By Anne Steele, News Staff
Entry of the Week: Tastemakers Tunes
Now in its eighth installment, the Tastemakers Presents concert series is bringing Titus Andronicus, The Dodos and Javelin to play an outdoor show Saturday, Oct. 1 in Centennial Common. Each band has received more than its fair share of critical acclaim and will deliver a unique musical style to campus. Javelin, an electronic pair from Brooklyn that blends hip-hop beats with R&B influences, will open the show. Born and bred New Jersey act Titus Andronicus plays a fierce brand of indie-punk that is just as rowdy as it is introspective. California duo The Dodos will bring some more pop and folk-oriented sounds that can be heard on their latest record “No Color,” which The A.V. Club (The Onion’s arts and entertainment review) described as the “noisiest, prettiest album of [their] career.” Don’t miss this distinctive musical experience right on campus. Centennial Common; 5 p.m.; free; www.tastemakersmag.com.
Thursday, Sept. 29
Northeastern Resident Student Association (RSA) is bringing Boston’s own Improv Asylum to campus for free. The troupe, which has repeatedly been voted as Boston’s Best Comedy act, is renowned for their trademark interactive and unique comedy show where the actors draw on audience input for on-the-spot improvisation. Northeastern’s signature improv group, NU & Improv’d, will open the show. Blackman Auditorium; 7:30 to 9 p.m.; free on myNEU; www.facebook.com/NortheasternRSA.
Foster the People is coming to the House of Blues while touring to promote their first album, “Torches,” from which their hit single “Pumped Up Kicks” went platinum. The LA-based indie-rock band’s international tour has sold out venues across the world so score your tickets as soon as possible. 15 Lansdowne Street; 7 p.m.; $82; www.stubhub.com.
Friday, Sept. 30
The Seaport Hotel is hosting Dancing Under the Stars on an outdoor dance floor with panoramic views of downtown Boston, the Seaport District and Boston Harbor. Anyone who loves to dance or wants to learn is welcome for an evening of ballroom and Latin dance by starlight. Some of the best Boston tango professionals from Ballroom Dance New England will direct the evening, which includes a 30-minute ballroom dancing class at 7:30 p.m. The professionals will also be available for dancing tips throughout the evening. Ballroom dancing hosts will also be available for those attendees without dance partners. Spinning tunes all evening are acclaimed ballroom and Latin DJs from K&S Music. 1 Seaport Lane; 7 p.m.; $25; 617-385-5955.
Saturday, Oct. 1
Join more than 15,000 students at New England’s largest back-to-school event, CollegeFest, at the Hynes Convention Center. This event, which runs Saturday and Sunday, features music from headliners We the Kings and Chris Webby, local student bands and celebrity appearances. Event coordinators advise attendees to bring “excitement for live performances, energy to carry free stuff [from more than 100 Boston and national sponsors] and your cell to text all friends to attend.” 900 Boylston St.; Saturday, Oct. 1, 12 to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 2, 12 to 6 p.m.; $10 at the door; www.collegefest.com.
Sunday, Oct. 2
From the Top, NPR’s showcase for young musicians, is taping a live recording at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall. Hosted by pianist Christopher O’Riley, a mix of music and informal interviews will spotlight the talent and passion of some of Boston’s most outstanding young musicians as well as other artists from outside the city. The program is part of From the Top’s 2011-2012 National Tour, which streams locally on WGBH 99.5 All Classical or FM 89.7. 30 Gainsborough St.; 2 to 3:30 p.m.; $20 to $30;
www.fromthetop.org.
Monday, Oct. 3
A new season of Science on Screen returns to the Coolidge Corner Theatre Monday beginning with a showing of “The Little Shop of Horrors.” Guest speaker and ecologist Aaron Ellison, Ph.D., will introduce B-movie maestro Roger Corman’s 1960 horticultural cult classic with a talk on the bizarre world of carnivorous plants. The movie follows hapless clerk Seymour Krelboyne (Jonathan Haze) who brings a new species of talking, human flesh-eating plant he’s been breeding at home, hoping it will lead the plant shop to fame and fortune and save his job after Skid Row plant-shop owner Gravis Mushnick (Mel Welles) threatens to fire him. Jack Nicholson gives an iconic cameo as a gleefully masochistic dental patient in his third film role ever. 290 Harvard Street; 7 p.m.; $7.75 for students and free for Coolidge Corner Theatre members; www.coolidge.org/science.
Tuesday, Oct. 4
Scullers Jazz Club presents Live Jazz with Melissa Morgan, whose debut album, “Until I Met You,” dropped in 2009. Her raw and sultry style captures the organic and old school sensibility of classics like Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington. She has toured across the country and collaborated with other promising young artists including pianist Gerald Clayton, guitarist Randy Napoleon, bassist Joe Sanders, drummer Kevin Kanner and trumpeter Christian Scott. 400 Soldiers Field Road; 8 p.m.; show: $20, dinner and show: $62; www.facebook.com/melissamorganjazz; www.scullerjazz.com
Wednesday, Oct. 5
The New England Aquarium is welcoming students from all over Boston for College Open House – a chance to check out all their animal exhibits for free. Local vendors will be offering free handouts. 1 Central Wharf; 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.; free with student I.D; www.neaq.org.
Have an event coming up? E-mail the details to [email protected].
Events may be canceled or rescheduled. Call ahead to confirm.
