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Trina
Hamlin, Natalia Zukerman
Moon
and River Café, Thursday
Two big personalities will squeeze into the Moon and River
tonight. Minneapolis-born Trina Hamlin is a Berklee grad and
a light on the NYC folk scene—not to mention a very busy woman.
In addition to producing six albums of original material,
she’s participated in a number of side projects, licensed
music to a host of television shows (y’all remember a little
show called Dawson’s Creek?), and performed at Big
Time Folk Fests like Newport and Falcon Ridge. Joining Hamlin
for tonight’s show is fellow NYC-based performer Natalia Zukerman,
whose style would be sold short if simply categorized in one
word. Indeed, Zukerman—who comes from an outrageously talended
family—is an accomplished singer and guitarist who trips between
blues, bluegrass and jazz, in addition to folk. That is to
say, she’s more Joni than Ani. (July 31, 9 PM, free, 115
S. Ferry St., Schenectady, 382-1938)
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| The
Police |
The
Police, Elvis Costello and the Imposters
Saratoga
Performing Arts Center, Friday
Even though we’re not the gambling kind (drunken billiards
wagers at the office holiday party don’t count!), we’d be
willing to bet serious money that this turns out to be the
biggest show of the SPAC summer season—weather allowing, of
course. Sting, Stewart and Andy put aside their many differences
last year to take a victory lap (and rake in some serious
dough); true to their word, they’re wrapping up and calling
it quits for good next Thursday in New York City—without producing
a single new song during the reunion. Which is unfortunate,
we say, because the Police were always more a studio band
than a live act. To that end, watch out for Elvis Costello
and his current band in their “opening” set—the guy is one
of the most consistently great performers of his generation.
We’d also be willing to bet Elvis smokes the Police, but then
we’re only betting Monopoly money in the first place. Who
wants in? (Aug. 1, 7:30 PM, $46-$231, Saratoga Spa State
Park, Saratoga Springs, 476-1000)
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The
Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards
Empire
State Plaza, Saturday
The headline booking on this year’s African American Family
Day at the Empire State Plaza is one a rare coup—in that we
know of at least two 13-year-olds who are passing up a chance
to see the freaking Jonas Brothers in favor of the legendary
Motown singing team. And you shouldn’t be thrown off by the
word “review” in their name—Dennis Edwards is one of the very
best of the numerous former Temps frontmen. You’ll know him
well from the opening verse of “Papa Was A Rolling Stone”;
he handles the entire catalog with equal aplomb. We’re more
than a little bummed that Grandmaster Flash, who was on the
original slate of performers for this Saturday’s show, will
not be appearing as scheduled—but look! They got Rahzel! The
human beatbox! We don’t have a schedule handy, but we’ll bet
he goes on somewhere around, oh, 4:20. (Aug. 2, noon, free,
Empire State Plaza, Albany, 473-0559)
Zappa
Plays Zappa
The
Egg, Tuesday
The spirit of Frank Zappa lives on. Zappa’s son, Dweezil Zappa,
takes the stage with six other relatively unknown Zappa-devoted
musicians, to recreate the insanely genius works of the late,
great musician, who died in 1993 of prostate cancer. Playing
Zappa’s complex, genre-spanning compositions is no easy feat,
even for his 39-year-old son. During his 30-plus-year career,
the elder Zappa created over 60 albums, and Zappa Plays Zappa
reconstructs some of Zappa’s most technically difficult works—note
for note. Dweezil practices the meticulous music in Frank’s
old recording studio, the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen,
and even integrates some of his dad’s original equipment into
his stage show. Joined by special guest Ray White, who toured
with Frank in the 1970s and ‘80s, Dweezil has one goal with
ZPZ—to immortalize the music of his father. More power to
him. (Aug. 5, 8 PM, $29-$43, Empire State Plaza, Albany,
473-1845)
American
Idols Live
Times
Union Center, Wednesday
The TV series that spawned superstars Chris Daughtry, Carrie
Underwood, and Kelly Clarkson is hitting the road at over
50 venues nationwide this summer, allowing fans to witness
the magic (and tragedy) of seeing a mix of their favorite
Idol stars perform live. The show at the Times Union Center
is not competitive—there will be no breathtakingly blunt criticism
from Simon Cowell, and no tabloid-worthy drunken antics from
Paula Abdul—but for some of these not-quite-stars, the pressure
is on. Rock, reggae, pop, country, and hip-hop are all in
the cards for Wednesday night, with AI season seven’s
Michael Johns busting out crotch- grabbing covers of Aerosmith’s
“Dream On” and Queen’s “We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions,”
while the self-described “black Christina Aguilera,” Syesha
Mercado, will help the audience grind to Rhianna’s “Umbrella.”
That’s entertainment. (Aug. 6, 7 PM, $39.50-$68.50, 51
S. Pearl St. Albany, 800-30-EVENT)
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| Also
Noted |
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| Lez
Zeppelin |
Dance
to some of the most resilient music of the early
‘70s when War take the Alive at Five stage
tonight; local R&B’ers Solid Smoke
open (5 PM, free, 434-2032). . . . Also tonight,
one of the more back-ass-ward bills we’ve seen
in some time hits the Saratoga Performing Arts
Center; reggae legends Toots and the Maytals
open for Sheryl Crow and James
Freaking Blunt (7 PM, $21-$76, 476-1000).
. . . Troy-core stalwarts Last Call reunite
for their first gig in a year this Friday at Northern
Lights; adding some alliteration to the bill will
be Cheech, Crime Lab and Contempt
(7 PM, $12, 371-0012). . . . The Afro-Caribbean
sounds of Taina Asili y La Bande Rebelde
heat it up at Tess’ Lark Tavern Friday night;
Broadcast Live are also on the bill (9
PM, $5, 463-9779). . . . Fancy your indie-rock
with a good dose of starch? Head to Saturday’s
third annual Rock-A-Pancake-A-Thon at Valentine’s,
where music from the Swaggerin Growlers
and Scientific Maps, among others, will
be served up with actual pancakes. Yum! (8 PM,
$7, 432-6572). . . . The No More Bush Tour comes
to the Upstate Artists Guild on Sunday, featuring
avant-garde music-type-stuff from the likes of
Zaika, Jack Rose, Valerie Webber,
50 Foot Women, and more (7 PM, free, 426-3501).
. . . Also Sunday, the Daniel Arts Center at Simon’s
Rock College in Great Barrington, Mass., presents
our recent pick for Best Band, the Red Lions;
go on and see if you agree (7 PM, free, 413-320-4175).
. . . Monday’s free show in Washington Park features
all-girl Led Zep tribute act Lez Zeppelin
and one-girl rock act Ten Year Vamp (6
PM, free, 434-3861).
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