What’s the meaning of all this Ween? Two Ween tribute acts play this week. Also such long-serving acts as The Queers, Tom Chapin, and Sham 69. Alternative music history week.
Monday, Sept. 21
Nowlan Now
Robert Nowlan, Vice President Emeritus for Academic Affairs at Southern Connecticut State University, gives a lecture on U.S. presidents intriguingly title “Neither Saints Nor Demons, Human, All Too Human,” 6:30 p.m. at the Mitchell Branch library, Harrison St. (203) 946‑8117
Shaken, Not Dug
Wale (pronounced Wah-Lay), of “Dig Dug (Shake It)” fame, is at Toad’s Place, 300 York St. He was quoted in an article at allhiphop.com last week, saying about the Black Lives Matter movement that “I want us to realize the power that we got within ourselves and to love ourselves more. This should really be the first objective as far as understanding the whole ‘black lives’ thing.” (203) 624-TOAD. $30, $25 in advance.
Lights, Camera, Action
The Radical Reels Tour does not refer to a band. It’s a lively screening of documentary screening of documentaries of action sports like surfing and mountain climbing and parasailing and skateboarding, sponsored by the Banff Mountain Film Festival. 7 p.m. at College Street Music Hall, 238 College St. $18.
Hurry Up Harry
“If the kids are united, they will never be divided.” The legendary ‘70s British punk band Sham 69, with founding vocalist Jimmy Pursey and guitarist Dave Parsons (who initially joined the band in 1978), is at Cafe Nine with a revived local band of renown, Lost Generation, and The Welch Boys. 250 State St. (203) 789‑8281.
Tuesday, Sept. 22
Hounded
The Indiana-based Americana band Houndmouth has played some big rock and folk festivals. Houndmouth headlines at Toad’s Place, 300 York St., with Twin Limb. $23. (203) 624-TOAD.
Wednesday, Sept. 23
Harris’ Lens
Thomas Allen Harris’ Through a Lens Darkly is “the first documentary to explore the American family photo album through the eyes of black photographers. The director is present at a post-screening discussion. 6 p.m. at the Loria Center, 190 York St. Free.
Coming Into Slaughter
Slaughterhouse is at Toad’s Place with Phresher and Rowdy City. Honestly, it sounds like a made-up metal-band bill from a comic book or something. But these are in fact all hip-hop acts, rather hip ones at that. (There is in fact a thrash metal act from New Jersey also named Slaughterhouse. This is not that.) 300 York St. (203) 624-TOAD.
Revere The Queers
For no-nonsense (that is to say all-nonsense) ’90s punk rock purity, you can’t beat New Hampshire’s The Queers, who evince equal love for Ramones and Beach Boys. The Nobodys open (That’s different, by the way, from saying “Nobody’s opening”). 9 p.m. at Cafe Nine.
Thursday, Sept. 24
A Shubert Opening
New Haven Museum’s new exhibit about the 100-year-old Shubert theater opens today with a reception at 6 p.m. 114 Whitney Ave. (203) 562‑4183.
Ween 1
Pink Talking Fish, with Rizzo’s Dilemma (doing a tribute to Ween and The Beatles) at Toad’s Place, 300 York St. (203) 624-TOAD.
Knives Out
The Yale Cabaret show this weekend is Knives in Hens. Scottish playwright David Harrower’s 1995 love triangle set that juxtaposes traditional rural life and the post-Industrial age, is directed by Jesse Rasmussen. Thursday at 8 p.m., Friday & Saturday at 8 & 11 p.m. 217 Park St. $20; $15 Yale faculty and staff; $12 students. (203) 432‑1566.
Friday, Sept. 25
Huron Aid
The alt-folk act Lord Huron, featuring Lord Jerry Huron, has released three EPs and two full albums (including this year’s Strange Trails) since 2010. The band is at Toad’s Place with Dave Monks, leader of Tokyo Police Club, with his new solo project. 300 York St. (203) 624-TOAD.
She’s a Zombie for Your Love
Kim Lenz, newly anointed as Rockabilly Female of the Year at the Ameripolitan Awards, comes to a great haunt for roots rock, Cafe Nine, with her band The Jaguars. 250 State St. (203) 789‑8281.
Fine Porter
Jazz/soul baritone vocalist Gregory Porter is at Lyman Center for the Performing Arts, on the Southern Connecticut State University campus. $35, $30 SCSCU faculty & staff, $20 SCSU students.
Ween 2
What’s with all the Ween tributes? Wednesday it was Rizzo’s Dilemma at Toad’s Place covering songs by the noted alt-rock experimentalists. Tonight it’s ManG at Stella Blues, 204 Crown St. And there are others out there. The original Ween (Gene Ween and Dean Ween) parted ways a few years ago. Who got custody of the backing tapes? (203) 752‑9764.
Saturday, Sept. 26
Family Band
Seems like the Yalies just got back, but it’s already Yale Family Weekend. The big campus attraction tonight is the Gala Concert 7:30 p.m. in Woolsey Hall, 500 College St. Performing are the Yale Glee Club, the Yale Concert Band and the Yale Symphony Orchestra. Free.
“Hide a stone among stones and a man among men”
The Whitney Humanities Center screens the 1958 Japanese classic Hidden Fortress, directed by Akira Kurosawa and known to be a major influence on George Lucas’ Star Wars, 7 p.m. at 53 Wall St.
Sunday, Sept. 27
Living Zoo
The new College Street Music Hall, 238 College St., is great at getting great bands from the ‘80s, ’90s and ‘00s who’ve recently regrouped, or who just deserve comfortable concert-hall gigs. This time it’s Built to Spill, who’ve somehow remained together (and on a major label) since the mid-‘90s.
Making Good Noise
Tom Chapin, whose own 50-plus year career as a folksinger/storyteller means you don’t get to dismiss him as just “the brother of Harry,” performs 7 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green, corner of Temple and Church streets. The family-friendly singer-songwriter’s performance is a benefit for music programs at Trinity. $25, $20 in advance, $60 family. (203) 776‑2616.
