Top Things to Do This Weekend: Oct 31-Nov 3
Image: Fright Town
Halloween
Haven't had your fill of horror movies? Looking for an excuse to go the whole "bowl of candy on the porch" route? Never fear (unless you want to): Halloween festivities barrel through the weekend. For the best of the bunch, make sure you check out our Halloween guide.
Concerts
Cut Copy
Cut Copy
Nov 1, Roseland Theater
When this Australian indie electronic act put out its first record, 2004's Bright Like Neon Love, the synthpop revival was just getting started. Cut Copy haven't seemed to be in any rush to capitalize on a trend, though: they've taken their time crafting albums with as much emotional gravity as fistpumping. Their upcoming effort, Free Your Mind, will be only their fourth in nearly a decade. The band rolls through the Roseland just days before its November 5 release date. Check out our Q&A with the band.
Shelly Short and the Sure Shots Album Release/Adam Selzer Graphic Novel Release
Nov 1, Alberta Rose Theatre
Local singer-songwriter Shelley Short is backed by the dynamite Sure Shots band—which includes members of the Decemberists and Norfolk & Western—as they perform songs from their new record, Wake the Dreamers. A collection of covers ranging from the ‘50s to the present day, the album was recorded entirely in live takes. This is likely the only chance you’ll get to hear the band play this material. Tonight's concert is also the release show for former Norfolk & Western frontman Adam Selzer's new graphic novel, Ami Go Home, about his experience touring with a German Christian band in 2003. He'll read from the book as the corresponding pages are projected onto the theater's big screen and perform songs as the narrative requires. Check out our Q&A with Selzer.
Iron & Wine
Nov 2, Crystal Ballroom
Indie-folk luminary Sam Beam brings his restrained vocals and understated songwriting to the Crystal to promote his fifth album as Iron & Wine, Ghost on Ghost, which expands on the pop influences found on 2011’s critically acclaimed Kiss Each Other Clean.
Theater
Detroit
Thru Nov 3, Portland Playhouse
It's the last weekend to catch Portland Playhouse's production of this Pulitzer-finalist, Obie-winning play by Lisa D'Amour. We found it to be a well-acted and impressively designed play that stumbles slightly in its second half, but doesn't fall. Read our full review here.
Classical
Nov 2, First Baptist Church
You'd be hard pressed to find a performing group of child musicians with more renown than the Vienna Boys' Choir. You'd also have a hard time finding one that's been around as long: the famed boy choir was founded by Emperor Maximilian I in 1498. Six centuries of tradition combine with a repertoire spanning from the medieval to the contemporary for a truly incomparable vocal performance.
X-Philes: 10 Years of Polaris
Image: BMAC Photography
Nov 1–10, Polaris Dance Theatre
To commemorate its 10th anniversary, local contemporary-dance company Polaris is retracing its steps. In X-Philes: 10 Years of Polaris, the ensemble, under the direction of cofounder Robert Guitron, will perform excerpts from its most popular pieces of the past decade.
