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Karl
Denson’s Tiny Universe
Revolution
Hall, Thursday
In 1999, Karl Denson said let there be music, and his tiny
universe was born. Often referred to as a jam band, Karl Denson’s
Tiny Universe eschew such labels—although they are quick to
credit their “jam-ily” for much of their commercial success
in venues nationwide. KDTU performed last week in Syracuse
where New Times writer Tom Kahley described their funk-based
fusion of danceable soul, gospel, booglaloo, jazz, and acid
jazz thusly: “If the Parliament-Funkadelic’s Mothership flew
over Big Pink and hit the boys in The Band with the Bop Gun
and funky-fied their vibe.” We think that sounds about right.
(Oct. 29, 8 PM, $22, 425 River St., Troy, 274-0553)
April
Smith and the Great Picture Show
Falstaff’s,
Thursday
For some reason, Perez Hilton is a trusted music-industry
tastemaker. We don’t get it. But it’s fine as long as we agree
with him, which we do on the topic of New York’s April Smith.
Perez featured the singer-songwriter’s song “Colors” on his
Web site, calling it “the kind of tune you’d hear on an episode
of Grey’s Anatomy or in the next iPod commercial.”
That’s not damning with faint praise; Smith’s music is the
kind of breezy retro-pop that might slip through the cracks
of the mainstream without such prominent placement. So we’ll
take Perez’ blurb as wishful thinking—we hope we hear April
Smith on TV real soon. In the meantime, she plays in Saratoga
this evening. (Oct. 29, 8 PM, free, Skidmore College, 815
N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 580-5000)
Zs,
Little Women
EMPAC,
Friday
This sounds seasonally appropriate: Brooklyn’s Zs will perform
as part of EMPAC’s New Nothing series tomorrow (Friday). The
venue calls them the “scariest band from [last year’s] Between
a Rock and a Tiny Bell concert,” and we would be hard-pressed
to disagree: The band take guitar dissonance to the point
of flat-out feedback; effects-laden saxophone howls through
the din, sounding more like the screams of a thousand souls
in limbo. This isn’t music, but a sensory assault—and we mean
that in the best possible way. Opening are Little Women, whose
saxophones are employed in a more traditional jazz context.
But next to Zs anything would be more traditional. Weird,
wild stuff. (Oct. 30, 8 PM, $15, $10 seniors and students,
$5 with RPI ID,110 8th St., Troy, 276-3921)
Richard
Julian
The
Linda, Friday
Richard Julian is kinda cute (think Wayne Coyne meets Ryan
Gosling). A sensitive singer-songwriter type on an acoustic
guitar, Julian plays simple tunes that showcase socially smart
lyrics in the same vein as Paul Simon, with a voice that’s
more evocative than tuneful. He has worked extensively with
Norah Jones and, touting him as the thinking man’s singer-songwriter,
Randy Newman has called him “one of the best songwriters and
record makers I’ve heard in a very long time.” But the still-largely-unknown
Julian’s latest album isn’t likely to be topping the pop charts
anytime soon, which may be just the reason to go see him in
person, where his humble storytelling style is likely to shine
brightest. (Oct. 30, 8 PM, $17, 337 Central Ave., Albany,
465-5233 ext. 4)
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| Pete
Yorn |
Pete
Yorn
The
Egg, Wednesday
When he completed his morning-day-night album cycle a few
years ago, with the lackluster Nightcrawler, many fans
wondered what Pete Yorn would do next. The answer, it seems,
was collaborate. Producer Mike Mogis enlisted a handful
of guest musicians—a first, as Yorn had played most everything
on his previous releases—to record this year’s Back and
Fourth. It’s another rootsy, midtempo affair, but there’s
more life to be found in this comparatively lean collection
than in his recent output. The singer-songwriter has another
release on the shelves this season—Break Up, an album
of duets with actress Scarlett Johansson—but it’s the material
from Fourth that fans should expect to dominate the set list
this Wednesday night. New York and Alberta Cross opens. (Nov.
4, 7:30 PM, $28, Empire State Plaza, Albany, 473-1845)
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| Also
Noted |
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| Rhonda
Vincent |
Jillian’s
hosts an early Halloween party tonight (Thursday)
with music from rising local band Lunic,
former Loyalty frontman Travis Gray and the
Frontiers, and the Blisterz (8 PM,
free, 432-1997). . . . Tomorrow (Friday), the
Van Dyck presents a tribute to late, local sax
great Nick Brignola, featuring the Van Dyck
All Stars (7 PM, $12, 348-7999). . . . See
the woman the Wall Street Journal called
the “New Queen of Bluegrass” Friday night as Rhonda
Vincent and the Rage play the Troy Savings
Bank Music Hall (8 PM, $18-$34, 273-0038). . .
. Don’t be a “Slave to the Grind”—be part of the
“Youth Gone Wild” and go see Skid Row this
Friday at Northern Lights! Was that too much?
(7 PM, $22, 371-0012). . . . Counterpoint: The
soothing sounds of Celtic harp will take over
Old Songs on Friday when Patrick Ball performs
(8 PM, $20, 765-2815). . . . And then, there’s
Saturday: The big holiday brings a few big shows,
notably one from moe. at the Washington
Avenue Armory (8 PM, $37, 684-7160). . . .
U-Melt will play a post-moe. gig at Red Square
on Saturday (9 PM, $10, 465-0444). . . . At Valentine’s
Saturday night, B3nson Records presents the Halloween
Freak-Out with Beware! the Other Head of Science,
Sgt. Dunbar and the Hobo Banned, and Sea
of Trees (7:30 PM, $5, 432-6572). . . . Tuesday,
Providence, R.I. Band Deer Tick make an
appearance at the Saratoga Arts Center to accompany
the screening of their new documentary film, To
the City of Sin! (7 PM, $10, 584-4132); then,
on Wednesday, the band will play Revolution Hall
(7 PM, $15, 274-0553).
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