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F5
Revolution
Hall, Friday
It is important for you to know that we here at Metroland
like to think of metal music in terms of Voltron. (We like
to think of a lot of things in terms of Voltron.) That being
said, this Friday a load of individual robot lions are going
to show up to rock Revolution Hall. Dave Ellefson (original
bassist for Megadeth and for his project F5), guitarist Alex
Skolnick (of Testament, playing with the Alex Skolnick Trio)
and guitarist Marc Rizzo (of Soulfly, playing with the Marc
Rizzo Band) plan to rock Troy on their own terms. Sure, it
is awesome to have Voltron to show up in a fight, but let’s
be honest: Having three or four 10-ton mechanical lions on
your side really isn’t that bad either. If Prince Lotor shows
up this Friday, he’s getting hurt. (July 7, 8 PM, $15,
425 River St. Troy, 274-0053)
The
Brides
Valentine’s,
Saturday
The Brides are coming through town this weekend for the first
stop on what they’re calling “Space Tour 2006.” The Brides
(who, on their Web site, say that they look like a mix between
“four silent movie era horror stars, a fascist sports franchise
and an absurdist work of art”) were founded in 2002 and have
since released a slew of well-received EPs, not to mention
their self-titled debut on Hell’s Hundred Records in ’03.
Over the past few years, they’ve carved a place for themselves
in the revival of the death-rock movement, appearing at festivals
and on comp albums. New York Press has called their
live show “a no-nonsense high-energy pummeling of raw guitars
that make surprisingly dynamic roller-coaster dips between
the Ventures and Rudimentary Peni.” Wow. We’re sold. The Flying
Buttresses and Sunset Aside are also on the bill. (July
8, 8 PM, $15, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)
Okemah
Red
Square, Saturday
Okemah, named for Woody Guthrie’s hometown, are a quartet
of local guys who cite as their individual musical influences
everyone from Leadbelly and Patsy Cline to B.B. King and Jeffrey
Clemens of G. Love & Special Sauce. They respect folk
and the alt-country genres, and it’s obvious in their sound.
The band, who call themselves the “bastard sons of American
Roots music,” were recently featured on Jason Keller’s
Big Break. If you missed this sampling of songs from Okemah,
check out their Web site at www.okemahmusic.com and catch
up, or make the trip to downtown Albany to see them at Red
Square this weekend. (July 8, 9 PM, $5, 388 Broadway, Albany,
432-8584)
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beth
orton
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Beth
Orton
Calvin
Theater, Sunday
Beth Orton may be the only artist this side of Sublime to
have been granted the release of a “Definitive Collection”
after only three albums. But then those albums, especially
Orton’s wonderful 1996 debut, Trailer Park, announced
the arrival of a big talent—and, as luck would have it, the
subgenre often referred to as folktronica. Comfort of Strangers,
her first release in four years, has been touted for its “extraordinarily
personal, almost naked and most certainly honest emotional
qualities.” The album marks not only a return to the limelight,
but perhaps her best collection of songs so far; most importantly,
it features plenty of the black-tea-with-honey voice that’s
endeared her to so many listeners. You can hear that voice
in person when Beth Orton takes the Calvin Theater stage this
weekend. Clayhill will open. (July 9, 8 PM, $24, 19 King
St., Northampton, Mass., 413-584-1444)
Yellowcard
Northern
Lights, Wednesday
We’ll decline this opportunity to complain about the increasing
presence of the violin in modern-rock music. We should point
out, however, that Jacksonville, Fla.-based quintet Yellowcard
do seem to have carved out a bit of a niche in the overcrowded
emo-pop rat race, and it may well have something to do with
that damn violin. So there’s that. The group’s second major-label
effort, Lights and Sounds, debuted at No. 5 on the
Billboard Pop Albums chart in January, but only now, with
the second single (“Rough Landing, Holly”) hitting radio,
does it seem like the record is developing legs. Only time
will tell; in the meantime, they’re doing what bands do, taking
their act anywhere and everywhere (they’re currently booked
through late September), which includes a stop in Clifton
Park this week. Matchbook Romance, Rock Kills Kid, and Hedley
are also on the bill. (July 12, 7 PM, $26, 1208 Route 146,
Clifton Park, 371-0012)
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Classifieds
