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James
McMurtry
The
Egg, Thursday
As singer-songwriters in the Americana genre go, they just
don’t come more highly recommended than James McMurtry. His
recently released ninth record, Just Us Kids, offers
a stark vision of modern America, with the storyteller getting
into the heads of those who have fought our wars, and into
the faces of those who got us there. The critical praise has,
naturally, been out of this world: The Washington Post
said, “The disc transcends mere sloganeering by offering the
kind of complicated characters and visual description you
might expect from the son of novelist Larry McMurtry,” while
Mojo simply stated, “A definite contender when those
Best of the Year polls get underway.” If you’re a fan of McMurtry,
you already have your tickets; if you’re mad as hell and not
gonna take it anymore, you’ll want to make your way to the
Egg this evening. Kieran Kane opens. (Nov. 13, 7:30 PM,
$22, Empire State Plaza, Albany, 473-1845)
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| Michael
Franti and Spearhead |
Michael
Franti and Spearhead
Palace
Theatre, Friday
As recently as this summer—before capitalism imploded and
a black man was elected president of the United States—when
Michael Franti was busy throwing his annual free Power
to the Peaceful concert in Golden Gate Park and touring
to support his latest disc All Rebel Rockers, he was
routinely dismissed as an idealist. Suddenly (praise be to
Jah) the man seems like a pragmatist. You ain’t gonna get
nothing but positive vibrations when Franti brings his multicultural
band through town Friday night. Rest assured, fists will be
raised, only this time it will be in triumph. Solillaquists
of Sound and Cherine Anderson open. (Nov. 14, 8 PM, $32,
19 Clinton Ave., Albany, 465-3334)
Duncan
Sheik, Lauren Pritchard
The
Egg, Sunday
Imagine: As a young artist, you find your first LP picked
up by a major label. It goes gold on the strength of your
first single—which becomes one of the longest-tenured songs
in pop-radio history, spending a full year on the Billboard
charts and earning you a Grammy nomination. You go on to make
a series of soft-spoken pop records until one day you decide
to score a 120-year-old German play for the Broadway stage—and
that musical goes on to win dozens of awards, including eight
Tonys. Duncan Sheik, this is your life. He returns to the
Egg this Sunday with opening act Lauren Pritchard, an original
cast member from the aforementioned award-winning musical
(Spring Awakening). (Nov. 16, 7 PM, $28, Empire
State Plaza, Albany, 473-1845)
Travis
Tritt and Marty Stuart
Troy
Savings Bank Music Hall, Sunday
Break out those old Levis and show that cowboy pride; two
of country’s most respected and well-known stars are riding
hard into the Capital Region. Travis Tritt and Marty Stuart
have their spurs dug deep in country’s true roots.
This rare acoustic tour is sure to be full of rich tales and
even richer tunes. Stuart brings years of experience as a
member of Johnny Cash’s band (as well as being Cash’s son-in-law);
Tritt brings more than 30 Billboard hits and his tenure with
the Grand Ol’ Opry to the table. Beware, Big and Rich fans—this
is the real stuff here. Tritt and Stuart bring two stools,
two guitars, and a whole chunk of country history to the Troy
Savings Bank Music Hall this Sunday. (Nov. 16, 7 PM, $49,
2nd and State streets, Troy, 273-0038)
Baroness
Valentine’s,
Wednesday
We’re not sure what kind of band Savannah, Ga.’s Baroness
are, exactly—terms like stoner rock, sludge metal, and psychedelic
all seem to fit, but no single one of those terms quite narrows
in on it. Their music veers from balls-out, Motorhead-esque
riffage to Clutch-style, proto-funk breakdowns, with lengthy
jams and elements of prog thrown in to keep headbangers from
hurting their necks. (It’s awfully hard to bang your head
in 7/8 time.) But whatever they are, we’re happy to say that
Baroness are legitimately badass, and well worth checking
out this Wednesday at Valentine’s, where they’ll throw down
Southern-style with help from Chicago’s Minsk, Kentucky hardcore
trio Coliseum, and local boys Ironweed. (Nov. 19, 8 PM,
$12, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)
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| Also
Noted |
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| Brett
Rosenberg |
The
Kite Room, featuring former members of
Jupiter Sunrise, will be the musical guests at
this evening’s (Thursday) CRUMBS Night Out at
the Linda; their performance will be followed
by a panel on music licensing, which is highly
recommended! (8 PM, free, 465-5233 ext. 4). .
. . Boom boom: The Pat Travers Band will
perform tomorrow (Friday) night at the Roadhouse
Grill in Albany; they’ll be joined by local acts
Stuck on Stupid and Starstruck,
and the performance will be followed by a meet-and-greet
(8 PM, $30, 489-3170). . . . The Arts Center of
the Capital Region in Troy presents a rock &
roll dance party on Friday: Swingin’ for the Arts
features music from Rocky Velvet and the
Hi-Risers, plus free dance lessons so you
can learn how to jitterbug with the best of ’em
(7:30 PM, $15, $10 members, 273-0552). . . . Local
boy gone Nashville Brett Rosenberg comes
home for a show at Valentine’s on Saturday; he’s
touring in support of a new album, Born Twice
(9 PM, $5, 432-6572). . . . If you were wondering
what ’90s alt-hippy act Blind Melon might
sound like with a new singer, you’ll need to wait
a bit longer: The singer quit, and the band scrapped
their entire tour, including Saturday’s scheduled
date at Northern Lights. Refunds will be available
at point of purchase; call the club for more info
(371-0012). . . . Since the Bee Girl revival has
been put on hold, try this one instead: Keith
Pray’s Soul Jazz Revival will play 9 Maple
Avenue in Saratoga on Saturday (9 PM, 583-CLUB).
. . . Dancing fools, unite! Project/Object,
featuring original Frank Zappa band members Ike
Willis and Ed Mann, play the music
of Zappa in stunning detail at Revolution Hall
on Tuesday (7 PM, $20, 274-0553).
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