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The
Macpodz
Red
Square, Thursday
Orcastrate
is the latest release from Ann Arbor, Mich.-based quintet
the Macpodz, and while we’re not sure if the band are adept
at conducting whales, we can tell you that their funky electric-jazz
sound is pretty killer. (Get it? Yeah, whatever.) The group
have been touring hard for the last few years, spreading their
fusion fever to fans of danceworthy jam music as well as hardcore
jazzers in search of the second coming of Bitches Brew.
They’re fresh off a two-set appearance at moe.down 2008; sure
enough, the moe. percussion section have been spotted jamming
with Macpodz on occasion. Will tonight be such an occasion?
Show up and find out for yourself. (Sept. 4, 8 PM, $10,
388 Broadway, Albany, 465-0444)
Silver
Jews
Iron
Horse Music Hall, Thursday
It’s been nearly 20 years since singer-poet David Berman planted
the seeds that sprouted the Silver Jews; the group more or
less started in 1989 at the University of Virginia as a playful
collaboration between Berman and UVA classmates Stephen Malkmus
and Bob Nastanovich, both of whom would soon become members
of Pavement. Much has changed over the years—Berman is the
band’s only constant member, and dozens of players have rotated
into the supporting roles—but Berman’s knack for writing a
damn good song is one thing you can bank on. Hear the current
cast of the Silver Jews play songs from their latest release,
Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea, when they play the Iron
Horse this evening. (Sept. 4, 8:30 PM, $20, 20 Center St.,
Northampton, Mass., 413-586-8686)
Mr.
Charlie and Blues for Breakfast
Revolution
Hall, Saturday
Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Woody Guthrie, Jerry Garcia:
Each have contributed mightily to the Great American Songbook.
It seems, though, like Deadheads have had to argue extra hard
for their hero’s legitimacy in the schema of American music.
But with hippies and hipsters alike coming back around to
the sounds of the bearded one, Dead cover bands like Blues
for Breakfast are getting the credit they deserve for keeping
the faith. The band’s reverence is tempered by good taste,
so Dead tunes will be just the beginning of a set as elliptical
as the material permits. (Sept. 6, 7 PM, $7, 425 River
St., Troy, 274-0553)
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| Brubeck
Brothers Quartet |
Albany
Riverfront Jazz Festival
Corning
Preserve, Saturday
Ah,
September. The Tulip Festival is a distant memory and Alive
at Five has fizzled out with the last days of August. Cooler
days can mean only one thing: the coolest free music event
of the year, the Albany Riverfront Jazz Fest. Sideman to the
stars, David Sanborn headlines the event with a saxophone
style he’s lent to Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, and countless
others. Doc Gibbs brings his band Picante directly off the
set of Emeril Lagasse’s cooking show and down to the waterfront.
Ernestine Anderson and the Brubeck Brothers Quartet cover
the blues and straight-ahead jazz, respectively, while Keith
Pray delivers a set of big band swing with the Capital Region’s
own Big Soul Ensemble. (Sept. 6, noon, free, Albany Riverfront
Park, Corning Preserve, Albany, 434-2032)
Necrophagist,
Dying Fetus
Northern
Lights, Wednesday
It’ll make for one of the strangest Google searches you’ll
ever run, but enter “Dying Fetus” and click “I’m Feeling Lucky.”
Now, if you need any further proof that these guys “mean it,”
check out the video for “Kill Your Mother, Rape Your Dog.”
Necrophagist and Dying Fetus have been around since the early
’90s and know a thing or two about striking fear into the
hearts of their listeners. Rest assured, they can growl with
the best in Scandinavian death metal, all without the aid
of stage blood, Pagan props, and bondage masks. All are welcome
at Wednesday night’s show; only mothers and housepets should
exercise caution. (Sept. 10, 7 PM, $17, 1208 Route 146,
Clifton Park, 371-0012)
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| Also
Noted |
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| Scientific
Maps |
Tomorrow
(Friday), help Scientific Maps bid farewell
to bassist Justin Baker at Tess’ Lark Tavern;
the band will share a bill with Kitty Little
and Chlorine (10 PM, $5, 463-7875). . .
. A few blocks up, Valentine’s will host a benefit
for the Center for Disability Services on Friday,
with music from Rock Garden, Gutter
Saints, and Blue Factory, the new band
from former Crawdad brothers Jim and Joe Crawley
(9 PM, $5, 432-6572). . . . You can keep the fund-raising
going Saturday morning by checking out Vintage
13, a program of songs and singers from the
heyday of Colgate University’s singing groups,
at the Saratoga County Arts Council; proceeds
benefit the Saratoga Springs History Museum (11
AM, $5, 584-6920). . . . Saturday at Red Square,
catch Katie Haverly and her new backing
band Vox Celeste, plus rockers Alta
Mira and nouveau folkie Matt Durfee
(9 PM, $7, 465-0444). . . . We hear there’s a
reunion going on: Rory Breaker are back
for a gig at Valentine’s on Saturday, along with
Caleb Lionheart and the Reveling
(8 PM, $5, 432-6572). . . . Ragtag roots-revivalists
the Felice Brothers will make several area
appearances in the coming week or so, including
this Sunday at Club Helsinki in Great Barrington,
Mass. (8 PM, $20, 413-528-3394). . . . Massachusetts-based
singer-songwriter Mark Erelli gets Delivered
on his new record; hear some of the new material
at Caffe Lena Sunday evening (7 PM, $15, 583-0022).
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