HubArts.com

Skunk, his robots, his disco ball and the Kenny G Eliminator

Lester shut out the Yankees and I got the front of the Weekend Arts section. All is right with the world. You can read my story about Somerville artist Skunk and his wild metal sculptures right here, but you should really grab the hard copy to see the photo collage that Yoon S. Byun created to go with it. Skunk's work is currently on display at the Space 242 gallery in the South End. (At left is a Space 242 photo of Skunk's warrior robot Hathor.)

Eddie Vedder solo tour coming to Boston

Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder is building on a West Coast solo tour in April with an eight-city August jaunt that will begin with two shows in Boston, at the Opera House on Aug. 1 and 2. Tix are $75 and go on sale July 11 at 1 p.m. through the Opera House Box Office, www.livenation.com, www.ticketmaster.com or at Ticketmaster outlets. Liam Finn, son of Crowded House's Neil Finn, will open.

Expect Vedder to sample his "Into the Wild" soundtrack, Pearl Jam songs and covers. He might just say a word or two about the election, too. Here's the setlist and a review from the opening date of the April tour, which included covers of songs by Daniel Johnston, James Taylor, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen ("Growin' Up" - that must have been excellent) plus a couple of duets with Finn. Here's another report, complete with photos like the one above. (Yes, the stage set includes a Corona case.) 

R.I.P. Madame Marie: Updated

There are enough Bruce Springsteen fans in Boston that some of you will want to hear the sad news: the Asbury Park, N.J., fortune teller Madame Marie  has died at age 93. She was immortalized by Springsteen in his song "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)," from his album "The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle." It included the line, "The cops finally busted Madame Marie, for telling fortunes better than they do."

Update: Bruce has posted a couple of graphs about Madame Marie on his web site. And he links to the Asbury Park Press obit, which is better than the wire brief.