Grand Opening of the Art House

The Art House is a new joint venture between Matt Christenot and John Flynn (co-owner of Mass Street Music) and two other partners. Tonight they’ll be hosting a grand-opening party with food, drinks, info, and tours of the building. Currently the Art House is hosting a recording studio, one visual artist, a filmmaker, and Eric Mardis from Split Lip Rayfield.

Fast Johnny Ricker and Friends: A Benefit for the Lawrence Arts Center

A night of singer-songwriters, hosted by Fast Johnny Ricker with performances by Daniel Quin Shay, Preston Girard, Rayyan Kamal and more. $5 donation at the door, full bar and concessions available.

Pat Green and Cory Morrow @ Granada

Pat Green sold more than 200,000 independently released records (a Miller Lite sponsorship didn’t hurt) before hooking up with major labels and trying to bust through the mainstream. A legitimate star in Texas who has sold out the Astrodome, Green toes the line between contemporary country and modern rock. Robert Earl Keen fans dig his Texas troubadour vibes, but Green’s proletariat appeal is universal enough that even Dave Matthews has brought him aboard for a few tour dates. He’ll join fellow Mellencamp-worshipper Cory Morrow for the second of back-to-back rowdy nights at the Granada.

The Ben Miller Band @ Bottleneck

Ben Miller‘s melting-pot take on “homespun, homemade people music” begins with Charlie Patton and Bukka White and runs all the way though Nirvana and Beck. He’s been known to pull “Heart Shaped Box” out of his back pocket when the occasion strikes, though his version is built on minor-key Appalachian banjo frailing. There are no set lists when Miller rolls through town with his band mates Doug Dicharry (on drums, washboard, and trombone) and Scott Leeper (on washtub bass) – but you can count on a whoopin’ good time.

Meet The Ben Miller Band

Southern Front Productions | MySpace Video

AA Bondy @ Jackpot

AA Bondy‘s sublime delta-folk made for an impressive solo debut on 2007’s “American Hearts” and an even better follow-up on 2009’s “When the Devil’s Loose.” Now aligned with Fat Possum Records, the former frontman of Verbena has made a new name for himself with simple yet exquisite songs that recall old geezers like Bob Dylan and young bucks like Bon Iver. If you’ve got a soft spot for slow and haunting numbers, find a comfy barstool and plop yourself down with Bondy and a pitcher of beer that pours like molasses.

Mouth’s First Birthday Bash @ Jazzhaus

Lawrence funk/dance combo Mouth celebrates its first birthday with a night of heavy bass, deep grooves and dance rhythms from house, hip-hop, funk and reggae and more. Special guests will include Rocket Science and emcee Reach.

Monte Carlos / Pat Boones Farm / Modie Bones @ Replay

Three riff-ready garage rock bands team up for a night of spilt beer at the Replay: Columbia’s Monte Carlos and Pat Boone’s Farm plus bonus bashing beats from Kansas City’s Modie Bones.

See the full calendar for tonight

And new in movies…

Precious
Poverty is ugly. Sometimes we need to be reminded of that. “Precious,” the brutal and unflinching film based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire, gives us neediness at its ugliest. This is what the bottom looks like, these are some of the reasons people are there and here is hope that humanity can shine through.

Edge of Darkness
Mel Gibson plays a humble police detective who goes on a mission of vengeance when his daughter is killed. The wildness and fire that once exploded unpredictably from Gibson is dimmed after several hard years for the actor. But he fits well in “Darkness.” Perhaps, though, crusades needn’t always be a bloodbath.

See all of today’s movie showtimes