Metroland Online - Noteworthy

Remember that Sesame Street bit “one of these things is not like the others”? Well, the answer in this case is “all of them.” EMPAC’s New Nothing series strives to pair otherwise disparate musical acts on the same bill, but this one’s ridiculous. Ridiculously good, that is. Skeleton$ spin a surprisingly palatable mix of free-jazz, Afrobeat and punk rock. Italian composer Luciano Chessa will read futurist poetry and perform on the piano, singing saw and stuffed animals. Dan Deacon has a flashing skull that will make you dance really fast. And Nuclear Power Pants have the coolest name in rock & roll. What more can you ask for? (Nov. 13, 8 PM, $15, 110 8th St., Troy, 276-3921)

Amanda Palmer, Nervous Cabaret

Pearl Street Nightclub, Friday

You may know Amanda Palmer more for her “online presence” than her music. The former Dresden Doll recorded her solo debut, Who Killed Amanda Palmer? with popmeister Ben Folds last year, but commercial audiences haven’t exactly flocked. A series of clashes with her record label, however, have resonated across the Internet, via Palmer’s extensive Twitter and YouTube audiences. She’s further mined the direct-to-fan connection of Twitter, using the service to announce off-the-cuff concerts and staging surprise auctions for random household items. And as much as we’d like to get back to talking about Palmer’s music, she’s keeping it extracurricular: She will be conducting a yoga class prior to her show tomorrow (Friday; details at amandapalmer.net). Gotta love this brave new world. (Nov. 13, 9 PM, $20, 10 Pearl St., Northampton, Mass., 413-586-8686)

Straight No Chaser

Proctors Theatre, Saturday

You’re part of a group of friends at Indiana University. You all love to sing. So you say, “Hey, we should start a band!” And then, “Better yet, an a cappella group!” And someone says derisively, “Oh, like there’s any money in that.” He’s right, of course—you’d be financially doomed. But maybe one of your other buddies from the science wing can let you try out his new time machine, and you can leap forward a dozen years to 2009 and clip this article, in which we tell you that those 10 guys go on to move hundreds of thousands of copies of their major-label Christmas collection and sell out concerts all over the country, and take it back to show your friends. Or else, Straight No Chaser may never exist. (Nov. 14, 8 PM, $15-$25, 432 State St., Schenectady, 346-6204)

Joe Perry Project

Northern Lights, Sunday

There’s been some unrest this week concerning Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry’s other band, Aerosmith. Seems he let slip something about replacing Steven Tyler as the band’s singer, to which the nation collectively looked up from their nachos and said “What?!” Thankfully the Joe Perry Project played a small show in New York City this week, and Tyler himself showed up to set the record straight: “Joe Perry,” he said, “you are a man of many colors. But I, motherfucker, am the rainbow.” So there you have it: Aerosmith aren’t breaking up, and Steven Tyler is on PCP. The many-colored Perry rocks Northern Lights on Sunday. (Nov. 15, 7 PM, $25, 1208 Route 146, Clifton Park, 371-0012)

Timber Timbre

Valentine’s, Tuesday

No, the name’s not redundant. Think: the sound of trees falling in the forest. It’s more than just cute. Singer Taylor Kirk grew up in rural Ontario where the sound of falling trees was more than some metaphysical quandry. Like a finger- picking cross between Bon Iver and Jim James, Kirk’s music is hushed, soulful, and more than a little bit spooky. So much so, in fact, that Kirk made his recent album Timber Timbre available for free on his Web site this Halloween. Sorry, we should have told you sooner. Local Americana troupe El Duke will make it up to you when Timber Timbre come through. (Nov. 17, 8 PM, call for price, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)

Also Noted

Sid N’ Susie

Two rillybig shows tonight (Thursday) on opposite ends of the Northway, as country-music legend George Jones sings at the Glens Falls Civic Center—get there early because the man refuses to miss his TV time (7 PM, $35, 798-0366); and Metallica bring their latest spectacle to the Times Union Center, with guests Lamb of God and Volbeat (7 PM, $51.50-$71.50, 800-30-EVENT). . . . If neither of those appeal to you, you’ll probably be at tonight’s Medeski, Martin and Wood concert, at Mass MoCA in North Adams, Mass. (8 PM, $29, 413-662-2111). . . . A few appearances of note in Pittsfield, Mass. on Friday: Jocie Adams of the Low Anthem flies solo at Mission Bar and Tapas (8 PM, free, missionbarandtapas.com); and just a short walk south, Hammer of the Gods rep the Zep at the Colonial Theatre (8 PM, $27-$47, 413-997-4444). . . . The Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, Mass. welcomes Sid N’ Susie on Saturday—it’s the dynamic pop duo of Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs doing ’70s covers because, hey, why not? (7 PM, $32, 413-586-8686). . . . If you can’t make it to Northampton, they’re sending a representative to us: Experimental pop band Spouse will return to Valentine’s on Saturday, where they’ll share a bill with the Ashley Pond Band and Matthew Loiacono (9 PM, $5, 432-6572). . . . The Egg hosts some top-notch pickers on the early side of the workweek: The Del McCoury Band will be in on Sunday (7:30 PM, $18, 473-1845), followed by Ani DiFranco on Tuesday (8 PM, $32.50, 473-1845). . . . Best price ever: Big Nixon and the Last Conspirators play a free show at Revolution Hall Tuesday night (8 PM, $5, 274-0553).

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