Free Energy

Free Energy are young and still alive. And they have this idea that when four young guys pick up guitars, bass and drums, and sing songs about the importance of living in the moment, that too makes people feel young and alive and want to throw high fives. To test this theory, they've loaded into a van to travel the land and play their songs to somber people in late-night watering holes.

By accounts, the effort has been a success. With help from a chap named James Murphy, the Philadelphia group have made a recording of their songs called Stuck on Nothing, which many journalist types have called excellent. Others have smiled and invited the band to come play in their city. To one recent fan request, Free Energy tweeted that they were primed and ready to rock Albany a new piehole.

Hollerado, a similarly young and lively bunch, will help.

Free Energy will play Valentine's Music Hall and Beer Joint (17 New Scotland Ave., Albany) on Monday (Nov. 22) at 8 PM. Tickets are $10. Call 432-6572 for more info.

Uncertain Spectator

If the economic crisis, the weight of environmental issues and social injustices not to mention the impending holidays don't have you feeling a tense already, EMPAC is here to help you achieve an artful state of anxiety.

According to the curators, their latest multimedia group exhibition includes the work of 10 artists and •asks individuals to cross a threshold to place themselves in situations riddled with tension, confront deeply charged emotional content, and grapple with feelings of apprehension. The works presented deal with a general mood of uneasiness arising from recent political and economic events that frames a future rife with imminent threats.

You won't know if it's stressful or cathartic or both unless you check it out.

Uncertain Spectator opens at EMPAC (RPI Campus, Troy) tonight (Thursday, Nov. 18), with a 6 PM reception featuring a performance by the Troy Chainsaw Ensemble, and runs through Jan. 29. Following the reception, there will be a screening of Lars Von Trier's musical melodrama Dancer in the Dark, with Bjork. The exhibition, reception and screening are free and open to the public. For more info, call EMPAC at 276-3921.

Warren Miller's Wintervention

Don't fall for the reverse psychology. Watching ski movies will not cure your powder addiction. In fact, piling into a theater with a bunch of rowdy snowheads to watch world-class athletes rip the steep and deep on the big screen is less of an AA meeting and more like a bender for those suffering from the winter itch. Luckily, the only side effect of snow-sports addiction is goggle tan and used-up sick days.

Warren Miller has always been the biggest pusher in the ski-film industry, and the day his annual blockbuster ski film rolls into town is often a better indicator of the coming ski season than even the winter solstice. Wintervention is this year•s provocation. Following athletes Jonny Moseley, Chris Davenport and Lindsey Vonn to remote treeless peaks in Norway, Alaska, Canada and Antarctica, the film should be inspiration enough to tune up the boards and start praying for a Nor'easter. Plus, there's always plenty of swag and giveaways.

Wintervention plays the Palace Theatre (19 Clinton Ave., Albany) tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday (Nov. 20 and 21) at 8 PM. Tickets are $22. Call 465-3334 for more info.