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The
Count Basie Orchestra with Diane Schuur
Troy
Savings Bank Music Hall, Thursday
The
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall—one of our area’s most beloved
and legendary performance halls—is celebrating its 130th anniversary
in style tonight (Thursday) with a concert by the Grammy-winningest
big band ever. Sure, the Count himself is long since gone,
but his spirit lives on in the form of this 19-piece ensemble.
Under the direction of Grover Mitchell, the performers stay
reverent to Basie’s original compositions, swinging all those
revival bands like Big Bad Squirrel Nut Voodoo Crown Revue
under the table. They’ve collaborated with some serious vocal
talents over the years, from Rosemary Clooney to Elvis Costello;
tonight, they’ll stand (and sit) behind the “new first lady
of jazz,” Diane Schuur. (April 28, 8 PM, $45-$150, 7 State
St., Troy, 273-0038)
Clem
Snide
MASS
MoCA, North Adams, Mass., Saturday
What
you really need to know about Eef Barzelay’s outfit Clem Snide,
you’re not gonna get here: For what you really need to know,
you’ll really need to head to MASS MoCA and give a listen
to what the Brooklyn- and Nashville-based band can do with
elements of classic country, radio-ready pop, and indie rock.
What we can give you is some trivia: Like, the name “Clem
Snide” is taken from William Burroughs’ creepy masterpiece
Naked Lunch; and, after numerous stylistic and lineup
changes, Clem Snide got a big break when their song “Moment
in the Sun” was chosen as the theme song for the TV show Ed;
and the big break didn’t slow the lineup changes; and the
band’s lineup now comprises former members of the Lounge Lizards,
Crooked Fingers and Lambchop; and the origin of the phrase
“the whole nine yards” is . . . oh, sorry. (April 30, 8
PM, $16, 1040 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, Mass., 413-662-2111)
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Tift
Merritt
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Tift
Merritt
Columbia-Greene
Community College, Saturday
Grammy-nominated
country songstress Tift Merritt will stop in Hudson on her
current tour of the eastern United States. Merritt has kept
a moderately low profile and has been considered a critics’
darling since her 2002 debut Bramble Rose hit the masses.
The Los Angeles Times says, “Tift Merritt has been
pegged as the Next Big Thing in country since her 2002 debut,
often drawing comparisons to the original ‘white lady of soul,’
Dusty Springfield.” Her album Tambourine (out on Lost
Highway in 2004) was up against the likes of superstars Loretta
Lynn and Tim McGraw for Country Album of the Year. Although
many considered the recognition of the album justified, Merritt
was still surprised that she was selected, since she calls
her brand of music not country, but soul-rock throw-down.
See what she means by this when she plays the CGCC. Sarah
Lee Guthrie and Johnny Iron will open the show. (April
30, 7 PM, $20, Performing Arts Center, 4400 Route 23, Hudson,
828-4181)
SUNY
Parkfest
Altamont
Fairgrounds, Sunday
For
those who haven’t been to one of these events in a number
of years, we should first point out that the beer-and-weed-fueled
free-for-alls of Parkfests past are no more. Not that the
debauchery and live music have been eliminated, just relocated
(from Lincoln Park to the Altamont Fairgrounds). See, if someone
lit the fairgrounds on fire, it would likely be contained
before doing any serious damage; odds are the governor’s mansion
wouldn’t be so lucky. This year’s gate charge will get you
live sets by rap superstar (and aspiring thespian) Ludacris,
toastmaster Elephant Man, vanilla rockers Hoobastank and Canadian
pop-punkers Simple Plan, plus a buttload of local and regional
acts. There are a ton of security restrictions, so think twice
before bringing any dogs, coolers, or surface-to-air weaponry.
Besides that, have fun and don’t forget: Take two aspirins
and a tall glass of water before bed, and you’ll be golden
in the morning! (May 1, 11 AM, $30, Route 146, Altamont,
476-1000)
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Jefferson
Starship
Hudson
River Theater, Tuesday
Jefferson
Starship have changed more than a handful of members over
the years. They still have two of the original members of
Jefferson Airplane, Paul Kantner and Marty Balin, but others
have jumped on board for a chance to play some of their favorite
music with them. It’s a band born out of San Francisco psychedelia—or
is it a band born out of a band out of San Francisco psychedelia?
That whole decade is kind of fuzzy. Anyway, their music was
lined up with some of the best, and while many other bands
of the era have tribute bands, Starship still hold much of
the authenticity of an original, because it’s more of an evolution
rather than a totally different band. Individual members came
from folk, jazz and blues roots, and moved into the electric
explosion of the ’60s. Since the ’70s they lost and gained
members, but their current lineup is reputed to be the best
they’ve sounded since the original. The only way to get to
a Jefferson Starship concert is to hop in a cab and yell at
the driver to “Follow that rabbit!” When he gives you that
confused look, just tell him you took the pill that makes
you smaller and if he doesn’t hurry, you will be forced to
pay him in tiny little bills. (May 3, 9 PM, $40, 541 Warren
St., Hudson, 828-9550)
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Noted |
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bouncing
souls
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The
Kamikaze Hearts are reportedly finishing up
a new album, but they’ll take a break from recording
to play a show at the Lark Tavern tomorrow (Friday);
Matt Hebert (of Northampton band Ware River
Club) and Mike Hotter (of the now-dormant
Albany band knotworking) will open (9 PM, $5,
463-7875). . . . Salem’s not just for witches
anymore: Providence band Rebecca Nurse
will play Artie’s River Street Stage on Friday
night, along with Blackcat Elliot and Phillips
Head (9 PM, $5, 687-0064). . . . Long-running
punk band the Bouncing Souls will bring
along the Explosion, Let it Burn, and
the Loved Ones for Friday’s show at Saratoga
Winners (8 PM, $14, 783-1010). . . . Starting
this Friday and Saturday, the Larkin is the new
place for cabaret with three weekends of shows
of Four Bitches Barkin’ at the Larkin with Greg
Anderson, Nate J. Buccieri, Ward
Dales, and Nancy Timpanaro Hogan (6
and 8:30 PM on Fridays; 8 PM on Saturdays, $25
per performance, 664-5244). . . . Think you might
have what it takes to do this rap thing? The Pitch
Control Music folks want to see what you got this
Saturday at the Hudson Duster; the Verbalist #3
MC battle will feature performances by Hangar
18 and Awar, plus a cash prize for
the best MC (8 PM, $8, 687-2391). . . . Fleeting
Forms will release their new CD this Saturday
at Valentine’s; the Other Two and Black
Jack Blades will fill out the bill (9 PM,
$5, 432-6572). . . . The Berkshire Music Hall
will hold an SMI Emerging Artist showcase on Saturday
featuring No Lindsay, Binaural,
Channel, and Ragged Company (7 PM,
$8, 413-499-5446). . . . Also on Saturday, erstwhile
Saratogian Jes Hudak will return home for
a show at King’s Tavern; Southerly will
open (9 PM, $5, 581-7090). . . . Folkstress Patty
Griffin and Charanga Cakewalk (aka
Michael Ramos) will perform at the Egg on Sunday
night (7 PM, $24, 473-1845); they’ll also be at
the Calvin Theater on Wednesday ($20-$32.50, 413-584-1444).
. . . It’s a multiracial metalfest at Northern
Lights on Sunday, featuring hard-touring heavies
Sevendust and Bad Brains-beholden rockers
Skindred, plus Bobaflex and Soundevice
(7:30 PM, $22, 371-0012).
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Columns
& Opinions
