Madison offers a welcome set of afterwork diversions this week. The calendar includes: the Clips of Faith Beer & Film Tour and the ReThreads "Rags & Drag" fashion show; a show by the Second City Improv All Stars; live music by Starring and Icarus Himself, Jazz Tellers, Rising Gael, and Megafaun; and, the Project M finals.
Monday 6.14
FLAG DAY
NOTEWORTHY: British troops overwhelm Argentines at Port Stanley to recapture Falkland Islands, 1982.
BIRTHDAYS: Short-fingered vulgarian and reality-TV host Donald "The Donald" Trump, 1946; karma chameleon Boy George O'Dowd, 1961.
Tuesday 6.15
NOTEWORTHY: Vice President Dan Quayle spells potato with an e at the end, 1992.
BIRTHDAYS: Actress Courteney Cox, 1964; actor/rapper Ice Cube, 1969.
Frequency, 8 pm
Hints of King Crimson, Suicide and Neu! are present in Starring's noisy, psych-drenched sound, which has garnered praise from The Village Voice and Time Out New York. Local duo Icarus Himself will showcase a subtler psychedelic sound as they perform songs from their new EP, Mexico. Check out a MadTracks review to sample a song from the disc. With Blackwell Beauties.
Wednesday 6.16
NOTEWORTHY: Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova rides Vostok 6 to become first woman in space, 1963.
BIRTHDAYS: Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti, 1962.
Clips of Faith Beer & Film Tour
Olin Park, 7 pm
Lounge around outside, watch short films and drink beer in New Belgium Brewing's touring event.
Brink Lounge, 8 pm
Middleton-bred alto saxophonist Clay Lyons makes a homecoming appearance with his Berklee College-based jazz band (see Music).
ReThreads "Rags & Drag" Fashion Show
High Noon Saloon, 8 pm
Screamin' Cyn Cyn & the Pons aren't just punks with a penchant for theater. They vogue and pogo around the stage in some of the city's wackiest, crackiest retro styles. Check out their tunes, recycled fashions from the State Street resale boutique, and sets by the Hemlines and the Real Jaguar.
Thursday 6.17
NOTEWORTHY: D.C. metro police arrest Edward Martin (a.k.a. James W. McCord), Frank Sturgis, Eugenio Martinez, Virgilio Gonzales & Bernard Barker at 2:30 am in the Democratic National Committee's suite at the Watergate, 1972.
BIRTHDAYS: Tennis sister Venus Williams, 1980.
Brink Lounge, 7 pm
105.5-Triple M's entertaining contest and reality show has winnowed down a field of 10 singer-songwriters to three: Keefe Klug, Anna Laube and Jimmie Linville. The winner will be decided tonight.
Monona Terrace Rooftop, 7 pm
The youthful quartet will get Terrace-goers jigging and reeling to a host of traditional Emerald Isle tunes and their own Celt-pop treats, which feature flutes, whistles, Highland pipes, fiddling and vocals that are as fresh as an Irish spring.
Orpheum Theatre, 8 pm
The storied Chicago comedy factory's scripted revues are a touring staple, but here's a chance to see the troupe's famous improv in action. It's called Stand Up for Kids, and the proceeds benefit Dane County Court Appointed Special Advocates.
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
The freak-folk trio's 2009 album, Gather, Form & Fly, made critics and fans alike drool and beg for more. This summer, the band will sate their admirers' appetites with a mini-album called Heretofore, which they'll preview at this High Noon appearance. With Sam Quinn and Icarus Himself.