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: Artemas at Brighton Music Hall
In his mega-viral alt-pop hit “i like the way you kiss me,” English-Cypriot singer, songwriter, and producer Artemas famously sings about hooking up but not getting attached. And yet here we are, still vibing hard to the low-key 2024 SOTY several months after its release. Nearly 1 billion Spotify streams and more than 100 million YouTube views later (and we’re not even gonna look at TikTok, where the song truly blew the fuck up), “i like the way you kiss me” has just simply not faded from rotation, and now the dude brings its basement club intensity, relentless propulsion, and head-spinning hard-vs.-soft dynamic to Brighton Music Hall in Allston this Sunday (October 6). Pop music has been all over the map in the endless decade we’ve called 2024, but this unfuckwithable slice of hyper earworm-pop has endured through all the highs, lows, and straight-line yawns. Just remember, if you follow the song’s advice and hit Brighton Music Hall from the back, you’ll only get stuck in the Blanchard’s parking lot. That’s some Allston allegory shit right there.
ARTEMAS + ASAL :: Sunday, October 6 at Brighton Music Hall, 158 Brighton Ave. in Allston, MA :: 7 p.m., all ages, $25 :: Event info :: Advance tickets
Comedy: Sebastian Maniscalco at TD Garden
Watching the meteoric rise of Sebastian Maniscalco has been something to behold. The Illinois native has become one of the biggest names in comedy thanks to a tireless hustle and an acute ability to connect with his audiences, from the subterranean clubs to the biggest of arenas. Now, he leans into the latter this weekend with a pair of shows at Boston’s TD Garden, and Mic’d Up takes us home: “Bringing folks to an arena for a comedy show is one thing, but if there’s one person who can do it two nights in a row without missing a step, it’s Sebastian Maniscalco. The high-energy comedy vet only continues to bring bigger shows to the city with every visit, and this time around May just be the biggest one yet as he approaches a double sell-out weekend. Chances are that Chicago wouldn’t let it happen, but it’s starting to feel like Boston is Maniscalco’s true comedy home.”
SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO :: Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5 at TD Garden, 100 Legends Way in Boston, MA :: Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 6:30 p.m., $59 and up :: Advance tickets
Film/TV: Shaun of the Dead at The Brattle
It’s been 20 years now — don’t ask how — but the scene in Shaun of the Dead where Simon Pegg’s Shaun and Nick Frost’s Ed attempt to ward off zombies by slinging vinyl records just never gets old, especially The Stone Roses quip about the iconic Manchester band’s much-maligned sophomore album Second Coming. This weekend, we’ll have a chance to experience it once again on the big screen as The Brattle in Cambridge showcases Edgar Wright’s cult classic for some 20th anniversary festivities. Here’s word from The Brattle: “We’re only the second theater in the country to screen this brand new 35mm print of one of the best horror/comedies ever made so come on down to the Winchester… er, Brattle… have a nice cold pint and watch this brilliant film on the big screen as it was meant to be seen.” Please note, the screening is BYOSC (“Bring Your Own Second Coming”).
‘SHAUN OF THE DEAD’ :: Friday, October 4 to Monday, October 7 at The Brattle, 40 Brattle St. in Cambridge, MA :: Showtimes vary :: Event page and tickets