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KC
and the Sunshine Band
Vapor,
Thursday
Rumor has it KC and the Sunshine Band’s main goal is to make
listeners feel happy. So, whether hits like “(Shake, Shake,
Shake) Shake Your Booty,” “Get Down Tonight,” and “That’s
the Way (I Like It)” make you want to boogie down with your
bad self or sulk in the corner with a bad case of post-funk
misery, be sure to recognize the intention. Founded by Harry
Wayne Casey and bass guitarist Richard Finch in 1973, KC and
the Sunshine Band have almost 35 years of experience playing
their mix of funk, R&B and disco. And with nine Grammy
nominations, record sales topping 100 million, and a star
on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, they’ve had a long and successful
career, to say the least—after all, nothing says success like
hearing your song in a K-Mart commercial. (July 12, 9 PM,
$30, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, 342 Jefferson St., Saratoga
Springs, 584-2110)
Richard
Buckner, Six Parts Seven
WAMC
Performing Arts Studio, Thursday
Yeah, he was just in town a year ago (almost to the date,
in fact) and, yeah, we go all gaga every time he comes around,
but Richard Buckner is so worth it. Last summer, he turned
in an understated solo-electric show at Valentine’s in front
of a surprisingly small group of admirers. Tonight, he graduates—finally—to
the relative expanse of the WAMC Performing Arts Studio, where
he’ll bring his honed melancholia to full, booming glory,
backed by Suicide Squeeze recording artists Six Parts Seven.
The Ohio sextet, whose instrumental soundscapes bring to mind
those of Calexico and Lambchop, also will open the show.
(July 12, 8 PM, $15, 337 Central Ave., Albany, 465-5233 ext.
4)
Swati
Valentine’s,
Thursday
Some might say that Swati has questionable judgment. The New
York City native turned down a full scholarship to Juilliard
in favor of pursuing a career as a singer-guitarist. Granted,
it was a trombone scholarship, but still—at least go
so you can say you went to Juilliard! But she may have gotten
the last laugh, albeit after a long wait. She’s developed
a unique sound that employs eight strings strung across a
standard 12-string acoustic guitar, a bunch of effects boxes,
and her beguiling voice; and this year, in May, Bluhammock
Records released her debut disc, Small Gods. Catch
the rising star tonight at Valentine’s, where she’ll share
a bill with Zelazowa, Burning Man, and Whisper to Apocalypse.
(July 12, 8 PM, $5, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)
The
Voyces
King’s
Tavern, Friday
For a New York City band, the Voyces sure don’t sound like
the city they call home. They’re the brainchild of California-born
singer-songwriter Brian Wurschum, and their songs have an
undeniable West Coast lilt: On the title track from their
new record, Kissing Like It’s Love (on the tiny Planting
Seeds label), Wurschum sings about the scent of “Coppertone
and firewood” over a breezy ’70s-pop groove. Rich with harmonies
and more hooks than a pirate museum, Kissing Like It’s
Love made waves by selling out of its initial pressing
well before its actual release date—certainly no small feat
for an independent band. The Voyces will bring the pop to
King’s Tavern tonight, with area rockers the Blisterz opening.
(July 13, 9 PM, $5, 241 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, 581-7090)
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| Jenny
Owen Youngs |
Jenny
Owen Youngs
Dream
Away Lodge, Saturday
Here’s an act we discovered through MySpace who doesn’t 1)
suck ass, 2) spam us with messages about friend counters and
ringtones, or 3) look like a total whore in her profile picture.
In fact, New Jersey native Youngs looks to be about as squeaky
clean as they come—except for that pesky F-bomb in the title
of her first single, “Fuck Was I,” and lines like “Everything
I touch turns to shit” (from “Drinking Song”). But her full-length
debut, Batten the Hatches, recently reissued by the
Nettwerk label, offers much more than coyly deployed expletives:
Her voice, a cross between Regina Spektor and Chan Marshall,
is enough to recommend a drive into the Berkshires for Saturday’s
show. Plus, she does a mean cover of Nelly’s “Hot In Herre.”
Seriously—it’s really good. (July 14, 9 PM, free, 1342
County Road, Becket, Mass., 413-623-8725)
WGNA
Country Fest 2007
Altamont
Fairgrounds, Saturday
Country Fest 2007 stampedes into town this weekend, so grab
your cowboy hats and shine those stirrups . . . or just get
in your truck and drive. Coors Light and Chevrolet are just
a few of the sponsors for this event, which features the testosterone-dominated
lineup of Joe Nichols, Josh Turner, Darryl Worley, Jason Michael
Carrol and American Idol also-ran Bucky Covington.
We here at Metroland don’t claim to be authorities
on all things country, but we can assure you that these guys
bleed red, white and blue. Find out for yourself at WGNA’s
Web site where, in an effort to heighten anticipation, they’ve
started an official countdown clock, ticking down to the big
day. And we thought the Death Clock was scary. Yee-haw! (July
14, 11 AM, $33, free for children under 10, Altamont Fairgrounds,
Route 146, Altamont, 377-0810)
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| Also
Noted |
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| Lloyd
Cole |
Rochester’s
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad plan to
spread the good vibes at Red Square tonight (Thursday);
Badgerpants will open (9 PM, $8, 465-0444).
. . . Also tonight, the fine Americana songwriter
Amy Speace and her band the Tearjerks
are at Club Helsinki in Great Barrington, Mass.
(8 PM, $12, 413-528-3394). . . . Saturday,
the Belleayre Music Festival in Highmount welcomes
the one and only Dr. John, plus special
guests Hazmat Modine (8 PM, $45-$65, 800-942-6904).
. . . Here’s a name we haven’t thought of in a
while, but damned if it doesn’t make us want to
pull out a Commotions record: Lloyd Cole
warms up for a European tour with a hometown show
at Easthampton, Mass., venue the Brass Cat on
Saturday (10 PM, $5, 413-527-4085). . . . John
Mayer, probably still coming down from jamming
with the Police at Live Earth last weekend, brings
his Continuum tour to SPAC on Sunday, with Ben
Folds and Brett Dennen in tow (7:30
PM, $33.50-$55, 587-3330). . . . Randy Newman
drops the big one on the Calvin Theatre in Northampton,
Mass., on Sunday (8 PM, $37.50-$47.50, 413-584-1444).
. . . The blues usually set in around Wednesday
afternoon, and Buddy Guy is just the, um,
guy to help shake them off—he’ll play the Egg
Wednesday night (8 PM, $36.50, 473-1845).
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