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Randy
Rogers Band
Proctor’s
Theatre, Thursday
To be in country music with the last name Rogers means a lifetime
of saying “No relation.” Yes, there’s that guy Kenny who just
so happens to be playing the same venue this very week, but
Randy Rogers is indeed his own man, and his hard-working band
is one of the hottest in country music right now. Their self-titled
debut record overtook twang juggernaut Rascal Flatts last
fall to grab the No. 1 spot on the iTunes country chart, and
the band’s appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman
last month received universally high marks. All of this, we
think, is because their music is actually good—if the
Randy Rogers Band is the future of country music, that’s OK
by us. (Feb. 5, 7:30 PM, $12, 432 State St., Schenectady,
346-6204)
Deni
Bonet, Curtis Eller
Chapel
+ Cultural Center, Thursday
It’s been some time since those halls came alive with the
sound of secular music. Tonight ends that dry spell, when
singer-songwriter-violinist Deni Bonet brings her rootsy rock
to the Chapel + Cultural Center. She was a breakout performer
on the Lilith Fair (ah, memories), and has toured and performed
with folks like R.E.M. and Richard Thompson. Her latest CD,
Last Girl on Earth, finds gruff electric guitars giving
an edge to the production, but rest assured, her best assets—voice
and violin—are still the focal points. Bonet will be joined
tonight by Curtis Eller, “New York City’s angriest yodeling
banjo player” (and trust us, there’s a lot of competition
for that title). (Feb. 5, 7:30 PM, free, 2125 Burdett Ave.,
Troy, 274-7793)
U-Melt
Revolution
Hall, Friday
Based in New York City, U-Melt came into existence after a
spontaneous acoustic jam at the 2003 Phish IT music festival
and haven’t stopped jamming or touring since. Playing more
than 500 shows in their five-year career, members Rob Salzer,
Zac Lasher, George Miller and Andy Bender combine elements
of jazz, funk, progressive rock, dance and salsa to create
improvisational music that is known for utilizing catchy hooks.
New York magazine said to expect long sets “with moments
of brilliance.” After toiling in smaller clubs, they now pack
fans into larger venues. Be prepared for a late night—U-Melt
are known for sunrise-greeting sets lasting up to seven hours(!)
Albany-based prog-rockers Timbre Coup are opening. (Feb.
6, 9 PM, $16, 425 River St., Troy, 274-0553.)
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Deerhunter
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Deerhunter
Skidmore
College Sports and Recreation Center, Saturday
The Atlanta-based “ambient punk” outfit Deerhunter saw their
stock rise significantly with the release of last fall’s Microcastle
disc, which wound up near the top of many a critic’s year-end
list. And for good reason: Over the course of the last several
years, the band’s sound has developed into much more than
just a platform for their legendarily out-of-hand live performances.
Indeed, Microcastle’s rich, reverb-laden sheen kindly
recalls the music of both the bands that skeletal bandleader
Bradford Cox and company presumably were weaned on (Sonic
Youth, Pavement) and the acts they claim as influences (David
Bowie, Brian Eno). Catch the show that Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer
Karen O once called a “religious experience” Saturday at the
Skidmore gym. (Feb. 7, 8 PM, $10, $5 students, 580 Broadway,
Saratoga Springs, pglen non@skid more.edu)
Century
Plants, Bone Parade, Bad Costume, Ghoul Poon, Grab Ass Cowboys
Upstate
Artists Guild, Saturday
Say it with us now: Ghoul Poon. Now let’s try the next one
(and we want to hear those S’s hiss): Grab Ass Cowboys. Ah,
see, now you’re getting it. With these bands, it’s all about
the sound. We’re not talking song, melody, note, or even pitch,
per se. These guys deal in the raw, unpasteurized, elemental,
fresh-out-the-womb shit. For your listening and/or vibrating
and/or convulsing and/or blissing out and/or disintegrating
pleasure, of course. Bear in mind though, when they take you
apart Saturday night, they’re not obligated to put you back
together. (Feb. 7, 7 PM, $3, 247 Lark St., Albany, 426-3501)
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Noted |
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Armen
Donelian
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As
mentioned a few weeks back in Rough Mix, Broadcast
Live have a new CD out, and they’ll celebrate
its release tomorrow (Friday) night at Red Square,
with special guests Oddy Gato and the Gun
Poets (9 PM, 465-0444). . . . Pianist Armen
Donelian and sax player Marc Mommaas
team up for two duo sets at Justin’s Friday night
(9:30 PM, $5, 436-7008). . . . At Valentine’s
Friday night, get punked with Captain Kirk
and the Rocktopus, Society High, Horror
Business and Chesty Malone and the Slice
’Em Ups (8 PM, $5, 432-6572). . . . Savannah’s
has a rocking triple bill Friday with the Last
Conspirators, Blackcat Elliot, and
the Blisterz (9 PM, $5, 426-9647). . .
. University at Albany professor and all-around
electroacoustic-music giant Bob Gluck will
debut a new piece by Neil Rolnick that involves
computer-assisted pianos and other interactions
between zeroes, ones, and humans, at the Performing
Arts Center Recital Hall on UAlbany’s uptown campus
this Saturday; an open rehearsal precedes the
performance Friday afternoon at 3 PM (8 PM, $4-$10,
442-3997). . . . The Galway Central School will
be the site for the 10th Annual Cabin Fever Song
Fest on Saturday; performers include Dan Berggren,
John Kirk, Trish Miller, Ed Lowman,
and David Kiphuth (7 PM, $18, 882-9232).
. . . Get roasted with Kenny Rogers Saturday
night at Proctor’s Theatre (8 PM, $20-$55, 346-6204).
. . . Here’s a name we haven’t heard in a while:
Folky favorite Laura Boggs plays an afternoon
show at the Guilderland Public Library on Sunday
(2 PM, free, 436-0591).
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