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The
Prodigals
Alive
at Five, Thursday
You might have thought there were a lot of Irish-punk bands
in Boston, but New York City has a little something to say
about that. New York’s own “jig-punk” act the Prodigals will
help close out the Alive at Five concert series tonight, and
they’ll bring with them the melodies of traditional Irish
music, the kick-you-in-the-grill attitude of punk rock, and
a big belly full of Guinness. The group have been performing
for more than 10 years; their latest album, Momentum,
was released n 2006. The City of Albany is going the extra
mile to make sure you have an all-encompassing awesome time
tonight: After the show, stick around for a bad-ass fireworks
display. (Aug. 14, 5 PM, free, Albany Riverfront Park,
Corning Preserve, Albany, 434-2032)
Hothouse
Flowers
Music
Haven Concert Series, Sunday
You’d think it was mid-March, what with all the Irish sounds
drifting through the Capital Region this week. (Perhaps the
area’s free- concert programmers are trying to stage a coup?)
In any case, there’s certainly no reason to complain when
Schenectady gets to play host to a freebie from one of Ireland’s
greatest exports. Hothouse Flowers were called the “best unsigned
band in Europe” by Rolling Stone in the 1980s; they
rose to fame thanks in part to a ringing endorsement from
Ireland’s favorite son, Bono. While the band have been on
and off over the years, they’ve been back at it since 2004’s
Into Your Heart; a hits collection recently hit the
market and new material is reportedly on the way. This one
is well worth the admission price. (Aug. 17, 7 PM, free,
Central Park, Schenectady, 382-5152)
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| Rasputina |
Rasputina
The
Linda, Tuesday
Art-rock’s not dead. For the past 15 years, chamber-rock trio
Rasputina have sparked the imaginations of listeners with
their cello-driven rock orchestrations and conceptual themes.
Though they’re sometimes written off as gothic freaks dressed
in Transylvanian gowns, the group’s reputation as a unique
and compelling live act is not merely a result of their eccentric
image and mysticism. Bandleader Melora Creager’s use of digital
effects and distortion make a Rasputina concert one of the
only places where you’ll hear a cello sound as heavy as Jimmy
Page’s epic bowed guitar solo on “Dazed and Confused,” while
drummer Catie D’Amica’s “punk-folk” style gives the songs
a strong sense of dynamics. Rasputina are touring in support
of their latest release, Oh Perilous World, which marks
a shift in Creager’s lyrical focus from vampires and fairy
tales to the bizarre current events of our modern world. Naturally,
it’s as creepy as anything they’ve done thus far. (Aug.
19, 8 PM, $20, 339 Central Ave., Albany , 465-5233 ext. 4)
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Meg
and Dia
Valentine’s,
Wednesday
Fist-pumping anthems of teen angst? Not exactly. Although
there will be plenty of power chords, tight jeans, and eyeliner
permeating Valentine’s on Wednesday evening, emerging pop-rockers
Meg and Dia are smarter than your average pop/emo outfit.
“As odd as this sounds, I don’t get my influences from bands
or artists. I get them from books,” Meg Frampton (no relation
to Peter) told absolute punk.net. Seeking the works of John
Steinbeck and George Sands for inspiration, the sisters started
writing songs and strumming guitars in their mid-teens. The
duo became a quintet in 2005 with the addition of a bassist,
drummer, and lead guitarist; their 2006 release, Something
Real, received critical acclaim from Rolling Stone
for its “close, pristine harmonies,” spawning the hit singles
“Monster,” and “Roses.” Joining Meg and Dia Wednesday are
Jonezetta, Dropping Daylight, and Danger: Radio. (Aug.
20, 7 PM, $10, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)
Neil
Diamond
Times
Union Center, Wednesday
It would be a bit of misdirection to call Neil Diamond’s recent
ascent to the top of the pop charts a comeback; it’s not like
the guy ever stopped selling concert tickets. But with his
latest album, the Rick Rubin-produced Home Before Dark,
Diamond earned the first No. 1 album of his career. Seems
unbelievable, doesn’t it? Of course we live in an era where
an album can top the charts by selling 200,000 copies, but
we digress—the point is, Neil is as popular as ever and, at
age 67, he can still rock an arena like no other. Get your
“bah bah bah” warmed up for Wednesday’s big show. (Aug.
20, 8 PM, $55-$120, 51 S. Pearl St., Albany, 800-30-EVENT)
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| Also
Noted |
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| Eddie
Money |
Jazz
vocalist Sharon Rose will record a series
of live shows at the Fort Salem Theater in Salem
tomorrow (Friday) through Sunday (8 PM Fri-Sat,
2 PM Sun, $20, 854-9200). . . . Get some outdoors
in ya at the Green World Festival, to be held
this Saturday at Cuomo’s Cove in Windham; performers
include Catie Curtis, Jess Klein
and Meg Hutchinson (11 AM, $12, 800-734-5903).
. . . The goof-rockin’ sounds of Electric Six
invade Northampton, Mass., this Saturday; they’ll
play the Iron Horse Music Hall with Tragedy:
All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees and the
Coke Dares, featuring members of Magnolia
Electric Co. (10 PM, $17, 413-584-0610). . . .
Just as Neil Diamond will sing “They’re coming
to America” this week in Albany, over in Great
Barrington, Mass., America will be coming
to them—the “Sister Golden Hair” classic-rockers
play the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on Sunday
(7 PM, $55-$125, 413-528-0100). . . . Free! Eddie!
Money! No, really—Eddie Money will perform
as part of the free ValleyCats Fan Festival in
Troy’s Monument Square this Monday (5:30 PM, free,
629-2287). . . . Marcia Ball headlines
the final show of the Monday Nights in the Park
series in Washington Park Monday evening; local
light Sarah Pedinotti opens (6 PM, free,
434-3861). . . . The Allman Brothers Band
and Bob Weir and Ratdog share a bill this
Tuesday at Saratoga Performing Arts Center; we
can only imagine how it’s going to smell out there
(7 PM, $20-$59.50, 476-1000). . . . Got your tickets
to the gun show? Ted Nugent plays Northern
Lights Wednesday night (7:30 PM, $28, 371-0012).
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