Minus the Bear, Phantogram, Maps and Atlases

Ah, it seems like only yesterday that Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter were generating local buzz for their band Charlie Everywhere one opening gig at a time. And, well, there’s good reason for this. The past year has been huge for the “street beat, psych pop” duo who, in the past 365 days, changed their name to Phantogram, signed to Barsuk Records (Rilo Kiley, Ra Ra Riot, Nada Surf), toured nationally, got a shout-out from NPR’s Bob Boilen, and recorded their first LP Eyelid Movies, which is slated for release on Tuesday.

Friday marks a sort of homecoming for Phantogram (pictured), as they share the stage with Seattle’s ambient indie rockers Minus the Bear, and Chicago’s quirky math rockers Maps and Atlases.

Minus the Bear, Phantogram, and Maps and Atlases play Northern Lights (1208 Route 146, Clifton Park) tomorrow (Feb. 5) at 7 PM. Tickets are $18. Call 371-0012 for more info.

Lewis Black

Comedian Lewis Black, who came to national prominence with his short and not-so-sweet guest spots on The Daily Show, is a master of the delicate art of the rant.

Delicate? Rant? What on Earth does the first have to do with the second? A lot, because the comic doing the ranting has to gauge the appropriate amount of ranting. Then there is the important matter of the quality of the rant to consider. Lewis Black has great quality control. And with his carefully calibrated apoplectic outbursts, harried demeanor and joyous anger, he’s the comic everyman of our confused moment. Everyone seems to be pissed off about something; Black helps us focus our discontent (and piss ourselves laughing).

Lewis Black will perform tonight (Thursday, Feb. 4) at 8 PM at the Palace Theatre (19 Clinton Ave., Albany). Tickets are $32.50 to $49.50. For more info, call 465-3334.

Capitol Chamber Artists

It’s a classic Ludwig von Beethoven story. The temperamental composer dedicated his fiery ninth violin sonata to the musician that debuted it; then, following the first performance, got into a fight with said musician (over a woman) and retracted the dedication. Subsequently, Beethoven rededicated it to another violinist, Rodolphe Kruetzer—who deemed the damn thing “unplayable,” and never performed it.

Local virtuosos Capitol Chamber Artists, however, will perform it this weekend, twice, along with Beethoven’s Cello Sonata in A-major and Six Variations on Ich Denke Dein, and Robert Schumann’s Prophet Bird, in a program called Romantic Virtuosity.

Capitol Chamber Artists will perform Saturday (Feb. 6) at 8 PM at the First Congregational Church (405 Quail St., Albany). There is a preconcert recital at 7 PM. They will perform Sunday (Feb. 7) at 3 PM at Community Hall (Benson, Vt.), with a preconcert recital at 2 PM. Tickets for each performance are $16, $8 students. For more info, call 458-9231.