TRAVELERT: Krakow Concert and Event Alerts

30th november is an Open day in the Manggha Museum! Meeting with Prof. Etsuko Yamaguchi,
tea brewing master, screening of films by Koji Yamamury, calligraphy,
origami, exhibitions visit, meeting with Krystyna Zachwatowicz and
Andrzej Wajda, concert and… birthday cake!!!

Alina Alens, the author of “The Incomplete Fantasy We Call Love,”
invites you to a literary evening in the company of two special
guests, Patrycja Gierat and Joanna Kita, on November 28th, at 7pm. in  Massolit Books & Cafe.
Steamy cups of tea, revealing inside stories, warm words on memories
and readings in English will warm up your Saturday evening.
The book will be available for purchase at the venue, with the
author’s signature.
Everyone is welcome!
www.myspace.com/alinaalens
http://alinaalens.wordpress.com/

No no no no . . . George Dorn won’t be screaming, but the band which is called “George Dorn Screams” will be performing.  Just to be clear.  Here’s what we know so far:  they’re built partly on guitars.  They bill themselves as a “band for late evening.”  They’re “post-rock” and they’re Polish.  The might be the forerunners of something called Serpentine Rock.  Their first record was called Snow Lovers Are Dancing.  This upcoming show is on Sunday, 22 November.  They’re at Klub Re (located at St. Krzyża Street #4) which is a place that usually attracts pretty good bands.  And the concert starts at 20.00.

Stand back!  The dim, tiny and infinitely smoky Naukowa in Kazimierz will host USA’s EAR PWR on Sunday, 22 November.  The concert starts at 19.00.  It might actually be the exact opposite of the Monday English Meditation that starts at the same time the following day — at the Buddhist center on Augustiańska there’s still, silent focussed reflection and the delicate scent of incense and the wood floors.  At the EAR PWR concert you’ll sink your teeth into synthesizers that at times can sound like crazed but competent squirrels got into your Nintendo (the one from 1987), and these squirrels might enjoy listening to The Knife sometimes on their downtime.  Meditation offers tea and clarity; the EAR PWR show has beer and irresistible rhythmic movement and could be an awful lot of fun.  So why not do both?  24 hours might just be enough to recover from EAR PWR.

A “krasnal” in Polish is a creature more likely to inhabit fairy tales than the stylishly freaky club Łódż Kalizka on Florianska (#18), where they’ll be playing tonight.  I think they’d be “sprites” in English.  In any case, the New York Crasnals are a band from Kraków and Stockholm.  You can catch their occasionally shoegazing-worthy, occasionally more energetic guitar-driven rock tonight at 20.00.  Or, if you’re anxious to commit yourself, mouse your way over to their MySpace page to sample their music (mostly in English, a few songs in Polish, plus a nice calm version of Ceremony) first.

Grabaż Grabowski and Kozak Kozakiewicz of Pidżama Porno formed Strachy Na Lachy (which means “The Empty Threats”) in 2003 because they wanted to play some less aggressive music than the scorching punk they were better known for. Now it’s 2009 and Pidżama Porno is no more (alas!) but Strachy Na Lachy is still pulsing with life and will be playing this Friday (the 13th!) in Klub Studio on ul. Budryka no. 4. The concert starts at 20:00. And!  As a special feature of the evening, you can get an actual band member to punch you in the mouth for a mere extra 5 PLN.

Fred Lonberg-Holm (USA) – cello
David Stackenäs (Norway) – guitar
Patric Thorman (Sweden) – bass

If you’re suffering from burning palms, yellowed skin, mysterious rashes or if you keep waking up in the middle of the night screaming for no particular reason, you might not be getting enough free jazz in your diet. The first step to recovery might be to visit the freshly formed Valentine Trio this Thursday evening. They’ll mix covers from artists as diverse as Sun Ra, Syd Barrett and Cat Power for an emotionally experimental evening.

The concert is at Alchemia (in Kazimierz) on Thursday, 12 November starting at 20:00.

Tickets are 30 Złoty at the door and 25 Złoty in advance.

There are a smattering of events from November 7 – 27 in various venues — including the resplendant Teatr. Słowackiego (shown above). Unlike other recent music festivals in Kraków, this festival isn’t centered around one composer, but brings a variety of world-famous performers and ensembles together to play a variety of Polish music. Interpretations will hopefully showcase the enchanting power of Poland’s musical heritage for all of Earth’s humans.

On November 5 – 7 there will be a musical celebration of the late and legendary jazz violinist Zbigniew Seifert. Check the website for a list of concerts with his colloborators, friends and admirers. A Kraków native, Seifert was a jazz giant when he died of cancer at 32. During his career he collaborating with Kryztow Komeda and other heroes of Polish (and nonpolish) jazz.

Okay, so say you come to your senses in some bathroom somewhere. Stained sink, swinging naked lightbulb overhead, dingy toilet. You don’t recognize your face in the mirror. You’re not sure what decade it is.  You don’t know what country you’re in. What can you do? Look around, try to gather your wits. Take deep, even breathes. Search your pockets for clues. You’re not covered with blood, are you? Good. So your best bet is to head down to Klub Łódz Kaliska on Florianska street (number 15) and catch The Legendary Pink Dots in concert. Assuming that this happens to you on 5 November at around 20.00 and you’re in Kraków.ska 15

Greetings,
Maybe we’re crazy but just because it’s Wednesday doesn’t mean that you have to stay home and watch Dr. House…
Why not come down to Drukarnia in Podgorze for a little R&R.  We promise you’ll be in bed before midnight

See you tonight!

-Eluktrick
www.eluktrick.bandcamp.com

photo from Brian Ground on Flickr

If you can stomach the bitter cold this evening, you should really take the time to visit Cementarz Rakowicki, Kraków’s largest cemetary, to experience a little of the unique atmosphere of All Saints’ Day in Poland. Traditionally, when they’re not devouring vast assortments of meats at home with their families, people use this day to pay respects to the dead. In Rakowicki, you get the impression that no grave is lonely (votive candles cover every surface) and there’s a sense of peace and comfort that one might not usually associate with graveyards after dark. On the way to the cemetery you’ll have lots of opportunities to buy votive candles (in case you’ve neglected to pack them on your travels) and also interesting baked and sugary treats. Take Tram no. 11 from the Starowiślna stop.