July is the time of nostalgia bands. We have The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards on the Green, Talking Heads and Hall & Oates tribute bands at Toad’s and the authoritative ‘90s alt-folk rocker Freedy Johnston at Cafe Nine. Bask in these unforgotten melodies.
Monday, July 14
Vive Le Revolution Cinematique!
For Bastille Day, New Haven Free Public Library (133 Elm St., aka the main “Ives” location; 203 – 946-8130 x211) serves up a free 5:30 p.m. screening of the 2004 documentary Henri Langlois: Phantom of the Cinematheque, about the noted cineaste and film preservationist.
Tuesday, July 15
Can He Fly?
Freedy Johnston has been plying his particular brand of folk-pop for several decades. Over those years he’s played New Haven venues as various as the Poco Loco, BAR, Toad’s Place and the Palace Theater. Tonight this intelligent, hook-smart troubadour is at Café Nine for an 8 p.m. show featuring two local bands that will bring even more energy and warmth to the evening: The Shinolas and The Shellye Valauskas Experience. $10.
Wednesday, July 16
The Allure of Albers
Sara Sapire, who designed the “Interaction of Color” computer app based on the theories of celebrated Yale professor and designer Josef Albers (1888 – 1976) and Anoka Faruquee of the Yale School of Art discuss the much-talked – about app and the theories that begat it. 12:30 p.m. Yale University Art Gallery (1111 Chapel St., 203 – 432-0600).
Thursday, July 17
Mother’s Daze
The 1999 Pedro Almodovar classic All About My Mother screens 7 p.m. at Yale’s Whitney Humanities Center (53 Wall St.) as part of the Treasures from the Yale Film Archive series. The movie still turns heads with its frank discussions of AIDS, religion, gay and trans culture and of course mother issues. It won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. Free.
Take to the River? I Can’t Go for That
A Talking Heads tribute band Start Making Sense shares the stage at Toad’s Place tonight with a Hall & Oates Tribute band called MmfO. Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, those bands’ respective inspirations would be fighting in the streets (or at least the hair salons). Now such a bill seems as natural as a classic rock radio playlist or a Glee mash-up, where “Psycho Killer” meets “Maneater.” Eggy and Tanooki Suit round out this night of nostalgia. 9 p.m. 300 York St., (203) 624-TOAD.
Friday, July 18
Scaly Reptiles Rock
The Iguanas are a verified legendary R&B/blues/roots rock outfit from the revered clubland of New Orleans. They bring the swamp boogie and other textures to Café Nine tonight at 9 p.m. $15.
Mighty Funny
The title Comedians Assemble is a play on a recent Marvel superhero TV cartoon series, and indeed this is a creepy and weirdly powered bunch of comics: Darren Rivera, John Romanoff, Gary Alehis, Davey Lozano, Coury Brown and Jonny Benson. 10:30 p.m. at Jokers Wild (232 Wooster St., 203 – 773-0733).
Saturday, July 19
Tempted by the Fruit of Another
Last time a band called The Temptations played New Haven Green, in 2006, the Motown icons came close to setting an attendance record, with a estimated 45,000 people grooving to “I Can’t Get Next to You.” It’ll be interesting to see if the same crowd forms tonight, since it’s not the same Temptations as last time. The 2006 one was The Temptations still overseen by original member Otis Williams. Tonight’s Temptations are a competing act, technically called The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards. It’s headed by the same raspy lead vocalist who succeeded David Ruffin in the group in 1968 and who sang on the hits “Cloud Nine,” “Psychedelic Shack,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” and “Ball of Confusion.” Of course, they do the earlier hits too; hear The Temptations tempt fate by singing “I Wish It Would Rain” at an outdoor show. The first of two Music on the Green shows sponsored by Smilow Cancer Hospital this year, The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards performs at 7 p.m., after a 6 p.m. set by an as-yet-unidentified opening act. Free. Corner of Temple and Elm Streets.
Sunday, July 20
So Long, Dolly!
The eye-opening exhibit Doll-Like closes today at the John Slade Ely House (51 Trumbull St., 203 – 624-8055). A variety of artists, from the whimsical Kimberly Mikenis to the somber Joe Saccio, show how small human figures can enlighten and enliven us. Some aspects of the exhibit, such as a room where viewers were encouraged to bring their own dolls to put on display, changed a lot during the run of the show, so even if you’ve already been you might want to stop in one last time.
