Anyone else have the black death this week? My cold gives me a sexy phlegm rattle. Provided that diminishes, Friday's my day to skate in front of a school full of homecoming basketball fans at St. Frances Academy at 501 Chase. Should be interesting to skate in front of teenagers who'd rather be watching basketball on a basketball floor. I can hear the resounding WTFs? now.

Saturday, hit the Clash Tribute Night at the Sidebar to hear some of Charm City's best bands rock the Casbah (okay, that was beat even for me). Thee Lexington Arrows are playing, which is worth seeing even if they're covering Madonna songs...well, perhaps that's an exaggeration. I'm sort of a throwback who thinks Material Girl should be cherished. What do you think? The Clash vs. Madonna in a metal cage fight to the death...who would win and why? I want specifics. Or hit up the Ottobar for the famed cabaret show of Trixie Little and the Evil Hate Monkey. Incidentally, my friend Caroline once mistook Curt of Blondsai for the Evil Hate Monkey. Must be the moustache, lol. "High Brow" is the name of this edition, but don't let it fool you.  Saturday is also when the Science Center brings you Body Worlds. Lame, I saw it in Philly like two years ago and almost hurled when I realized that the pubes were still attached to the dried up genitals of the "art." Everyone else who was crowded around the infected lungs and whatnot ogling seemed to be having a good time though.

Is everyone geared up for Baltimore Restaurant Week this week? Well, if you're not, you should be because this is the cheapest you'll ever eat in any of these joints unless you're hanging out in the back alley a la Lady and the Tramp.

This weekend began with an impatient watch tap as we waited for the weekly, Friday free food at Kitty Kat Bar in Remington. Anyone remember when it was Molly's Public House, lol? I mean you can't really complain when it's free. And when it turned up, compliments of the owner Jeff and Trattoria Annamaria, it was tasty.  Up next was the Ottobar, where Thank You was a lot of fun and turned out to be entirely comprised of people I knew...really must keep up with people and their projects. Elke's drumming was especially notable, with little, playful infusions of wooden cow bells, or whatever that wooden thing was. The Oranges Band showcased Guided by Voices guitarist Doug Gillard (who I heard is going to be on the Oranges' next album), which definitely gave their live show a little something. Either way it was packed, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. I heard via 10 text messages that I should've hit the Lithuanian Hall though because all of Mobtown was out, dancing and drinking the night away, underground style. Well, sounds hot and crowded to me, but I'm still a little remorseful I didn't hit it.

I did however manage to scrap my sorry ass out of bed at the crack of noon to take the seemingly long drive up to Philly. The Junkyard Dolls of your very own Charm City Roller Girls were defeated by the Heavy Metal Hookers by only a few points. We played a great game, and I actually had an awesome time. It's so much easier to hit people you don't know. Hmm, maybe that's the appeal of the travel team. I'll check back with you later this week to give you the skinny on what's coming up. Let me know what your plans are for the week! 

 

Thursday, the new Friday for those of us well out of college and somehow reverting. Check out the Alfred Hitchcock revival tonight to catch Rebecca and see why no girl likes to play second fiddle. Tomorrow it looks like the Ottobar's your best bet for live music with indie rockers the Fiery Furnaces, Thank You, and the Oranges Band who for some inexplicable reason will be featuring Doug Gillard (of Guided by Voices). Yeah!!! Who doesn't love GBV? Oranges Band frontman Roman has not replied to say that I can have his plus 1, which I suspect (or hope) is in part due to this GBV appearance and not to my dropping and chasing cigarettes up the street in his presence last Saturday.   

You've got your standard underground dance parties on Friday night as well, Depot, Taxlo, etc. All these plus Lithuanian Hall and Reaction at the Sidebar (not this weekend, rockabilly instead) make you wonder if there are any non-underground dance parties anymore? I mean what the hell is underground supposed to mean if you freaking advertise it all over town...whatevs.

I'll be in Philly on Sat around 6pm getting my ass beat by the Heavy Metal Hookers, so I'm sure by Sunday, I'll have no room to talk. Cross your fingers my legs don't break...hey, I heard that snide comment about me busting my mouth too...I'll get you my pretties.

What's up Mobtown? This is the maiden voyage of Mobtown Molly. Here's where to find out what's going on in town and what kind of nonsense you can get up to in the marginal fringes of your favorite city (well you live here even if it's not really your all-time fave). Plus, I'll give you a blow-by-blow of my misadventures and any gossipy tidbits or baseless rumors I come across in my travels. Big hat tip to Seth Ciferri, artist extraordinaire and Baltimore tattoo icon, for the drawing of me looking mostly normal. The good news is I can also use it as propaganda if I ever decide to become a South American dictator...jk, Seth.

Come back Thursday to hear about me shaking in my skates in preparation for bouting (roller derby style) in Philly against the Hookers. (I know it doesn't sound scary, but it is.) In the mean time, hit up the Tuesday night drink deal upstairs at the Ottobar. Friday check out the O-bar to see the Oranges Band or hit the '80s dance party at the Creepo (ehem, Depot). The Garnet Hearts (yummy rockabilly) are also rocking the Sidebar that night. The Sidebar’s already smoke free. If you were fortunate enough to miss the period after they stopped letting you smoke in there when it smelled like vomit, take advantage of the fresh air now. If swing's more your thing, check out the Swingin' Swamis at the Cat's Eye that night...see you kids soon.