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Ayurveda
Red
Square, Thursday
Ithaca is not exactly known as a Mecca of hard-rock music;
more often than not, you think of ivy-covered lecture halls
before you think of the town’s (apparently) happening club
scene. Ayurveda would like to change that perception. The
five-piece band, whose name comes from a Sanskrit word meaning
“the knowledge of life,” just released their debut album,
Being: It’s a bold slice of heavy music with lyrics
that, in keeping with the band’s name, look inward for the
answers to life’s big questions. We’re not saying they find
them, but these guys are young yet, give ’em time. To bring
everything full-circle: Being was produced by Bad
Religion producer Alex Perialas; Bad Religion singer Greg
Graffin has a Ph.D. from Cornell; Cornell is in Ithaca; and
our minds are blown. Get yours blown by Ayurveda tonight
at Red Square. (Feb. 26, 9 PM, $7, 388 Broadway, Albany,
465-0444)
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Jennifer
O’Connor
Photo:
John Von Pamer
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Jennifer
O’Connor
Valentine’s,
Friday
The Matador Records press re lease accompanying Jennifer O’Connor’s
latest release, Here With Me, was formatted in the
style of a “10 Reasons You Should Listen to . . .” list, and
while the list doesn’t hit on anything out of the ordinary,
at least it doesn’t include yodeling. Indeed, the Brooklyn-based
O’Connor is a perfectly normal singer-songwriter; she just
so happens to be a very good one. So we don’t blame
Matador for trying their best to make her stand out. If you
really want to find out what makes O’Connor special, though,
you ought to pick up a copy of the John Agnello-produced Here
With Me (item No. 1) because it’s terrific, and get to
Valentine’s tomorrow (Friday) night to hear her sing (item
No. 4) because her voice is, also, terrific. Hold Steady keyboardist
Franz Nicolay and Hudson-line regulars Knotworking open. (Feb.
27, 9 PM, $7, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)
Splatto
Festival Chorus
Sanctuary
for Independent Media, Saturday
The Sanctuary closes out its exceptional Free Jazz from the
Sanctuary series this weekend with possibly the freest kind
of free jazz. The Splatto Festival Chorus brings together
four of the most exciting and prolific names in experimental
music: Dave Barrett, Michael Bisio, Ed Mann, and Todd Reynolds.
Barrett (saxophones) has played with a baffling array of performers,
from Mr. Bungle to Mamie van Doren. Bisio (bass) has more
than 45 CD credits to his name, including more than a dozen
with co-conspirator Joe McPhee. Mann (vibraphone, percussion,
electronic sound design) was one of Frank Zappa’s go-to guys
in the studio, which is about as high an honor as any musician
can wish for. And Reynolds (violin and laptop) is a member
of Bang on a Can All-Stars, Steve Reich and Musicians, and
Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project. The collective pedigree here
is outstanding; the promise that anything can, and probably
will, happen on Saturday, is even more so. (Feb. 28, 8
PM, $10, 3361 6th Ave., Troy, 272-2390)
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Christian
McBride
Skidmore
College, Monday
Dropping out of Juilliard to play with the heavyweights is
a classic rite of passage in the jazz world, and recording
on the Ropeadope label earns an artist mighty street cred
in the current indie-jazz scene. Philadelphia bassist Christian
McBride happens to have done both. After cutting his teeth
with the likes of Roy Hargrove, Freddie Hubbard and Pat Metheny,
McBride earned a creative license for projects like the Philadelphia
Experiment, a funky piece of soul-jazz in collaboration with
Roots drummer ?uestlove and guitarist Pat Martino. Fronting
his own band, McBride makes sure there’s plenty of backbeat
in every melodic adventure. Don’t assume you’ll stay seated
for this one. (March 2, 8 PM, $5, Filene Recital Hall,
Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, 580-5321)
Taste
of Chaos 2009
Northern
Lights, Tuesday
The multi-band Taste of Chaos tour is for fans of “the post-hardcore,
screamo and metal genres.” The post-hardcore band Thursday
are touring on the strength of a new album, Common Existence.
(Whatever you do, don’t call them emo!) Bring Me the
Horizon are a salty group of English lads who play deathcore—and
are said to have a nasty way with the ladies. Four Year Strong
are a power punk band from gritty, grisly Worcester, Mass.;
Cancer Bats are a hardcore punk band from a cheerful, clean
Canadian place, Toronto. (Background isn’t everything.) Like
Thursday, Pierce the Veil are also a post-hardcore band. (Don’t
call them emo, either.) This year’s edition of the Taste of
Chaos tour is sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink, which logically
leads to a question: Does Rockstar taste like chaos, too?
We found someone in the office who has enjoyed the product,
and they said no. “It tastes Sprite-ish, only more sour, like
sour apple. But good.” (March 3, 6 PM, $22, 1208 Route
146, Clifton Park, 371-0012)
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Noted |
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Paper
and Sand
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Tomorrow’s
(Friday) Official Unofficial Troy Night Out Afterparty
at Revolution Hall will feature a bracing jolt
of rock—and, likely, confetti—thanks to Aficionado;
pelham123, We Are Architects, and
the Jerks are also scheduled (9 PM, $5,
274-0553). . . . The Spencertown Academy does
the kids a solid this Saturday, with a teen- appropriate
show featuring music from I Composed a Flood,
Okosu, Abbey Graves, and Ostia,
plus spoken-word performer Dakota Darkhorse;
no alcohol or drugs will be allowed on the premises
and the show will wrap by 11 PM (4 PM, $8, 392-3693).
. . . Also for the children on Saturday is Gustafer
Yellowgold’s Show at the Bearsville Theatre
in Woodstock; believe you us, it’s an all-ages
show that’s truly suitable for all ages (11 AM,
$, 845-679-4406). . . . The Sense Offenders
bid farewell to bassist Matt McWatters Saturday
night at Red Square; helping to see him off are
Paper and Sand and Saving Atlantis
(9 PM, $7, 465-0444). . . . On Sunday the Bearsville
Theatre hosts a benefit for the Woodstock Byrdcliffe
Guild, with a performance by the legendary Jefferson
Starship (7:30 PM, $50, 845-679-4066). . .
. Also Sunday, at the Iron Horse Music Hall in
Northampton, Mass., power-poppers Fountains
of Wayne play a full-band acoustic show to
try out some tunes from their upcoming fifth album;
the Everyday Visuals open (7 PM, $25, 413-586-8686).
. . .The Ashley Pond Band will come out
of hiding (or maybe the recording studio?) Sunday
to play a show at Caffe Lena (7 PM, $12, 583-0022).
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