Metroland Online - Noteworthy

That loveable Dez, known for his involvement with the Pitch Control Collective, will celebrate the release of his new disc, Vodka Music, tomorrow night at the Lark Tavern. Backed by the Dezmaniacs—Pete Sheehan, PJ Katz and Ryan Lukas—Dez will present the content of his new album in true Dez fashion—by hiphopping you to death. In addition to the pounding audio, you can feast your eyes on some live mural painting during the performance done by Gregory Maxwell Dunbar the 69th. Expect special guests to join in the fun. (June 3, 10 PM, $5, 453 Madison Ave., Albany, 463-9779)

Zox

Valentine’s, Friday

These Rhode Islanders have been stirring up some real buzz lately. In just two years, the young quartet have played almost 400 shows, and there’s no sign of them stopping, with the release of a new album (The Wait) looming on the horizon (it’s due out Aug. 23), and more and more high-profile shows being added to their itinerary. You might have caught their violin-fueled rock at last month’s Pinksterfest; you might have also heard their single (“Can’t Look Down”) in rotation on WEQX. Not so bad for a bunch of guys whose mean age looks to be about 19. Westbound Train will open Friday’s show. (June 3, 9 PM, $8, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)

River Jam Free Music Festival

Riverfront Park, Saturday

The City of Troy (in associa- tion with Albanystage.com and the River Street Beat Shop) is sponsoring an all-day music festival on Saturday at their Riverfront Park to benefit the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. Performers are Adam Foster, School Bus Yellow, Scarecrow Collection, Rev Tor Band, Raisinhead, Oshe, and Dr. Jah & the Love Prophets. Organizers ask that festivalgoers bring nonperishable canned-food items for donation. In addition to the music, there will be plenty of food and crafts vendors, so spend some time at the festival to support a great cause. For a schedule of when the bands will perform, check out albanystage.com. (June 4, noon-7 PM, Free, Riverfront Park, Troy, albany stage.com)

Tribute to Buddy Rich With Ted MacKenzie

The Van Dyck, Saturday

We’re not fatalists, exactly, but it seems there was never much chance that Ted MacKenzie was going to become a trombonist. The freelance drummer, drum teacher and author of a book about a famous . . . wait for it . . . drummer found his musical passion early. And no surprise: Both his father and his grandfather before him were tub-thumpers as well. On Saturday afternoon, MacKenzie will celebrate his passion with a combination tribute concert and book signing at the Van Dyck. Both media pay homage to one of MacKenzie’s heroes and influences, jazz great Buddy Rich. (June 4, 8 PM, $10, 237 Union St., Schenectady, 382-5564)

Reverend Glasseye

Flywheel, Sunday

We don’t usually do this, but after reading the first chunk of the bio for Boston band Reverend Glasseye, we thought that maybe they should speak for themselves. They say their “Dark Salvation music” is full of “cautionary tales filled with American Superstition and human frailty following the tradition of storytelling left by Flannery O’Connor and Edgar Lee Masters.” Sure, we like those guys, but what of the music? Well, that sounds like “some unclean orchestra reminiscent of Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, Van Dyke Parks or Ennio Morricone.” We have Cave, Cohen and Morricone on the office iPod! (We’re not so sure about that oddball Parks, though.) But how do they seal the deal? Simple: “The Reverend croons like a broken Tom Jones with the sincerity and fervor of a Southern Evangelist.” We have a winner! Reverend Glasseye will headline a multi-band bill at the Flywheel on Sunday. (June 5, 8 PM, $5, 2 Holyoke St., Easthampton, Mass., 413-527-9800)

the exies

The Exies

Saratoga Winners, Monday

L.A. rockers the Exies have some pretty famous fans: Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots is one—it was even rumored that DeLeo discovered the band (who formed in 1997), but it turns out that he was just an early fan. Other famous admirers include Mötley Crüe, who booked the Exies as openers for their upcoming Red, White and Crüe tour to make sure their aging act will come off as vibrant and fresh. Following in the footsteps of the Foo Fighters, Nickelback and Puddle of Mudd, the Exies will put on a seminar in rock-radio songwriting at Saratoga Winners on Monday. Local guys Idols Never Die will open the show. (June 3, 7:30 PM, $10, Route 9, Latham, NY, 783-1010)

Also Noted

ryan adams and the cardinals

Tonight (Thursday), the Cowboy Junkies play two shows at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, Mass. (7 and 9:30 PM, $35, 413-584-0610). . . . Old British folkies (that’s not a snipe; it’s what they are) Fairport Convention will double up at Caffe Lena tomorrow (Friday) evening; in case you were curious, there is, in fact, one original member (Simon Nicol) still performing with the group (7 and 9:30 PM, $25, 583-0022). . . . Also on Friday, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals sing about drinkin’ (mostly), fightin’ (depending on the mood), and fuckin’ (see: “fightin’”) at Northern Lights (7:30 PM, $22, 371-0012). . . . Put me in, coach! John Fogerty comes to the area on Saturday for a show at Look Park’s Pines Theater in Northampton; we caught part of his recent Austin City Limits performance, and he still sounds good (7 PM, $55-$65, 800-THE-TICK). . . . The Caroline Street Art and Blues Fest takes place this Sunday up and down its titular street in downtown Saratoga; the blues portion of the show features Popa Chubby among others (noon, free, 584-3255). . . . Hits-of-the-moment radio-station FLY 92 celebrates its birthday at Northern Lights this Tuesday, with the Latium World Tour providing the music; the tour features Latin-music stars Frankie J, Baby Bash and Natalie (7:30 PM, $25, 371-0012). . . . Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers play the Iron Horse Music Hall on Wednesday. You may remember Clyne from his previous band, the Refreshments. Then again, you may not. Shurman will open (7 PM, $15, 413-584-0610).

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