Fri. Feb. 9

 We're not sure who invented the power ballad, but we know Bon Jovi (in photo) perfected it. Generally, it's defined as the slowed-down, radio-friendly, mawkish, "sensitive" songwriting side of hard rock bands. Hair bands, glam bands, metal bands. Live - or on video - you tended to get smoke machines, and matches lit in the audience and momentary romantic spurts from guys who wanna let the girls they're not all leather and chains. This stuff annoyed us no end, and we remember when Metallica first began and we were so taken by their no power-ballad stance that we raised that split-fingered devil's salute in their honor. Now, of course, they've since done them ... and pretty well, we might add. But power ballads remain the cheesy guilty pleasure for many an '80s rock fan - let's face it, most of them female - who let themselves fall for that romantic dream time after time. The Coolidge Corner Theatre is presenting an homage to the power ballad video called "Love Bites: The 80s Power Ballad Sing-A-Long," which means for $9.50 you can go in and sing your heart out with the stars and a couple hundred like-minded folks at midnight, Friday February 9.

290 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-734-2500 coolidge.org