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Deana
Carter
Northern
Lights, Thursday
“I
love Nashville, I love the South, but on a professional level,
I had started feeling smothered by the Nashville way of doing
things.” This is how country siren Deana Carter now explains
her move to L.A., and—after years of major-label frustration—her
new association with the Vanguard label. Carter made a big
splash in the late ’90s with her hit “Strawberry Wine,” from
the album Did I Shave My Legs for This?; she’s back
with a new disc, The Story of My Life, which she describes
as “very Southern.” It’s also, in the best country tradition,
drawn from her own life, which, aside from the SoCal move,
includes a divorce, a failed relationship, a new boyfriend
and a baby. (Whew.) She’s come through it all with new resolve.
And the best evidence that her break with Nashville was liberating?
She went back to her own natural brown hair. Also on the bill
will be Children at Play and Roadhouse. (Aug. 4, 7:30 PM,
$20, 1208 Route 146, Clifton Park, 371-0012)
Three
Day Threshold, Wiley Dobbs
Lark
Tavern, Friday
There’s
alt-country, country rock and even, once upon a time, cowpunk.
But a bluegrass-rock band who put the punk back in fingerpickin’?
That’s new. (Well, sorta new. Cut ’em some slack.) New or
not, that’s the best way to describe the Boston-based Three
Day Threshold. Their rambunctious songs vary from concise,
under-two-minute punk ditties to longer, more expansive and
nontraditional jams. Their lyrical concerns are simple, even
homespun: you know, stuff like beer, madness and having a
real good time. (Speaking of madness, their music has been
used on the soundtracks of such TV train wrecks as The
Real World and The Simple Life.) Opening this sure-to-be-
festive program will be Wiley Dobbs, a collection of local
fellows including Mandolin Bill. (Aug. 5, 10 PM, $3, 453
Madison Ave., Albany, 463-9779)
Backstreet
Boys, the Click Five
Saratoga
Performing Arts Center,Sunday
Backstreet’s
back, alright! At first, we thought fans had launched some
huge letter-writing campaign to get these guys—and they are
guys, by the way; the “boy-band” tag seems grossly
inappropriate for a group of dudes whose average age is around
29—back into action, but on second thought, it must
be the money. It’s not like Nick Carter’s solo career ever
really took off, and Brian Littrell actually postponed the
release of his Christian-themed solo record by more than six
months to reap the renewed benefits of being among the chosen
(by Lou Pearlman) ones. (God, reportedly, is unhappy with
this decision.) The latest Backstreet release—bullshittedly
titled Never Gone—has been selling briskly since its
June release, despite the group’s seemingly damning four-year
layoff. We don’t get it, but the little girls understand.
Surprisingly decent power-pop boy-band the Click Five open
Sunday’s show. (Aug. 7, 7:30 PM, $49.50-59.50, Saratoga
Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs, 584-9330)
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Gin
Blossoms, John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band
Empire
State Plaza, Wednesday
If
ever two bands were meant to be together, these are them.
Both of these bands’ stories are tragically funny. Not that
we’re the type to laugh at others’ misfortune, but consider
this: Gin Blossoms’ chief songwriter Doug Hopkins—the guy
who wrote their first two big hits—offed himself after being
canned from the group just prior to their breakout success,
thus hanging a shadow over the band for the remainder of their
unremarkable career; Cafferty and his band are known by more
people as “Eddie and the Cruisers” than by their actual name
. . . yet they muddle through somehow. Expect both bands to
trot out their classic tunes (“Hey Jealousy” and “On The Dark
Side,” respectively) when they headline the live-music portion
of the 30th annual I Love New York Food Festival. Also performing:
Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, and Rocky Velvet. (Aug.
10, 11 AM, free, Empire State Plaza, Albany, 434-2032)
 Smog
Iron
Horse Music Hall, Wednesday
You
may have heard Bill Callahan’s music without realizing it.
He’s never been the life of the party, but he has certainly
brushed sleeves with the big dogs on occasion: One version
of his “Cold Blooded Old Times” was featured on the soundtrack
from the film High Fidelity, and his songs have been
taken on by a number of indie-rock luminaries, from Spoon
to Cat Power (her version of “Bathysphere” is chilling). Under
the Smog moniker, Callahan has quietly released 12 albums
in 15 years (including his latest, A River Ain’t Too Much
to Love), each exploring the nooks and crannies of the
human experience through his shifting personae and matter-of-fact
performance style. Callahan’s current tour brings him (and
whomever he happens to be playing with) to the area this week
with special guest Feathers. (Aug. 10, 8:30 PM, $13, 10
Center St., Northampton, Mass., 413-584-0610)
Rock
Never Stops Tour featuring Cinderella, Ratt, Quiet Riot and
Firehouse
Palace
Theater , Wednesday
It’s
the classic Cinderella story: four bands met the prince at
the ball at the height of ’80s hairspray decadence, thanks
to their codpiece fairy godmother, only to be thrust into
cock-rock obscurity when their evil, grunge-loving stepmother
sabotaged their pumpkin coach. VH1 came a-calling with the
slipper that fit, and Cinderella, Ratt, Quiet Riot, and Firehouse
were swept off their leather-clad feet. While VH1 may not
be willing to commit (they’re single and satisfied), they
have certainly brought the bands back to the ball. So preen
yourself up like you were going to an Atreyu show, and frizz
your hair like it has never been frizzed before, cause don’t
you know: It’s time to “cum on feel the noize!” (Aug. 10,
7 PM, $35-$45, 19 Clinton Ave., Albany, 465-3334)
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JON
MIKL THOR
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Bodybuilder,
performer, and Legendary Rock Warrior Jon Mikl
Thor performs at the Flywheel in Easthampton,
Mass. tonight (Thursday); we’re assured that both
the power and the fury will be unleashed (8 PM,
$8, 413-527-9800). . . . The one and only (four
and only, actually) Pixies will play the
Empire Center at the Egg tonight, but you already
knew that—the show is very much sold out (8 PM,
473-1845). . . . Tomorrow (Friday), the Egg welcomes
country traditionalist Patty Loveless (8
PM, $28, 473-1845). . . . Australian folk-pop
trio Fruit will play the Agnes MacDonald
Music Haven stage at Central Park in Schenectady
Friday (7 PM, free, 372-5656). . . . It’s a night
of both endings and new beginnings at Valentine’s
on Friday night: Local hard rockers Shift
will play their final show on the downstairs stage
(9 PM, $5, 432-6572); upstairs, retro-R&B
band the Decadent Royals will play their
first show after a several-year hiatus, previewing
songs from their soon-to-be-released new CD Swing
On Sinners (7:30 PM, $7, 432-6572). . . .
The chamber pop of Hem will soothe the
masses at MASS MoCA on Saturday (8 PM, $17, 413-662-2111).
. . . The “Open Ears” music series at Better Than
Toast in downtown Saratoga has an impressive lineup
on the way, kicking off a month of Sundays this
week with Death Vessel and Tom Leach
(3 PM, $3, www.thefarmtomarket.com). . . . On
Tuesday, Franklin’s Tower hosts a Grateful Dead
tribute night, in observance of the 10th anniversary
of Jerry Garcia’s passing; performers include
Erin Harkes, Mother Judge, and (wait
for it) the Deadbeats (8 PM, $5, 431-1920).
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