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Bootleg
Tonic
Club
Helsinki, Saturday
Worlds collide when New York’s Bootleg Tonic take the stage.
That’s not hyperbole; band principles Georgiana Trent and
Eran Taviv hail from, respectively, Texas and Tel Aviv, Israel.
But there’s nothing like a little blues-drenched soul music
to bridge the cultural gap, and that’s the common ground for
vocalist Trent and guitarist Taviv. For their debut album,
Volume I, Bootleg Tonic enlisted the help of such hotshots
as Hammond B-3 organ ace Ivan Neville, and drummer Jerry Krenach,
who’s sat behind such hotshots as Lou Reed and Chris Whitley.
The result is a rich, textured album with loads of culture
and—you guessed it—soul. Bootleg Tonic make an appearance
in Great Barrington, Mass., this Saturday. (Aug. 23, 9
PM, $12, 284 Main St., Great Barrington, Mass., 413-528-3394)
John
Mayer, OneRepublic
Saratoga
Performing Arts Center, Monday
Ladies, may we suggest that in stead of throwing panties at
soft-blues heartthrob John Mayer this Monday, you might consider
throwing hankies. See, Johnny boy just broke off his four-month
relationship with actress Jennifer Aniston, and we’re sure
he’ll need a shoulder to cry on. Because he’s a sensitive
singer- songwriter type. We’re no TMZ, but could it be that
Aniston’s body is not, in fact, a wonderland? Or, maybe Mayer
just prefers the company of . . . friends? All joking
aside, Mr. Grammy-bait will play the hits this week at SPAC,
with help from Timbaland-approved rockers OneRepublic. And
don’t worry much for Mayer—we’re sure he’ll find a new supermodel
by the end of the week. (Aug. 25, 7:30 PM, $32.50-$55,
Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs, 476-1000)
Puddle
of Mudd
Northern
Lights, Tuesday
By the end of the ’90s, some of us snickered about how the
cycle of nostalgia was closing in on itself. By the end of
the next decade, we jokingly guessed, everyone would be pining
for the sound of 1997. And fuck us, we were right: First,
left-for-dead glam-metal act Buckcherry scored one of the
big rock hits of 2007 (they’ll be in town next week); and
this year, third-wave grunge-knockoffs Puddle of Mudd have
an unexpected chart-topper with “Psycho.” We have to admit,
the track’s sing-songy melody is almost enough to make us
overlook its criminally inane lyrics, but . . . no. Anyway,
the band’s victory lap brings them to Northern Lights this
Tuesday, with guests Rev Theory and Saving Abel. (Aug.
26, 7 PM, $25, 1208 Route 146, Clifton Park, 371-0012)
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| The
Gourds |
The
Gourds
The
Linda, Wednesday
Just as Austin prides itself on being the eccentric stepchild
of Texas, Austin band the Gourds have taken their rightful
place on the sardonic periphery of country music. The only
badonkadonk you’ll find in their honky-tonk is delicately
crafted and blended with enough pop- cultural references to
rival the most literate indie-rock. Remember that bluegrass
cover of Snoop’s “Gin and Juice” you scooped from Napster
in ’98? That wasn’t Phish; it was the Gourds. And that’s the
tip of the iceberg, beeotch. Just don’t call out for it mid-set;
they’re liable to put a boot in your ass in some totally intelligent
yet thoroughly Texan way. And it may involve accordions. (Aug.
27, 8 PM, $23, 339 Central Ave., Albany, 465-5233 ext. 4)
Sara
Milonovich and Daisycutter
Charles
R. Wood Theater, Wednesday
As “a venue for the traditional to the cutting edge,” the
Charles R. Wood Theater might well sound like home to fiddler
Sara Milonovich. Steeped in traditional Adirondack fiddle
music since the age of 4, Milonovich has since won bluegrass
contests in Appalachia, performed with the Empire State Repertory
Orchestra, toured with Celtic/newgrass band the McKrells,
and been nominated for a Grammy. Daisycutter, her latest project,
adds jazz, Balkan, and world-beat flavors to the mix, not
to mention multi-instrumentalist Greg Anderson, who’s played
with everyone from the Klezmatics to postpunks ibm. Daisycutter
play as part of the Wood Theater’s annual Woodfest celebration
this week. (Aug. 27, 7:30 PM, $15-$20, 207 Glen St., Glens
Falls, 798-9663)
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| Also
Noted |
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| Ashley
Pond Band |
If
your give-a-damn is in working order, check out
Joe Diffie tonight (Thursday) at Vapor
Nightclub at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway (8 PM,
$30, 584-2110). . . . This month’s Garage Bands
in the Garage show at the Albany Public Library
tomorrow (Friday) features the Ashley Pond
Band and Charmboy (6 PM, free, 427-4300).
. . . Sonny & Perley play a special
“family” show with a guest appearance from their
daughter, Desiree “Rain,” on Friday at Caffe Lena
(8 PM, $15, 583-0022). . . . The moody roots-pop
of New York’s Two Dark Birds infects Club
Helsinki in Great Barrington, Mass., this Friday
(9 PM, $12, 413-528-3394). . . . A different kind
of family: Neanderthals co-conspirators Eddie
Angel and Johnny Rabb team up for some
classic rock and rockabilly Friday at Tess’ Lark
Tavern (10 PM, $7, 463-7875). . . . The owners
of Cuomo’s Cove in Windham celebrate the great
outdoors with the Field of Dreams concert this
Saturday; headlined by the Marshall Tucker
Band, the daylong concert also features JB
Kline, the Chase Brothers, and several more (2
PM, $30, 800-734-5903). . . . Roots rockers the
Brooke Clover Band celebrate the release
of a new CD this Saturday at the Midtown Tap &
Tea Room in Albany (8 PM, free, 435-0202). . .
. Sign of the times: The Collar City Live series
in Troy’s Riverfront Park concludes on Sunday
with the Take Me to the River Blues Fest; performers
include Tas Cru and Blues Sanctuary
(1 PM, free, 859-3047). . . . The Music Haven
Concert Series in Schenectady’s Central Park also
wraps on Sunday, with a family-oriented show from
Ruth Pelham and the Music Mobile and Ramblin
Jug Stompers (6 PM, free, 382-5152).
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