Weekly Music Picks: Let's Get it Started

Usually we try to wax poetic about some sort of relevant piece of information. This week we're dropping all that fluff and jumping right into this week's set of picks – lots of good shows on tap for this week. Zydeco to classical, hip hop to electronica, and Bon Jovi.

Monday 7/24:
Wattstax with Eli "Paperboy" Reed & the True Loves
Allston's Paperboy plays an opening revue for a screening of Wattstax, a film of performances from the epic 1972 concert (Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, the Staple Singers, the Bar-Kays, Johnnie Taylor, and others performed for an audience of 100,000) interspersed with on-the-street interviews and Richard Pryor.
Coolidge Corner Theatre
7 pm, $12
Wattstax: web site | IMDB
Eli "Paperboy" Reed & the True Loves: web site | myspace | (Doin' The) Boom Boom .mp3 | purchase

Berkshire Opera Company (also Thursday, 7/27 and Saturday, 7/29)
The composer Englebert Humperdinck called his Hansel and Gretel a "fairy opera," but
this dark and delightful piece has wide appeal. It features a singing gingerbread man, engaging folk tunes and memorable lines like "Nibblers! Nibblers! Little nibblers!" Sung in English with English subtitles.
The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, MA
8 p.m. Monday and Thursday, 2 p.m. Saturday (Family Day at the Opera);
$35 to $85
The Berkshire Opera Company: website
Hansel and Gretel, redux: website

Boston Landmarks Orchestra (also Wednesday 7/26, Thursday 7/27)
In a week's worth of mostly outdoor, totally free concerts, Charles Ansbacher and his solid band offer the sweet and funny Lifting the Curse, with music by Julian Wachner and words by NPR personality Bill Littlefield (It's Only a Game). La'Tarsha Long of
Roxbury is the soprano soloist.
6:30 p.m. on Monday at Boston Common Parkman Bandstand, 10:30 a.m. and 12 noon at Shirley-Eustis House in Roxbury on Wednesday and 10:30 a.m. and 12 noon at Great Hall, Codman Square, Dorchester on Thursday; free
Boston Landmarks Orchestra: website

Tuesday 7/25
Hallelujah The Hills
Art-punk power trio the Ketman close our their JulyResidency with an all-star lineup: Hallelujah The Hills, Reports, Paper Thin Stages. With a show poster like this this show is all about rocking and less about image. Hallelujah's debut album is on it's way – we don't expect to see it available at the show, but soon, friends, soon.
Abbey Lounge
8 pm
Ketman: website
Hallelujah The Hills: myspace

Wednesday 7/26
Silver Mt. Zion and Black Ox Orkestar
Silver Mt. Zion was formed by Godspeed You! Black Emperor's Efrim Menuck, Sophie Trudeau and Thierry Amar out of a desire to compose a more lyrical, song-based music (with vocals) in order to "harness the protest song traditions of folk, punk, and avant rock." Bostonist has been a big fan of Godspeed and Silver Mt. Zion for years so we're damn excited about this show. Especially since we'll get a chance to hear Mt. Zion's Thierry Amar and Jessica Moss' Black Ox Orkestar project. The four members of Black Ox bring politically-charged Yiddish texts to traditional Eastern and Southern European Jewish folk music that is played as punk, klezmer, avant-rock, folk, and free jazz (sometimes all at once). Bringing a little bit of John Zorn's Radical Jewish Culture series to Constellation Records.
Middle East Downstairs
18+ $12, 9pm
Silver Mt. Zion: website | wikipedia | purchase | iron bridge to thunder bay.mp3 | war radio.mp3
Black Ox Orkestar: website | purchase

Thursday 7/27
Le Jazz Hot! The Django Reinhardt Festival featuring Dorado Schmitt (also Fri 7/28)
The festival celebrates the music and legacy of legendary (and hugely influential) gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt who, along with Stéphane Grappelli and the Quintette du Hot Club de France, created "hot jazz" in the 30s and 40s.
Regattabar
$25, 7:30pm & 10pm
Django Reinhardt: wikipedia

BENT, with special guest Certainly, Sir
Electro-pop band Certainly, Sir has been added to Thursday’s BENT line up-featuring DJ Dahana and live performances from the best Queer Indie rock bands.
Middle East Downstairs
$10, 18+, 10pm
Bent myspace
Certainly, Sir: myspace | website

Bon Jovi
Stadium boys from the 1980's are still keeping it going without the huge hair but the same old sound. Rock out to your favorite songs and tunes of their latest album, released last year.
Gates at 5 pm, $50 - $115
Gillette Stadium
Bon Jovi: | fan site

Friday 7/28
Don Lennon w/ Pants Yell!, Hats and Glasses and Reports
A fantastic lineup for an $8 show. We've been waiting for Don Lennon to come back to the Hub. His lyrics border on the absurd and meld so wonderfully with the tunes to which they're set. For some reason he's been gobbled up by the Swedes – he's huge over there. Get your chance tonight to see the Harvard grad take stage and bust some rocking pop tunes. If you're nice he'll let you have some of his Swedish Fish. If you miss Reports on Tuesday at Abbey come check them out as the locals take stage across the river.
O'Briens
21+, 8pm, $8
Don Lennon: website
Reports: website

Bloc Party
No longer are they playing shows at the Paradise – they've venue hopped to the Bank of America Pavillion. Reports from the tour tell us that they haven't lost their live edge even in a bigger venue. A few tickets remain – head down to the pavilion to avoid the $9 fee.
Bank of America Pavillion
7:30 pm, $30
Bloc Party: website

Saturday 7/29
Buckwheat Zydeco
With the death of his mentor Clifton Chenier, accordionist/organist Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural became the undisputed heavy weight champion of zydeco, which infuses with rock and horn-based R&B sounds. Check him out and see why the New York Times called Buckwheat Zydeco "one of the best party bands in America."
Regattabar
$22 / $24 dos, 7:30pm &10pm
website | wikipedia | purchase

Sunday 7/30
Phoenix Landing Boat Cruise, featuring DJs Crook, Lenore, Kares, Melee, Randy DeShaies, Sergio Santos
If the notion of a sunset cruise around the harbor doesn't strike your fancy, how about adding seven of Boston's hottest resident DJs, two decks of turntables, and a full bar? Whether you dig breaks, drum n' bass, electro or house, there's sure to be something to make you shake it. If not, there's always "Matlock" reruns on PAX.
Rowes Wharf, downtown
$20, 21+, 6:30pm with afterparty at Phoenix Landing
Tickets on sale at the Phoenix Landing (Central Square) and Hugh O'Neill's (Malden)

Editors
The British rock group Editors takes stage at the Paradise this weekend. They've sold out their North American dates real quick and promise a good show. Local favorites Bon Savants open for Editors – and word on the street is that they'll have copies of their freshly released album on the table.
$15, 18+, 7 pm doors
Editors: website
Bon Savants: website

C. Fernsebner, Matt Durutti, Erin Anguish, Victoria Daskal, and Christina Linklater contributed to this list.