Sat. July 24

In times when superstar bands like, say, Pink Floyd don't tour much more than once an eon and other superstar bands like, say, Guns N' Roses, are barely a band at all (to say nothing of not touring - well, they are actually planning a stadium tour this summer, but really, it ain't done 'til it's done) it opens the market wide up for "tribute" bands, a term more in vogue than the somewhat disparaging "cover" band. Lord knows, there are hundreds of cover bands out there from the semi-obscure, Motorhead, to the obvious, Tool, AQerosmith. Guns N' Roses is really the ultimate band to pay tribute to, even though I doubt anyone can name the myriad embers of Guns N' Roses through the decades. We all know Axl - the remaining Gunner, the creator of that centuries-in-the-making "Chinese Democracy" CD. And most of us could recall the early days of Axl, Slash, Duff, Izzy, Sleepy, Doc and Wheezy. We know there was Buckethead along the way. We know Axl is still Axl - a obsessive-compulsive perfectionist/problem child. And we can't think a Guns N" Roses will ever really be assembled and be on the road. But we can tell you Appetite for Destruction, will be on stage at the Middle East Downstairs Friday March 27, welcoming you to their jungle.

Fri. July 23

 India has a population of over one billion people. And, sure, they get made fun of on “The Simpsons” and in many a comic’s routine about computer tech service.
   But no one quite dissects the foibles of Indians like Russell Peters. He was born in Toronto 39 years ago. But his father was born in Bombay and his mother in Calcutta. He’s first generation Canadian, but has immersed himself in Indian culture.
    At a gig filmed for his 2008 DVD “Red, White and Brown.” Peters said, “Indians look upset they had to spend money to be here tonight.” They say “I don’t know why I m spending money to see someone who just looks like me. I can stay home and just look in the mirror.”
     “We’re an endless supply of cheap jokes,” Peters told the audience. “And we’re proud of our cheapness.”
    “I’m the first of my people to get in this game,” Peters said last week, on the phone from Los Angeles. “I started 21 years ago. I trudged through the horrible gigs and good gigs and experienced every end of the spectrum.”
    Peters is at the top end of that spectrum now. He’s a YouTube sensation, huge in Canada, has sold out Madison Square Garden twice, and was called by Forbes one of last year’s top ten highest grossing comics.
   Peters plays Foxwoods MGM Grand Friday July 23 at 8. It’s all new material. “Comedy is not like music,” Peters said, “where you hear a great song and can’t wait ‘til they sing it live.

ongoing

 Russell Brand's Aldous Snow is one fascinating rock star. Which is to see he's varyingly obnoxious, ingratiating, supremely self-centered, kind, maniacal, drug-crazed, very rational about drug smuggling (at least as it pertains to his own risk), violence prone, sexually callous and careless, loving, sensitive, self-promoting, vain, self-loathing, violent and clever. It's a lot to pack into a movie but Brand does this in "Get Him to the Greek," where the nominal plot involves the record company toadies Jonah Hill's attempt to get the drug-mad Snow off his duff in London and over to LA to play some hoo-ha comeback concert that will resolidity his position at king of the rock heap. That part's a stretch. This is not the way the rock world works. But Snow's character - not altogether different from the one Brand presents on stage (see review of live act, below) - is where the spark comes from. It's quite a trip to have your feelings shift shape so quickly when it comes to Snow, his tendency to abuse one and all, and, then, slither into a postion where he does have empathy. Is he a sociopath?

Thurs. July 22

Last time I wrote about something Chris DiNunzio put up on screen I wrote, "At last a movie for cannibals and people who love them." That's because Chris is - no way around it - something of a gorehound. He's also about the most amiable chap you'd want to meet. He was forever poring through horror film arcana when he was managing the gym I work out in (during downtime, of course.) And the movie I wrote about was a nasty little piece of work he wrote and directed called "Livestock," where - well, if you get the cannibal reference, you get what I'm talking about. Chris's production company is called Creepy Kid Productions.

    What now? More gore, more guts?

    Nope. It's "Viva! Saint Agrippina," a documentary that takes place in Boston's historical North End, an annual feast in honor of the martyred saint. When Chris first told me this I did a double take and assumed he was putting me on. He wasn't. He's made his movie and it screens at the Stuart Street Playhouse Thursday July 22 at 7:30.

   Since I'm not an Italian and am an ex-Catholic to boot, this is sort of foreign territory to me. Chris explains that since 1914 The Saint Agrippina Benefit Society have been hosting an annual feast, a tradition which originated in Mineo, Sicily. Society Members tell the tales of Saint Agrippina's short and tragic life. It's not a religious film, really. "This film," says Chris, "focuses on the stories of Her devoted members and how She inspires them to reunite each year to celebrate family, friends and this age-old Sicilian tradition."

 Thurs. July 1

Was it just a year or so that Lady Gaga was working the clubs? We saw her at House of Blues and thought, "Yes, this new Madonna was a great sense of style, sexuality and smarts, could be big." We could not have predicted how big. Gaga is a thoroughly modern artist in that she is all into striking while the iron is hot. You never know how long it's going to stay hot and over the past year she's been everywhere in print, on the tube, on the Web and in person. She comes to the TD Garden July 1 and 2 and of course they're sold clean. But Kings has squirreled away a pair at each of their spots, in Dedham and in Boston's Back Bay, and is holding, yes, a Gaga-themed karaoke contest - call in the "Monster Ball" - and giving away a total of 4 tickets for the July 2 show. The PR copy reads: "All the little fame monsters are encouraged to come glammed out in their craziest Gaga attire and step up to the microphone to belt out the pop icon’s biggest hits for a chance to win cool prizes. One lucky grand prize winner who walks the walk and talks the talk will take home two tickets to see Gaga live on July 2 at the TD Garden in Boston. Contestants will be judged on voice quality, originality, charisma and audience response." Each event starts at 9. Free to enter.

Wow. What can you do before your turn at the mic comes? Just drink.