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Dave’s
True Story,
Too Human
Club
Helsinki, Great Barrington, Mass., Thursday
Formed
in 1993, Dave’s True Story is a jazzy, poppy lounge act made
up of songwriter-guitarist Dave Cantor and vocalist Kelly
Flint. The New York Times describes the duo as “a little
disturbing, a little unnerving: Postmodern Lounge,” and they
have accomplished a lot in their short history: They are the
winners of the 1995 Kerrville New Music Award, they’ve sold
over 50,000 copies of their independently released albums,
and two of their songs (“Crazy Eyes” and “Sequined Mermaid
Dress”) are featured in the film Kissing Jessica Stein,
which opens nationwide this month. Flint uses her voice as
an instrument to match Cantor’s jazzy guitar, and Cantor creates
music that can be listened to while “being relaxed, having
fun and feeling suave,” according to the band’s press. Dave’s
True Story are joined at Club Helsinki tonight (Thursday)
by Too Human. (March 14, 8 PM, $10, 413-528-6308)
Janis
Ian
The
Egg, Friday
If
you want to get a sense of how expansive a career Janis Ian
has enjoyed, consider these factoids: She recorded her breakthrough
hit, the interracial-romance-themed “Society’s Child,” as
a teenager in the ’60s; found a home on the pop charts in
the ’70s with such evocative singer-songwriter fare as “At
Seventeen” and “Jesse”; came out of the closet as a lesbian
before making her comeback in the ’90s with the first in a
series of probing new-folk albums; has been a columnist for
such high-profile magazines as The Advocate; just landed
a song (“Society’s Child”) in the Grammy Hall of Fame; and
has been sampled by the Artist Formerly Known as Puff Daddy.
Oh, and she’s also a busy activist and a familiar face on
the touring circuit who has won a devoted fan base in this
area through her regular schedule of free outdoor shows and
intimate theater performances. Tomorrow (Friday), Ian and
her guitar will hit the Egg for just such an intimate performance,
and it’s safe to expect an involving mix of introspection,
social commentary, dry wit and luminous singing. Oh, and be
warned—Ian is beloved for her ability to craft and perform
transportingly sad songs. (March 15, 8 PM, $22, 473-1845)
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Marshall
Crenshaw
The
Larkin, Friday
 He’s
suffered for his art . . . now it’s your turn. Or so Marshall
Crenshaw’s latest live album (I’ve Suffered For My Art
. . . etc.) would have you believe. Crenshaw, who will
perform two sets at the Larkin on Friday, actually swiped
the line from Henny Youngman, and though you can applaud his
joking self-deprecation, don’t take him too seriously: Crenshaw
has certainly paid his dues, slogging it out on the edges
of the collective pop-music consciousness since his debut
release in 1982, but his audiences don’t suffer much at all.
Simply put, he’s one of the best, most versatile pop songwriters
around—and a he’s a damn fine performer to boot. Commenting
on his first release, Kurt Loder wrote that Crenshaw “gives
every promise of being a rock & roll song master on the
level of such forerunners as Goffin and King, Mann and Weil,
and Barry and Greenwich. If he’s consistent, that is.” Well,
since then, he’s maintained a constant cult fanbase, and his
songs have been recorded by artists as diverse as Robert Gordon,
Bette Midler and the Gin Blossoms (who rocketed to prominence
then disappeared, while Crenshaw kept on). Seems slow and
steady, as they say, wins the race after all. (March 15,
8:30 and 10:30 PM, $20, $25 table, 463-5225)
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St.
Paddy Day Bandfest
Larkin
Lounge, Sunday
There
are a slew of St. Patrick’s Day shows, most with beer specials
and Irish music, but the Larkin’s salute to this snake-hating
saint stands out in its attempt to entertain. Get sloppy drunk
if you must, but rather than enduring slapdash renditions
of “Molly Malone,” why not check out some of our area’s best
indie rockers? We challenge you to sample but a few of the
acts on the lengthy roster of talent and not take something
away (other than someone else’s coat in ale-addled haste).
And if you’ve been wondering about some of the names flying
about, and the critical praise attached to them, now is your
chance to catch up. Each performer will do a couple of songs,
so you can get a bunch under your belt before the room goes
blurry. The lineup includes, but is not limited to: Ed Gorch
and Mike Hotter (of knotworking), Mike’s dad Bill Hotter (performing
accordion songs), Stevie Wander, Bryan Thomas, Rich Baldes
(of the Day Jobs), Tom Burre (of Bone Oil), Jason Martin,
Sarah Paul and Shawn Dawson (of Jump Cannon), Mitch Elrod,
John Brodeur, Jeb and Clayton Colwell (Hector on Stilts),
Martha Kronholm and Frank Moscowicz (of the Orange), Dana
Monteith (of Ominous Seapods), Carl Smith, Christina Manning
(of Here God) and E. Lazarus. (March 17, 8 PM, free, 463-5225)
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The
Amish Armada
Valentine’s,
Tuesday
Sometimes we have to let the bands speak for themselves in
this space, and for the Amish Armada show at Valentine’s on
Tuesday, we’re going to do just that: “The Amish Armada are
a group of outcasted, or zombified, Amish revolutionaries
hailing from the fields of the unincorporated Villeburgston
PA who are fighting a perpetual battle to abolish technology.
The main adversary is their archenemy Technolojesus (the ruler
over all things technological) and his various minions such
as DJ Electro (the ecstasy dazed electronic beat maestro)
and Drake Rockington (a billionaire business mogul). . . .
On stage most people know them as Elijah Damned (vocals),
Ezekiel the Maliced (guitar), Jakob the Malevolent (bass),
and Jebidiah the Hunted (drums). And no show would be complete
without the Armada’s famous ‘extras’ or ‘dance squad’ comprised
of Abraham the Elder, Jeremiah the Myopic, Malachi the Drunkard,
Six Fingered Sam, and J.J. Joseph. . . . Filled with battles,
skits, comedy and the spectacle of a stage filled with musical
‘Amish zombies.’ ” Well there’s that. And if’n you’re curious
about the sounds coming from the stage, expect a heady mix
of rock, punk and metal. (March 19, 8 PM, $5, 432-6572)
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also
noted
 Area
rockers Triangle Paradise will perform a tribute to
recently deceased Beatle George Harrison tonight (Thursday)
at the Big House Brewing Company, with proceeds from the event
to benefit the American Cancer Society (8 PM, $10, 445-2739).
. . . New York City-based Celtic rockers Black 47 will
play Northern Lights tonight ($10 advance, $12 door, 371-0012).
. . . Friday at Northern Lights offers the Jazz Mandolin
Project ($12 advance, $14 door, 371-0012). . . . Country-blues
guitar legend Duke Robillard will play Great Barrington’s
Club Helsinki on Friday (9 PM, $20, 413-528-3394). . . . Boston
pop act Helicopter Helicopter, with whom you’ll fall
in love after not more than “a full eight seconds,”
according to Amplifier magazine, play Valentine’s Friday,
with reclusive roots-rockers Crawdad opening (10 PM,
$5, 432-6572). . . . Local garage-rock supergroup, the Ummm…,
boasting members of Rocky Velvet and the now-defunct 1313
Mockingbird Lane, will play with the Erotics and Nysm
at the Fuze Box on Friday (10 PM, $5, 432-4472). . . .
Celtic Mayhem 2002 will take place Friday at the Palace Theatre,
with Seven Nations, Ceili Rain and Hair of the Dog
performing (7 PM, $17 advance, $20 door, 465-4663). .
. . Boston-based Big D and the Kids Table will play
Saratoga Winners Friday, with OFN, Third 2 None, Raheem
Is Rad, 3 Pt. Turn and the D.A.’s sharing the stage
(7:30 PM, $10, 434-1934). . . . Nogoodnix, Plastic Jesus
and the Rubes will play a St. Patrick’s Day Celtic/Punk
Chaos Party at Valentine’s on Saturday (9 PM, $7, 432-6572).
. . . Five-piece groove outfit Aaron Katz Band (Katz
was in Percy Hill) will play Club Helsinki on Saturday (9
PM, $10, 413-528-3394).
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Columns
& Opinions
