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.38
Special
Northern
Lights, Friday
We
know that Southern rockers .38 Special were named after a
firearm, but we have to give ’em credit putting that decimal
point in front of their name. With that, they instantly moved
to the front of the line, alphabetically. Genius! However,
the question remains—how in hell can you hold on loosely,
and not let go? Seriously, we’ve tried. Whatever it
is keeps slipping through our fingers, much like time itself.
On that note, has anyone realized that .38 Special are still
making records, even though their last hit came nearly 20
years ago? As it turns out, the “Wild-Eyed Southern Boys”
are still going strong, and they’ll play Northern Lights this
weekend. One small request to concertgoers: Please, people,
for the love of God, don’t ask them to play “Free Bird.” Thank
you. (Jan. 21, 7:30 PM, $20, 1208 Route 146, Clifton Park,
371-0012)
 Asobi
Seksu
King’s
tavern, Friday
Here’s
a band who name-drop Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, and
Stereolab within the first paragraph of their bio. Sounds
good to us, so long as they’re referring to Emperor Tomato
Ketchup Stereolab, not the recent stuff. Add to that lead
singer Yuki’s combination of Japanese and English lyrics (Japlish?)
and we have what could be the sleeper hit of the weekend.
The New York-based quartet recently released their self-titled
debut to critical raves, and their noise-addled pop stands
up admirably against the bands to which they’ve compared themselves.
Get to this one early, as equally highly recommended bands
Grand Habit and the List Exists will also perform. (Jan.
21, 9 PM, $5, 241 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, 581-7090)
The
Sick Shit Fest
Valentine’s,
Saturday
This
musical spectacular is all about truth in advertising: The
title, dear children, says it all. And just in case it doesn’t,
here are the bands who will be performing at Valentine’s,
upstairs and down, this Saturday afternoon: Pyrexia, Dehumanized,
Disciples of Berkowitz, Circle of Dead Children, Mucopus,
Organ Harvest, Scucca, Re-creation, Splatt Guts, Mortal Decay,
Screaming Afterbirth, Total Fucking Destruction, Clitorture,
Last Call, Brick by Brick, Hell on Sunday, Street Sweeper
and El Chupacabre. Needless to say, this T. Biddy presentation
is an 18-plus show—no one appreciates the musical equivalent
of the stench of rotting matter more than the young. (Jan.
22, 3 PM, $15, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572.)
Walls
of Jericho, Bury Your Dead, Full Blown Chaos, Premonitions
of War
Saratoga
Winners, Saturday
They’ve
got years of touring experience, some pissed-off lyrics, scattered
tattoos—and they’ve been to Europe! Hardcore band Walls of
Jericho are led by vocalist Candace Kucsulain, who at a young
age was led down the road to metal: “When I was younger I
was an angry kid.” Now if you can’t relate to that statement,
stay at home for some family programming; otherwise see Walls
of Jericho headline Winners with openers Bury Your Dead, Full
Blown Chaos and Premonitions of War. (Jan. 22, 8 PM, $12,
1375 New Loudon Road, Latham, 783-1010)
Steve
Forbert
Caffe
Lena, Sunday
We
know that the designa-
tion’s spoken for, but it seems only fair that Steve Forbert
gets some notice as one of the two or three hardest working
men in show biz. This guy’s a trooper. Since hitting New York
City in the mid-’70s, the Mississippi native has been recording
and touring relentlessly. His early commercial success (most
notably the hit “Romeo & Juliet” from 1979’s Jackrabbit
Slim), unfortunately, wasn’t sustained, and Forbert was
later bounced from label to label. Common enough tale. Uncommonly,
though, Forbert stuck it out, further developing both his
songcraft and performance, and picking up a dedicated band
of followers from among the roots- and folk-music connoisseurs.
Opening for Forbert on Sunday will be newcomer Jeremy Wallace.
(Jan. 23, 7 PM, $18, 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, 583-0012)
Yanni
Pepsi
Arena, Tuesday
One
of the most celebrated pianist-composers of our time will
perform at the Pepsi next week during his Yanni Live 2004-2005
Tour. The Greek phenomenom with the famous dark, long-flowing
mane has sold gazillions of records and DVDs of his music
videos, bringing smooth jazz, world and new-age piano music
into homes and cars far and wide. Yanni will perform much
of his popular stuff from his extensive canon as well as selections
from his newest album, Ethnicity, with his band and
a full orchestra. (Jan. 25, 8 PM, $39.50 and $65, 51 S.
Pearl St., Albany, 487-2000)
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charms
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The
nontraditional venues are where it’s at tomorrow
(Friday) night. Take, for instance, the show at
the Chapel + Cultural Center, which features the
blight-rock of Gay Tastee, plus the newly
formed Kalashnikov Choir (performing vocal
versions of some of Stephen Gaylord’s gayest hits),
and the Kamikaze Hearts, who apparently
have a new bass player or something (8 PM, free,
274-7793). . . . Also on Friday, Eammonn’s—yes,
the Loudonville tavern best known for being a
watering hole for Siena students—will host a garage-rock
bash with the Suck and Five Alpha Beatdown,
who apparently think they’re from Iceland (9 PM,
$3, 782-6261). . . . Speaking of garage-rock,
the Charms, who recently had their
Little Steven-produced version of “Frosty the
Snowman” placed on the Christmas With the Kranks
soundtrack alongside the Ramones and the Raveonettes,
will bring their brand of co-ed rock & roll
to Club Caroline on Saturday, along with the Bocks
and the MTVs (10 PM, $5, 580-0155).
. . . If we had a dollar for every time Portland-based
rockers Paranoid Social Club came to town
over the last 18 months, we’d have about 14 dollars
by now—by that logic, we’ll become fifteenaires
when they return to Revolution Hall on Saturday,
with Townhall and Rana opening (8
PM, $10, 273-2337). . . . Also on Saturday, Oneonta-based
jammies Rezi will play the Lark Tavern
(10 PM, $3, 463-9779). . . . On Sunday, it’s another
hardcore matinee at the Hudson Duster, with Death
Before Dishonor, Inhuman, H8 Inc.,
Beneath it All, and the Truth Hurts
(3 PM, $5, 272-5453). . . . Finally, the Fuze
Box will host another interesting show on Monday;
this time, it’s the Louisville, Ky. 11-piece(!)
Parlour, along with one-man Matto band
Anaconda, and them Sixfifteens,
who we still think are a darn good band (9 PM,
$3, 432-4472).
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