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The
Platters, the Cornell Gunter Coasters
Alive
at Five, Thursday
It’s throwback week for Albany’s Alive at Five with Cornell
Gunter’s Coasters and the Platters. Both vocal groups are
inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and have been
groovin’ for a combined total of more than 100 years. The
Coasters produced hit singles like “Love Potion Number Nine”
and “Yakety-Yak,” which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top 100
in July 1958. Not surprisingly, the current Coasters lineup
includes none of the original members (although fans insist
that it’s hard to tell the difference). Herb Reed is still
the frontman for the Platters (as he was at the group’s inception
in 1953) and the only original member alive. He is present
on every one of the groups nearly 400 recordings, among them
hits like “The Pretender” and “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.” Albany
regulars Wylder open tonight’s event. (June 11, 5 PM, free,
Albany Riverfront Park, Corning Preserve, Albany, 434-2032)
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| Biz
Markie |
Naughty
by Nature, Biz Markie
Northern
Lights, Friday
We
hope the recent rash of throw back hip-hop shows that’s hit
the Capital Region doesn’t ebb anytime soon (at least not
before we can get some Digital Underground up in here). Tomorrow’s
(Friday) show is a real old-school treat, bringing together
one of the biggest rap acts of the early ’90s and one of the
genre’s great personalities. Naughty by Nature were responsible
for a string of massive tunes including “Hip Hop Hooray” (Ho!
Hey! Ho!) and “O.P.P.”; their set should be an all-out hit-fest.
And you know you have a favorite Biz Markie jam (we dig “Pickin’
Boogers” but you can’t go wrong with “Just a Friend”). Catch
the vapors with Biz Friday night. (June 12, 9 PM, $35,
1208 Route 146, Clifton Park, 371-0012)
Ashley
Pond Band CD release
Valentine’s,
Saturday
We don’t generally like to gloat, but we would like to say
“We told you so” with regard to the Ashley Pond Band. Pond
stirred up a quick and lively buzz when she started playing
solo shows around the area about three years back, and her
debut release Dala was one of the local lights of the
following year. And then she went and got a band and her whole
thing got exponentially better. Bassist Sarah Clark and drummer
Scott Smith lock in brilliantly with Pond’s idiosyncratic
folk-blues wail, and Pond’s songwriting is reaching critical
mass. The Warning, their first band release, captures
the trio’s deep chemistry and momentum. We aren’t going to
make any big predictions, but just do us a favor and make
these guys famous, OK? Space Lounge and Ben Karis-Nix open
Saturday’s release show. (June 13, 7:30 PM, $5, 17 New
Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)
Sub-Bombin
Release Party
Red
Square, Saturday
If you (like us) have long wondered where all the local hip-hop
is happening (because it’s got to be around here somewhere,
right?), it’s been right under our noses all along. Everyone’s
starting a recording collective these days (cheers!), but
since 2005, Sub-Bombin has been the local label for
beatmakers, knob-tweakers, and everyone in between. These
guys tend to keep a low profile, but their acts don’t. Maybe
you’ve heard of Phantogram? Well, that’s the tip of the iceberg.
On Saturday, the label kicks it analog stylee by releasing
a labelwide mix tape. Slotted to perform are Pluto, DJ Midas,
Pandha Pirhana and M.R. Blackout. (June 13, 8 PM, $10,
388 Broadway, Albany, 465-0444)
Luka
Bloom
Caffe
Lena, Tuesday
For a while in the early 1990s it seemed like any pseudo-folkie
with an acoustic guitar and a few Big Statements (or, a sizeable
cache of snark) could land a major-label deal. Of course none
of them sold any records to speak of; the majority of vets
from the last great singer-songwriter feeding frenzy continue
to tour and earn minor acclaim, the stars long gone from their
eyes. Irish performer Luka Bloom was part of that group (he
recorded two albums for Warner Bros.), but the bright light
of optimism has not left him. Produced by the great Frames
co-founder David Odlum, Bloom’s new Eleven Songs disc
shows remarkable consistency; if not wholly uplifting, it’s
certainly heartfelt and energetic. (June 16, 7 PM, $30,
47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, 583-0022)
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| Also
Noted |
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| Guggenheim
Grotto |
After
you leave the Albany Riverfront this (Thursday)
evening, take a walk over to Pearl Street for
the Pearl Street Live series; the Brian Tice
Band play tonight, and shows will follow every
Thursday that Alive At Five is scheduled (8 PM,
free). . . . Also tonight, Irish folk-pop duo
the Guggenheim Grotto will drop in on the
Linda (8 PM, $17, 465-5233 ext. 4). . . . What
in the holy living fuck is a Groogrux King? Find
out when the Dave Matthews Band play SPAC
tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday—both sold out,
naturally—with the Hold Steady (7 PM, 476-1000).
. . . Maple Ski Ridge in Rotterdam hosts its inaugural
Rhythm on the Ridge Acoustic Music Festival (and
benefit for the Regional Food Bank) on Saturday;
an array of regional acts perform on two stages
throughout the day, and you get a few bucks off
if you bring a canned good (10 AM, $10, ages 12
and under free, 381-4700). . . . The collaboration
of Ben Karis-Nix and Amanda Rogers known as the
Kite Room will breeze into Bread and Jam
Café on Saturday (8 PM, free, 326-2275). . . .
Bluegrass mandolin legend (and Saratoga Springs
native) Frank Wakefield will celebrate
his 75th birthday Saturday with a performance
at the Parting Glass (8 PM, $15, 583-1916). .
. . Super 400 will play their first local
show of 2009—can you believe it?—Saturday at Revolution
Hall; Hamell on Trial is their guest (7:30
PM, $12, 274-0553). . . . That rockin’ emo sound
that the kids are all excited about? It’s still
happening. Catch one of the genre’s most enduring
acts, Bayside, Sunday at Northern Lights,
along with I Am the Avalanche, Caleb
Lionheart, and California (6:30 PM,
$14, 371-0012). . . . The free concert series
at Scotia’s Freedom Park opens Wednesday with
Rick Rourke and Lost Wages (7 PM, free,
372-5656).
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