The Receiver, Paul Michel, Guiltless Cult

Valentine’s, Thursday

The Receiver comprise Columbus, Ohio-based brothers Jesse and Casey Cooper. Whilst the duo arrangement is nothing new, the Coopers’ debut full-length, Decades, released earlier this month on the Stunning Models on Display label, suggests a much larger arrangement through its lush, orchestrated synthpop sound. They claim to be influenced by acts like Air, Blonde Redhead, and Rufus Wainwright—and reflect them all without sounding derivative. No small feat, indeed. The Receiver are in the early stages of a 10-week tour with fellow Stunning Models artist Paul Michel. A veteran of numerous Washington, D.C., bands, Michel recently dropped Quiet State of Panic, a cello-drenched collection of pretty pop tunes. Local boys Guiltless Cult are also on the bill, sporting members of several area bands, and tunes from their debut release Help Me Out. (Oct. 12, 9 PM, $5, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)

Pittsfield CityJazz Festival

Colonial Theatre and Berkshire Music School, Thursday-Sunday

There is a lot of information to convey in a limited amount of space, so we’ll save the comments about Pittsfield’s continuing—and amazing—cultural rebirth for another time. The Pittsfield CityJazz festival starts tonight at 8 PM at Berkshire Music School (31 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield) with a free concert/recital by pianist and “jazz savant” Tony DeBlois. The action moves over to the Colonial Theatre (111 South St.) on Friday at 8 PM for a concert featuring the Billy Taylor Trio and the Metta Quintet; Taylor, we remind you, is the grand old man of the art form. Tickets for this show are $45 to $20. On Saturday evening at 8 PM, the T.S. Monk Sextet, led by drummer, composer, singer and son of Thelonius, T.S. Monk, will perform at the Colonial Theatre. Tickets are $45-$20. Finally, on Sunday afternoon at 2 PM at the Colonial, saxman Phil Woods will perform with the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors Big Band; take it from us, U.S. Army bands are usually amazing. Tickets for this show are $10, $5. (Oct. 12-15, various times, call for prices, various locations, Pittsfield, Mass., 413-997-4444)

Billy Bang

Billy Bang Quartet

Sanctuary for Independent Media, Friday

“More young jazz violinists appear every year, but none sounds like Billy Bang.” Tom Hull wrote that in the Village Voice a year ago, to herald the re- emergence of the man from the Bronx who survived both prep school and the Vietnam War, but had never really escaped the latter. (Check out his most recent disc, Vietnam: Reflections.) A renaissance man who studied law and contemplated becoming a revolutionary—and we don’t mean the musical kind—Bang will make a rare area appearance tomorrow night at Troy’s funky Sanctuary for Independent Media. If you’re into cutting-edge jazz, Bang and his combo are for you. As Hull also wrote, in that same Voice article, “Bang forged his sound from scratch—by listening to the sounds the instrument could produce with ears tuned to ’Trane, Ornette and the AACM.” (Oct. 13, 8 PM, $10, 3361 6th Ave., Troy, 272-2390)

1st Annual Root-a-Rama

Valentine’s, Friday-Saturday

We generally find the title desig-nation “1st Annual” to be a bit presumptuous—technically, it’s not annual until there’s a second one, right? But we’ll let our preconceptions slide on this one, because we’re willing to bet big money that Valentine’s poobah Howard Glassman will make sure this two-night roots-rock bash returns in ’07. The Root-a-Rama kicks off tomorrow (Friday) with sets from local country-rockers the Sidewinders, plus the Hudson Rivieras, Pispoure, the Heddy Brothers, and Boston’s Brett Rosenberg Problem, who come to town supporting Rosenberg’s recent solo release, Drop Dead Air. Night two is headed up by Glassman’s own band, Grainbelt, plus the Bum Steers, the Old Sweethearts, and Future Farmers of America. Show up early for the cheap beer, stay late for the cheap beer—and the rock. As always, there’s no dress code. (Oct. 13, 7 PM, $7; Oct. 14, 8 PM, $7, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)

Progtoberfest

Northern Lights, Saturday

This progressive rock show is a benefit for Friends of Music—$5 of the cover charge will go to the organization. Friends of Music are a team of parents, students, teachers and musicians who believe that “music is a vital part of education and social development” and try to “ensure that opportunities for musical performance and appreciation are available.” This night of inspirational rock will include bands like New York City-based TriPod, a “unique rock trio with no guitars or keyboards”; Fear of Flying, a jazz-fusion-style group of self-taught musicians from Saratoga Springs; Pinnacle, from Allentown, Pa; and many progalicious others. (Oct. 14, 5 PM, $18, 1208 Route 146, Clifton Park, 371-0012)

Touchpants featuring Jon Fishman, J. Willis Pratt & We’re Bionic

Red Square, Sunday

It would appear that the folks at Red Square are doing their best to make people avoid this Sunday’s show: On the Red Square Web site, the double bill of Touchpants and J. Willis Pratt & We’re Bionic is described as “vulgar, rude crass [sic], foul, misogynistic, stupid humor.” But that not-so-endearing blurb is followed by the phrase “Click on date for tickets!!”—because they know this one’s gonna sell itself. That’s right, no amount of vulgarity, misogyny, or stupidity is going to keep fans away from former Phish drummer and vacuumist extraordinaire Jon Fishman’s current band of looneys. Buy your tickets early, because this one should draw a large (and largely male, we expect) crowd. (Oct. 15, 9 PM, $13, 388 Broadway, Albany, 432-8584)

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