Editor’s Note: Welcome to V3 Weekend, Vanyaland‘s guide to help you sort out your weekend entertainment with curated selections and recommendations across our three pillars of Music, Comedy, and Film/TV. It’s what you should know about, where you need to be, and where you’ll be going, with us riding shotgun along the way.
Music: Stephen Pearcy at MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Bret Michaels and Vince Neil are back in town tonight, delivering the hits of Poison and Mötley Crüe, respectively, to MGM Music Hall at Fenway. But for our money the real star power comes from Stephen Pearcy and his solo band, who have become unlikely streaming stars thanks to the endlessly watchable and massively enjoyable efforts of Waste Some Time with Jason Green. The YouTube channel from the RATT vocalist’s affable tour manager is one of the best things on the internet in 2025, as Green takes us behind the scenes for a raw look at the real lives of touring musicians — from endless layovers in airports to soundcheck debacles in middle America to debates on what constitutes a “first-class foot” on an airplane (perhaps our favorite scene ever). Green’s channel, which also features streaming interviews and on-location site visits, has showcased the magnetic personality of Pearcy’s remarkable band — particularly the lovable curmudgeon Johnny Monaco (get this man to Tasty Burger, please); Burbank’s preeminent instrumental funk bassist Matt Thorne (everyone’s favorite healthy uncle), and the insanely likable former Slaughter drummer Blas Elias (who still might be the most underrated stickman of the so-called “hair metal” era). We can go on and on about how much we love Waste Some Time and all the escapades and shenanigans that play out from gig to gig across the country, so we just can’t wait for the episode where Green takes on Lansdowne during a Red Sox game. It’s the best damn reality show since that other guy on tonight’s bill tonight partied hard on Vh1.
STEPHEN PEARCY + VINCE NEIL + BRET MICHAELS :: Friday, August 1 at MGM Music Hall at Fenway, 2 Lansdowne St. in Boston, MA :: 7 p.m., all ages, $63.25 and up :: Event info :: Advance tickets
Comedy: Natalie Cuomo at Crystal Ballroom
There are so many damn Cuomos in the news lately, but the only one we care about is Natalie Cuomo. The New York comedian with No Relation To Andrew has been popping off on social lately, and brings her crowd work to Crystal Ballroom tonight in an effort to loosen up Somerville’s Davis Square. Mic’d Up served up some deets earlier this week: “Once a helper, always a helper — and that means that Natalie Cuomo is making her way back to a local stage to guide us through these trying times with her unbridled comedic fury… Cuomo brings with her the deep-cutting, blunt brand of comedy that has catapulted her through the comedy ranks, as made evident by the rave reaction to her 2023 debut album Shut Up, You Loved It. Although her podcast, Help! with Natalie Cuomo, hasn’t been active since 2024, the full archive is available on both Spotify and YouTube, offering up hours of her comedic approach to helping her friends with real-world problems.”
NATALIE CUOMO :: Friday, August 1 at Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square in Somerville, MA : 6:30 p.m., all ages, $35.75 :: Advance tickets
Film: CATVIDEOFEST at Alamo Drafthouse
We’ve reached that point of the summer where we just need a break. Yeah, sure The Naked Gun looks great (even Nick Johnston digs it; review coming soon!), and Together has us humming The Spice Girls’ “2 Become 1,” but turns out our cinema fix this weekend comes from CATVIDEOFEST, which is exactly what it seems. And sometimes that’s all we need. Here’s word from Alamo Drafthouse, which hosts two noon screenings in the Seaport this Saturday and Sunday: “The world’s #1 cat video festival is back with screenings in theaters across the USA and around the world starting August 2025! Oscilloscope Laboratories presents CATVIDEOFEST 2025, a compilation of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses. Each year across the country, local theaters partner with nearby cat-focused charities, animal welfare associations, and shelters alike. A portion of ticket proceeds from every show goes directly to local cats in need.” Meow, indeed.
CATVIDEOFEST 2025 :: Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3 at Alamo Drafthouse, 60 Seaport Blvd. in Boston, MA :: Noon, $13.99 :: Event info and tickets