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Chuck
Wicks
Columbia
County Fair, Friday
It just wouldn’t be a county fair without some racing pigs,
a demolition derby, baby kangaroo petting, a monster tractor
pull, watermelon-eating contests, and a hearty slice of Amurrican
country myoosic. Jo Dee Messina will be coming through on
Sunday, but the one we’ve got our eyes on is Chuck Wicks.
Wicks has covered compulsory territory with his patriotic
hit “Man of the House” and father/daughter devotional “Stealing
Cinderella,” but this guy’s a true triple-threat. That is,
he sings, strums, and dances with the stars. (Sept.
4, 8 PM, free with $10 fair admission, Route 66, Chatham,
392-2121)
MacTalla
Mór
Guthrie
Center, Friday
It must be tempting, as a performer at the Guthrie Center,
to play a version of the song that immortalized the venue.
No doubt, the Old Trinity Church has heard many a rendition
of Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree,” written
for Alice Brock, who lived there in the ’60s. Likely, few
of those incorporated the bagpipes, though. MacTalla Mór,
a family Celtic fusion band from New York City could change
that. Known for their high-energy synthesis of traditional
and original music, they’re liable to take their show in almost
any direction. For this they offer a disclaimer: “The pipes
are calling . . . resistance is futile.” (Sept. 4, 8 PM,
call for price, 4 Van Deusenville Road, Great Barrington,
Mass., 413-528-1955)
moe.Down.10
Snow
Ridge Ski Area, Friday-Sunday
It’s the tenth year for the music festival bearing the oddly
punctuated name of a certain () jamband. And sure enough,
to celebrate the milestone, moe. has put together a bill that’s
as eclectic as they are. Aside from five sets from the host
band, moe-goers will get some post-ironic irony (Cake), a
’90s power-popper (Matthew Sweet), two stars of the Hollywood
blockbuster How High (Method Man and Redman) and one
righteous babe (Ani DiFranco), along with the regular stash
of jam acts, both national (Umphrey’s McGee) and regional
(Ominous Seapods). This has all the makings of a great summer
weekend—don’t let the fact that the concert takes place on
a ski resort get you down. (Sept. 4-6, $140, times
vary, 4173 West Road, Turin, 315-348-8456)
Abba
the Tour
Belleayre
Music Festival, Saturday
Trust us, there are a bajillion Abba tributes out there, from
Abbamania to Abbacadabra, Abbalution to Abbacab, Black Abba-th
to Banana-abba. We’ve seen them all, because that’s just how
we like to spend our free time. And you can bet we’ll be in
Highmount on Saturday—because it’s the last concert of the
Belleayre Music Festival, and the Catskills are friggin’ beautiful
this time of year. But also, it’s Abba the Tour! This is a
nationally touring 12-piece band, featuring original members
of Abba’s live band—which means authenticity, which is what
you look for in an Abba tribute act. You always judge them
on four points: looks, costumes, singing, and pedigree. Bonus
points for decent Swedish accents. Trust us, we’ve seen a
billion of ’em. (Sept. 5, 8 PM, $15-$65, Route 28, Highmount,
800-942-6904)
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| Melvins |
Down,
Melvins
Northern
Lights, Wednesday
The Melvins’ march to All Tomorrow’s Parties, next weekend’s
indie-rock festival extraordinaire, takes them through Clifton
Park this week. The legendary sludge-packers have been on
a hot streak these last few years, with last year’s Nude
With Boots ranking among their best, and their live shows
are typically deafening—and, recently, drum-heavy (heavier
than usual, that is). This time around the Melvins are paired
up with metal supergroup Down, which should push the show
from deafening to life-threatening. The band will reportedly
return to the studio this fall to record the follow-up to
2007’s Down III: Over the Under, so there just may
be some new songs in their set. Weedeater and Evil Army begin
the evening. (Sept. 9, 7:30 PM, $20, 1208 Route 146, Clifton
Park, 371-0012)
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| Also
Noted |
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| Eric
Hutchinson |
Labor
Day weekend is not the most lively time for live
music, but we’ll take one kickass show over a
dozen mediocre ones any day. This here oughta
do the trick: Certifiably kickass New Orleans
band Dash Rip Rock blow into Valentine’s
tonight (Thursday) like a miniature Hurricane
Katrina, with Albany’s own Grainbelt set
to open (9 PM, $8, 432-6572). . . . Get some kickass
blues at the Van Dyck tonight, with the George
Boone Blues Band (7 PM, $5, 348-7999). . . . Brooklyn
Americana act Proud Simon have a couple
area appearances this weekend, in support of their
brand new Anchors Aweigh CD: Tonight, they
share a bill with Restys at Red Square
(PM, call for price, 465-0444); and Friday they’re
at Bread and Jam Café (8 PM, free, 326-2275).
. . . At MASS MoCA on Friday, composer-beatmaker
Son Lux performs music from his At War
With Walls & Mazes album, accompanied
by live visual improvisation from Joshue Ott;
anyone who downloads a special iPhone app (go
to massmoca.org for details) can participate in
Ott’s performance (8 PM, $14, $10 students, 413-662-2111).
. . . At PS/21 this Sunday, you can hear Scottish
fiddle tunes performed without a fiddle—that’s
the promise of duo New Rigged Ship (3 PM,
$20, 392-6121). . . . Soul man Eric Hutchinson
and his band are at Revolution Hall Wednesday
night (8 PM, $14, 274-0553).
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