Victor Fiorillo’s Weekender: Faux Beatles, Strange Bedfellows and Snowburn
Were I a shameless self-promoter, I would go on and on about The Sea, a very cool play that I happen to be in and that happens to start this weekend. But since I’m not, I will just give you these perfectly respectable though undoubtedly inferior recommendations.
Because two of them are dead … The best argument in support of drug abuse is certainly the Beatles, who went from writing bland little tunes like “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “Love Me Do” to creating the metaphysical masterpieces that litter their latter albums. And in a true showing of British grit and fortitude, not one of them OD’d. Unfortunately, decades later, all we’re left with is Sir Paul and the Ugly One … and tribute shows, two of which are coming to town. On Saturday, New York band Bubble conquers Sgt. Pepper in its entirety, complete with all the sitars and tablas, at World Cafe Live’s kid-focused Peanut Butter & Jams series (so leave the weed at home). And next week, the world’s premier Beatles cover act, Rain: The Beatles Experience, opens at the Academy of Music. Groovy.
Because she slept with Gene Simmons … Okay, okay, there are many, many better reasons to go see the Diana Ross show at the Borgata on Sunday than the fact that she banged the tongue-happy Kiss frontman. In fact, I guess a lot of people probably slept with him. But the fact that the woman who brought us “You Can’t Hurry Love” and one half of “Endless Love” did so is just splendid. The Borgata’s website says that the show is sold out (and it was yesterday), but I have it on good authority that a limited number of new tickets have been released, so buy them now.
Because nothing gets you in the mood like snowburn … You don’t want to hook up at work. You’re not supposed to hook up in bars. You’re not into online predators. So what’s left? How about Singles Snow Tubing?
Because he’s got to die sooner or later … Yes, he’s ancient and farty. But there is something totally old school cool about Don Rickles. And he’s actually funny. Not in an ironic way. Not in a Dick in a Box way. Just funny. This weekend, he begins a series of six 2008 engagements at the Trop.
Because it’s as close as we’re ever gonna get to the Olympics … So you think that ping pong is not worthy of inclusion in the Olympics? You need to go watch Olympic hopefuls (including some from this area) smash the hell out of those little plastic balls at the 2008 Olympic and National team table tennis trials at Drexel.