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Murphy’s
Law
Northern
Lights, Saturday
Murphy’s Law have been one of the hardcore scene’s hardest-touring,
hardest-partying acts since their debut Bong Blast
in 1983. While known for being a revolving cast of characters
united around vocalist Jimmy Gestapo (their Wikipedia page
lists more than 30 different former musicians), they’ve also
been a practical résumé builder for punk-rock talent: After
passing through the ranks of Murphy’s Law, band members have
gone on to play in acts like Danzig, Dog Eat Dog, Mucky Pup,
and New York Dolls. So check out the future of New
York City hardcore when Murphy’s headline the Upstate Black
N Blue Xmas party this weekend; the undercard includes Bulldog
Courage, Inhuman, Contempt, Black Iron Prison, and Abrasive
Thoughts. (Dec. 27, 7 PM, $12, 1208 Route 146, Clifton
Park, 371-0012)
The
Heavy Pets
Tess’
Lark Tavern, Saturday
It’s a good week to catch up on some R&R. That doesn’t
mean you need to stay at home, though. In fact, here’s a perfect
example of how you can simultaneously kick back and enjoy
the social circuit: A Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based troupe with
Capital Region roots, the Heavy Pets have just what you’ll
need to get into a chill mood. The band have taken their folk-funk-rock
hybrid around the country for three years now, making stops
at such big-time festivals as Langerado and 10,000 Lakes along
the way. They’ll bring the good vibes to the Lark on Saturday,
where they’ll share a bill with local boys Wiley Dobbs. (Dec.
27, 9 PM, $5, 453 Madison Ave., Albany, 463-9779)
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| The
Breakfast |
The
Breakfast
Red
Square, Saturday
You’ve got to give the Breakfast some credit. It’s been a
few years since the band stripped the Floydian modifier “psychedelic”
from their name, in anticipation (no doubt) of the jam scene’s
eventual implosion, but rather than retreat from the realm
of adventurous, high-octane funk—tally-ho!—the boys have waged
on with all the more dexterity, improvisational acumen, and
respect for songcraft. Original keyboardist Jordan Giangreco
will join them Saturday night. Prog-piano virtuoso Jeff Bujak
opens. (Dec. 27, 8 PM, $10, 388 Broadway, Albany, 465-0444)
Lizzie
West and Baba Buffalo
Club
Helsinki, Sunday
If you’ve been a regular listener to radio program Democracy
Now! at any time over the last five or six years, you’ve
likely heard Lizzie West’s song “19 Miles to Baghdad.” The
“peace anthem,” as its been dubbed, served as the undoing
of West’s relationship with former label Warner Bros., which
refused to release the song—ironically, only a year after
she was named Artist of the Year by AOL Music and Entertainment
Weekly. Such setbacks might have ruined lesser artists,
but West has continued down her own unique path and, with
husband and co-conspirator Baba Buffalo at her side, has been
performing an “interactive folk opera” around the country
for the last few years. The couple’s “Tumbleweed Cabaret”
blows into Great Barrington this Sunday. (Dec. 28, 8 PM,
$12, 284 Main St., Great Barrington, Mass., 413-528-3394)
Chris
Pureka
Jason’s
Upstairs Bar, Tuesday
On first listen, Chris Pureka’s voice and songwriting will
call to mind a list of names: Bob Dylan, Gillian Welch, Ryan
Adams. This will be a good thing. Listen a little further
and, somewhere in that thicket of finger-picked guitar and
breathy warbling vocals, these names begin to fall away. The
27-year-old songstress sings with pathos that belies her few
years. Trans-genre acoustic duo Coyote Grace open. (Dec.
30, 8 PM, call for price, 521 Warren St., Hudson, 828-8787)
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| Also
Noted |
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Last
Minute Letter
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Odds
are, by the time you read this, Santa will have
been and gone, and we’ll have moved full-on into
the entertainment dead zone. There’s not much
in the way of big-ticket live music this week
(except for Wu-Tang!) but if you’re itching to
get away from the family as quickly as possible,
the local clubs still have plenty to offer, starting
Friday, when Railbird wrap up their residency
at One Caroline Street in Saratoga Springs (9
PM, free, 587-2026). . . . At Valentine’s on Friday,
get a dose of musical humor—and likely some Christmas
cheer—with Cornbred, Tobiaz, and
Hungry Jack (9 PM, $5, 432-6572). . . .
Also at Valentine’s on Friday, on the upstairs
stage, Last Minute Letter celebrate the
release of their latest CD; Burn Wall Street,
Hello Control, Saved by City Lights,
and California are also on the bill (7
PM, $10, 432-6572). . . . The kids are alright,
they just changed their names: The Day Was
Mine, once (and for quite some time!) known
as Graystar, play a stripped-down show at Moon
and River Café in Schenectady this Friday, on
a bill with local duo Of Keeping Secrets
(8 PM, free, 382-1938). . . . Get a hearty helping
of old-time Americana with long-running string
band Raquette River Rounders Friday at
Caffe Lena (8 PM, $14, 583-0022). . . . And Saturday
might, weather permitting, be your last chance
to take a drive down to Woodstock before the 2009
rolls in—not that you can’t just wait it out,
but who knows when New Riders of the Purple
Sage and Professor Louie and the Crowmatix
will again share a bill at the Bearsville
Theater (9 PM, $30, 845-679-4406).
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