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| Mark
Eitzel |
Reel
Big Fish, the English Beat
Northern
Lights, Thursday
At first this co-headline bill looked like a head-scratcher,
but it actually makes a lot of sense: ’80s two-tone revivalists
the English Beat begat much of the ’90s ska-punk revival,
which begat Reel Big Fish (which in turn begat the recent,
unlikely ska-punk revival, which begat opening band Supervillains).
And it turns out the Beat and the Fish have a bit of a mutual
admiration society. According to Pollstar, Aaron Barrett of
RBF called the Beat “one of our favorite bands of all time
and one of the biggest influences on our music!” Beat frontman
Dave Wakeling returned the compliment, saying “I was thrilled
many years ago to be invited to play at Reel Big Fish’s first
album release party, and we are thrilled again to be touring
with them now that they are bona fide Skadfathers!” Ska bands,
always working the word “ska” into everything. Hmph. (July
16, 7 PM, $22, 1208 Route 146, Clifton Park, 371-0012)
Camp
Bisco 8
Indian
Lookout Country Club, Thursday-Saturday
The Biscuits are back. Disco Biscuits, that is. These Philly
trance-fusion travelers built Bisco around their name long
before every band and its brother had a festival; eight years
later it’s still chugging along, because they’ve kept it manageable—they’re
not trying to be Bonnaroo North after all. But that doesn’t
mean the bill is without its share of big names: In addition
to three nights of Biscuits and two nights of fellow electro-jammers
STS9, this year’s lineup includes the frat-rap of Asher Roth,
the illmatic Nas with reggae royalty Damian Marley, Montreal
synth-funk sexhounds Chromeo, LCD Soundsystem offshoot Special
Disco Version, plus Dr. Dog, Kid Cudi, Bonobo, and dozens
more (including the Capital Region’s own Phantogram!). Air
out the pup tent and make some brownies; it’s gonna be a long
weekend. (July 16-18, times and prices vary, 1142 Batter
St., Mariaville, campbisco.net)
Dave
Alvin and the Guilty Women
Revolution
Hall, Friday
People grieve in different ways. Some turn to the comforting
arms of a friend or loved one. Some delve into acts of degradation
and self-destruction. And some join with an all-female roots
band, to record a tribute record and tour the country. Former
Blaster Dave Alvin is apparently the latter type. In 2008,
longtime friend and member of Alvin’s the Guilty Men, Chris
Gaffney, passed away. Soon after, Alvin joined a group of
all-female musicians on the stage of a bluegrass festival
for a one-off Gaffney tribute that stuck. The band are touring
in support of their eponymous release and a new compilation
tribute to Gaffney that sports bands like Los Lobos and Calexico.
While Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women may give off that sick-sweet
smell of “gimmick,” the band sure can play; sometimes guilt
is just part of the process. (July 17, 8 PM, $22, 425 River
St., Troy, 274-0553)
Mike
and Ruthy
Caffe
Lena, Sunday
Mike and Ruthy fell in love in New York City, got married,
and, instead of honeymooning in St. Croix, recorded their
debut album The Honeymoon Agenda, in West Hurley, N.Y.
Dutch magazine Moors called it “gorgeous acoustic music
which exceeds a genre such as folk or singer/songwriter. Two
perfectly connected musicians who belong to the absolute top.”
After touring around the world for seven years, and recently
welcoming the birth of a son, they said they have “a new appreciation
for the power of good music.” Which leads us to their recently
released second album, Waltz of the Chickadee, which
has been called “haunting, delicate and organic.” Good songwriting
and solid, original arrangements are the backbone to this
duo’s success, but their undeniable connection to each other
pulls it all together. (July 19, 7 PM, $14, 47 Phila St.,
Saratoga Springs, 583-0022)
Mark
Eitzel
The
Linda, Wednesday
Sweet, glorious misery may never know another vessel like
Mark Eitzel. Over a nearly-30-year career, Eitzel has put
to tape some truly, brilliantly depressing prose in the form
of, mostly, love songs. But his lyrics, which bring his internal
struggles—not just as a gay man but as a human being—to cathartic
light, are tempered with a unique brand of gallows humor.
If you’re unfamiliar with Eitzel’s work, this week’s performance
would be an excellent primer, as he’ll be drawing exclusively
from the repertoire of American Music Club, the great San
Francisco band he fronted from 1982 to 1994, and again for
much of this decade. Which means, hopefully, such stone-cold
classic tunes as “Johnny Mathis’ Feet” and “What Godzilla
Said to God When His Name Wasn’t Found in the Book of Life.”
We told you he was a funny guy. (July 22, 8 PM,
$20, 339 Central Ave., Albany, 465-5233 ext. 4)
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| Also
Noted |
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| John
Legend |
Tomorrow’s
(Friday) Garage Bands in the Garage show at Albany
Public Library looks more like a chillout tent,
thanks to folk-pop duo We Are Jeneric and
downbeat electro project Space Lounge (6
PM, free, 427-4300). . . . Emack & Bolio’s
celebrates the grand opening of their second area
location (in Guilderland) on Saturday with a full
day of music including Emerald Dawn, Courtney
Rice, and more (free, noon, 250-4196). . .
. You have earned the new puppy that is coming
with us to the White House: Get your pop-culture
remix fix when Eclectic Method come to
Red Square Saturday; the performance is preceded
by a screening of RiP: A Remix Manifesto
(8 PM, $9, 465-0444). . . . You’ll probably never
see as many amplifiers on a club stage as you
will when the mighty Jucifer take over
Valentine’s on Saturday night (8 PM, $10, 432-6572).
. . . We think we remember seeing New York indie
trio Babe the Blue Ox open for Fugazi way
back in 1991, but memory’s a funny thing; in any
case, they’re at MASS MoCA on Saturday (8 PM,
$18, 413-662-2111). . . . If you like your pop
music to sound like one long casino advertisement,
you might be a fan of John Legend; he’s
playing the Palace on Saturday (8 PM, $39.50-$54.50,
465-4663). . . . Sunday at the Linda, it’s a folk
and bluegrass bill to benefit WAMC; Kate Taylor
and Jim Gaudet are among the performers
(6 PM, $25, 465-5233 ext. 4). . . . Three things:
Tony Bennett, Tanglewood, Tuesday (8 PM,
$24-$85, 888-266-1200). . . . In addition to being
a distinguished graduate of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers,
Mick Taylor was, for a spell, the heart
of the Rolling Stones—he played on their best
albums (Exile, Fingers, etc.) and
was arguably their best guitarist. See if he’s
still got it (word is, yes, he does) when he plays
the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock on Wednesday
(8 PM, $35-$40, 845-679-4406).
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