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Secret
Machines, Action Action
Jack
Rabbit Slims, Thursday
It’s hard to tell if Secret Machines are suffering from an
identity crisis or they’re just playing coy. They’re down
to just two main band members after one of the brothers Curtis
(Benjamin) ditched them last year; so far they’ve run a rotation
of swingers through the open slot, with no permanent replacements
in sight. But never fear—the downsized band haven’t lost their
penchant for psychedelic space-rock, nor has singer Brandon
Curtis stopped sounding like an anxious Ben Gibbard. Secret
Machines share a bill with Long Islanders Action Action, who
are still riding the post-Killers synthpop; they’ll be in
town to support their new An Army of Shapes Between Wars
disc. (May 1, 6 PM, $12, 895 Broadway, Albany, 434-4540)
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| Wye
Oak |
Wye
Oak
Valentine’s,
Saturday
We’re so used to getting hit over the head by bands demanding
our attention because they’re so damn awesome. So what a pleasant
surprise when a disc just sort of shows up with practically
no fanfare, and it turns out to actually be awesome.
Wye Oak pulled one of those a few weeks back when If Children,
the Merge Records debut from this Baltimore-based guy-girl
duo, snuck onto our iPod. Their subtle interplay and song
strengths remind us a bit of New York guy-girl duo the Malarkies,
with some Breeders-Sonic Youth noise added for color. If the
term indie actually makes you nostalgic, you’ll be nuts for
this stuff. Saturday’s bill also stars Sgt. Dunbar and the
Hobo Banned, Audrey Ryan, Brown Bird, and Bernice Marie. (May
3, 8 PM, $7, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)
Amy
Speace, Sally Spring
Caffe
Lena, Saturday
New York-based songwriter Amy Speace has never been one to
squirm away from being pigeonholed—to wit, the artist’s live
engagements are currently booked by the Americana Agency.
She falls somewhere between Sheryl (Crow) and Lucinda (Williams)
on the pop-country scale, which means you can expect her to
be around for a long time. Speace will co-headline this Saturday’s
show with North Carolinian Sally Spring. Spring was a light
of the New York City and Los Angeles folk scenes in the 1970s
and ’80s, but she’s been laying pretty low for a while. She
returned to the circuit this year with Mockingbird,
an earthy, traditional-sounding record that should easily
please fans of Spring’s easygoing style. (May 3, 8 PM,
$15, 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, 583-0022)
Parkfest
2008
University
at Albany, Saturday
The strange evolution of a student activities budget can best
be studied right here, with the University at Albany’s annual
Parkfest event. The Parkfests of the ’90s were daylong, band-studded
free events, in a public (Lincoln) park in downtown Albany.
Roughly a decade ago, the event moved to the Altamont Fairgrounds,
morphing into a pay-for-rocking affair which made up in starpower
for what it lacked in the general goodwill (read: trash cans
full of beer) of past events; a few years at the then-Pepsi
Arena brought into question the validity of the term “park”
in the event’s title. Now Parkfest has rowed ashore: This
year’s event takes place right there in the UAlbany campus’
Collins Circle. The upside: Timbaland-protégé pop band One
Republic and R&B youngster Trey Songz will perform, for
free. The downside: This is technically a students-only affair;
to attend, you’ll have to be the first person to ever doctor
a SUNY ID. (May 3, 1 PM, free with UAlbany ID, 1400 Washington
Ave., Albany, 442-5640)
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Reverend
Horton Heat, Nashville Pussy
Revolution
Hall, Sunday
If Reverend Horton Heat were a drink, he’d be a can of Shiner
beer from Texas, with a shot of tequila on the side. Jim Heath’s
juggernaut is still rocking strong even as the Rev himself
nears 50; don’t expect the band to back off on their patented
psychobilly sound anytime soon. Atlanta’s Nashville Pussy
have never proven to be as provocative musically as their
name would suggest, and now that the chick who used to take
her tits out has left the band, why would anyone care anymore?
Simple: They’re still 75 percent harder and faster thank your
average rock band. “Motorhead with tits” indeed. Backyard
Tire Fire will open to ignite what should be an action-packed
show. (May 4, 7 PM, $24, 425 River St., Troy, 274-0553)
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| Also
Noted |
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| The
Mathematicians |
It’s
a good week for giving. Here’s a quick rundown
of fund-raisers happening this week: Today (Thursday)
through Sunday at the Lake George Forum (in Lake
George, obvs) be part of HIV Live, a jam-packed
concert event featuring regional talent ranging
from Bobby Dick and the Sundowners to the
Mathematicians ($25, 668-2200, hivliveconcert.com).
. . . Saturday, Rock for Hunger at Revolution
Hall with a triple bill of local heavyweights:
Super 400, Sirsy and Sarah Pedinotti
Band (6:30 PM, $12, 274-0553). . . . Jack
Rabbit Slims, or Noche, or whatever they want
to be that night, will host an ’80s-prom-themed
dance party Saturday to benefit the Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society, and admission includes an open
bar from 8 to 10 (7 PM, $20 donation, 434-4540).
. . . Leukemia and Lymphoma better watch their
backs, because Sunday finds a like-minded benefit
at Tess’ Lark Tavern, featuring live music from
Maggie Mayday and J.P. Brand, among
others (3 PM, $5 donation, 463-9779). . . . Jack
Rabbit Slims sticks with the benefits on Sunday,
when Cindyfest commands the stage; Cell 213,
Drop Deuce and 1/2 Past My Sin are
among the acts on board to help out Cindy Badach,
who is battling breast cancer (2 PM, $10 donation,
434-4540).
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