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Aquabats,
Epoxies, Phenomenauts
Saratoga
Winners, Thursday
The
Aquabats, the Epoxies and the Phenomenauts are currently touring
around the States under the Teenage Pajamas From Outer Space
Tour rubric, which is enough to earn a look-see right there.
What’s more is that the Aquabats’ onstage outfits are boosted
from the closets of old Batman villains, and the group
have been staffed by musicians such as the Prince of Karate,
Jaime the Robot, the Baron Von Tito (who has since left for
Blink 182), Ultra Kyu and Catboy. These days, the lineup consists
of MC Bat Commander, Jimmy the Robot and Ricky Fitness, but
they’re still working the costumed surf’n’ska punk-rock lunacy.
The Epoxies, too, got themselves some early-’80s-style noms
du punk: Roxy Epoxy, Shock Diode, Viz Spectrum, Dr. Grip and
Moxie Static, which has got to warm the hearts of all you
nostalgic Germs fans. And new-wave garage rockers the Phenomenauts
have promised a galactic defense of “rocket roll,” provided
by Cmmdr. Angel Nova, Cprl. Joe Bot, Maj. Jimmy Bloom, Capt.
Chreehos and Prof. Greg Arias. (June 30, 7:30 PM, $10 adv.,
$12 door, Route 9, Latham, 783-1010)
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Motown
Party with Mary Wilson
Albany
Riverfront Park, Thursday
In
case you missed the recent Supremes exhibition at the Albany
Institute of History and Art, here’s your chance to catch
a member of the legendary singing group live and in-person.
Mary Wilson was the only member of the Supremes to perform
with the group for their entire 18-year career—a career that
produced 33 Top 40 hits, including 12 No. 1s. Although the
group dissolved in 1977, Wilson still tours regularly and,
in recent years, she’s taken to musical theater, syndicated
radio, and even academics, completing an associate’s degree
in liberal arts in 2001. We knew she was a smart cookie when
she told the organizers of a Supremes reunion tour to take
a hike. (They offered crazy lady Diana Ross five times as
much money, after all.) Wilson will perform at this evening’s
Motown party (part of the Alive at Five concert series). Tammy
Fletcher and the Disciples will open. (June 30, 5 PM, free,
Corning Preserve, Albany, 434-2032)
The
Dirty Projectors perform The Getty Address
Flywheel,
Thursday
The
Dirty Projectors’ presumably out-of-date Web site offers little
information about who they are, where they’re from, or what
exactly their name means. Is their lens in need of cleaning?
Are they into snuff films? Perhaps it’s a psychological thing.
After listening to a few tracks from the Projectors’ various
releases, we still can’t box them in: One song sounds like
Devendra Banhart performing God Ween Satan, another
reminds us of what might happen if you put a few deep gouges
in the playing surface of Bjork’s most recent CD. One thing
we know for sure is that the band (they are a band, right?)
will perform their latest album in its entirety this evening.
The Flywheel’s own site gives us this much more: “The album
is about post-9/11 America, the destruction of our natural
wilderness, the confrontation between Hernan Cortes and the
Aztecs in the early 16th century, and a protagonist named
after Don Henley.” Alrighty, then. (June 30, 8 PM, $6,
2 Holyoke St., Easthampton, Mass., 413-527-9800)
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2Mex
Hudson
Duster, Thursday
L.A.
rapper 2Mex is a busy guy. A video for his song “The Return
of Fernandomania” was recently added into rotation at the
MTV2 network. He has appeared on nearly 50 releases in the
last eight-or-so years, under his own name or with the groups
the Visionaries, Of Mexican Descent, Afterlife, and the Shapeshifters.
(2Mex rivals Kool Keith and ODB in the alter-ego department:
His latest album was released under the name SunGodSuns.)
But what’s most striking is the invitation on his Web site
to join him for “Monday Movie Nights.” No joke. He invites
two or more “underground female hiphoppers” into his apartment
every Monday to watch a DVD with him. Talk about fan appreciation!
We’re fairly sure he’ll stick to the hiphop this evening,
but feel free to invite him by to catch some tube after the
show. 2Mex will share tonight’s bill with Sev Statik, Ace
the Grappler, and Da Official. (June 30, 8 PM, $5, 40 3rd
St., Troy, 687-2391)
Asia,
Fear of Flying
Northern
Lights, Saturday
Thought
they were dead? Think again. Eighties British rock band Asia
still exist outside the world of VH1 specials, though not
quite in the form you may remember. With only one original
band member left—keyboardist and former Yes member Geoff Downes—the
re-formed group look to promote their recent album, “Silent
Nation.” However, those nostalgic for leg warmers and acid
jeans should not despair: the band still perform their oldest
songs, including their best-known hit, “Heat of the Moment.”
New York rockers Fear of Flying will share the bill. (July
2, 7:30 PM, $15 in advance, $17 at the door, 1208 Route 146,
Clifton Park, 371-0012)
 Dirty
on Purpose
Valentine’s,
Saturday
Dream-pop
Brooklynites Dirty on Purpose are stopping in Albany while
on tour in support of their debut release. We just love the
name of the disc—Sleep Late for a Better Tomorrow (North
Street Records)—as it fits with their whole dream theme. The
quintet feature three singers who all take turns as lead on
the disc—including candy-voiced keyboardist Erika Forster,
whose vocals come through loud and clear, piercing the disc’s
dreamlike elements. The Boston Globe uses Yo
La Tengo as a reference point when describing DOP’s sound.
For those of you have already experienced Sleep Late, beware:
According to Metro NY, DOP’s live show is “more spin
cycle than soak,” so don’t necessarily expected the same sound
you get with the very produced melodic tunes on the disc.
Also on the bill: the loveable Brent Gorton and his Tender
Breasts, and Advance Cassette. (July 2, 9 PM, $5, 17 New
Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)
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bedlight
for blue eyes
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Commander
Cody and His Rockabilly Stew
will play two shows at the Van Dyck tonight (Thursday)
with George Frayne, John and Graham
Tichy (7 & 9:30 PM, $15, 381-1111). .
. .The cousins Colwell, otherwise known as pop
group Hector on Stilts, will release their
long-awaited CD, Same Height Relation,
tonight at La Cocina in Pittsfield, Mass.; Melodrome
will open (9:30 PM, $5, 413-499-6363). . .
. Dave Matthews makes his annual trip to
SPAC this weekend: He’ll perform a concert with
his band both tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday nights
(7 PM, $58, $40.50, 476-1000). . . . The music
series at the Great Escape in Lake George will
begin this Saturday with the Joe Nacco Band;
fireworks will follow the performance (7:30 PM,
free with paid admission to the park, 792-3500).
. . . Happy Traum, Woodstock singer-songwriter
and former editor of Sing Out!, will celebrate
the release of his new CD at the Woodstock
Byrdcliffe Guild on Saturday. (8 PM, $20, 845-679-2079).
. . . Also at SPAC on Sunday, spend an evening
with the Moody Blues (8 PM, $60, $42.50,
476-1000). . . . On Wednesday, New Jersey bad
boys Bedlight for Blue Eyes will take the
upstairs stage at Valentine’s; they are touring
in anitcipation of their new release The Dawn,
which will be out Aug. 16. Also on the bill: Secret
Lives, My Epi phany, Cruiserweight,
This Time Tomorrow (7 PM, $10, 432-6572).
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Columns
& Opinions
