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Kung
Fu
Jillian’s,
Friday
Prog-rock has enjoyed a nice little renaissance these past
couple years, so it’s only fair that its geeky cousin jazz-fusion
be afforded the same momentary vogue. The guys from Kung Fu
know a thing or two about the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return
to Forever and they’re not afraid to flaunt it—in all its
time-shifting, obscure-key-signature- having glory. Comprised
of members of the Breakfast, RAQ and John Scofield projects,
Kung Fu might also answer to the title “supergroup.” Joining
them will be local progtronic martial artists Timbre Coup.
(Jan. 28, 10 PM, $10, 59 N. Pearl St., Albany, 432-1997)
Circa
Survive, Anberlin, Foxy Shazam
Northern
Lights, Saturday
Philadelphia band Circa Survive self-identify with the “progressive
rock” tag, though our indie-to-English dictionary tells us
that translates to “recovering emo band.” Still, rehab is
better than denial, and Circa Survive’s latest batch of tracks,
the 2010 EP Appendage, suggests that the band are well
on their way to full recovery. They’re joined on tour by vaguely
Christian rockers Anberlin, whose latest album Dark is
the Way, Light is a Place, borrows a title from Dylan
Thomas and a producer (Brendan O’Brien) from Pearl Jam. Also
on the bill: Cincinnati glam-core act Foxy Shazam. (Jan.
29, 8 PM, $20, 1208 Route 146, Clifton Park, 371-0012)
Steve
Forbert
Caffe
Lena, Sunday
The phrase “new Bob Dylan” has been used to describe myriad
singer- songwriters over the last 40 years, but perhaps never
so aptly as when it was first appended to the name Steve Forbert.
The Mississippi-born Forbert came to the fore with the just-shy-of-Top-10
hit “Romeo’s Tune” back in 1980, his songs conveying a palpable
maturity that belied his comparatively young age (at the time).
Like a good performer should, then, he grew into the material,
and as his mainstream popularity waned his skill as a craftsman
grew; and despite having been rejected by the major-label
machine, he’s found a home, alongside folks like Robbie Robertson
and Joan Armatrading, with prestige label 429 Records. The
road is Forbert’s true home, though—see for yourself when
he plays Caffe Lena on Sunday. (Jan. 30, 7 PM, $27, 47
Phila St., Saratoga Springs, 583-0022)
Joe
Lovano/John Scofield Quartet
The
Egg, Sunday
It’s mighty democratic of saxophonist Joe Lovano and guitarist
John Scofield to have arrived at joint ownership of this fine
jazz ensemble. The two are such legends on their respective
instruments that it would have been unjust to leave either
name off the top of the bill. By now the two are such veterans
too that getting together with bassist Matt Penman and drummer
Bill Stewart to burn through some charts must be as much good-time
fun as it is hard-work gigging. They’ll keep it casual Sunday
night by making their 5 PM sound check free and open to the
public, after which they’ll be taking questions from the audience.
(Jan. 30, 7:30 PM, $29.50, Empire State Plaza, Albany,
473-1845)
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| Neko
Case |
Neko
Case, Lost in the Trees
Bearsville
Theater, Tuesday
Here’s why we like living in the Capital Region: two opportunities
within reasonable driving distance to catch this terrific
double-bill. Next weekend they’ll play Northampton; this Tuesday,
Anti-Records (and Sean Rowe’s) labelmates Neko Case and Lost
in the Trees team up at Woodstock’s intimate Bearsville Theater.
Case’s latest stunner was Middle Cyclone, released
all the way back in March 2009, which suggests her show will
bring a welcome mix of old favorites and in-the-works material
for her next studio collection. Lost in the Trees have been
on the road almost constantly for the last year; they’ll play
Bearsville the very same day that Trekky Records reissues
their 2007 release Time Taunts Me. (Feb. 1, 8 PM,
$40, 291 Tinker St., Woodstock, 845-679-4406)
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| Also
Noted |
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| Saving
Abel |
Here’s
something we can all get behind: The Van Dyck
All-Stars pay tribute to the late, great Nick
Brignola this Saturday at, yes, the Van Dyck;
and the all-star part is no bull, with Lee Shaw,
Chuck D’Aloia, David Calarco, Brian Patneaude,
and Otto Gardner all on the roster (7:30 PM, $15,
348-7999). . . . Red Square has a four “string
rock” bands on Friday night—and you know how we
love a theme show: Darlingside, Acoustic
Trauma, Black Mountain Symphony, and
Lunic are all scheduled to perform (8 PM,
$8, 465-0444). . . . Folking by the river: Country-folk
legend Iris DeMent plays that same Club
Helsinki Sunday night (8 PM, $38, 828-4800). .
. . Tuesday brings the rockingest rock bill of
the rocking week: Heartland heroes Hinder
heave their heavy-hitting hard rock at the Clifton
Park crowd; they’re joined by Mississippi dudes
Saving Abel, who are hot off their deadpan
2010 single “The Sex is Good,” plus My Darkest
Days and Kopek (7:30 PM, $25, 371-0012).
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