Weekend Agenda: Sept. 18-20
Fruit Bats
FRIDAY
There is no more spastic way to conclude the work week than with a combination of Mexican masked wrestling, burlesque, and comedy. The Congress Theater is playing host to a little sexo y violencia with color commentary delivered by Blaine Capatch and Brandon Johnson at Lucha VaVoom. Down in the Loop, you can catch Kevin Smith at the Chicago Theatre, where the director of Clerks, Chasing Amy, and Dogma will talk. And that's pretty much all he’s doing: talking and answering questions. But it’s Kevin Smith, and he’s probably got a lot to say, most of which should be damn funny. And beginning tonight and running until next Sept. 24th is the Chicago United Film Festival at Music Box; highlights include a midnight screening of Jaws. Here's a clip from Lucha VaVoom:
The House of Blues plays host to Alice In Chains as the band gears up for Black Gives Way To Blue, its first release in 14 years. Elsewhere, sleepwalking comic Mike Birbiglia will perform—hopefully awake—at the Vic Theatre. For those looking for more theatrical and nostalgic fare, The Cornservatory is tapping into the best of TV Land and Nick at Nite with TV Re-runs Live And Onstage!!!, showcasing such classics as Neil Patrick Harris’ Doogie Howser, MD and The Brady Bunch through staged readings. Remember Doogie?:
Groove to the Fela Kuti-inspired Chicago Afrobeat Project at Navy Pier as the band mixes psychedelia, funk, jazz, and African music. Sunday’s Chicago United Film Festival highlight is Bleacher Boys, a documentary looking at five men whose visions of baseball stardom turned to black—literally—with blindness. Sunday also finds Eric Johnson of The Shins playing at Schubas with his side project Fruit Bats. Here they are with "Union Blanket":
