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Eric
Hutchinson
Revolution
Hall, Thursday
Taste is a funny thing. Cranky old brats that we are, we have
had a hard time not liking Eric Hutchinson’s debut single
“Rock and Roll.” It’s got elements that usually make us turn
our noses skyward—jivey, rapid-fire male vocals a la Jason
Mraz; ska rhythms a la Sublime—but somehow Hutchinson pulls
it off without sounding like an ass. And he’s a hard worker!
Dude could have thrown his hands up and said “screw it” when
his original label pulled the plug (on themselves, not him
specifically), but instead he self-released his Sounds
Like This disc, and watched as it rose to the iTunes Top
5 last fall—making it the highest-charting album by an unsigned
artist in iTunes history. Encouraging! Hutchinson and his
band were last in the Capital Region for a free set at LarkFest;
tonight, they’ll play a “regular” show at Revolution Hall.
Meaghan Smith and Matt Hires are scheduled to open. (Dec.
4, 7 PM, $14, 425 River St., Troy, 274-0553)
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| Mercury
Rev |
Mercury
Rev, Dean and Britta
Bearsville
Theater, Thursday
A few weeks ago, we reviewed the latest albums from Mercury
Rev—Snowflake Midnight, and its all-instrumental companion
Strange Attractor. And we liked them very much indeed.
The Rev are embarking on a U.S. tour in support of those records,
beginning tonight at in Woodstock, which should be something
to behold: Now just a trio, the band seem to be following
in the footsteps of their fellow fearless freaks, the Flaming
Lips. That is to say, the live show is about grand gestures
and high drama, and not just a bunch of dudes staring at their
effects pedals. Also on tonight’s bill are former Luna bandmates
turned happily married New Yorkers Dean (Wareham) and Britta
(Phillips). (Dec. 4, 8 PM, $25, 291 Tinker St., Woodstock,
845-679-4406)
Bill
Kirchen and John Tichy
The
Linda, Saturday
Lotsa musicians list an address in Austin, Texas, as a way
to legitimize their place in American roots music. If it weren’t
for folks like Bill Kirchen, though, they’d be nothing more
than Texans with blue jeans and six strings. Over the course
of his 30-year career, the Austin guitar slinger has written,
recorded, performed and collaborated enough for Guitar
Player magazine to name him “a titan of the Telecaster.”
When his 2007 release Hammer of the Honky Tonk Gods came
out, the title properly praised both the classic Fender instrument
and the man who’s played it all these years. On Saturday he’ll
reconvene with former Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen
bandmate John Tichy, who just happens to teach tribology at
RPI. (Dec. 6, 8 PM, $25, 339 Central Ave., Albany, 465-5233)
Ha
Ha the Moose
Revolution
Hall, Sunday
We really wish we could tell you moe. about this one. They
don’t tour much, and little moe. is known about this power
trio than that they met once upon a time in a Swiss jail.
The regional Mexican/fusion/ German pop sounds produced by
Dr. Guano, Sludge, and Jeff (von KickAss)—who insist on performing
incognito—deliver moe. brain-numbing madness than their numbers
might suggest. One of the band’s many international fans described
the experience as “feeling like [he] had just gone fishing
in Cambodia circa 1974.” What’s moe., this show caps the band’s
Northeast run. As far as chances to catch these guys go, you
may not get many moe. (Dec. 7, 7 PM, $18, 425 River St.,
Troy, 274-0553)
David
Archuleta
Northern
Lights, Wednesday
Seventeen-year-old singer David Archuleta is truly one of
a kind. Not because of his talent—watching Archuleta on the
2008 season of American Idol, we frequently wondered,
“Why does everything he sings sound like a showtune?”
Instead, we cite his unique position as the first Idol
winner (we know he didn’t actually win, but let’s face it,
the kid’s a much better singer than Cookie) to have been raised
on Idol, to actually have been inspired by the world’s
favorite game show. Which makes his rise to stardom strangely
compelling—what happens next when your whole young life was
based on a talent competition? Find out this week when Archuleta
headlines Fly 92’s annual Jingle Jam show, along with pop-rocker
Gavin DeGraw and local act Ten Year Vamp. (Dec. 10, 5:30
PM, $30, 1208 Route 146, Clifton Park, 371-0012)
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| Also
Noted |
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| Bela
Fleck and the Flecktones |
Ladies
and gentlemen, Lil Wayne! Psych—the rap
empresario’s show at the Times Union Center, originally
scheduled for tonight (Thursday), has been postponed;
refunds are available, though tickets will be
honored for the rescheduled date, which has yet
to be announced (800-30-EVENT). . . . We got our
guy into the White House, but there are still
some loose ends to take care of—namely, legal
bills. On Friday, Oddy Gato, Cultural
Relativity, Witness, and Pony in
the Pancake will perform at the Social Justice
Center in Albany to raise money for protestors
who were illegally arrested at this summer’s Republican
National Convention (7 PM, $5 suggested donation,
434-4037). . . . Hot on the heels of the release
of that new Bruce Springsteen tune, Springsteen
tribute act Bruce in the USA will play
at Revolution Hall on Friday (8 PM, $12, 274-0553).
. . . Perhaps you, like us, were thinking about
heading down to Poughkeepsie for this Saturday’s
performance by legendary singer-songwriter and
Kinks frontman Ray Davies; if so, we assume
you’ll be just as bummed as we are to hear that
it’s sold out (845-473-5288). . . . The one-man
guitar tornado known as Martin Sexton plays
the Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock on Saturday,
with the Trapps opening (9 PM, $35-$45,
845-679-4406). . . . OMFG! We don’t have to run
their picture this year! But we’ll still tell
you that Trans-Siberian Orchestra are making
their annual holiday run through the Times Union
Center this Sunday (3 and 7:30 PM, $20-$50, 800-30-EVENT).
. . . If you’ve ever wanted to hear “Angels We
Have Heard on High” played in 9/16 time by a virtuoso
jazz-funk band with a lead banjo player, this
is probably your only real chance: Bela Fleck
and the Flecktones present a holiday show
Tuesday night at the Egg (7:30 PM, $34.50, 473-1845).
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