Cory Graves
Burn One Down With Ben Harper.
Over the last several years, cursive writing has slowly been phased out of the public school system. These days, 45 states don't even make teaching cursive writing a requirement in their public schools. According to many educators, they dying art has been phased out in favor of technology.
Whatever the reason for its demise, the writing is on the wall: Cursive is on its way out.
Come to think of it, that whole asking-around-to-see-all-the-coolest-events-going-on-in-town-tonight thing is slowly dying out as well. All of tonight's coolest haps are listed below.
Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite at Granada Theater (Sold Out)
Though there's a pretty drastic age difference between the two, blues/folk-rock guitarist and renaissance man Ben Harper and blues harmonica virtuoso have a somewhat long history together. The pair hit it off in 1997 after both were hired to do some studio work with John Lee Hooker. Despite the fact that Harper's typical offerings run a pretty wide gamut of genres, it's going to be an all blues-oriented affair tonight. — Cory Graves
Metalachi at Trees
Metalachi is not your typical mariachi band. Metalachi, as its name implies, is a mariachi band that covers metal songs — the first of its kind, or so the band's press materials insinuate. They do more than just that, of course. Over the course of one of their three previous stops through town this year, the band sprinkled in its takes on such traditional mariachi standards as “Volver Volver,” “Mariachi Loco” and “La Bamba” among its expected covers of Guns N' Roses' “Sweet Child O' Mine” and Bon Jovi's “Livin' on a Prayer.” It was an infectious offering, for sure. During Metalachi's cover of Rage Against the Machine's “Killing In The Name,” even the most skeptical members of the audience were throwing their fists in the air. Speaking of Rage, local RATM cover band Arm Tha Homeless open this one. — Erika Lambreton
Tech N9ne at South Side Music Hall
Somehow, over the last few years, Tech N9ne, one of the most successful independent rappers ever has aligned himself with the likes of the Insane Clown Posse and their hyper-loyal juggalo fan base. It makes sense why an artist unaffiliated with the major label system would want to attract a built-in group of fans as wholly-devoted as ICP's, but, for whatever reason, the so-called juggalo family has embraced Tech N9ne right back. Expect plenty of face paint among the palladium crowd tonight. — CG
Soft Metals at Bryan Street Tavern
Think of Soft Metals as a boy/girl synth duo in the vein of Glass Candy — only, this couple, which does happen to be romantically-linked, presides over a much darker, avant-garde set of material. The band's also yet to outgrow playing the occasional backroom at a pizza joint while on tour. Locals Diamond Age and Redsean open. — CG
Downton Abbey: The Music at Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center
If trying to immerse yourself into the culture of your favorite period piece is what it takes to convince you to check out our world-class symphony from time to time, then so be it. Enjoy early 1900s pieces from Percy Grainger and Gustav Holst, and imagine Lord and Lady Grantham in the seats next to if that helps you get your kicks. — CG
The Balvenie Collection at Hickory Street Annex
The Balvenie is the only distillery in the Scottish Highlands that maintains its own malting floor in-house. That, of course, is just one way in which the craftsmen that own and operate the distillery pay more attention to detail than many of their competitors. And the difference, they say, can be tasted in their single-malt Scotches. Try some for yourself at this event, where a representative from the distillery has also curated an exhibition of like-minded craftsmen, clothiers, milliners, luthiers and whatever you call the profession that handcrafts ping-pong tables. — CG
To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our events page.
