s family-friendly and can be enjoyed by anyone.
CatVideoFest :: Friday, August 16 and Saturday, August 17 at Alamo Drafthouse, 60 Seaport Blvd. in Boston, MA :: Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at noon and 3:45 p.m., $10.99 :: Event info and tickets