Metroland Online - Noteworthy

When artists direct us to their press clips, naturally they only direct us to the good notices. But even we’ve rarely seen the glowing praise, dutifully compiled on her Web site, that’s been afforded to singer-songwriter Laura Love. The New York Post wrote that “folk wimps, girly girls and confessional coffeehouse chicks” should “step aside and make room for . . . the most original female singer to make music since Ani DiFranco.” The Utne Reader wrote that Love is one of “40 artists that will shake the world.” If these two publications can agree on someone, that’s news. And for a funk-oriented bassist with musical ties to folk, bluegrass, gospel and country to create a sound that’s not only not a mishmash, but compelling and appealing, well, that’s news, too. She’ll be performing this weekend with Orville Johnson. (Nov. 22, 7:30 PM, $24, 440 State St., Schenectady, 346-6204; Nov. 23, 8 PM, $30, 284 Main St., Great Barrington, Mass., 413-528-3394)

Railbird CD release

Revolution Hall, Saturday

Speaking of glowing critical praise, Saratoga-based singer-songwriter Sarah Pedinotti has certainly seen her share—Billboard editor Thom Duffy placed her first two albums in his year-end Top 10 lists. But like a good artist should, she didn’t let the accolades go to her head, as evidenced by her new project, Railbird. While she could have rested on the laurels of her own name—until recently, this “new” band’s moniker was the Sarah Pedinotti Band—she decided to mark a distinct new direction for both her band and her music, and the resulting self-titled disc is a remarkably self-assured slice of modern Americana that will likely keep her and her cohorts on the national radar for some time to come. Opening Saturday’s CD-release show are another act hoping to make a national mark in the near future, Charlie Everywhere. (Nov. 22, 7 PM, $10, 425 River St., Troy, 274-0553)

The Reducers

Valentine’s, Saturday

The folks at Valentine’s revel in the booking of minor legends; this Saturday’s act is no exception to that revelry. New London, Conn., band the Reducers have been banging away at the Northeast circuit for close to 25 years, and this year’s guitars, bass and drums finds them as sharp as ever—they may take things a bit slower than in their early days, but the songs are no less tightly wound, with all the rootsy, pub-punk goodness of old. “My Problem” is one of the best songs of the year that nobody will hear, and features a guest spot from the inimitable Mark Mulcahy. (It seems that minor legends stick together.) Raise a pint for rock & roll at Valentine’s this Saturday. (Nov. 22, 9 PM, $5, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)

Ras Moshe

Sanctuary for Independent Media, Saturday

When jazz was first “freed” in the late ’50s, it wasn’t only the musical establishment that liberated artists were trying to shake. Aesthetic revolutionaries, “free jazz” musicians have always used their craft as an instrument for social change. With 20 years of experience in the progressive New York jazz scene, saxophonist Ras Moshe is a third-generation musician performing in an era that still hasn’t come to terms with advances made six decades back. Moshe views music as a spiritual and social tool, apropos of the Free Jazz From the Sanctuary series for which his multi-racial/gender quartet will perform this Saturday. (Nov. 22, 8 PM, $10, 3361 6th Ave., Troy, 272-2390)

Yes

Times Union Center, Sunday

Yes . . . or something like it, anyway. See, this was supposed to be the “Close to the Edge and Back” tour, the English progressive-rock group’s big 40th-anniversary victory lap—that is, until vocalist Jon Anderson was diagnosed with acute respiratory failure this June and the tour was scrapped. But guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White decided to press on, redubbing the jaunt “In the Present” and recruiting Oliver Wakeman (Rick Wakeman’s kid) on keyboards and vocalist Benoît David—the frontman for a Canadian Yes tribute band. Anderson reportedly was unhappy about the decision, but business is business, and the band will honor their own legacy this weekend in Albany. A portion of proceeds from the event will benefit STRIDE Adaptive Sports. (Nov. 23, 7 PM, $38.50-$95, $19 Siena students with ID, 51 S. Pearl St., Albany, 800-30-EVENT)

Also Noted

Don Byron

Recent Metroland cover models the B3nson Collective will release a new compilation CD featuring 14 of their associated artists tonight (Thursday) at Valentine’s; paid admission gets you a copy of the disc, plus live sets from the Hoborchestra, Beware! The Other Head of Science, Scientific Maps, and Barons in the Attic (7:30 PM, $8, 432-6572). . . . Great Barrington, Mass., nightspot Club Helsinki celebrates nine years in the business tomorrow (Friday) night with a performance from the man who started it all: Olu Dara returns with the very same band with which he graced the Helsinki stage that first night (9 PM, $35, 413-528-3394). . . . Get a different kind of lesson Friday night when famed clarinetist and University at Albany faculty member Don Byron takes to the stage at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center with his quartet (8 PM, $10-$25, 442-3997). . . . Club D’Elf will return to Red Square Friday night with none other than longtime Bowie guitarist Reeves Gabrels behind the strings (10 PM, $10, 465-0444). . . . The ever-changing, always mind-expanding experimental collective Sunburned Hand of the Man are back at the Saratoga Arts Center on Saturday, along with Franklins Mint (8 PM, $5, 584-4132). . . . Legendary British guitarist Martin Simpson brings his intimidating skill set to the Old Songs Community Arts Center in Voorheesville on Saturday (8 PM, $20, 765-2815). . . . Legendary Irish singer and Wolfe Tones founder Derek Warfield performs at the Parting Glass on Saturday (9 PM, $20, 583-1916).

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