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John
Brown’s Body
Revolution
Hall, Thursday
There’s been some talk lately about the “world music” genre,
and the unusual genesis of the term. It’s a weird label no
matter how you look at it, a quintessentially American tag
that somehow manages to be applied to both Afrobeat and reggae.
Not that they can’t coexist, but aren’t “Afrobeat” and “reggae”
good enough? Boston band John Brown’s Body were lumped into
the world-music category early in their career, even as their
sound was more traditionally reggae than many of their peers.
Ironically, as they’ve expanded their rhythmic palate, they’ve
been referred to more specifically as a reggae band. Po-tay-to,
po-tah-to—when the band play Revolution Hall tonight, all
that matters is that you’ll be dancing. Lynch and Nautilus
open the show, and the admission includes a midnight champagne
toast, as well as a late-night brunch so you can nom down
while you come down. (Dec. 31, 8 PM, $30, 425 River St.,
Troy, 274-0553)
They
Might Be Giants
Calvin
Theatre, Thursday
We have mixed feelings about They Might Be Giants’ decision
to welcome in the new decade all the way over in Northampton.
We’re glad that they’re keeping it semi-local, but we really
wish they would play the Egg here in Albany—if only because
we’d love to hear them alter the lyrics to their great song
about the Egg to talk about egg nog. Ah, but we digress:
Johns Flansburgh and Linnell and their top-flight band put
on a fun show no matter when or where they play, and we are
sure tonight’s will be no exception. They’ll double up, as
they’ve been doing in recent years, by playing a kids’ concert
in the afternoon, followed by an evening show for the 14-and-over
set. (Dec. 31, 3 and 8 PM, $20 early, $32.50 late, Northampton,
Mass., 413-586-8686)
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| Gregg
Allman |
Gregg
Allman
The
Egg, Sunday
For
40 long years he’s been lugging that giant Hammond organ all
over the country, but this week Gregg Allman gets to step
away from the Brothers Band that bears his name and take a
stab at standing up in front. Starting with 1973’s Laid
Back, Allman has had an intermittent solo career
that’s skewed more toward straightforward soul and rock than
his regular gig’s lengthy blues jams. His last album of new
material came more than a decade ago, but that shouldn’t keep
fans from packing the Egg on Sunday, as the Gregg Allman Band
set list includes both “I’m No Angel” and “Midnight
Rider.” And of course there will be some jams—it would hardly
be an Allman show without “Whipping Post.” (Jan. 3, 7:30
PM, $34.50-$49.50, Empire State Plaza, Albany, 473-1845)
Christine
Lavin
Caffe
Lena, Sunday
Whose tools of the trade in clude “a guitar, a miner’s headlamp,
a pair of batons, and boundless insight into popular culture”?
No, it’s not a singing gynecologist—it’s folksinger Christine
Lavin. The onetime Caffe Lena employee and longtime New York
City resident is one of the founding members of Four Bitchin’
Babes, and composer of such humorous tunes as “Sensitive New
Age Guys” and “Bald Headed Men.” She can be serious too—romantic
tunes are her secondary trademark—but the shtick is what sells
tickets. As for the batons, the former cheerleader frequently
ends her shows by showing off her baton-twirling skills. We
said she can be serious; we didn’t say you should expect
it. (Jan. 3, 7 PM, $27, 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs,
583-0022)
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| Also
Noted |
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| Levon
Helm |
If
you haven’t yet made plans to participate in New
Year’s Eve festivities, we must remind you that
tonight (Thursday) is the big night. What are
you waiting for? There will be music just about
anywhere you look this evening; the following
is just a sample. First of all, if you were lucky
enough to score tickets to the special Dec. 31
edition of Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble
at Levon’s studio in Woodstock, maybe you could
hook us up? Levon and his band will take it into
2010 with special guests the Alexis P. Suter
Band, Little Sammy Davis, Fred Scribner
and who knows who else; and according to the
Web site, “standing room only” tickets may still
be available (7 PM, 845-679-2744). . . . Back
here in Albany, Pearl Street will host a cacophony
of live bands: The Schmooze are at the
Bayou Cafe (10:30 PM, $5, 426-8550); IMI
will light up Savannah’s (9 PM, call for price,
426-9647); and Jillian’s has a WEQX-hosted party
with music from Gravity, with a price that
covers not only the party but a hotel room (10
PM, $109, 432-1997). . . . Franklin Micare
provides the tunes for the Van Dyck’s New
Year’s party (7:30 PM, $55, 348-7999). . . . And,
if you haven’t already seen them 50 times this
year, or if you have and you just can’t get enough,
Enter the Haggis are playing two shows
at the Iron Horse in Northampton, Mass. tonight
(7 and 10 PM, $30, 413-586-8686). . . . Wherever
you end up, please be safe tonight. Cab drivers
are your friends.
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