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Crooked
Still
The
Egg, Friday
As much as we tend to think it lazy to use “alternative” to
modify a preexisting music genre at this point in time, Crooked
Still certainly fit the bill of an “alternative bluegrass”
band. The Boston group have all the hallmarks of an old-time
string band—fiddle, banjo, upright bass—but they add a cello
to the already rich mix. All told, Crooked Still hew closer
to the Nickel Creek definition of bluegrass (read: pop) than,
say, the Del McCoury Band, but we’ll give them a pass because
of singer Aoife O’Donovan, whose voice is one of the loveliest
things you’ll hear in so-called traditional music. (Jan.
8, 8 PM, $24, Empire State Plaza, Albany, 473-1845)
The
Nightlife CD Release
Valentine’s,
Saturday
Ever wonder why Quintessence offers free valet parking? It’s
because shows like this tend to bury that block of New Scotland
Avenue with enough kids, cars, and trailer-tugging tour vans
that no self-respecting dinner party would dare brave the
melee without curbside service. Albany hardcore outfit the
Nightlife celebrate the release of Silicone Sentries and
Digital Dogs on Saturday night, but just to make sure
the room’s warm, the floor’s wet and the sidewalk is smoky,
they’re bringing a fleet of Warped-worthy bands with them.
The Viking, Restless Streets, Rick Whispers, and Of Gods and
Destroyers will all help make this one a metal/progressive/rock
affair. (Jan. 9, 7 PM, $12, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany,
432-6572)
Rock
for Reading
Red
Square, Saturday
No, no. It’s not a contradiction. Just because “rocking” often
involves loud rooms, large crowds and altered states, and
“reading” involves, well, the opposite, that doesn’t mean
one can’t benefit the other (although we’ve yet to see a read-a-thon
benefitting a music venue). Rock for Reading is the Junior
League of Albany’s benefit for the Dolly Parton Imagination
Library, a project delivering books to preschool kids. On
the bill are rockabilly band the Stynals, the Foy Brothers,
and the Bent Rail Blues Band. Comedian Donnell Ellis will
take the stage between sets. (Jan. 9, 7:30 PM, $10, 338
Broadway, Albany, 465-0444)
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| Brown
Bird |
Brown
Bird
Madison
Grille, Saturday
New England quintet Brown Bird play folk music. Now, erase
that image from your head—the one of children sitting cross-legged
and singing “This Land Is Your Land.” Yes, songwriter David
Lamb and his cohorts also specialize in things like melody
and harmony. But the group titled their latest release The
Devil Dancing for good reason: Their music mixes the insistent
stomp of American mountain music with the insistent stomp
of gypsy music for a sound that just begs to be, well, stomped
to. This is traditional music, in that it celebrates the fine
human tradition of getting loose. Find out if the floorboards
at the Madison Grille are ready for this kind of action on
Saturday. (Jan. 9, 8 PM, $5, 331 Madison Ave., Albany,
434-1938)
Project/Object
featuring Ike Willis and Ray White
Revolution
Hall, Saturday
Even a hardened fan will tell you that the late Frank Zappa’s
music is an acquired taste. The guy was a pioneer—he threw
stylistic constraints out the window long before he even had
peers—but he undercut his musical advances with many a poopy
joke. Still, some of his best recordings are borderline alchemical,
thanks to the amazing musicians he employed. The ongoing mission
of Project/Object is to bring these recordings to the live
stage, played by some of those very musicians. The current
incarnation, fronted by two Zappa alumni—singer-guitarists
Ike Willis and Ray White—will bring everything from “Dancin’
Fool” to “Titties and Beer” to life in Troy this weekend.
Timbre Coup open. (Jan. 9, 8 PM, $22, 425 River St., Troy,
274-0553)
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| Also
Noted |
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| Jim
Gaudet and the Railroad Boys |
Tonight
(Thursday) at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton,
Mass., it’s a tribute to Tom Petty, and a benefit
for the Northampton Red Cross, featuring Ray
Mason, Spouse, and just about every
other musician in Western Massachusetts; check
iheg.com for the lineup (7 PM, $13, 413-586-8686).
. . . It’s an evening of original rock tonight
at Jillian’s with the Blisterz, the Ashbury
and PNC (7 PM, free, 423-1997). . . . A
fine triple bill of local music is at Savannah’s
tomorrow (Friday), with the Brian Kaplan Band,
Juice Junkees, and Psychobilly (9
PM, $5, 426-9647). . . . Saturday, Jim Gaudet
and the Railroad Boys take their act a few
stops north on the imaginary commuter line, to
the Ale House in Troy (9 PM, $5, 272-9740). .
. . It’s about that time again: Gandalf Murphy
and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams set up
their imaginary big top at the Eighth Step at
Proctors on Saturday (7:30 PM, $26, 346-6204).
. . . Also Saturday, the ever-multitasking duo
Sirsy return to Tess’ Lark Tavern (10 PM,
$5, 463-9779). . . . Sunday night marks the return
of Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion to
Caffe Lena (7 PM, $18, 583-0022). . . . Central
New York quartet the Instruments Band will
make a Monday-night stop at Valentine’s, where
they’ll be joined by Matthew Loiacono,
Matt Durfee, and Que Caro (8 PM,
$5-$7, 432-6572). . . . Burlington, Vt.’s Zack
Dupont and Saratoga-via-Nashville songwriter
Kelly Zullo play the Emerging Artist Breakout
Series at Caffe Lena to close the Metroland
week on Wednedsay (7 PM, $5, 583-0022).
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