News-Letter

Hard times in the city, in a hard town by the sea. Ain't nowhere to run to, there ain't nothin' here for free. Hooker on the corner, waitin' for a train -- drunk lyin' on the sidewalk, sleepin' in the rain. And they hide their faces, and they hide their eyes, 'cause the city's dyin' and they don't know why. Oh, Baltimore. Man, it's hard just to live. Oh, Baltimore -- man, it's hard just to live, just to live.

Oh come on, Nina. It's not that bad. There's tons of stuff to do. If poetry's your thing, the Notre Maison Poetic Sit will be having another reading tonight at 18 West 25th Street. Last week we reviewed the Sit with Native Son, a local spoken word artist. This week it's Cashmere, who will be there with a brand new book. For more info, call 410-235-4773.

Stephen Malkmus made a pretty lucrative career move when he ditched Pavement a few years ago for a few solo records with his new band the Jicks. But what happened to the other guys in Pavement, you might ask? You can find them tomorrow night at the Ottobar, playing under the name Preston Schools of Industry. Opening up for them will be Baltimore favorites Slow Jets.

On Saturday night, another local rock darling, the Oranges Band, opens up for John Vanderslice, who, even though his name sounds made up, is poised to take over the indie rock world (see our review in New Vibrations, Feb. 6).

And to round out a strong week at the Ottobar, jangly New Zealand popsters The Sleepy Jackson will perform there on Monday with On the Speakers and Robbers on High Street. TSJ's new album Lovers is a few parts Beatles, a few parts Flaming Lips, and a lot of fun.

Also this week, Everyman Theatre opens up with Slow Dance on the Killing ground, a fiercely personal play that takes place in a dusty old corner store. Meanwhile in Mt. Vernon, the Theatre Project is finishing up its run of the comedy The Modified Monogamy Project and CenterStage is still running Steven Sondheim's gory comedic musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. All three are worth checking out.

I admit, there is potential for running into hookers, drunks and the hard life on the way to seeing any of these events. After all, this is Baltimore (Ohhh, Baltimore.) But if college has taught me anything, it's that Nina Simone is usually wrong. So don't be scared. Go have a good time.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools